Bowness returns as Troops host ‘Dogs

BRAMPTON, Ont. – Battalion captain Ryan Bowness makes his season debut Thursday night when the Troops play host to the Mississauga IceDogs in Ontario Hockey League action. Game time is 7:30 p.m.

The overage right winger missed the first 11 games after suffering a broken rib at the training camp of the National Hockey League’s Columbus Blue Jackets.

I’m definitely excited to be coming back,” Bowness said Wednesday. I had planned on returning around this time. My rib is feeling good, and I can’t wait to get back on the ice.”

Bowness said he felt helpless” sitting in the stands.

But I went down to the dressing room between periods and I tried to get the guys going, give them some words of encouragement and tell them what I had seen from the stands. That’s normally what the coaches do, but I wanted to be involved as much as possible and I hoped it helped a little.”

Bowness said he has seen plenty of improvement in the team over the first 11 games and feels the recent additions of defencemen Rob Smith and Nick Duff are important moves.

I think the team is going in the right direction. We’re starting to get more shots on net, which is something we were focusing on. Both Rob and Nick will help us too. They’re physical guys on the back end, and I think that’s something we need.”

Duff, who was acquired Tuesday from the Kitchener Rangers for a fifth-round pick in the 2004 OHL Priority Selection, will make his Battalion debut against the IceDogs.

I’m excited to be here,” said the 1985-born rearguard, who scored his first OHL goal Saturday night in the Rangers’ 3-3 road tie with the Owen Sound Attack.

I bring a lot of energy and grit and I work hard every night. I try to make good passes and hard hits and I’ll work as hard as possible to kill penalties. I’m a guy who tries to lead by example.”

Duff, who played 27 games with Kitchener as a rookie last season, didn’t see any playoff or Memorial Cup action with the club, but he hopes the experience he gained as a member of a championship team will help him in his new home.

I didn’t get to play through the playoffs with the Rangers, but I saw what it took to get there. Those guys battled hard every night, and that’s what it takes to win. I hope that’s something I can pass on to the guys here.”

The Battalion and IceDogs meet for the second time this season. Mississauga earned a 4-3 home-ice overtime victory Oct. 10 and come to the Brampton Centre a point behind the first-place Battalion in the Central Division.

You could tell in the first game that they’re well-coached,” said Bowness. They go out and work hard every shift and they stick to their system. We’ll have to be ready for them from the first shift.”