The Barrie Colts and some familiar faces rolled in to North Bay on Thursday to take on the Battalion. However, it was the Battalion who got the last laugh as they took down the Colts 2-0.
“Really liked the way we played tonight,” head coach Ryan Oulahen explained.
“Did a lot of good things, we obviously had a game plan going against their high octane offence to try and smother them a bit and really not give up too much on the danger side and for the most part, I thought we did that.
“To be as comfortable as we were was nice to see with it being 1-0 for most of the game. We have to be able to do that this time of year, and be in those situations. So all in all, a real fun night here.”
In regard to those familiar faces, it was the first time Owen Van Steensel and Anthony Romani suited up in a game against their former club, the Battalion, since an early January blockbuster trade. It also marked a return to the ice for Romani for the first time since October 11 when he suffered an injury while a member of North Bay. On the flip side, it was Parker Vaughan, and Zach Wigle, the return for North Bay in that trade, facing off against their former mates.
However, since the trade went down, North Bay is 2-1 in three games played, while Barrie has been in a slump going 0-4, and 0-5 overall, now winless in all five games played in 2025.
“Nothing but love for those guys,” said Oulahen.
“I know what it’s like to come in here in your first game as a visitor. It’s not a good feeling. People don’t realize how hard it is to play in this rink, especially when we have the effort we had tonight.
“I have nothing but love for those guys forever. They’re going to have my support for everything. They did so much for our organization but it’s nice for us to come out on top of them for that competitive spirit, but I know they’re going to do real well this year.”
After a back and forth first period, Romani found himself on the scoresheet, just not in his usual way with a goal or assist. Skating through the middle of the ice, Romani was hit hard by Vaughan in a bit of ironic fashion, before Vaughan’s former teammate Michael Derbidge came in and dropped the gloves with the former fifth overall pick of the Colts. Derbidge eventually took Vaughan down, and the pair went off for fighting, while Romani served a penalty for roughing.
“Interesting, right there,” chuckled Oulahen on the Vaughan fight. “It just shows how complete of a player when he’s willing to do that.”
However, the powerplay chance did not go in North Bay’s favour and the first period ended scoreless, despite a 14-8 shot differential for the Troops.
Just two minutes into the second period the Battalion pounced. Andrew LeBlanc sifted a pass over to former Colt Zach Wigle (7) who tipped the puck on Barrie netminder and World Junior gold medalist with the US, Sam Hillebrandt. The puck bounced off Hillebrandt and Wigle was able to bat the puck into the back of the net to give North Bay the ice breaker. Picking up the secondary assist, and first point as a Battalion, was defenceman Adrian Manzo, who was recently acquired from the Windsor Spitfires before the OHL trade deadline.
“With Zach getting that goal, you couldn’t script it better,” Oulahen stated on Wigle’s goal.
“Maybe we could have had one more goal for Vaughan and it would be the three Barrie Colts, but maybe we’ll do that next time.
“They’ve been really good every game we have had them, and I think it’s that chemistry they have had together,” Oulahen added of Wigle and Vaughan. “They don’t seem like they are hesitating and they seem like they’re freed up maybe a little bit. We play a bit different than Barrie does, we’re a bit more aggressive and I think they’re enjoying that.”
Despite some more great opportunities for North Bay, including a four minute powerplay, the score was 1-0 North Bay after 40 minutes played.
Late in the third the Troops sealed it as another former Colt, Shamar Moses (10) scored an empty net goal from centre ice to make the final 2-0 Battalion.
Mike McIvor turned aside 22 shots in the shutout effort as well, being named the games first star.
North Bay is back in action Saturday when they travel to St. Catharines to take on the Central Division leading Niagara IceDogs. Puck drop is 7 p.m.
