Rossetto added to ranks

The North Bay Battalion has acquired right winger Nikolas Rossetto in a trade with the Brantford Bulldogs, the Ontario Hockey League club announced Thursday.

North Bay sent Brantford a sixth-round pick in the 2027 OHL Priority Selection that originally belonged to the Peterborough Petes.

Rossetto, a Sault Ste. Marie native who was a third-round choice, 53rd overall, by Brantford in 2024 from the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 15U squad, stands five-foot-nine and weighs 156 pounds. Having played previously in the Soo Greyhounds minor hockey program, he scored 54 goals and earned 27 assists for 81 points in 58 games with Pittsburgh.

Rossetto, who turned 18 last Sunday, has had surgery for a shoulder injury that limited him to 49 games last season, in which he scored six goals and added three assists for nine points. Over two seasons, he has 15 goals and 13 assists for 28 points in 106 games, with one goal and three assists for four points in 15 playoff games.

He’s expected to return to full health by the end of October.

“Nik is a player whom we coveted in his draft year because of his high IQ, compete and skill,” said Adam Dennis, the Battalion’s director of hockey operations. “We followed it up with a great interview but unfortunately missed out on him in the draft.

“He dealt with a lot of adversity last season, going through injury and battling a deep lineup, but we felt that having a change of scenery and fresh start could bring out the tremendous upside to be had with Nik.

“We’re thrilled to have him join the rest of the Troops and look forward to having him in North Bay in a few weeks.”

Rossetto is the Battalion’s third trade acquisition this offseason after the club added left winger Max Crete on June 18 and overage centre Rene Van Bommel on Tuesday in separate deals with the London Knights, giving up one OHL Priority Selection choice in each transaction.