Troops fans got a good Thanksgiving look at the team Monday when the Troops emerged from a season-high six straight road games and served up a 4-2 victory over Scott Wray's Owen Sound Attack.
It marked the first of four home dates in a five-game stretch which continues with a visit by the Sarnia Sting at 7 p.m. Thursday.
Central to the new look was the home-ice debut of right winger Shamar Moses, acquired last Thursday in a trade that saw overage centre Dalyn Wakely sent to the Barrie Colts.
See related: Moses far from flat since joining the Battalion
The Battalion has a won-lost-extended record of 5-3-0 for 10 points, in a first-place tie in the Central Division, while Sarnia is 3-2-3 for nine points, tied with the Saginaw Spirit for second place in the West Division.
The Battalion traded left winger Carter Kostuch, defenceman Alex Cajkovic and OHL Priority Selection picks to Sarnia in January for centre and left winger Andrew LeBlanc, defenceman Jacob LeBlanc and right winger Sandis Vilmanis, who’s playing professionally this season.
Ryan Oulahen, Battalion head coach believes they cannot take the Sarnia club for granted.
"it's a team that's very dangerous off the rush, they got some young, enthusiastic players that have a lot of skill and a lot of talent," he said.
"They're well coached, they're structured, so they're a dangerous team on the road, and they're trying to find their footing as well. So they are a team we're going to have to be ready for."
Anaheim Ducks prospect Ethan Procyszyn leads the Troops in scoring with 7 goals and 3 assists for 10 points in 8 games so far this year.
Battalion goaltender Mike McIvor has picked up where he left off in the playoffs. The Warkworth, Ontario product who also attended the Anaheim Ducks training camp is sporting a 4-1 record, a 2.87 goals against average and a .921 save percentage.
North Bay visits the Brantford Bulldogs on Friday night and plays host to the Sudbury Wolves on Sunday to complete the weekend.
The Sarnia game features Paint the Rink Pink Night presented by The Clubhouse.
