There’s no lead safe at Battalion camp
NORTH BAY, Ont. – Mathew Santos scored three goals to lead Team White to a somewhat unconventional 8-7 victory over Team Green on Friday in the second intrasquad game at the North Bay Battalion’s Ontario Hockey League training camp.
The scoreboard at Memorial Gardens erroneously showed Green with the 8-7 lead, prompting White coach John Goodwin to pull goaltender Evan Cormier in an attempt to tie the score. Green failed to capitalize on the vacant net, and White escaped with its lead intact.
Mike Baird, Austin Eastman, Shawn Tessier, Jake Derkach and Brett McKenzie also scored for the winners. Scoring for Green, coached by Ryan Oulahen, were Brandon Robinson, Brett Storr, Nick Paul, Matt MacLeod, Vincent Praplan, Marcus McIvor and Daniel Volpe. Stan Butler, director of hockey operations and head coach, watched from rinkside.
Six goaltenders again played one 25-minute period apiece, as they did in White’s 7-5 victory Thursday. For White, Garrett Forrest gave up three goals, Jacob Kment four and Cormier none. In the Green crease, Brendan O’Neill allowed two goals, Eric Pitcher three and Jake Smith three.
A total of 43 players took part Friday after right winger Christian Cella, a 15th-round pick in the 2013 OHL Priority Selection, left camp. He suffered a possible broken wrist in a fall on the ice the previous day.
The Battalion’s first training camp in North Bay ends after an intrasquad game at 9 a.m. Saturday. The Troops open a five-game preseason schedule at 2 p.m. Sunday against the host Kitchener Rangers and visit the Guelph Storm at 2 p.m. Monday.
