The North Bay Battalion announced several changes within the oversight of their organization
North Bay Battalion owner Scott Abbott announced on Wednesday, Jun. 5 elevated roles to Adam Dennis, John Winstanley, and Ryan Oulahen within the organization. The team is coming off a third straight appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals and North Bay has undoubtedly become an attractive place for upcoming prospects.
All three of Dennis, Winstanley, and Oulahen have agreed to contract extensions with the organization that will take them through to the 2028-29 season.
Adam Dennis takes over Mike Griffin’s — who has left the organization — role as President and Director of Hockey Operations. The two-time OHL and Memorial Cup Champion has pivoted a successful playing career in junior into a marvelous career as the Battalion’s GM over the last four seasons.
He was voted the winner of the Jim Gregory Award as the 2023-24 OHL’s General Manager of the Year.
When speaking on Wednesday, Dennis hinted at him having possible other opportunities outside of North Bay, but his love for the community kept him aboard.
“I can say for myself and my family that certain opportunities presented themselves, and we talked to everybody. The one thing that came back to us is how important the North Bay community is to us. I think a lot of people would see me as somebody that’s from Toronto. But this is the longest my family has lived anywhere,” said Dennis.
Succeeding Dennis as GM for North Bay is John Winstanley. Winstanley has been with the Battalion organization as the team's Assistant General Manager since the 2020-21 season.
“I couldn’t be more excited and thrilled about this opportunity and the group of players we have and the staff and getting to hit the ground running,” said Winstanley.
As for Head Coach Ryan Oulahen, he has been given a promotion to be the team’s new Assistant General Manager, while continuing his duties as Head Coach. He was named to the OHL’s third all-star team in the coaching slot after helping guide North Bay to a 39-20-7-2 record and second place in the Eastern Conference.
Oulahen is quite acquainted with the Battalion organization having played three seasons for them from 2002-2005 when the team was located in Brampton.
After a brief four-year career in the AHL with the Grand Rapids Griffins, during which a career-ending hip injury forced him to retire in the 2009-10 season, the Newmarket, Ontario native joined the Battalion as an Assistant Coach in 2010 when he was 25 years old.
He vacated the organization briefly after taking on the Head Coaching gig for the Flint Firebirds from 2016-2018. North Bay hired him back as the team’s new Head Coach during the 2019-20 season and he has been the head honcho behind the bench ever since.
The organization has one more item of business to attend to, which is to find an Assistant Coach to replace Scott Wray, who recently joined the Owen Sound Attack as their new Head Coach.