Competitive camp closes
The North Bay Battalion’s three-day development camp ended on a high note Sunday, with officials of the Ontario Hockey League club pleased with the level of competition and the guidance provided.
“We accomplished what we wanted to accomplish,” general manager John Winstanley said after 33 participants started heading home. “We gave a lot of information to the families and the players, and overall we got to see some really good hockey.
“This is really just for them to get their feet wet and see what this is all about. Come the end of August, when all of our veteran players are back, this ramps up pretty significantly, so the message to them is, ‘Now you understand what this is about. Take the summer to get stronger, faster, work on the things that we talked about,’ and we look forward to seeing them after a really crucial summer of them getting better.”
Adam Dennis, director of hockey operations, echoed those sentiments and cited the high level of play ahead of training camp, which opens in August.
“I thought it was a major success. We said training camp was going to be one of our most competitive ever. I really thought that this was one of our more competitive development camps.”
Among the many who excelled at Boart Longyear Memorial Gardens were defenceman Carter Kunopaski, the Battalion’s second-round pick in the OHL Priority Selection in April, and forward Ryder Cali.
“When I first got here, everybody was so welcoming, and throughout the whole weekend it’s just been amazing,” said Kunopaski, a Pakenham, Ont., resident who played in 2024-25 with the Ottawa Valley Titans U16s. “All the people are so nice, and it’s been a great experience.
“I’d say I’m a defenceman who can play both sides of the puck, offensively and defensively. I’m a physical player. I like to be a leader on and off the ice, and I can play in any situation.”
Cali, a first-rounder, 18th overall, last year to the Soo Greyhounds, declined to report and was declared defected before being traded to North Bay on Sept. 13 and seeing action in five games with the Troops in midseason.
Cali played primarily with the junior A Milton Menace, completing their playoff run last Wednesday night. He made a verbal commitment to Harvard University of Cambridge, Mass., before the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Division I council voted Nov. 7 to permit former Canadian Hockey League players to compete.
“Deciding to come to North Bay was a great option,” said Cali, a resident of Penetanguishene, Ont. “I’m happy that I got traded here and I’m happy it all worked out the way it did, to get the best of both worlds.”
Matt Marquardt guided Team White to a 6-2 victory in the intrasquad game, avenging a 6-5 loss Saturday night in the first such meeting. Fellow assistant coach Bill Houlder ran the Team Green bench for the three 20-minute periods as coach Ryan Oulahen again observed from the stands.
Green defenceman Karter Buchmann didn’t play after the first period, when he was shaken up against the boards and glass. Buchmann was a 13th-round pick in the Priority Selection in April from the North Bay Trappers U18s.
GAME RECAP
Six different players scored a goal apiece for White, with Kunopaski netting what proved to be the winner. Starting goaltender Cole Vreugdenhil earned the victory, with Logan Coates playing the second half. Forward Cam Warren, the Battalion’s first-round pick in April, scored his first camp goal in the win.
Lineups
White: Cole Vreugdenhil, Logan Coates, Carter Kunopaski, Richard Wang, Sam Weedmark, Kent Greer, Aydin Beharie, James Rosenberg, Isaac Tracze, Dylan Nobili, Cameron Lockhart, Cam Warren, Jax Pereira, Parker Vaughan, Ewan McChesney, Maverick Hill.
Green: Gavin Zepp, Kyle Karwowski, Oskar Konobelj, Colton D’Amico, Karter Buchmann, Dylan Rousselle, Grady Jalbert, Sam Rivet, Javian Nei, Ryder Carey, Lincoln Edwards, Quinn Kipfer, Ben Maharaj, Owen Head, Ryder Cali, Alex Kontos, Cole Worsfold-Bonneville.
White goals: Hill, Pereira, Kunopaski, McChesney, Warren, Greer.
Green goals: Cali, Rousselle.
