Whl Scores: North Bay Battalion fry the ‘Fish’ but gain no ground on Peterborough in playoff race
Under the bright arena lights and before 2, 380 at Boart Longyear Memorial Gardens, the whl scores board read one-sided: a 7-0 rout as the North Bay Battalion overwhelmed the Brampton Steelheads. Goaltender Mike McIvor made 23 saves in his return, while Ryder Cali, Nolan Laird, Cam Warren, Nick Wellenreiter, Evgeny Dubrovtsev and Adrian Manzo contributed goals that energized the crowd — yet the win left North Bay two points behind the Peterborough Petes with just two regular-season games remaining for each club.
Whl Scores: How did the 7-0 result change the chase for fourth?
The victory tightened the feel of the race but did not alter its arithmetic. The Battalion moved to a won-lost-extended record of 37-25-4 for 78 points, while Peterborough sits at 80 points following a 5-4 overtime win over the Barrie Colts. That margin leaves North Bay needing to outpoint the Petes by three over each club’s final two games, because Peterborough holds the first tiebreaker — regulation and overtime wins — with a 36-32 advantage.
On the ice, North Bay never let up. The Battalion outshot Brampton heavily in the third period and added late goals from Cam Warren and Adrian Manzo, keeping pressure constant. Brampton used two goaltenders, Luke Johnson and Peter Chlebowski, as the Steelheads struggled to contain the Battalion attack.
What did players and coaches say about the night and the road ahead?
“He looked really confident back there, was seeing everything, ” said Ryan Oulahen, head coach, North Bay Battalion, of McIvor’s performance. “Even just different little plays, whether it’s a tip or something like that, when a goalie’s tracking those ones, you know he’s dialed in and locked in, so he looked really good. ”
Mike McIvor, goaltender, North Bay Battalion, who returned after a long layoff, said: “It feels good to get back out there, it felt familiar and the boys played great. I’m mentally strong and no matter how much time is left in the period or what the score is, or if I haven’t faced a lot of shots, I’m ready to go and that’s my job and I think I did a good job of that tonight. ”
Ryder Cali, forward, North Bay Battalion, who scored twice, described the night as a boost to team morale and extended his personal streak. On the other bench, Rob Wilson, head coach, Peterborough Petes, framed his team’s overtime win as a statement: “It will be a very difficult series for either team. ” Those words underline how both clubs are already seeing the remaining regular-season games as playoff warm-ups.
The Petes’ overtime victory came against the Barrie Colts and was driven by a late heroics pattern that has kept Peterborough ahead in the standings. Peterborough’s ability to collect regulation and overtime wins gives it a structural advantage that North Bay must overcome on points alone, not just in head-to-head play.
What both clubs do next is spelled out on their schedules: Peterborough closes its home slate and has two more road tests remaining, while North Bay hosts Brampton and has a pair of regular-season games left, including a visit that will test their consistency. Each team’s final two games will decide who secures home ice for the opening playoff series.
For now, the scoreboard at Boart Longyear Memorial Gardens is a snapshot of momentum but not of destiny. The Battalion’s 7-0 win, McIvor’s return and the crowd’s reaction reset confidence; Peterborough’s overtime success preserved a narrow lead. With only a handful of games left, whl scores will keep changing, and every shot, save and second will matter as both clubs chase fourth place.
