Gens host high-flying Battalion on Retro Night
Oshawa, Ont., – This matchup may be taking place in 2023, but it’s going to feel a lot more like 1983 when both the Generals and Battalion take the Tribute Communities Centre ice on Sunday night.
In Oshawa’s second annual Retro Night, both teams will be dawning modern twists to their retro eras, with Oshawa suiting up in their navy diagonal ‘Oshawa’ jerseys, while the Battalion respond with their recently debuted centurion jerseys.
Fans can expect to be taken back in time, with music many will remember from the Generals time at the Civic Auditorium. In the days leading up to the game, fans were asked to submit musical requests, and more than 150 requests were made. In addition to the music, fans can enjoy a retro look on the Generals’ scoreboard, in addition to pieces of history that are always sprinkled in around the arena.
For a trip through the Generals’ history, be sure to look up while you’re on the concourse for the Ring of Honour, presented by the Great Canadain Brewhouse. Can you find your favourite member of Oshawa Generals’ history?
On the ice, it’s the first time this season Oshawa will host the Battalion, losing both games in North Bay already this season by a combined score of 10-5.
Oshawa enters this game as winners of back-to-back games, 9-5 over Windsor and a 2-0 victory over Kingston. In a recent stretch of success, the Generals are winners in five of their last seven games.
The key to the winning ways has been NHL draft prospect Calum Ritchie, who in those last seven games, has put up 11 points, and now clips at a point-per-game rate with 42 points in 42 games.
Last meeting
North Bay defeated the Gens 3-2 the last time these two connected. The Battalion jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first period and never looked back. In the comeback effort, Stuart Rolofs and Joseph Serpa scored for the Generals, but they couldn’t find a third to tie the game.
Players to watch: Oshawa
Calum Ritchie: Fresh off the heels of the CHL/NHL Top Prospects game in British Columbia, Ritchie is silencing those who think he’s no longer a first-round prospect. With 42 points in 42 games played, Ritchie has begun to find the consistent offense he may have been missing earlier this season. With a goal and assist in B.C., and 11 points in his last seven OHL games, Ritchie is leading his team on the playoff push down the stretch.
Jacob Oster: Sometimes it’s as simple as a new environment that can change the results. For Jacob Oster, that’s exactly what seems to be happening. Since arriving in Oshawa, Oster boasts an impressive stat line of 2-1-0-0, 1.35 GAA, and a 0.951 save percentage. With Oster in the net, the Gens are proving to the rest of the OHL that they can beat anyone.
Player to watch: North Bay
Everyone: Plain and simple, this North Bay team is SCARY. With players amongst the league leaders in almost every single category, there’s nowhere to hide against the Battalion. Matvey Petrov sits in the top five for scoring with 62 points, Ty Nelson sits second in defensemen scoring with 53 points, and in the crease, it’s Dom DiVincentiis stopping everything that comes his way. If Oshawa is coming away with two points tonight, they’ll need a complete team effort.
