Troops generated pride
NORTH BAY, Ont. — The day after the end of its Ontario Hockey League season brought not only exit meetings for the North Bay Battalion but also ample mention of the pride the young squad generated.
“I told the guys right after the game how proud I am of that group,” coach Ryan Oulahen said Sunday, after a 5-1 decision Saturday night gave the host Brantford Bulldogs a 4-1 win in games in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarterfinal.
“I know it’s an eighth-place finish in the conference, a first-round exit, but I would consider that as proud as any of our teams here in the last few years in terms of what they had to fight through, really from the beginning of the year, playing through injuries and then the direction of the team in the second half.
“Then the last two months was just so much fun, so much fun with these guys, pushing it every day, some magical moments here, especially at Mem Gardens down the stretch run with some really must-win games.
“I thought we gave the No. 1 team in our conference everything they could handle. It’s tough to ask more of the group. We learned a lot. I think this group is primed here now to get after it right away starting next year. I’m really excited for that.”
Brantford led 1-0 after the first period, as every game in the series went to the team scoring first, and outscored the Troops 3-1 in the middle frame.
“When they get that lead, they can just shrink things up in front of their net, and it’s really hard to generate offence,” noted Oulahen. “We feel like we can kind of do the same, our systems are so identical in that regard.
“Last night I really liked our first period. We’re down by one on the road, and then their elite guys just found ways to spread that one open, and give them all the credit.”
Adam Dennis, director of hockey operations, said the Battalion, which failed to advance to the conference final for the first time in four years, saw the development of a solid young roster, one bolstered by trades throughout the season and especially at the January deadline, when Parker Vaughan, Zach Wigle, Adrian Manzo and Jonathan Kapageridis were added.
“I thought for the first time in a few years we were really able to see younger players kind of flourish in their roles, and what we saw at the end of the season was a group that collectively got better.”
Said Dennis: “I think there’s some exciting times ahead here.”
Graduating overagers Wigle, Jacob LeBlanc and Andrew LeBlanc are the only players ineligible to return for the 2025-26 season. All figure to be Tigers next season, the LeBlanc twins with New Jersey’s Princeton University and Wigle at the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York state.
“I think this team definitely has a bright future,” said Jacob LeBlanc. “It’s too bad I’m not going to be able to be a part of it. They have a great group here, a great culture, and I think after the years to come I think they’re going to do some great things.”
LeBlanc particularly praised the work of goaltender Mike McIvor, whom Dennis called the Battalion’s most valuable player.
“Mikey’s been unbelievable for us,” said LeBlanc. “He’s been the backbone for our team all year long.”
