The North Bay Battalion lost 6-2 to Kingston on Sunday afternoon at Memorial Gardens.
“The compete [level] was okay. I guess it went in spurts,” says Ryan Oulahen, Head Coach and Assistant General Manager. “There were times where we had really good offensive zone time, doing a lot of really good things. Then we just gave up a blunder. A really, really bad mistake at wrong times today and when it ends up in the back of your net it just deflates everything.”
Captain Owen Van Steensel scored both Battalion goals.
With North Bay’s next game is in Brampton against the Steelheads on Friday, Oulahen says that gives them a good week of practice.
“Finally a week where you get three practice days in it,” he says. “Probably what our team needs the most right now. Getting back on track and start feeling good about ourselves.”
Before Sunday’s game, North Bay acquired centre Briir Long from the Brantford Bulldogs.
“Briir’s a kid that we’ve known for a long time, he started as a billet brother to Dan Walker,” says Adam Dennis, Team President and Director of Hockey Operation. “A player that we really covet. He works hard, has got a nose for the net and a guy we feel can really help us now and into the future.”
In exchange for the 17-year-old is from Astorville, Brantford received North Bay’s fifth-round pick in the 2027 OHL Priority Selection.
Long’s brother, Kaedyn was a 13th-round selection by the Battalion in 2021.
The left winger is now the captain of the junior B St. Thomas Stars of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.
