Local hockey fans once again have the chance to recapture the memories of their former OHL franchise tonight (Thursday).

The Battalion are donning North Bay Centennials jerseys for their match-up with Flint.

The jerseys are from the 1993-94 championship season.

Centennials great Vitali Yachmenev is dropping the ceremonial puck tonight.

Battalion forward Daniel Walker, who’s from Val Caron, says the team was big here and this highlights local hockey history.

“It’s kind of cool to be able to play as the Centennials, to try and bring it back for a night,” he said. “I wish we did it a bit more often, maybe as an alternate jersey.”

Battalion Captain Riley Bruce says there’s a level of excitement for tonight’s game .

“It’s always a fun game every year. The fans really get into it. Everyone likes to see the Centennials jerseys back in action. It definitely means a lot to us,” he said.

The Centennials relocated to Saginaw in 2002.

Ten years later the Battalion announced they were moving to North Bay from Brampton, starting with the 2013/14 season.

Tonight’s game is also supporting the Canadian Mental Health Association and the #TalkToday program.

Walker says important to share with your teammates.

“On our team we’re hoping that if anyone is struggling with a mental health issue they can trust us and talk to their teammates. This night is for all those people that feel they have hold their feelings in. We want to let them know that they don’t,” he said.

The #TalkToday program is a mental health awareness and suicide prevention program that was designed specifically for the Ontario Hockey League.

Head Coach Stan Butler says it’s important to get the message across that speaking up is a positive in player-coach relations.

“Nowadays you’re more apt to ask the players questions. You try and keep your door open so if they have something they want to talk to you about they can. There are also support systems in place for players away from the rink,” he said.

As for the game, the Firebirds are in last place in the West and coached by former Battalion assistant Ryan Oulahen.

However, Butler says they shouldn’t be overlooked.

“Ryan is probably excited to come back here as he coached here for a few years. They got some players on their team that played here and that’s extra motivation for those kids,” he said.

Those players are Maurizio Colella and Max Kislinger and former Powassan Voodoo Garrett Forrest.

Catch tonight’s game on Country 600 CKAT, the broadcast begins at 6:55 pm.