BRAMPTON, Ont. – The Brampton Battalion has found itself face to face with adversity following a 3-1 loss Sunday to the Sudbury Wolves which pushed the Troops’ Ontario Hockey League losing streak to four games.

“Any time you deal with adversity in your life you have to figure out a way to solve the problem,” said Battalion coach Stan Butler.

“The first thing you have to do is roll up your sleeves and work hard. You have to be accountable to yourself first and, once you’re accountable to yourself, that usually allows everybody to be accountable to their teammates as well.”

Butler, who received an eight-game suspension for comments to referee Mike Marley after a 2-1 home-ice victory over Sudbury on Jan. 22, has served six games and is eligible to return next Sunday when the Battalion hosts the Peterborough Petes.

Assistant coaches Ryan Oulahen and Jason Ward have run the bench in Butler’s absence. The Battalion entertains the Owen Sound Attack at 7 p.m. Thursday and visits the Kitchener Rangers on Friday night.

The Troops, whose losing streak started with a 3-0 setback to the visiting Niagara IceDogs on Jan. 29, have a won-lost-extended record of 27-16-9 for 63 points, second in the Central Division. The Battalion’s last win was a 3-2 road verdict over the Oshawa Generals on Jan. 28.

“Right now, obviously, it’s a cause for concern,” noted Butler. “Any time you lose four games in a row, you’re not happy with the team.”

Said captain Sam Carrick: “It happens a lot in hockey seeing teams go into little slumps. The biggest thing for us is we have to stay positive, keep working hard and just overcome this by keeping things simple.”

The Battalion, 1-5-0 during Butler’s suspension, has matched its season-high skid, four straight losses from Nov. 24 through Dec. 2.

“The mental toughness comes from within and, if you’re going to be a successful hockey player, you’re going to go through some tough times in a season,” said Butler. “This is really the first time we’ve experienced it.”

Carrick, a resident of Stouffville, Ont., said the team needs to do a better job of executing the game plan.

“Our game plan going into every night is to play our style of hockey, and we need to do a better job of that.”

A first-round pick in the 2008 OHL Priority Selection, Carrick leads the team in scoring with 26 goals and 21 assists for 47 points in 52 games.

“Our coaches prepare us for each game like they should, and we just have to take advantage of that and do what they say.”  

Said Butler: “The positives will come when everything else falls into place.”