POWASSAN, Ont. – The NOJHL’s Powassan Voodoos announced Thursday that forward Rodion Tatarenko has signed a standard player’s agreement, including an education package, with the North Bay Battalion of the Ontario Hockey League.
The Battalion chose centre Tatarenko in the ninth round of the 2020 OHL Priority Selection from the Toronto Red Wings under-16 side, with whom he scored 13 goals and added as many assists for 26 points in 31 Greater Toronto Hockey League games in 2019-20.
The 6’2”, 184-pound forward playing with the Battalion’s affiliate team in Powassan leads the Voodoos in scoring with nine goals and eight assists for 17 points in 13 games.
“Rodion is a big, strong kid who’s made great strides in his short time with Powassan,” said Battalion general manager Adam Dennis. “He’s a highly skilled player who doesn’t shy away from the physical side of the game.
“Rodion will continue his year with Powassan, getting some workouts and practices in with our team, while staying ready in case of injury. We look forward to working with Rodion toward his goal of becoming a fulltime member of the Battalion.”
For the Voodoos, Tatarenko becomes the third player on the 2021-22 roster that has signed with a major junior team since the start of training camp joining Ryan O’Dell who inked with Oshawa in September and Chase MacQueen-Spence who signed with the Battalion in October.
“We are thrilled for Rodion and his family,” said Chris Dawson, Voodoos GM.
“Coach Marc Lafleur has been working with him to make him a better player with and without the puck and we hope his hard work and dedication will pay off for both the Voodoos and the Battalion.
“We have to thank Adam Dennis as well for working together with us to make this happen.”
Tatarenko, a left shot who turned 17 on June 23, is a native of Stavropol, Russia, who lives in Toronto.
