The North Bay Battalion continue to accumulate draft picks and make moves as they sent veteran 2005 born defenceman Wyatt Kennedy to the Windsor Spitfires for 2007 birth year defender Adrian Manzo and multiple picks including a 2025 second round pick originally owned by Kitchener, a 2025 third round pick originally owned by Barrie, s 2027 4rth round pick also originally owned by Barrie and Windsor's 2027 conditional 8th round pick.
The move is the third trade the Battalion have made since Sunday as the OHL draft deadline is January 10th.
Not long after that, North Bay then added defenceman Jonathan Kapageridis and a second-round pick in 2027 from the Sarnia Sting for Kitchener’s second-rounder this year, the Battalion’s eighth-rounder this year and its third-round choice in 2027.
Kapageridis, a Vaughan, Ont., resident who was the second overall pick in the 2024 Under-18 Priority Selection from the Don Mills Flyers, has played this season with the junior A Cobourg Cougars of the Ontario Junior Hockey League, scoring seven goals and adding 17 assists for 24 points in 22 games.
It was hoped that Kapageridis, a 2007 birth year six-foot, 176-pound left shot and University of Vermont commit would arrive in North Bay in time to play Thursday night against the Kingston Frontenacs.
“Jonathan brings a maturity to the game that will only strengthen our back end,” said general manager John Winstanley on Battalionhockey.com.
“In December, he played with (affiliate centre) Ryder Cali in the 2024 Junior A World Challenge representing Canada East. Jonathan is a smooth-skating, puck-moving defenceman who can contribute on the offensive side of the game.”
Manzo, a 6'0", 183 lb. defender from Woodbridge, Ontario is in his first full season with the Spitfires where he has one goal and three assists for four points in 32 games.
Last season with the LaSalle Vipers of Greater Ontario Junior 'B' Hockey League, Manzo accumulated eight goals and 21 assists for 29 points in 38 games. He also got into five games with the Spitfires as an affiliate in 2023-24.
Manzo was originally selected 95th overall in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection by the Spitfires.
"Adrian fits our style of play and will, no doubt, be a key factor in years to come for the North Bay Battalion," said Winstanley.
"Adrian is a player we watched closely during his draft year in 2022/23 and last year had a very successful season with the LaSalle vipers in the GOJHL. Adrian is a puck moving defensemen with good feet and has the ability to contribute offensively."
Veteran Kennedy on the move
Kennedy, a Vars, Ontario product, was drafted in round three (50th overall) by the North Bay Battalion in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection. Kennedy attend the Chicago Blackhawks Development in September of 2024.
“Wyatt is a big body with a veteran presence.” Bill Bowler, Spitfires general manager said in a Spitfires release.
“He has played a lot of important games in the last few years, and we think he is perfect for our group.”
Kennedy is in his fourth season in the OHL. In his rookie year with the Battalion, Kennedy appeared in 7 games while recording 1 assist as he split time with the CCHL’s Rockland Nationals. In his sophomore season, Kennedy played in 63 regular season games and recorded 2 goals and 7 assists for 9 points. In his third season, Kennedy played in 67 games and recorded 2 goals and 14 assists for 16 points. So far this season, Kennedy has played in 36 games with the Battalion and has recorded 1 goal and 10 assists for 11 points. He has a total of 173 games played and 37 points.
On Sunday, North Bay sent Anthony Romani and Owen Van Steensel to Barrie in exchange for Parker Vaughan and Zach Wigle, as well as a fourth-round pick in 2027 (Kitchener), a fifth-round pick in 2027 (London), a sixth-round pick in 2027 (Peterborough) and Barrie's own seventh-round pick in 2028. All of the picks are noted as conditional.
Then in a Tuesday trade with the Saginaw Spirit, the Troops got second- and fourth-round choices in 2028, both of which originated with the Erie Otters, for the Brantford Bulldogs’ second-rounder this year.
