2025-26 Season Preview: North Bay Battalion

The North Bay Battalion (28–34–6–0) enter 2025–26 with a young roster that is hungry to excel in the Eastern Conference after a first-round exit last spring. Leading the way this season will be goaltender Mike McIvor, who anchored the crease last season and proved to be one of the OHL’s most reliable netminders. They will also have to lean on veterans, like Lirim Amidovski, to provide leadership presence to their new young core, including European talent Evgeny Dubrovtsev, as well as forwards Cam Warren and Jax Pereira, who are poised to make an immediate impact. With McIvor as the backbone, a mix of established returnees, and a wave of promising rookies, North Bay has the tools to push for contention. Still, the team’s success will hinge on whether its young core can handle heightened expectations, translate potential into consistent performance, and mesh quickly with the influx of new faces.

 

Recent Transactions

*- denotes conditional draft pick

DATE	TEAM	TRANSF.	TO	TEAM	TRANSF.
Jun. 18	NB	Jacob Therrien		OS	KIT 3 2026 OS 5 2028 OS 2 2029 OS 4 2029*
Jun. 13	NB	Reyth Smith		NIAG	GUE 3 2026 NIAG 8 2028

 

Futures Watch – a list of some of the new faces fans should be keeping an eye on as the team prepares for the upcoming campaign.

 

Five Questions Heading Into 2025-26:

After a first-round exit in the OHL Playoffs last spring, the Flint Firebirds enter the new season with some new faces and a lot to be excited about. To get a sense of what’s ahead, we asked three media members who cover the team closely to weigh in on the biggest storylines for the upcoming season.

 

1. Who is your breakout candidate?

Ranjan Rupal (Play-by-play, YourTV): Ihnat Pazii, Nick Wellenreiter, Lirim Amidovski – Three names stand out based on how strongly they closed out last year: Ihnat Pazii, Nick Wellenreiter, and Lirim Amidovski. The Ukrainian, Pazii, missed the entire first half of last season with injury, took a minute to find his legs, showed offensive creativity and confidence with the puck down the stretch, suggesting he could take on a bigger scoring role. A testament to his character, Pazii used the injury time off to massively improve his strength and conditioning, and it translated to a great second half, often electrifying the crowd at the Boart Longyear Memorial Gardens with elite speed and a terrifyingly wicked shot.  His linemate, Nick Wellenreiter, one of the first BCHL players to jump to the OHL, is a high hockey-IQ, two-way speedster whose consistency improved steadily upon arrival.  He fit in seamlessly with his coaches, Matt Marquardt in particular, and teammates on a rebuilding club. I look to Wellenreiter to emerge as a reliable impact player in all situations.  Lastly, I love the way Lirim Amidovski plays, a 9th-round Priority Selection pick who worked hard, optimized his skill set, and was selected by Minnesota in the 4th round of the 2025 NHL Draft. Amidovski is old school, fast and fearless, moving up the wing like a freight train. He invites contact, seeks it out even, taking a road that’s less travelled for a reason, that being the shortest distance between two points, to claim his spot in front of opposing nets. Amidovski displayed strong development in his game late in the season, showing that he’s ready to translate that growth into more minutes and responsibility. Each of these players has momentum on their side, making them prime candidates to take a big step forward.

 

Greg Theberge (Colour commentator, YourTV): Ryder Cali – I watched him through training camp and feel he was one of the best players on the ice.

 

Kortney Kenney (Reporter, BayToday.ca): Parker Vaughan – I got to watch him a lot last year in Barrie as well, and he looked to take his game to another level when he came over in the Romani/Van Steensel trade. When you’re traded for two beloved players, it’s easy to put a lot of pressure on the 17-year-old, but I really think he can handle it. He was taken fifth overall in 2024, so he has the pedigree to be the guy, and I think getting 32 games under his belt in the green and yellow will really help him springboard into this season.

 

2. What’s the Battalion’s biggest question mark entering 2025-26?

Rupal: Can they handle heightened expectations? – The biggest question mark facing the Battalion in 2025-26 is whether they can handle the weight of heightened expectations. No longer labelled a rebuilding club or flying under the radar, the team enters the season with the early consensus that they have the depth to roll four lines consistently. That shift in perception creates pressure — and the spotlight will fall especially on last year’s rookies. Forwards Parker Vaughan, Ryder Carey, and Ryder Cali, along with defensemen Kent Greer and Aaron Enright, must take the difficult but crucial next step in their development. If this young core can elevate their games and adjust to being relied upon nightly, the Battalion could prove the hype justified; if not, managing that leap from promise to performance may define the season.

 

Theberge: Defence corps – They need to establish a good puck-moving defenceman or even two, for that matter. Keeping my eye on Trent Greer and also Jonathan Kapageridis.

 

Kenney: Ryder Carey – The former first-round pick (16th overall) in 2024 had some struggles in his first go-around in the league last year, but showed some flashes where you could see why North Bay invested a first-round pick in him. If he shows growth this year, it will greatly enhance the Battalion’s forward depth.

 

3. Who will the Battalion’s top NHL Draft prospect be by the end of the season?

Rupal: Parker Vaughan – As the Battalion looks ahead to the 2026 NHL Draft, several names from their roster could be in the mix. Up front, Parker Vaughan continues to build on his offensive reputation, with scouts already familiar with the dynamic forward who arrived in North Bay as part of Barrie’s “Troops trifecta” endeavour, the Colts eventually prying Anthony Romani and Owen Van Steensel away from the Battalion. Former 16th overall Priority Selection pick Ryder Carey has carved out a role with a feisty, competitive edge that evokes comparisons to Liam Arnsby, making him an intriguing two-way candidate. Meanwhile, Ryder Cali remains more of a mystery — the Greyhounds’ former 1st Round Priority Selection pick spent last season in the OJHL, but impressed in limited OHL action with his size and skill, leaving fans eager to see how the 6-foot-2, 209-pound forward adapts in a full-time role. The wild card may be Russian import Evgeny Dubrovtsev, whose strength down the middle could make him a legitimate draft target if his preseason flashes translate into consistent production. On the back end, Kent Greer’s steady progression — shaped by mentorship under veteran Jacob Leblanc and the tutelage of assistant coach Bill Houlder — has him developing into a poised, creative defender with pro upside, shades of – okay, so hear me out – a Lane Hutson-type. Together, this group highlights North Bay’s growing reputation as a team that produces legitimate NHL prospects.

 

Theberge: Ryder Cali

 

Kenney: Parker Vaughan – When it comes to the Battalion’s top NHL draft prospect, I have to go back to Parker Vaughan. If he can have the season that he seems capable of, it will be hard for NHL scouts to ignore him. Mike McIvor is also still eligible for the draft, but it is more rare for someone passed up twice to go.

 

4. Which new addition are you most excited to see?

Rupal: Evgeny Dubrovtsev & Arseny Pronin – It could be that six of the 22 players on the opening night roster will be new faces.  Team President and Director of Hockey Operations, Adam Dennis, points out that this year’s camp was a rarity in one respect, with considerably more talent incoming than outgoing, meaning some tough decisions had to be made.  Credit that “nice-to-have” problem to a fully engaged scouting staff led by Charlie Abbott, one that has packed the pipeline with talent rather admirably. That said, I’m always excited to see the influx of European talent, and which player might be our next Matvey Petrov.  So Evgeny Dubrovtsev and Arseny Pronin will be intriguing prospects for a team that, along with Ihnat Pazii, will now have the full Euro complement, a stark contrast to last season, which saw Coach Ryan Oulahen’s club with no healthy Euros on the roster for a stretch.

 

Theberge: Cam Warren – Very quick start-up speed and excellent puck handling skills… High compete level… Plays way above his size.

 

Kenney: Cam Warren & Jax Pereira – I have two incoming players I am really excited to watch. The first is Cam Warren, and when you’re drafted sixth overall, it’s easy to see why. He’s the highest draft pick for North Bay since Ty Nelson in 2020, and he put up a staggering 63 points with the Jr. Canadiens U16 AAA program in Toronto. The Battalion have gone to the Jr. Canadiens well a few times since John Winstanley came around, and it has worked out well for the team. The other player is Jax Pereira, taken 67th overall in this past year’s OHL priority selection. He might spend his season with their affiliate, the Powassan Voodoos in the NOJHL, but he looked unbelievable in Powassan’s summer camp in July and put up a goal with the Troops in the preseason. I expect that if he does go to the Voodoos, he will get into a few games with North Bay throughout the year and will electrify the Seventh Man.

 

5. Who will the Battalion’s MVP be in 2025-26?

Rupal: Mike McIvor – My prediction for team MVP has to be goaltender Mike McIvor. Harry Neale once quipped, “If you have a goalie, it’s 70% of your team. If you don’t, it’s 100%,” and with a respectful nod to the late Ken Dryden, the Battalion are fortunate to have theirs. McIvor finished last season among the OHL’s top-5 in save percentage with a .910 mark, showcasing his technical soundness, relentless compete level, and refusal to quit on any play. Under the mentorship of Dom DiVincentiis, he learned how to prepare like a pro, so when he was called upon to relieve an injured DiVincentiis in the 2024 playoffs, he was ready – and he hasn’t looked back since. Though undrafted, McIvor has already attended a pair of pro camps with the Anaheim Ducks, a tantalizing taste of what could lie ahead and, under goaltending coach Nate McDonald’s watchful eye, if McIvor can anchor the crease with the same confidence and consistency this season, he won’t just be the Battalion’s most valuable player – he’ll put himself squarely on the radar of the professional ranks.

 

Theberge: Mike McIvor – He flew underneath the radar in his draft year… Hopefully, he can make a great second impression on NHL scouts.

Kenney: Mike McIvor – The Battalion’s MVP in 2025-26 to me will be a repeat of their MVP in 2024-25, Mike McIvor. “Cash Money” was the goalie of record in 22 of North Bay’s 28 wins in the regular season. In a year of inconsistent play from the team, McIvor posted a .910 save percentage and a 2.86 GAA. How he hasn’t been drafted yet is mind-blowing. To have Joe Vrbetic, to Dom DiVincentiis, and now McIvor, North Bay has been spoiled with play in the blue paint.