Western road trip for the Troops and academic honours for a Battalion blueliner

The North Bay Battalion have a busy weekend ahead with three games in three days.

They’re traveling to Sarnia, Saginaw and to Sault Ste Marie.

The Troops have won their last three games, but Coach Stan Butler knows his team has a tough task ahead of them and that Sarnia, who they play tonight (Friday), is a very talented team.
“Pavel Zacha is a good offensive player, we have to shut him down,” said Coach Butler who noted that the Sting also has talented defenceman Jakob Chychrun and netminder Justin Fazio.  “Sarnia’s probably right there on the fourth, fifth best team on the other side (Western Conference).”

The Troops are in Saginaw Saturday night, then wrap up their three game road trip in the Soo on Sunday afternoon.

Catch all the action on Country 600 CKAT, starting with tonight’s game at 6:35 pm.

After this weekend, North Bay is then home for four straight games starting December 10th when they host the Oshawa Generals.

Meantime, a Battalion defenceman has been named the OHL’s Central Division academic player of the month.

Jacob Ramalho (pictured below) holds an 89 per cent average at Chippewa and is described as a tenacious, conscientious student who contributes to classroom discussions.

Ramalho, from Ottawa, has 1 point in 15 games in his rookie season with the Troops.