Fast Five: Kingston vs. North Bay
On this St. Patrick’s Day, the Kingston Frontenacs are gearing up to don special green uniforms in celebration of the occasion. They’ll be facing off against the North Bay Battalion at Slush Puppie Place, with the puck set to drop at 2:00pm. Fans will have the opportunity to bid on the game-worn jerseys online through an auction, with proceeds going to support the Hockey Diversity Alliance, BGC South East, KAHMA, and the Kingston Frontenacs Grassroots Hockey Program (Visit Auction).
Today’s matchup between the Battalion and Frontenacs carries significant playoff implications, possibly setting the stage for a first-round playoff encounter. With only a handful of games left in the 2023-24 regular season, both teams are jockeying for postseason position. The Frontenacs currently occupy the 7th seed, boasting an 8-point lead over the recently clinched Barrie Colts. Meanwhile, the Battalion are locked in a tie with the Mississauga Steelheads for the Central Division lead. If the playoffs began today, the Frontenacs and Battalion would be squaring off in a highly anticipated showdown.
Tune-In:
Fans have the opportunity to tune in to each game in real-time through Fronts Radio, featuring Kingston’s Pure Country 99 as its driving force. The renowned play-by-play announcer, Jim Gilchrist, will be narrating the games, both home and away.
Listen Live (Streaming): Pure Country 99 https://chl.ca/ohl-frontenacs/fronts-radio-streaming-live-on-pure-country-99/
Watch: YourTV Kingston | https://watch.chl.ca/ (subscription needed)
Five storylines in today’s game:
The Series to Date
Today’s game marks the culmination of a four-game season series between these two adversaries. North Bay currently enjoys the upper hand in the series, holding a 2-1-0-0 record. The Frontenacs secured their sole victory on December 7th, 2023, in a hard-fought 4-3 contest on the road. Kingston enters the game seeking redemption after their previous encounter on February 11th, where they suffered a resounding 9-0 defeat to conclude a challenging road trip.
Battle on Home Ice
Over the past five seasons, the North Bay Battalion have proven to be a formidable opponent for the Kingston Frontenacs. The Troops boast a 13-6-0-0 record over that span, showcasing their dominance. However, when playing on home ice, Kingston has consistently given the Battalion a tough challenge. During the same five-year period, the Frontenacs hold a respectable 4-4-0-1 record when hosting the Battalion in the Limestone City.
Challenge = Confidence
Today’s matchup holds immense importance for the Frontenacs as they strive to build momentum and fortify their position heading into the playoffs. A formidable showing against a historically challenging adversary such as North Bay has the potential to not only secure a pivotal victory but also infuse the team with a vital surge of confidence, crucially shaping their mindset as they prepare for the intensifying battles of postseason play looming on the horizon.
Player to Watch: North Bay
The Frontenacs will be tasked with trying to slow down the OHL’s top scorer and points leader, Anthony Romani (#15). Through 64 games this season, Romani has scored 52 goals and he has a total of 104 points. Through 3 games against Kingston this season, Anthony has scored once and collected 5 assists for 6 points.
Player to Watch: Kingston
Linus Hemström has been the top scorer for the Kingston Frontenacs this season against the North Bay Battalion. In 3 games, Linus has scored a goal and contributed 5 assists for 6 points. Through 58 games this season Hemström has collected 23 goals and 29 assists for 52 points. He currently sits 5th on the team in scoring.
Next Game:
March 22nd, 2024
Kingston Frontenacs vs. Ottawa 67’s
Slush Puppie Place | 7:00pm Puck Drop
Bruce Power Night
The Kingston Frontenacs will go head-to-head with division rivals, the Ottawa 67’s, on Friday, March 22 at Slush Puppie Place. With the 2023-24 regular season nearing its end, both teams are revving up for the playoffs. Expect fireworks as these fierce rivals collide. Secure your tickets now!