Troops’ home opener just hours away
NORTH BAY, Ont. – The North Bay Battalion’s inaugural home opener is only hours away, but there’s still much to do for club president Mike Griffin and staff.
Griffin said that as soon as the Battalion gets full access to the renovated Memorial Gardens the final pieces can be put in place for its Ontario Hockey League game against the Peterborough Petes at 7 p.m. Friday.
It’s the first OHL game in North Bay since March 26, 2002, when the Centennials lost a 5-2 decision to the Toronto St. Michael’s Majors in the fourth and final game of an Eastern Conference quarterfinal.
“We can start getting our equipment in and training our staff, whether it’s concession staff or ticket takers or ushers or box office and retail staff. That’s all part and parcel of what we’re responsible for now.
“We’re hours away now. There’s a list as long as my arm that needs to be accomplished, but we will get it done.”
Extensive renovations to Memorial Gardens, which dates to 1955, started in early May. Griffin said the project remains ongoing but that fans shouldn’t be inconvenienced by items still to be completed.
“There should be very little that fans will notice. The elevator to the suite level won’t be available for the first week. The second level, where our offices will be, hasn’t really been touched at this point. There are three additional access points to the building. The building will be brighter and, once they get inside, they’ll notice the changes, whether it’s the new seats or the video board.”
Griffin said the video board, to be operated by students from Canadore College’s media program, will be one of the stars on opening night.
“We had people firing up the video board Tuesday and starting to educate the people who will operate the board, and that will continue until puck drop.
“The OHL isn’t new to North Bay, but the building and the video board are. That’s the show. To me, the biggest thing will be the video board itself. It’s a very impressive piece of equipment and, instead of pyrotechnics that other teams might use, the video board will tell our story.”
Griffin said the pregame ceremony will feature a time-lapse account of arena renovations as well as a number of videotaped interviews.
“A soloist from the North Bay Symphony Orchestra will do the national anthem on the ice. It will be a classy evening and a great opportunity for people to welcome the Battalion.”
North Bay Transit will offer a free shuttle service from Northgate Square starting one hour before game time. Return service is to begin two hours after puck drop.
“Parking was an issue that was raised during our negotiations and will continue to be an issue,” said Griffin. “Hopefully, the shuttle service will be attractive to people coming to games. Parking will be limited at the present time. The city is aware of the issue and is working on it. We hope to have space open up when the renovations are done.”
The Battalion visits the Owen Sound Attack at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and returns home to host the Niagara IceDogs at 2 p.m. on Thanksgiving Monday. The Troops entertain the Plymouth Whalers at 7 p.m. Thursday.
“Construction will continue after the opener,” said Griffin. “Tuesday morning the arena will once again become a construction site until our game Thursday night.”
The Battalion finished a stretch of nine straight road games with a 4-1 win Sunday over the Mississauga Steelheads. The Troops navigated that sojourn with a won-lost-extended record of 5-4-0 for 10 points, first in the Central Division, two points ahead of Mississauga and the Sudbury Wolves.
The home opener was expected to feature the OHL debut of defenceman Jayme Forslund, an 18-year-old who was acquired on waivers from the Barrie Colts, who chose him in the 2011 OHL Priority Selection.
