They came into the league just 13 years ago proudly boasting they were the only hockey team in the world to use the name “Battalion”, their olive green army inspired uniforms reminded many fans in attendance of changing a baby’s diaper. Yup, they sure were ugly, but they were unique, and now… they’re gone.
Well, at the end of this season anyways, and they’re probably keeping the name.
The Brampton Battalion announced yesterday that due to a failure to come to an agreement with the city on a new lease for their home arena they’re packing up their foot lockers and heading up to Northern Ontario to bring junior hockey back to an area that just lost their team ten years ago.
A possible farewell to those olive green uniforms… (also, Woot! Go Gens Go!)
North Bay, Ontario is the lucky new landing spot for the 2009 OHL Eastern Conference Champions. North Bay approved a $14 million upgrade to the aging North Bay Memorial Gardens which was enough to sway the Battalion up north.
The mayor of North Bay made references to the city’s military ties in his statement – a pretty good sign that the Battalion name is sticking around. An article up on SudburyWolves.com also stated that the team would be known as the “North Bay Battalion”
Perhaps a return to the North Bay Centennials brand is in order?
For twenty seasons North Bay was home to the North Bay Centennials before they were relocated to Saginaw, Michigan (becoming the Saginaw Spirit) in 2002.
The $14 million arena upgrades deal is courtesy a loan from the Battalion themselves, interest-free, the deal is also contingent on selling 2000 season tickets, a fairly lofty goal for the small town of only 52,000 residents.
Chris Creamer is the founder of SportsLogos.Net and has been maintaining it since June 1997. You can follow him on Twitter at @sportslogosnet or contact him via email at ccreamer@sportslogos.net
Aaron
Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at 11:47I wonder if the Battalion will take their current uniforms to North Bay with them? If so, I'd say only use thin yellow lines instead of 1-2 large ones. You could probably darken the army green a notch and it would still look like army green. I like the fact they made the uniforms look like a cadet uniform.
Scott
Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at 21:12Man. This made me upset when i heard the news. The battalion are my favourite team in OHL history, with belleville is second. I hope the battalion will come back to brampton someday, or just any team. Im now forced to be either a Steelheads local or a Storm local, since i live near them. The battalion will be missed, not much by residents of Brampton, but by true fans. :(
Aaron
Wednesday, November 7, 2012 at 08:45I myself hope your city Brampton gets another crack at the OHL. Possibly in a few years, maybe. I know you currently have an OHA team the Brampton Capitals. Maybe that team will transfer to the OHL. If towns like North Bay, Barrie, Niagara region, Guelph can get a minor hockey team back after a brief hiatus, Brampton will too.
Alan Herbert
Wednesday, November 7, 2012 at 00:02Tough luck for Brampton losing a OHL team, oh well at least they got the Brampton Jr.B Bombers to root for.
kenyanews
Wednesday, November 7, 2012 at 06:03I kind of agree with you Aaron, The uniforms look like the cadet uniforms... The new name ticks too “North Bay Battalion” I love that.
Paul
Wednesday, November 7, 2012 at 09:37I don't think changing the name back to the Centennials is such a good idea, with the recent Ontario Northland closure. But there is CFB North Bay just north of town, which is why I think they're leaning towards keeping the Battalion name.
Aaron
Wednesday, November 7, 2012 at 10:33Didn't the Ontario Northland closure just affect trains as far north as to Cochrane? Bringing back the Centennials name wouldn't have been a bad idea to pay homage to not just their last team, but possibly pay homage to the Ontario Northland. However using Battalion is a great way to pay homage to the military especially with CFB North Bay nearby.
John Burlie
Friday, November 9, 2012 at 11:36Aww this is bitter sweet.. I miss the Centennials, but I loved Brampton :( With the rate that Brampton is growing, they will have a team back real soon!
Aaron
Sunday, November 11, 2012 at 15:45You're probably right on that one. Now hopefully the next team in Brampton will be better supported if and when they do get one. Question is what would they be called?
John Burlie
Tuesday, November 13, 2012 at 22:59hopefully the Battalion name stays with Brampton. Centennials isn't such a common name for hockey so they should use it again, possibly use the same logo. Brampton in Olive just fits for some reason... The OHL has done some weird stuff with team names/logos anyway (Niagara/Miss Ice Dogs, Miss/Toronto St Mike's), it wouldnt surprise me if something incredibly stupid happens
RJ
Sunday, January 6, 2013 at 09:41TEAM SHOULD BE NAMED THE NORTH BAY TRAPPERS. IF THEY OVERLOOK THAT OPPORTUNITY, THAT WOULD BE A SHAME. NORTH BAY TRAPPERS !
Rob in Cascadia
Friday, January 18, 2013 at 14:26It's going to be North Bay Battalion. It just is.
RCP
Sunday, March 3, 2013 at 21:16Despite Scott Abbott said he would name his team the North Bay Battalion, there is still time to urge him to reconsider his grounds. North Bay does not just have a military history. Most importantly has a railway history. That is where the North Bay Centennials originated from in 1982. I`m from North Bay and when I heard the news of Brampton Battalion moving to North Bay I was happy. But when I heard North Bay Battalion I was in shock. The history of the Brampton Battalion should be left in Brampton. A ressurrection of the Centennials should happen in North Bay.