After an off-season of big off-ice changes the North Bay Battalion are in store for more changes on the ice as they prepare for the 2024-2025 campaign without several longtime players who have graduated, leaving behind big skates to fill.
Liam Arnsby (Florida Panthers), Paul Christopoulos, Justin Ertel (Dallas Stars), Dom DiVincentiis (Winnipeg Jets), and Ty Nelson (Seattle Kraken), to name a few, are moving on from their Major Junior Hockey careers. The departure of these key figures marks the end of an era, but it also opens the door for new leaders to step up.
One of the players ready to embrace this challenge is 18-year-old Jacob Therrien, the hard-nosed winger who’s eager to help keep the Battalion’s string of playoff successes rolling.
After three consecutive trips to the Eastern Conference finals, the expectations have been set in North Bay that this is a team that is going to compete year in and year out. Therrien, who made significant strides last season, is determined to become one of the driving forces behind the team’s pursuit of a championship. With a relentless style of play and an ever-improving offensive game, Therrien is poised to take on a bigger role as the Battalion looks to build on their recent successes and push even further in the postseason.
Reflecting on last season’s playoff run, which ended in a heartbreaking game seven loss to the Oshawa Generals, Therrien acknowledges the bittersweet experience. “Yeah, it’s unreal,” he says. “I came in my first year not knowing what to expect and obviously we made a run to the conference finals and lost to the Peterborough Petes there. I came into training camp last year expecting to be going on a deep run to the playoffs. We made some huge additions at the deadline, including Sandis [Vilmanis], and a bunch of other big pieces. And we made a big run versus Oshawa. But we all know we could have gone further.”
Therrien was a key contributor during the postseason, tallying eight points, including three goals in 16 games, while adding 24 penalty minutes. One of those goals came in game six against the Generals, a team Therrien grew up watching. “It was surreal to be playing in a big series like that in Oshawa,” he says, recalling the experience of skating in the Generals’ arena as a young fan and now facing them in the heat of playoff battle. “I remember when I was seven years old and we did a skate there, and I have a picture of myself and [Philadelphia Flyers forward] Scott Laughton when he played with the Generals. It’s awesome to play in those rinks.”
As the Battalion gears up for another season, Therrien knows the team will be counting on him to take the next step in his development. Last season, he set career highs with 20 goals, 38 points, and 77 penalty minutes, second only to former captain Arnsby’s 93 PIMs.
Despite his rugged play, Therrien also showed flashes of offensive brilliance, most notably on March 24, when he dazzled fans with a breakaway goal against the Peterborough Petes that wound up as the Ontario Hockey Leagues’ Play of the Night.
Watch here: ohl-play-of-the-night
Therrien received a pass from Ethan Procyszyn, then showcased his skill with a series of backhand-to-forehand moves that completely fooled the goaltender, notching his 20th and final goal of the season. It’s moments like these that have the Battalion staff looking at Therrien as a key piece of their puzzle up front for the 2024-2025 season.
Therrien credits his growth to the opportunity of playing alongside experienced teammates like Arnsby and Dallas Stars prospect Justin Ertel. “I was fortunate enough to play with those guys, and that was huge for me to gain lots of experience and learn a lot of new things,” he says. “I knew that my role was going to be shortened when we made those additions at the deadline, but I think it has prepared me to take on a bigger role this season.”
Known for his “throwback style” of play, Therrien is focusing on rounding out his game to become a more complete, 200-foot player. “I’m working on using all my strengths and getting bigger and stronger, just ultimately being a more confident and all-around player is what I’m trying to work on this summer,” he says. “Just bringing everything together and playing with more confidence, showing everyone what I can really do with more minutes and playing in a bigger role. Being relied on in the D zone in the last couple of minutes of a period and in the big situations.”
Therrien is also embracing his role as a leader on the team, drawing on the lessons he’s learned from past teammates.
“Over the last couple of years, there have been plenty of NHL prospects on this Battalion team, giving me lots of opportunities to learn from good players, drafted players, guys that put up big numbers,” he says. “I’m looking to use what I’ve learned from them to teach the young guys on the team now and be one of the older guys and take that leadership role.”
Therrien’s commitment to leadership and community was on full display when he returned to North Bay early to help at the team’s Hockey Camp. Kids from 5 to 13 years old got the chance to learn from Battalion coaches and players at Memorial Gardens, with Therrien taking pride in giving back to the next generation of hockey players.
“I think it’s super important for us to be role models for the younger kids and be leaders for them,” says Therrien. “I remember being a kid and going to the Oshawa Generals hockey camps and looking up to those guys. So, it’s important for us to get out there and be with the younger kids and share our knowledge.”
As the season approaches, Battalion fans will have another chance to connect with their team at the first annual Fan Fest on September 8 at Memorial Gardens. This event will feature activities for fans of all ages, opportunities to meet players like Therrien, and a chance to get excited about the upcoming season. For Therrien, it’s another opportunity to solidify his bond with the North Bay community, both on and off the ice.
With a new chapter beginning for the Battalion, Jacob Therrien is ready to take the lead, pushing the team toward even greater heights while continuing to inspire the next generation of players and fans.
