Troops sign Konobelj
NORTH BAY, Ont. — Defenceman Oskar Konobelj has signed a development and education agreement with the North Bay Battalion, the Ontario Hockey League club announced Thursday.
Konobelj, a left shot who stands six-foot-four and weighs 192 pounds, was a sixth-round pick in the 2025 OHL Priority Selection from the Ottawa Jr. 67’s U16s. He turned 17 on May 29.
“Oskar came into camp on a mission to earn a spot on this year’s roster,” said Adam Dennis, director of hockey operations. “He was a standout through development and training camp and has earned this opportunity.
“We look forward to helping him take this next step in his promising young career.”
Konobelj, a native of Kranj, Slovenia, played 33 games last season with the Ottawa Junior Canadians of the junior B Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League, scoring three goals and adding five assists for eight points with 126 penalty minutes. He also played two games with the junior A Nepean Raiders of the Central Canada Hockey League and five games for Slovenia in the U-18 World Junior Championship D1A.
In other news, Alexander Karmanov, Parker Vaughan and Hayden Barch have joined the National Hockey League rookie camps of the San Jose Sharks, Toronto Maple Leafs and Chicago Blackhawks respectively.
Defenceman Karmanov was a seventh-round pick by San Jose in the NHL Draft in June. Right winger Vaughan is a free-agent invitee by Toronto and rearguard Barch is a free agent with Chicago.
The Florida Panthers, who selected winger Shamar Moses in the fifth round in 2025, haven’t invited prospects to camp this year.
The Battalion plays its fourth and final preseason game at 4 p.m. Saturday against the visiting Owen Sound Attack. Fan Fest, highlighted by the red carpet walk, opens at 12 p.m. at Boart Longyear Memorial Gardens, with free admission.
