As a fan of professional hockey, you only have to look at the young NHL superstars who have become the face of the league to understand the value of going to watch North Bay Battalion games. You never know which of the talented young players who annually “lace’em up” for the Battalion are going to wind up playing in the NHL, and that makes going to North Bay Memorial Gardens a great opportunity to witness greatness in the making.
“We’ve been really lucky to have quite a few of those guys come through out program over the years,” said Adam Dennis, Battalion President and Director of Hockey Operations. “I think what’s really special about all those guys is they’re not just great players and fun to watch on the ice. When you’re in a small community like North Bay, you get a real feel for what type of people they are, how connected they get to the community even if it’s just a stop. It’s cool to see them not just on the ice, but you get to know them as individuals as well.”
The Battalion are coming off another strong season that saw them win the Emms Trophy as Central Division Champions for the third straight year. With the 2024-25 season already underway, Dennis said he expects to see the Battalion remain competitive thanks to the ongoing strength of the lineup and a consistent work ethic from each player.
“First of all, we are continuing the same culture and identity that has given us success over the past few seasons,” said Dennis. “I think that hard working mentality early on in the season is something we’ve already seen with the group. That’s a real positive. We’ve got great goaltending. I know Mike McIvor is injured right now but both he and Charlie Larocque have provided stable goaltending. We have our high scorers delivering. The new players are all quite exciting to watch. We have a good young defence. It’s been a good start so far, and that hard-working mentality is going to give us a chance to win a lot of games this year.”
As hard as the players work on the ice, it’s the efforts they put in off the ice that continues to impress Dennis. In a tight community like North Bay, Dennis said it’s important for players to demonstrate their commitment to becoming both role models and contributing members.
“I think we’re really focused on doing right by the community. It’s one of the first lessons we feel obligated to get across to players. If you make it to the NHL, you don’t get paid millions just by being a good hockey player. You have to represent the NHL, the city you play in, and your team. We want to be partners and help out the community when we can. Minor hockey is one area where we want to be involved. A lot of people come see a hockey game for different reasons. We want to make sure that we’re not just putting out a good product on the ice, we’re creating an environment that’s social, interactive, fun for kids and family.”
For more information or to buy your tickets for any game this season, visit the North Bay Battalion online.