Getting to pick first overall in the OHL Priority Selection can be a challenging process for a team. On one hand, you have to come to terms with the fact that you’ve endured a bottom-four finish. On the other hand, you are also given the first choice of the player that could potentially lead your franchise to greener pastures.
For the North Bay Battalion – who finished last place with 38 points in 2019-20 – that player was Ty Nelson.
A couple of months later, they selected Matvey Petrov first overall in the 2020 CHL Import Draft.
Three years down the road, the Battalion are two wins away from appearing in their first OHL Championship Series since the team moved to North Bay in 2013-14.
Nelson and Petrov may be first and second in team scoring, respectively – but they are also essential to North Bay’s leadership group, according to head coach, Ryan Oulahen.
“When you want to change the culture and set things the right way, you want to have kids with personality,” explained the 38-year-old.
“I go say hi to those kids every single day because they’re just amazing people. I can’t say enough good things about them and what they’ve done here for our program.”
For Ty and Matvey – as well as every other member of the 2004 draft class – their time with the Battalion began entirely online due to the Covid-19 pandemic. That didn’t prevent them from making the most of their first years and making their footprint on the organization.
“I spent a lot of time in the pandemic in Zoom calls,” detailed Oulahen.
“Those two were after me every week to jump on Zoom calls with them and to get them a part of things.”
“I think my thought process through that was just kind of like, well, why not take as much advantage as I could and learn the systems and learn how the team plays,” said Nelson.
“If I can’t go out and do it, then why not try and learn.”
That culture change – a focus on hard work, accountability, and camaraderie – began to sink in throughout the lost 2020-21 season. When you watch the Battalion now, they are a cohesive group united under the goal of winning a championship. At the core of everything the organization is trying to accomplish: Nelson and Petrov.
According to General Manager Adam Dennis, who stepped into his role halfway through the 2019-20 season, the biggest influence Petrov has on the team is his relentless love of hockey. If you look through pictures of him playing, it’s not hard to find one where he has a smile on his face.
“He has so much fun playing the game, it’s infectious,” said Dennis.
“If you’re ever at our practices and hear someone yipping or screaming – it’s him.”
According to Dennis, Nelson’s legacy in the city extends far beyond his ability on the ice and the star factor of being a former top pick. From the first day of being drafted, he embraced the community and captivated its people.
“He’s going to be remembered in North Bay for a long time,” he said,
“Even my kids get nervous when they see him – but he’s that kid that goes up and makes them comfortable. His presence is going to be felt for a long time here.”
Nelson, who set a new Battalion franchise record for single-season points by a defenceman in 2022-23, is humble when asked about his impact on the city and on the team. The Kraken prospect is focused on one thing: delivering a championship.
“[I’m] just trying to lead the younger guys and try and coach them through what it’s like,” he explained.
“Obviously [we] just we want to want to get past what we did last year and obviously hopefully make it on to the next round. Just trying to try to be that that bigger piece than I was last year I think is the main part for myself this year.”
The Battalion square off at home against the Peterborough Petes in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Championship Series tonight. Tune in on OHL Live.
