Making the leap from the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL) to the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) is no small feat, but 17-year-old defenceman Aaron Enright is proving he belongs with the North Bay Battalion. The Cobden, Ontario native has embraced the challenge and is making strides in his rookie season, earning the respect of his teammates and coaching staff alike.
“I’m loving it,” says Enright. “The guys are great. It’s been a step up from the CCHL, but it’s been fun. I really feel at home here. All the guys have been very welcoming.”
One of the biggest adjustments for Enright has been the speed of the game. “It’s a lot faster,” he says. “That’s one of the adjustments I’ve had to make. I had to get my speed up to this level, and I needed to step up in terms of my conditioning.”
Head Coach Ryan Oulahen agrees and has been impressed with Enright’s work ethic. “I think that was probably the biggest adjustment he had to make,” says Oulahen. “But he’s put in the work, and we see it in practice every day. He’s somebody that does a really good job in the weight room, and then he allows his talent and ability to start flourishing on the ice. His confidence is building with every game, and he’s becoming a really good, promising young defenceman for us.”
Enright notes that the physicality of the OHL is another step up. “There was a jump in physicality for sure. Everyone you play against is bigger and stronger. Keeping up with them and playing that bigger game has been a challenge, but I’m here for it, I welcome it,” he says, showing his determination to meet the demands of playing at this level.
Drafted in the 4th round (81st overall) of the 2023 OHL Priority Selection, Enright spent last season with the Renfrew Wolves of the CCHL, playing in 40 games, scoring 4 goals and 9 points, and recording 38 penalty minutes. His hard work and dedication were rewarded when he signed an education and development agreement with the Battalion in April 2024.
Enright then came into training camp with a determined mindset, knowing there were spots up for grabs on the blue line. “My competitive side kicked in,” he says. “On one hand, you’re trying to get to know everyone, but at the same time, you’re competing for a spot. My mindset was that I’m not here to just mess around; I’m here to play hockey, and that’s what I set out to do.”
The hard work has paid off. Enright has not only secured a spot in the lineup but has also become a trusted player, earning more ice time as the season progresses. “I wasn’t expecting to be getting this much ice time this year as a first-year player,” he admits. “But over the last couple of games, I’ve been getting good ice time, and I’m glad I’ve been putting in the work to keep up with the conditioning.”
One of the highlights of his rookie campaign came on October 5, when Enright scored his first OHL goal in a road game against the Ottawa 67’s. “That was definitely the biggest highlight for me this year, so far,” he says. “I had lots of family there from the Valley, so it was a big thrill to score my first goal in front of all of them. I’ll always remember that one.”
Enright credits Assistant Coach Bill Houlder, a former NHL defenceman, for playing a pivotal role in his development. “I work with Billy as much as I can,” he says. “Working on getting faster and using my physicality more. I know I’ve got a big body, and I don’t move as well as some of the smaller guys, so Billy and the coaches have been encouraging me to get more time in the gym so I can be ready to go whenever I’m needed,” says Enright. He adds that Houlder’s guidance has been instrumental in helping him adapt to the rigors of the OHL and learning to play against bigger and stronger players.
Off the ice, Enright has been enjoying life in North Bay. “I think my favourite place to grab a bite has to be Syl’s. I know a lot of the boys go there quite a bit – and there’s also been a few lunches spent grabbing food at Between the Bun,” he says with a grin.
Reflecting on his season so far, Enright says his main goal has been to become an everyday player. “That was my main goal, to be trusted to be out there every game and in big situations like killing penalties. I think I’ve been able to accomplish that to this point and going forward I just want to keep doing that as best as I can.”
