The North Bay Battalion welcome an old friend to Memorial Gardens tonight (Thursday).

Former Assistant coach Ryan Oulahen now coach of the Flint Firebirds brings his team into North Bay for a match-up with the Battalion.

Head coach Stan Butler says Oulahen is a smart coach and it was just a matter of time before he became a head coach.

He says Oulahen has been ready for a long team and he’s doing a very good job in Flint.

Both the Firebirds and Battalion have 30 points through 28 games.

Flint is 8th in the West while North Bay is 2nd in the East and tops in the Central Division.

Meantime, both of the Troops’ regular goalies remain on the injured list so Logan Sawka is the new backup to Julian Sime.

Butler says Brent Moran and Mat Woroniuk will remain out of the lineup until after Christmas, at the earliest.

The Battalion host Flint tonight, are in Oshawa tomorrow and entertain Windsor on Sunday.

Broadcast time tonight on Country 600 CKAT is 6:55.