On Santa Claus Parade day in North Bay, the Battalion warmed the bodies of their faithful fans who braved the first wintry day of the season to watch the floats go by, and who also came to Memorial Gardens to watch their beloved team in action, as they defeated the Barrie Colts 4-3 (1-0 in the shootout).
Befitting the holiday theme, Head Coach Stan Butler was in an especially jolly mood following the win, but not only because of the result. He spoke glowingly about having had the opportunity to watch his daughter's Durham Dragons special hockey team take on the North Bay North Stars Sundaymorning.
"You gain an appreciation for life," explained Butler, "those kids love hockey too, and for them to have a place where they can play against their equals, and have fun and enjoy it...those are things that those kids will remember forever, and it's great to see that happen."
As far as the overall play of the Battalion, Butler said, "We had to win that game today, I thought we played pretty good the first two periods, and we're 3-3, and you can't lose those types of games. Give them credit, they battled back, but we don't want to drop those types of games."
Both teams were coming off losses, North Bay 8-3 to the powerful London Knights in an away game Friday night, and Barrie, 7-3 to Ottawa at home Saturday afternoon.
There figured to be some offensive fireworks, as Barrie had allowed and OHL-high 94 goals in 22 games, and sat last in the OHL in team points, but some timely puck-stopping ended up being the story of this game.
The Colts battled back to force overtime, but it was Battalion starter Mat Woroniuk who kept the Troops alive at the end of the third, in overtime, and the shootout, with his goaltending heroics.
"Coming out here, winning in front of this crowd, it was a good day," said Woroniuk, once his accomplishment had set in. Woroniuk also noted that Sunday's game was his biggest win to date in major junior hockey.
Butler called the way the game played out "interesting," observing that his netminder seems to perform well in pressure situations like the shootout.
Ninety seconds into the game, Zach Poirier took a Brad Chenier pass just outside the Barrie blueline, went in all alone on Colts starter David Ovsjannikov and scored top-shelf, giving the Battalion an early 1-0 lead.
The Troops found the Colts' leaky defence to be the gift that just kept on giving, as just 23 seconds after the Poirier tally, the Troops struck again, this time Brett Hargrave beating Ovsjannikov from in close. It was Hargrave's 10th goal of the season, assisted by Brady Lyle and Daniil Verity, making it 2-0 Troops.
Just when it appeared that the rout might be on, the Battalion went to the man advantage. With Colts forward Kirill Nizhnikov in the penalty box for high-sticking, North Bay gave up a shorthanded breakaway goal to Cordell James, who beat Woroniuk, in for a rare start in place of OHL minutes-played leader Brent Moran. Anthony Stefano had the lone assist on James' ninth of the campaign.
Considering their earlier success while shorthanded, it was surprising how vigorously Barrie coach Dale Hawerchuk expressed his distaste for a kneeing call on Barrie winger Aidan Brown that led to the Battalion's second powerplay opportunity of the game.
The Colts did manage to kill off the minor, and an entertaining opening period ended with the Battalion holding a 14-5 advantage in shots and a 2-1 lead in the game.
The Troops got off to a quick start in the second, as well, as Steve Harland extended the lead to 3-1 with a powerplay marker. Harland's 12th, assisted by Brett McKenzie and Adam Thilander, came at 1:05 of the second.
Verity had a brilliant chance shortly after the Harland goal. Looking at an open net, Verity lifted the puck, but Ovsjannikov did his best Dominik Hasek impression, flinging his pads into the air to stop the sure goal.
The plucky Colts kept hanging around, and despite being outshot 21-7, were only down 3-2 after James scored his second of the game, a powerplay goal, from Lucas Chiodo.
Woroniuk, on how he coped with seeing so few shots until late, said, "It's tough. Just keep the feet moving, try to keep your mind in the game, stay active, so that when you do get a shot, you're ready to go."
On yet another Colts powerplay, this one stemming from a borderline holding call on captain Riley Bruce, Kade Landry scored the equalizer, beating Woroniuk to even the score at 3-3.
Late in the period, with Bruce off again for roughing, the Troops rallied to kill off the minor and head to the intermission with a 25-10 advantage in shots-on-goal, and the game tied 3-3.
Just under two minutes into the third period, rookie Adam McMaster was felled by a blind-side hit by Nizhnikov. McMaster laid on the ice for several minutes and was eventually helped to the Battalion dressing room. The penalized Colt received a five-minute major for the dangerous hit and a game misconduct. There was no word on McMaster's condition at the time of publication.
The Troops continued to pepper the Colts, leading the shot count by 33-11 with six minutes to play.
McKenzie took a slashing penalty at 13:55, but the Troops killed off the penalty, and then went on the offensive, looking to end the game in regulation time.
Woroniuk had not faced many shots to that point but came up big with a game-saving stop with seconds to play in regulation. The Troops held a 34-17 margin in shots.
In 3-on-3 overtime, Poirier almost ended the affair the way it began, but he was denied by the Colts' goalie.
Seconds later, with McKenzie defending a potential 2-on-1, the puck slid under the Battalion forward, to Zachary Magwood, who broke in alone on Woroniuk. The Battalion netminder stood tall and made a huge save, again keeping the Troops' hopes alive.
The rookie goalie again saved the day, with a poke check, and a stop on a Colts 2-on-0. Although the Troops had controlled play for much of the afternoon, the Battalion were fortunate to have the opportunity for a shootout win, thanks to Woroniuk.
Woroniuk stayed hot in the skills competition, denying Anthony Stefano, James and Giordano Finoro (with some help from his posts) in the shootout, while Adam Thilander scored the deciding goal.
On stopping Cordell James (who had two goals in regulation) in the shootout, Woroniuk admitted that he "always likes stopping the guys who have already scored on him," adding that his shootout game-plan is nothing complicated, just to "wait the shooter out, let him make the first move."
Woroniuk credits the veteran Moran with making his transition easier to the OHL. "He's been huge all year, on and off the ice. We always hang out. He's the best mentor I could ask for," said the rookie netminder.
The Troops next face the Soo Greyhounds Thursday at 7 p.m. at Memorial Gardens.