Stan Butler of the North Bay Battalion. Photo by Terry Wilson/OHL Images.No Riley Bruce in tonight’s lineup for the North Bay Battalion, as well, no Brett Hargrave, Zach Poirier and Mike Baird.

All four players are serving various suspensions, while Zach Shankar is also out of the lineup with an injury.

The Troops host the Erie Otters tonight (Thursday), the number one team in Major Junior Hockey in Canada, and Head Coach Stan Butler says with those players out of the lineup there is opportunity for younger guys to step up.

He says “for the guys that are playing it’s a big opportunity and they have to take advantage of it.”

The Battalion are 7-2-0-1 in their last ten and have won 8 straight at Memorial Gardens.

It’s the first time the Troops meet the Otters this season and start the week four points out of first place in the divisional standings.

Catch tonight’s game on Country 600 CKAT, the broadcast begins with the pre-game show at 6:35pm