Two of the league’s premier defensive powerhouses will go head-to-head in the Eastern Conference Championship Series as the North Bay Battalion take on the Peterborough Petes starting Friday night at the North Bay Memorial Gardens.
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(2) North Bay Battalion (48-17-2-1) vs. (4) Peterborough Petes (35-29-2-2) – #NBvsPBO
It’s poised to be a hotly-contested battle for the Bobby Orr Trophy this season: both the Petes and Battalion possess uber-talented rosters from top-to-bottom and have plenty to play for.
Two of the league’s top goaltenders in Michael Simpson and Domenic DiVincentiis, will go head-to-head.
The Petes are in search of their first trip to the OHL Championship Series since they were last champions in 2005-06. Captain Shawn Spearing and assistant captains Tucker Robertson and J.R. Avon were all members of the 2019-20 team that was poised to make a deep playoff run before the season came to a premature end. The group has been preparing for another one ever since.
The Battalion were on the receiving end of a sweep in last year’s Eastern Conference Final, falling to the eventual champions: the Hamilton Bulldogs. With much of the same core returning, the Troops have been a contender since the season began and added the requisite depth.
Picked first overall in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection and CHL Import Draft respectively, Ty Nelson and Matvey Petrov have developed into two of the most talented players in the league. Alongside overage forward Kyle McDonald, they sit tied for first in scoring among remaining players (18 pts.). Not fair behind in fourth is centreman Kyle Jackson (13 pts.).
“This core has been together for a good four years now,” said North Bay heach coach, Ryan Oulahen.
“These guys know what’s at stake right now. And a lot doesn’t need to be said in terms of that department from the coaching staff. I think we’re the guides right now.”
The Battalion are ranked first in the postseason with 49 goals for, and much of that is to do with how seamlessly trade additions Pasquale Zito (5-9-14) and Josh Bloom (2-5-7) have fit into the team.
Fellow newcomers Luc Brzustowski and Brayden Hislop have also rounded out the defence with their veteran presence.
After acquiring 50-goal man Brennan Othmann from the Flint Firebirds in November, the Petes went after the big fish at the trade deadline, too. GM Mike Oke prioritized championship pedigree, dealing for Hamilton Bulldogs overage pair Avery Hayes and Gavin White. They have proven themselves to be instrumental for Peterborough thus far.
“It’s the same reason why London went out and grabbed a few of those guys too,” Petes head coach Rob Wilson explained.
“They know [what it takes to win and] the length of time each series can take and the struggles and the challenges you go through.”
The Petes finished the season with a 5-6-1-0 record in March, which evoked questions about whether they were ready to take the next step in the postseason. Internally, however, the focus was on being prepared to flip the switch for Game 1.
“We tried a lot of different things during the regular season: different line combinations, power plays, different penalty-kill combinations. We had so many different things we were trying to do,” said Wilson.
“I wasn’t really concerned about where we finished in the standings and I made that clear many times. That’s sometimes not an easy statement to make, but it was the truth. I knew we had quality here.”
Wilson, who has been in charge of the Peterborough bench since 2018, has been proven right thus far: the Petes swept the Sudbury Wolves in the opening round and dethroned the Hamilton Spectator Trophy winners – the Ottawa 67’s in round two.
Ahead of the series opener on Friday, both sides praised the fans and their crucial role in team success.
“It’s just pure junior hockey right now,” said Oulahen.
“I’m sure that the same thing is happening in Peterborough. You know, you’re driving around town and people are honking at you. These guys are getting treated like celebrities right now,” he added.
“It’s a fun time of year in those small markets. I mean, this is what the city bleeds for.”
“Having the PMC as loud as it was when when when we were trying to close out Game 6 there, it was unbelievable,” said Petes captain, Shawn Spearing.
“I know North Bay fans are unbelievable. It’s going to be a hostile environment – and it’s the same thing for the PMC.”
Season Series:
North Bay wins 4-0-0-0
Oct. 6 – NB 3 at PBO 1
Oct. 13 – PBO 1 at NB 3
Dec. 3 – NB 3 at PBO 0
Mar. 16 – PBO 3 at NB 5
Playoff History:
This will be Peterborough and the North Bay Battalion’s second-ever meeting in the OHL Playoffs.
– 2016 NB def. PBO 4-3 – 1st Round / 2009 BRAM def. PBO 4-0 – 1st Round
Series Schedule:
Game 1 – Friday, April 28 at North Bay, 7:00 pm
Game 2 – Sunday, April 30 at North Bay, 2:00 pm
Game 3 – Tuesday, May 2 at Peterborough, 7:05 pm
Game 4 – Wednesday, May 3 at Peterborough, 7:05 pm
Game 5 – Friday, May 5 at North Bay – 7:00 pm*
Game 6 – Sunday, May 7 at Peterborough – 7:05 pm*
Game 7 – Monday, May 8 at North Bay – 7:00 pm*
*- if necessary
