Battalion signs second round pick Carter Kunopaski
NORTH BAY, Ont. — The North Bay Battalion has signed defenceman Carter Kunopaski to an education and development agreement, the Ontario Hockey League club announced Monday.
North Bay chose Kunopaski from the Ottawa Valley Titans U16s in the second round, 29th overall, of the OHL Priority Selection in April.
Kunopaski, a left shot, is a six-foot-one, 204-pound resident of Pakenham, Ont., who turned 16 on Feb. 14. In 32 regular-season games with Ottawa Valley, he scored four goals and added 21 assists for 25 points.
“We’re delighted to add a young physical defenceman like Carter to our lineup,” said general manager John Winstanley. “He plays a 200-foot game, brings size and intensity and competes hard every night. On top of that, he show natural leadership qualities that we believe will be a big asset in our dressing room as he continues to develop.”
Immediately after the Priority Selection, Winstanley noted that Kunopaski is regularly “punishing guys below the dots.”
“He’s hard to play against on the walls, and he’s (got a) great first pass.”
The first of 15 selections in 2025 to sign, Kunopaski joins a large group of prospective blueliners who saw action with the Battalion last season, numbering overager Bronson Ride, Brayden Turley, Aaron Enright, Zach Wilson, Adrian Manzo, Jonathan Kapageridis, Declan Gallivan, Kent Greer and Sam Rivet.
In addition, North Bay announced Friday the signing of Brandt Harper, who finished 2024-25 with the Des Moines Buccaneers of the United States Hockey League.
