Mike Baird of the North Bay Battalion. Photo by Terry Wilson/OHL Images.(Photo by Terry Wilson/OHL Images) The North Bay Battalion will be a little shorthanded when the playoffs open tomorrow (Friday) at Memorial Gardens.

Battalion Head Coach Stan Butler says forward Mike Baird (pictured) has decided to take a break from hockey for now.

He says, “It’s something that’s mutually agreed upon. It’s just something for Michael right now, it’s the best thing and hopefully when it’s said and done it will work out for both people.”

With Zach Poirier out until game two and Daniil Vertiy still dealing with a lower body injury the Troops could be down to 10 forwards when the puck drops.

However, they will get defenseman Riley Bruce back in the lineup for Game One against the Peterborough Petes.

As many as seven rookies could be in the lineup for the North Bay.

They would be getting their first taste of OHL post-season action and Butler says there is a little bit of an advantage to that.

He says, “They just don’t really know what their getting into they just look at it as another hockey game.  Innocence, sometimes, is great but we’re playing a team that’s very experienced.”

Game one is Friday night with game two on Sunday afternoon.