Battalion pushes Generals to Game 7 in Oshawa
The North Bay Battalion are back in an Eastern Conference Championship Series Game 7 scenario for the second straight year, and try to become the sixth team in OHL history to come all the way back from a 3-0 series deficit with a win tonight.
The Troops were in command on Sunday at the Memorial Gardens, winning 8-1 in front of a sold out crowd as Owen Van Steensel led the way with two goals and two assists. It was a dominant effort from North Bay as the Battalion didn’t allow a shot on goal until the latter half of the opening period. Big names Sandis Vilmanis, Justin Ertel, Ty Nelson, Liam Arnsby and Dalyn Wakely were all at their best while the shutdown pairing of Tnias Mathurin and Paul Christopoulos continued to pose a challenge for the Oshawa offence.
Anthony Romani was out of the North Bay lineup on Sunday after he heroically stepped-in to score twice in Friday’s 5-4 double-OT win at the Tribute Communities Centre. The Generals remained without key blueliner Connor Punnett, who hasn’t played since he suffered a lower body injury in Game 3.
Monday night’s Game 7 brings out a host of memories for the Battalion, who were tied with the Peterborough Petes 2-2 after two periods in last year’s Game 7 at the Gardens only to lose to the eventual OHL champions 3-2.
“The date was May 8, 2023 and I’ve thought about that night every single day,” said Battalion head coach Ryan Oulahen. “To think about the way we were down in the series and what we’ve gone through in these playoffs, we get a chance to redeem ourselves tomorrow night? This is incredible. I know these guys are pretty excited and to be able to rely on those experiences and talk about the moment and how you’re going to feel, it’s pretty cool to have that and I’m sure these guys are going to rally around that.”
It’ll be an uphill climb for the Generals, who were 1:09 from sweeping the series in Game 4 before a late goal from Paul Christopoulos forced overtime where Sandis Vilmanis rose to the occasion. The Gennies will have an expected sold out home crowd behind them though as they dig deep to overcome Sunday’s lopsided defeat.
“Plain and simple we have to have a better start,” said Oshawa captain Stuart Rolofs following Game 6. “They’ve had the better start in all six games and if we want to win we have to change that tomorrow.”
The Generals have scored first in just five of their 16 games so far in these playoffs.
“Our starts haven’t been great in this series, and it’s not our young kids, our top six guys need to be better,” said Generals head coach Derek Laxdal. “North Bay’s back has been against the wall. They were half-an-inch from being eliminated three games ago. Now our backs are against the wall and that’s got to change our mindset a little bit as a group.”
Battalion netminder Mike McIvor continues to impress after taking over for an injured Dom DiVincentiis in the opening round of the playoffs. The 18-year-old is 10-4 with a 2.46 goals-against average, .917 save percentage and one shutout over 14 contests. He stopped 35-of-36 shots in Sunday’s Game 6 victory.
Previous OHL teams to overcome a 3-0 series deficit include the 2019 Guelph Storm (Round 2 vs. London), 2014 Peterborough Petes (Round 1 vs. Kingston), 2010 Windsor Spitfires (West Final vs. Kitchener), 2005 Windsor Spitfires (Round 1 vs. Sault Ste. Marie) and 1988 Ottawa 67’s (Round 1 vs. Oshawa).
The series so far:
Game 1 – North Bay 2 at Oshawa 4 – (OSH: Rolofs 2G / Ritchie 2A)
Game 2 – North Bay 0 at Oshawa 3 – (OSH: Oster 22 SV SO / Ritchie 2A)
Game 3 – Oshawa 5 at North Bay 2 – (OSH: Ritchie 2G, 1A / Sennecke 1G, 1A)
Game 4 – Oshawa 4 at North Bay 5 – OT (NB: Vilmanis OTW / Christopoulos 1G, 1A)
Game 5 – North Bay 5 at Oshawa 4 – 2OT (NB: Nelson OTW / Romani 2G)
Game 6 – Oshawa 1 at North Bay 8 – (NB: Van Steensel 2G, 2A / Vilmanis 1G, 2A)
Generals Game 7 History (since 1981) – (5-6):
2004 – lost to Mississauga in 1st round / 2003 – defeated Peterborough in 1st round / 1999 defeated Barrie in 2nd round / 1998 lost to Kingston in 1st round / 1995 lost to Peterborough in 1st round / 1993 defeated Belleville in 1st round / 1992 lost to Sudbury in 1st round / 1990 defeated Kitchener in OHL Championship / 1988 lost to Ottawa in 1st round / 1987 defeated North Bay in OHL Championship / 1982 lost to Ottawa in Semi-Finals
Battalion Game 7 History (prior to 2014 in Brampton) – (5-1):
2023 – lost to Peterborough in East Final / 2023 – defeated Barrie in 2nd round / 2016 defeated Peterborough in 1st round / 2014 defeated Niagara in 1st round — 2010 defeated Kingston in 1st round / 2004 defeated Ottawa in 1st round