(2) North Bay Battalion (39-20-7-2) vs. (5) Sudbury Wolves (38-23-4-3)
North Bay Series Preview
A long-anticipated playoff series in Northern Ontario sees North Bay and Sudbury meet in the OHL Playoffs for the first time since 1992. Interesting fact: Ken MacKenzie was the head coach of the Sudbury Wolves for that second round series, one North Bay went on to sweep in four games. The Centennials, who featured current Wolves defence consultant Drake Berehowsky on the blueline, would lose to the Soo Greyhounds in Game 7 of the OHL Championship Final that spring.
Fast forward 32 years, and Ken MacKenzie is the head coach of the Sudbury Wolves, a squad that, like its 1992 predecessor who featured the likes of eventual NHLers in Glen Murray, Derek Armstrong and Brandon Convery, has some guys that can put the puck in the net.
Sudbury comes off a five-game series triumph over a higher-seeded Mississauga Steelheads squad. The Wolves did what they do best in the first round: score goals. Sudbury scored five or more in three of their four victories against the Steelheads, with OHL regular season scoring champion David Goyette leading the way offensively with nine points (4-5–9).
Sporting a lineup loaded with big names in San Jose Sharks first round pick Quentin Musty and St. Louis Blues first round sharpshooter Dalibor Dvorsky, the Wolves are hungry for a shot at North Bay starting Thursday night at the Gardens.
The Central Division champion Battalion knocked-off the Kingston Frontenacs in five games, but came out of the first round series with some significant losses as starting goaltender Dom DiVincentiis and leading goal-scorer Anthony Romani both went down with injuries. Captain Liam Arnsby was assessed a six-game suspension in Game 4 of the opening round as he enters this series against Sudbury with five games yet to serve.
“I don’t know if it’s, say, pressure on you but, when you know you don’t have certain players in the lineup as a coach, you have to move players around,” Battalion head coach Ryan Oulahen told North Bay media on Wednesday.
“There are a lot of different things that I’m kind of going into the game with a plan, but also ad-libbing in terms of who’s bringing it on that particular night. So looking forward to the challenge.”
Rookie netminder Mike McIvor has stepped-in and played well or the Battalion, winning three of his four first round starts. Third-year centreman Dalyn Wakely sits tied for the OHL playoff lead in goals with six, piling up 10 points over five games.
The series presents a big opportunity for this Battalion group that sports a few veteran names that have made two prior trips to the Eastern Conference Championship Series in veterans like Wakely, blueliners Ty Nelson and Tnias Mathurin and winger Owen Van Steensel.
North Bay and Sudbury’s season series was closely matched, with some high scoring outcomes along the way. Goyette led the way for Sudbury against the Battalion, recording 11 points (6-5–11) in eight games while Dallas Stars prospect Justin Ertel was among North Bay’s most productive players against Sudbury, registering 12 points (4-8–12) in eight regular season encounters.
The Wolves and the Battalion haven’t met in the OHL Playoffs since Sudbury ended the Battalion’s tenure in Brampton on March 29, 2013, winning Game 5 of their first round series by a score of 1-0 in overtime on a deciding goal by Evan de Haan.
Tickets for this series will likely move fast! If you can’t make it to the rink, you can always catch the series streaming on OHL Live.
For the first time since 1992, we’ve got a Highway 17 playoff battle between North Bay and Sudbury!#OHLPlayoffs | #NBvsSBY pic.twitter.com/OeKX8963Rt
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) April 8, 2024
Series Schedule:
Game 1 – Thursday, April 11th at North Bay, 7:00pm
Game 2 – Saturday, April 13th at North Bay, 7:00pm
Game 3 – Tuesday, April 16th at Sudbury, 7:05pm
Game 4 – Thursday, April 18th at Sudbury, 7:05pm
Game 5 – Saturday, April 20th at North Bay, 7:00pm*
Game 6 – Monday, April 22nd at Sudbury, 7:05pm*
Game 7 – Tuesday, April 23rd at North Bay, 7:00pm*
*- if necessary
Season Series:
Each team won four games
Oct. 1 – NB 2 at SBY 1
Oct. 29 – SBY 4 at NB 5
Nov. 1 – NB 4 at SBY 5 (OT)
Nov. 19 – SBY 6 at NB 7
Dec. 29 – NB 4 at SBY 8
Jan. 25 – SBY 5 at NB 4 (SO)
Jan. 26 – NB 4 at SBY 5 (OT)
Mar. 10 – SBY 2 at NB 4
Playoff History:
This marks the fourth time the Wolves and Battalion have met in the OHL Playoffs. The Wolves and North Bay Centennials met in the second round of the 1992 playoffs, with North Bay prevailing in four games
– 2013 SBY def. BRAM 4-1 – 1st Round / 2012 BRAM def. SBY 4-0 – 2nd Round / 2005 SBY def. BRAM 4-2 – 1st Round
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