Pereira signs with Battalion
Centre Jax Pereira has signed an education and development agreement with the North Bay Battalion, the Ontario Hockey League club announced Friday, the day after its four-day training camp ended
The Battalion chose Pereira in the fourth round, 67th overall, of the OHL Priority Selection in April from the Toronto Jr. Canadiens U16s.
A resident of Uxbridge, Ont., Pereira scored seven goals and earned 17 assists for 24 points in 31 regular-season games and added eight points, including four goals, in eight games at the OHL Cup. The five-foot-10, 159-pound Pereira turned 16 on May 6.
“We’re thrilled to add such a dynamic young forward to our roster,” said general manager John Winstanley.
“His skill, speed and hockey IQ stand out, and we’re confident he’ll make an immediate impact both on and off the ice.”
Winstanley has noted the versatility of left shot Pereira, calling him a complete player who can skate at left wing.
The Battalion has signed its first four picks from April, including first-round centre Cam Warren, taken sixth overall, who was a teammate of Pereira with the Jr. Canadiens. Others are defenceman Carter Kunopaski, a second-rounder from the Ottawa Valley Titans U16s, and goaltender Cole Vreugdenhil, who signed Thursday after being chosen in the fifth round from the Halton Hurricanes U16s.
The Battalion didn’t have a third-round pick.
Before the camp opened, the Troops signed both their Canadian Hockey League Import Draft choices from July 2, centre Evgeny Dubrovtsev of Russia and left winger Arseny Pronin of Belarus. They join veteran left winger Ihnat Pazii of Ukraine, who also has played centre, to constitute the club’s three-man import contingent.
In addition, earlier this offseason North Bay signed defenceman Brandt Harper, a Tampa, Fla., resident who played in 2024-25 with the Des Moines Buccaneers of the United States Hockey League.
The Battalion opens a six-game preseason schedule against the Owen Sound Attack at 2 p.m. Sunday at Collingwood, Ont., before playing host to the Ottawa 67’s at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
