GoDogsGo
03-07-2008, 09:58 AM
Battalion on the march in March
Posted: Thursday, Mar. 6, 2008
http://www.battalionhockey.com/hm/imageDisplay.php?id=1239&type=or&client_id=1 Brad Albert
BRAMPTON, Ont. – It’s as simple as this: A 60-minute victory over the visiting Niagara IceDogs on Friday night would give the Brampton Battalion the Ontario Hockey League’s Central Division title.
The Battalion, with a won-lost-extended record of 39-20-4 for 82 points, has a seven-point lead over second-place Niagara with each team having five games left in its regular season. The IceDogs’ hopes of overtaking the Troops suffered a serious setback in a 7-5 loss to the host Erie Otters on Wednesday night.
“Erie’s win was a key one for us, but we still have some work to do to clinch the division,” said defenceman Brad Albert, who marked his 19th birthday Thursday.
The Battalion, which won division crowns in 2002-03 and 2005-06, beat the Guelph Storm 3-1 Sunday to extend a club-record home winning streak to eight games and win its fourth straight overall. The Troops, 12-2-1 in their last 15 games, last lost at home Jan. 17 by a 4-2 count to the Kingston Frontenacs.
The Battalion is 21-9-0 at home, one short of the club record of 22 home wins set in 2004-05 and equaled in 2005-06. After hosting Niagara, the Troops entertain the Sudbury Wolves on Sunday, the Barrie Colts on March 14 and Kingston in the season finale two days later. One road game remains, against the Peterborough Petes next Wednesday night.
The Battalion and Niagara meet for the sixth time. The Troops, 4-1-0 against the IceDogs, won the most recent meeting 4-2 at St. Catharines on Feb. 28. In two games at Brampton, Niagara won 5-4 on Oct. 8 and fell 3-0 on Dec. 7.
“Tomorrow night’s game is a big one for us from a competitive standpoint,” said Battalion coach Stan Butler. “We want to be playing well heading into the playoffs. We’d like to try to clinch the division as soon as we can so we can get it out of the way.”
Albert has one goal and six assists for seven points in 40 games this season. He lost 18 games to mononucleosis in December and January and, after returning for three games, served a two-game suspension for a second fight in the same stoppage.
“It was almost like starting over since I was so rusty. It took a couple of weeks to get back into it. I think everything’s been going well. I had some problems earlier, but I’m happy I’ve been able to stay in the lineup.”
A fourth-round pick in the 2005 OHL Priority Selection, Albert, a resident of Nepean, Ont., had eight points, including one goal, in 48 games as a rookie last year.
“I’ve been playing a lot this season and getting some valuable experience, and that’s really helped me. As a rookie you’re in and out of the lineup and, while it’s tough, you understand it. You just have to wait for your time and, when that comes, you have to take advantage of it.”
Said Butler: “He’s a very steady, underrated player. Since he’s come back, he’s played a lot with Bobby Sanguinetti and they play very well together. He’s one of our top four defencemen, and that’s all you can ask from a second-year player. Next season he’ll be one of our top two defencemen, and I really think he’s growing towards taking that role.”
Game time is 7:30 p.m.
Posted: Thursday, Mar. 6, 2008
http://www.battalionhockey.com/hm/imageDisplay.php?id=1239&type=or&client_id=1 Brad Albert
BRAMPTON, Ont. – It’s as simple as this: A 60-minute victory over the visiting Niagara IceDogs on Friday night would give the Brampton Battalion the Ontario Hockey League’s Central Division title.
The Battalion, with a won-lost-extended record of 39-20-4 for 82 points, has a seven-point lead over second-place Niagara with each team having five games left in its regular season. The IceDogs’ hopes of overtaking the Troops suffered a serious setback in a 7-5 loss to the host Erie Otters on Wednesday night.
“Erie’s win was a key one for us, but we still have some work to do to clinch the division,” said defenceman Brad Albert, who marked his 19th birthday Thursday.
The Battalion, which won division crowns in 2002-03 and 2005-06, beat the Guelph Storm 3-1 Sunday to extend a club-record home winning streak to eight games and win its fourth straight overall. The Troops, 12-2-1 in their last 15 games, last lost at home Jan. 17 by a 4-2 count to the Kingston Frontenacs.
The Battalion is 21-9-0 at home, one short of the club record of 22 home wins set in 2004-05 and equaled in 2005-06. After hosting Niagara, the Troops entertain the Sudbury Wolves on Sunday, the Barrie Colts on March 14 and Kingston in the season finale two days later. One road game remains, against the Peterborough Petes next Wednesday night.
The Battalion and Niagara meet for the sixth time. The Troops, 4-1-0 against the IceDogs, won the most recent meeting 4-2 at St. Catharines on Feb. 28. In two games at Brampton, Niagara won 5-4 on Oct. 8 and fell 3-0 on Dec. 7.
“Tomorrow night’s game is a big one for us from a competitive standpoint,” said Battalion coach Stan Butler. “We want to be playing well heading into the playoffs. We’d like to try to clinch the division as soon as we can so we can get it out of the way.”
Albert has one goal and six assists for seven points in 40 games this season. He lost 18 games to mononucleosis in December and January and, after returning for three games, served a two-game suspension for a second fight in the same stoppage.
“It was almost like starting over since I was so rusty. It took a couple of weeks to get back into it. I think everything’s been going well. I had some problems earlier, but I’m happy I’ve been able to stay in the lineup.”
A fourth-round pick in the 2005 OHL Priority Selection, Albert, a resident of Nepean, Ont., had eight points, including one goal, in 48 games as a rookie last year.
“I’ve been playing a lot this season and getting some valuable experience, and that’s really helped me. As a rookie you’re in and out of the lineup and, while it’s tough, you understand it. You just have to wait for your time and, when that comes, you have to take advantage of it.”
Said Butler: “He’s a very steady, underrated player. Since he’s come back, he’s played a lot with Bobby Sanguinetti and they play very well together. He’s one of our top four defencemen, and that’s all you can ask from a second-year player. Next season he’ll be one of our top two defencemen, and I really think he’s growing towards taking that role.”
Game time is 7:30 p.m.