Battalion's New Season Schedule
North Bay Battalion Unveil 2026-27 Schedule, Featuring 34 Home Games and Key Matchups
The North Bay Battalion have released their full 2026-27 Ontario Hockey League schedule, locking in 68 regular-season games and a preseason series against the Owen Sound Attack, according to Northern News. The season features a historic home-and-home series against the Val-d'Or Foreurs of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League — a rare cross-league matchup that puts two different leagues on the same ice.
The Battalion will play 34 home games at Memorial Gardens in North Bay. January stands out as the busiest month, with 14 games scheduled — the most of any single month on the slate, Sault Star reported.
A Historic Cross-League Series Against Val-d'Or
The most talked-about part of the schedule is the home-and-home series with the Val-d'Or Foreurs. Val-d'Or plays in the QMJHL — a separate major junior league based in Quebec. Teams from the OHL and QMJHL almost never meet outside of the Memorial Cup tournament. North Bay and Val-d'Or sit roughly 245 kilometres apart, making the trip shorter than some existing OHL road games, according to Stratford Beacon Herald.
Head Coach Ryan Oulahen said the matchup will require a different kind of preparation. "Preparing for Val-d'Or requires a different scouting report," Oulahen told local media. "It's a great litmus test for our group to see how we stack up against the QMJHL style of play mid-season." NHL scouts are expected to attend, drawn by the rare chance to see top prospects from two leagues compete outside of a tournament setting.
January Grind Brings 14 Home Games in 31 Days
North Bay's January schedule is the heaviest stretch of the season. Fourteen of the team's 34 home games fall in that single month. General Manager Adam Dennis said the team has prepared for the challenge. "The January density is a challenge we've prepared for," Dennis said. "Having 14 games in 31 days will test our depth, but playing in front of the fans for the bulk of those games is a massive advantage."
Scheduling so many home games in January is partly a safety move. Winter highway travel in Northern Ontario is dangerous. Clustering home games reduces the number of long road trips during the coldest and most hazardous stretch of the year, according to The Crag and Canyon.
Brampton Steelheads Return Adds Legacy Weight to Schedule
One of the most emotionally charged matchups on the schedule is the home game against the Brampton Steelheads. The Battalion played in Brampton from 1998 to 2013 before relocating to North Bay. The Steelheads, formerly known as the Mississauga Steelheads, moved to Brampton in 2024. That move has given the rivalry a new edge, according to Woodstock Sentinel Review.
The Battalion will also visit the Soo Greyhounds on the road and host the Barrie Colts, Sudbury Wolves, and Niagara IceDogs at Memorial Gardens. The regular season is set to open at home against the Barrie Colts on September 25, 2026, with the preseason kicking off September 4 against Owen Sound — a four-game series — according to Chatham Daily News.
Economic Boost Expected From Packed Home Schedule
Thirty-four home games means a big opportunity for North Bay's local economy. The January home stand alone could inject more than $1.2 million into the local hospitality sector through visiting team stays and fan spending, according to projections from the North Bay Chamber of Commerce cited by The Observer.
North Bay Mayor Peter Chirico praised the schedule for its economic potential. January typically sees a dip in downtown foot traffic, making the 14-game home stretch a welcome boost for local businesses. Memorial Gardens is expected to be a consistent draw all season long, with the Val-d'Or series and the Brampton matchup serving as marquee events, according to County Market.
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