In a building named perfectly to be the site of such a moving pre-game ceremony honouring current and past military heroes, including North Bay's own Graham Elliott, recipient of France's Knight of the Legion of Honour medal, and war veteran Ralph Diegel, the CIBC Canada Russia series resumed at North Bay's Memorial Gardens.
Team OHL and Team Russia renewed the quest for supremacy in the Canada-wide six-game series in front of 4,221 vocal fans, with Russia holding on for a 4-3 win. The Russian team faced the WHL's best and came away with a split, and have shifted east for two games against Team OHL. The Russians now hold a 2-1 series lead.
Team Ontario Head Coach Kris Knoblauch said he "had trouble finding the right chemistry with the guys, we had some lines that were going well, but it's very difficult. When World Juniors are here, guys are going to have to adjust."
Three participants in the game Thursday have ties to North Bay hockey.
Battalion Head Coach Stan Butler took on the defensive coaching duties for Team Ontario under Erie Otters bench boss Knoblauch.
The two have a unique set of circumstances, as they will be working together for Team OHL this week, and will then return to Memorial Gardens Sunday as adversaries when the Battalion and high-scoring Otters meet.
"It was a great atmosphere especially when we rallied late to tie it up. Stan and I were getting along today, maybe we won't on Sunday," said Knoblauch, "but North Bay is a great place for hockey."
The Troops' leading scorer, Brett McKenzie came out flying, laying two big bodychecks in the first five minutes. McKenzie killed penalties for Team OHL and played more of a defensive role with the all-stars, a different set of responsibilities than he has had as the offensive catalyst in North Bay this season.
"It was weird," not playing an offensive game, "but I just focus on what the coaches are telling me," said McKenzie.
Asked if it was strange to look up at Butler's usual spot behind the bench and see Knoblauch, McKenzie chuckled and said, "I looked up there a few times. After the first period, I got used to it."
"I know how great he is at killing penalties, but also dangerous at creating scoring chances when shorthanded, he's a guy that is good to get the puck out along the wall, good defensive responsibilities, and those kind of guys are very important, guys with more offensive flair and speed," said Knoblauch about McKenzie's performance and all-around game.
Asked what it means as a coach and mentor to see one of his players get the chance to perform on such a stage, Butler responded, "I think it's a great opportunity for Brett, it's a good measuring stick for him. He's a guy that wants to play in the NHL, probably most of the guys that were on the ice tonight are going to play in the NHL, so it gives him an indication of where he's at and where he needs to go."
"I think things went well," it's no fun "to lose, but I think for our first time together we played well," said McKenzie.
Starting between the pipes for Team OHL was Evan Cormier, former Battalion and current Saginaw Spirit goaltender. Besides his stint backing-up Jake Smith for the Troops, the Bowmanville native is a former NOJHL All-Star with the Jr. Trappers in their final season in North Bay in 2013-14.
Cormier took the loss on this night, but Butler was impressed with his play. "I thought Evan made some saves in the third to give us a chance, and that's all you can ask from your goalie."
The New Jersey Devils prospect noted post-game that the Russian speed and size was hard to handle at first. "They definitely came at us pretty hard, it was a transition for me to get from OHL speed to national speed."
The well-spoken and insightful Cormier relayed that playing with a new set of defencemen requires more communication. "Before the game we talk, and try to get to know each other a little bit. We don't have much time, just like a Christmas tournament."
The Russians skated out to a 2-1 first period lead, and German Rubtsov was responsible for both tallies. The Flyers draft pick glanced the first in off of Team Ontario rearguard Logan Stanley's skate and past Cormier.
Team OHL's Michael McLeod evened the score on a powerplay goal assisted by Owen Tippett and Jordan Kyrou.
Rubtsov scored his second on a patient play, waiting for Cormier to go down before tucking the puck into the net behind him.
Shots on goal after one period favoured Team OHL 8-7.
Team OHL came out determined to entertain the near-capacity crowd at Memorial Gardens, and succeeded. Despite some excellent chances and a healthy shot advantage for Team OHL, they could not convert the equalizer.
With seconds to play in the second, Cormier made an outstanding save on Nikita Li, who was in all alone off a Team OHL turnover.
Shots on goal after the second period saw Team OHL holding a 19-15 advantage.
Russian goaltender Vladislav Sukhachev did his best Tretiak impression, stopping all Team OHL chances to start the third period.
At 6:02, Wild draftee Dmitry Sokolov put Team Russia ahead 3-1 off a nifty feed from behind the net from Kirill Belyaev.
With eight minutes to play, Team OHL had a two-man advantage. Tippett fired a point shot off the end boards, Kyrou batted at the loose puck, and Adam Mascherin played the ricochet perfectly, depositing the puck behind Sukhachev, cutting the deficit to 3-2.
The Gardens crowd,sensing a comeback, erupted when Lightning draft pick Anthony Cirelli struck paydirt, tying the game 3-3, with assists to Kyle Capobianco and Givani Smith.
Alas, Kirill Urakov scored moments later, putting Team Russia back on top 4-3. Danila Kvartalnov and Volkov assisted on the game-winner.
Knoblauch said post-game that "the first five or ten minutes were good in the first period, and probably the last 10 minutes of the third period, but in between, we were slow to get to pucks."
Butler added that we "dug ourselves a hole tonight. We had a good push there when we came back, but then to give up a goal the next shift, it just breaks up the momentum that you just generated."
Asked if being back in town felt like a homecoming of sorts, Cormier replied, "it was great to see the fans, it was just like being back home again. It was something really special to be a part of, to come back here."
