The North Bay Battalion has acquired overage centre Rene Van Bommel in a trade with the London Knights, the Ontario Hockey League club announced Tuesday. North Bay sent London a fifth-round pick in the 2027 OHL Priority Selection draft that originally belonged to the Niagara IceDogs. “We look forward to welcoming Rene and his family to North Bay.” Van Bommel is committed to Lake Superior State University of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and Sault Ste. Crete, who also has played centre, was a second-round selection by Niagara in 2024 from the Upper Canada Cyclones U16s.