Battalion celebrates Cents, Paul, bears haul
NORTH BAY, Ont. – Apart from the scoreboard, Friday was a night of celebration for the North Bay Battalion, which donned Centennials whites for the occasion.
The Battalion welcomed Centennials alumni to its Ontario Hockey League game against the Oshawa Generals, conducted the annual teddy bear toss, had a special guest to centre ice and, in a final fillip, learned that Nick Paul made Canada’s roster for the World Junior Championship.
Canada, which lost 2-1 in overtime to Russia in an exhibition game at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre, made its final four cuts to get to the 22-man roster for the tournament, which opens Dec. 26 at Montreal and Toronto. Among three forwards released was Michael Dal Colle of the Generals, who downed the Battalion 5-2.
Paul, who has skated at centre and left wing with the Troops while registering team-leading totals of 19 goals and 34 points in 27 games, is set to become the first Battalion member to play for Canada at the world tourney since Cody Hodgson at Ottawa in 2009, when the franchise was based in Brampton.
Goaltender Alex Auld of the Centennials was the last North Bay representative for Canada in the world tournament, in 2001, when Stan Butler, then and now the Battalion coach, directed the Canadian entry. The Troops’ Vincent Praplan played for Switzerland in 2014.
It was a gala night at Memorial Gardens for the Battalion’s last game before the Christmas break, as a crowd of 3,726, many sporting Centennials sweaters, welcomed 15 alumni of the franchise that relocated to Saginaw in 2002, becoming the Spirit.
The first personage introduced for the ceremonial faceoff was special guest Centa Claus, a reputed close associate of Santa Claus and who, attired in a black-and-yellow outfit befitting his name, later handed out candy to fans.
He was followed to centre ice by Centennials alumni Jason Houle, Tim Favot, Ron Bertrand and Dennis Bonvie. Bonvie, one of the most beloved Cents after amassing 577 penalty minutes in 113 games with North Bay over two seasons ending in 1992-93, received a standing ovation.
The red-carpet contingent included Battalion mascot Sarge as Oshawa captain Josh Brown and North Bay counterpart Marcus McIvor faced off for the puck drop.
Fans had been told that the teddy bear toss was scheduled for the start of the second intermission, but the game was only 16 seconds old when Miles Liberati scored for the Battalion and a teddy bear landed on the ice. The avalanche started tentatively, but soon bears rained down from all corners.
Youth hockey players and the Troops were among those who gathered up the bears and stuffed toys, the final count of which was 1,134, in short order. They’re to be distributed to the Children’s Aid Society of Nipissing and Parry Sound, Low Income People Involvement, North Bay Fire and Emergency Services and the North Bay Regional Health Centre.
“We’re happy to be able to celebrate the Centennials’ history and also to contribute to the enjoyment of the Christmas season by children who might otherwise be left out,” said Battalion owner Scott Abbott.
“To learn after the game that Paul will play for Canada is icing on the cake. Kudos to him.”
The game was the second in which the Battalion has sported Centennials sweaters, socks and helmets. The first was last Jan. 23 against Saginaw, when the Troops wore black-based garb in a 5-1 victory.
