Series HQ: Brantford vs. North Bay

Game 5 – North Bay Battalion 1 at Brantford Bulldogs 5

• Chicago Blackhawks prospect Nick Lardis shined with a hat trick performance in the series-clinching Game 5 victory for Brantford
• Buffalo Sabres prospect Ryerson Leenders closed out a strong series with another great showing for Brantford stopping 23 shots in the win
• Calvin Crombie had a two point performance with a goal and an assist on Nick Lardis’ game winning goal
• Owen Protz notched his first career OHL playoff goal for the Bulldogs in the second period
• Lirim Amidovski scored the lone goal of the game for Battalion

Game Centre | North Bay Post-Game | Brantford Post-Game

 

Game 4 – Brantford Bulldogs 3 at North Bay Battalion 6

• Ethan Procyszyn secured the game-winner for the Troops in the third period—keeping them alive in the series!
• Two first period goals courtesy of Nolan Laird and Nick Wellenreiter gave the Troops a 2-0 advantage.
• North Bay’s Jacob Therrien scored two goals in the win.
• Nick Lardis and Calvin Crombie cut the Bulldogs’ deficit to one in the second period, but the Bulldog’s just couldn’t hold on to the momentum.
• Mike McIvor made 44 saves on 47 shots, a standout performance.

Game Centre | Brantford Post-Game

 

Game 3 – Brantford Bulldogs 4 at North Bay Battalion 3 – OT

• Blackhawks prospect Marek Vanacker was the overtime hero for the Bulldogs, scoring his second of the night to win it.
• Noah Nelson got the Bulldogs rolling in the first period, but Jacob Therrien responded for the Battalion in the second period to make is 1-1.
• Third period goals by Ethan Procyszyn and Lirim Amidovski evened the score out at three.
• Ryerson Leenders made 31 saves on 34 shots in the win.

Game Centre | Brantford Post-Game | North Bay Post-Game

 

Game 2 – North Bay Battalion 0 at Brantford Bulldogs 3

• Chicago Blackhawks prospect Nick Lardis recorded a pair of goals including an empty netter to seal the game for the Brantford Bulldogs
• NHL Draft prospect Jake O’Brien scored the opening goal of the game for Brantford which would stand as the game winning goal
• Buffalo Sabres prospect Ryerson Leenders made 21 saves for the shutout in Game 2 for Brantford
• New Jersey Devils prospect Cole Brown recorded two assists in the game for the Bulldogs
• North Bay goaltender Mike McIvor stopped 25 of the 27 shots he faced in the loss, keeping the game close all the way to the end

Game Centre | North Bay Post-Game | Brantford Post-Game

 

Game 1 – North Bay Battalion 3 at Brantford Bulldogs 6

• The Bulldogs took an strong lead early in the game as they scored three unanswered in the opening frame courtesy of Nikolas Rossetto, Lucas Moore, and Calvin Moore
• Lirim Amidovski lit the lamp in the second period for the Battalion’s first goal of the 2025 OHL Playoffs
• Washington Capitals prospect and Bulldogs captain Patrick Thomas had a two point performance, scoring the game winning goal and adding an assist on NHL Draft prospect Jake O’Brien’s insurance marker
• Chicago Blackhawks prospect Nick Lardis scored an empty net goal to notch his first of the playoffs in a two point performance
• Nick Wellenreiter and Jacob Therrien also tallied goals in the game for North Bay as they drop Game 1 by a score of 6-3
• Buffalo Sabres prospect Ryerson Leenders played strong when it mattered most as he made 30 saves for the Game 1 victory

Game Centre | Brantford Post-Game

 

(1) Brantford Bulldogs (44-19-5-0) vs. (8) North Bay Battalion (28-34-6-0)

The Brantford Bulldogs had a very strong second half, looking to carry that momentum into the playoffs as they kick-off a first round series against the North Bay Battalion.

Brantford came away disappointed in the first round last spring, falling to a veteran Ottawa 67’s squad in six games. The Dogs return a year older and more experienced with the same dynamic core built upon 71-goal scorer Nick Lardis and the league’s leading assist man in Patrick Thomas.

Having had recent playoff success of their own with three consecutive Eastern Conference Championship appearances, a much younger Battalion squad will be tasked with stopping Brantford’s top-ranked power play. The Troops are fortunate to have a top notch penalty killer in goaltender Mike McIvor, who backstopped them into a playoff spot and has been their most valuable player throughout the course of the season.

Brantford has a well-rounded group built for success this spring. The Troops have the tall task of stopping them in the first round.

Series Schedule:
Game 1: Fri., March 28 – North Bay at Brantford, 7:00pm
Game 2: Sun., March 30 – North Bay at Brantford, 7:00pm
Game 3: Tues., April 1 – Brantford at North Bay, 7:00pm
Game 4: Thurs., April 3 – Brantford at North Bay, 7:00pm
Game 5: Sat., April 5 – North Bay at Brantford, 7:00pm*
Game 6: Sun., April 6 – Brantford at North Bay, 6:00pm*
Game 7: Tues., April 8 – North Bay at Brantford, 7:00pm*

Season Series:
Brantford wins 3-1
Oct. 18 – NB 3 at BFD 2 – OT
Jan. 19 – NB 1 at BFD 2
Jan. 30 – BFD 3 at NB 2
Mar. 13 – BFD 2 at NB 1

Playoff History:
This marks the second time that the Bulldogs and Battalion have met in the OHL Playoffs.
2022 HAM def. NB 4-0 – Conference Final