Two rearguards join ranks
NORTH BAY, Ont. — The North Bay Battalion continued a busy week Thursday, with the Ontario Hockey League trade deadline looming at noon Friday.
In the first of two transactions, the Battalion acquired defenceman Adrian Manzo and four OHL Priority Selection picks from the Windsor Spitfires in exchange for blueliner Wyatt Kennedy.
The picks are a second-rounder this year, a third-rounder in 2026, a fourth-rounder in 2027 and a conditional eighth-rounder in 2027. The second-round selection originally belonged to the Kitchener Rangers and the third- and fourth-rounders to the Barrie Colts. The conditional eighth is Windsor’s own.
North Bay then got the rights to defenceman Jonathan Kapageridis and a second-round pick in 2027 from the Sarnia Sting for Kitchener’s second-rounder this year, the Battalion’s eighth-rounder this year and a third-round choice in 2027 that belonged to the Ottawa 67’s.
Kapageridis, a Vaughan, Ont., resident who was the second overall pick in the 2024 Under-18 Priority Selection from the Don Mills Flyers, has played this season with the junior A Cobourg Cougars of the Ontario Junior Hockey League, scoring seven goals and adding 17 assists for 24 points in 22 games.
It was hoped that Kapageridis, a six-foot, 176-pound left shot and University of Vermont commit who turns 18 on May 8, would arrive in North Bay in time to play Thursday night against the Kingston Frontenacs.
“Jonathan brings a maturity to the game that will only strengthen our back end,” said general manager John Winstanley.
“In December, he played with (affiliate centre) Ryder Cali in the 2024 Junior A World Challenge representing Canada East. Jonathan is a smooth-skating, puck-moving defenceman who can contribute on the offensive side of the game.”
Manzo, a six-foot, 183-pound right shot who turned 17 on Aug. 28, was a fifth-round choice in 2023 from his hometown Vaughan Kings U16s, with whom he was a teammate of Kapageridis and Battalion winger Stepan Chukharev.
Manzo had one goal and three assists for four points in 32 games with Windsor after scoring one goal in five OHL games last season, when he played 38 games with the junior B LaSalle Vipers of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, registering eight goals and 21 assists for 29 points.
He is to join the Troops before a Saturday road date with the Brampton Steelheads.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Adrian to the North Bay family,” said Winstanley.
“He fits our style of play and will no doubt be a key factor in years to come for the Battalion. Adrian is a puck-moving defenceman with good feet who has the ability to contribute offensively.”
Adam Dennis, president and director of hockey operations, said the Kennedy trade was in some respects a wild card.
“Trading Wyatt was not something we were expecting to do heading into 2025, nor was it something that we wanted to do,” noted Dennis.
“The new rules surrounding National Collegiate Athletic Association eligibility have created uncertainty for some of the overage candidates for next season. It was made clear that there is a possibility that it was something that Wyatt may explore, so we needed to do what we felt was best for the club.
“Adrian and Jonathan are two players we’ve followed for some time now and who will be a big help for our current group. Acquiring the picks will afford our scouting staff the ammunition to find more great future Battalion down the road.
“We want to thank Wyatt for all his contributions to our team and community and welcome the Manzo and Kapageridis families to North Bay.”
Kennedy, a Vars, Ont., resident who turns 20 on March 27, was a third-round choice in the 2021 Priority Selection from the Rockland Nationals U16s. He has one goal and 10 assists for 11 points in 36 games this season, with career totals of 173 games, five goals, 32 assists and 37 points.
North Bay, which has made four trades in five days, holds 16 selections, including its own second-rounder, in the 15-round 2025 Priority Selection to be conducted in April.
On Sunday, right winger Parker Vaughan, overage centre Zach Wigle and four conditional Priority Selection picks were acquired from Barrie for right winger Anthony Romani and overage left winger Owen Van Steensel.
In a Tuesday deal with the Saginaw Spirit, the Battalion received second- and fourth-round choices in 2028, both of which originated with the Erie Otters, for the Brantford Bulldogs’ second-rounder this year.