BRAMPTON, Ont. – After seeing a six-game Ontario Hockey League winning streak ended, the Brampton Battalion looks to bounce back when it hosts the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors at 2 p.m. Saturday in its annual New Year’s Eve game.

The Battalion, which dropped a 4-3 decision via shootout Thursday night to the host Barrie Colts, lost for the first time since a 4-0 road loss Dec. 2 to the Sudbury Wolves.

“We worked hard in the third period against Barrie, and that’s the key right there,” said Ian Watters, who opened the scoring on the first shot of the game after losing 30 games to injury. “We have to keep working to be successful.”

The Battalion boasts a won-lost-extended record of 20-10-5 for 45 points, first in the Central Division. Mississauga is 17-14-4 for 38 points, fifth in the division.

“We just have to get back to our game plan,” said Watters. “We need to get the puck deep, bang bodies and get pucks to the net.”

Watters, one of three overagers on the roster, returned to action after surgery on three severed tendons in his right wrist, an injury suffered Sept. 30 in a 4-3 road win via shootout over the Sarnia Sting.

“Other than that we lost, it was good to be back in the lineup,” said Watters. “I felt good out there. The linemates helped me out, and it just felt good to get back at it.

“I missed being out on the ice with the guys having so much fun, winning and just performing really well.”

Watters scored his fifth goal of the season and added one assist. Before being injured at Sarnia, Watters scored four goals in the first three games, the last goal coming in a 5-3 home-ice loss Sept. 29 to the Kingston Frontenacs.

“It was my first shot, so it felt really good to see it go in,” Watters said of his goal against Barrie’s Mathias Niederberger at 6:05 of the opening period. “I got it off quick and put it upstairs.”

Said Watters: “It felt good to be able to contribute to the team again. It’s a team game, and that’s what is most important.”

Watters, who has five goals and one assist for six points in five games, was second in Battalion scoring in 2010-11, registering 20 goals and 22 assists for 42 points in 68 games.

“I’m glad to be back hanging around with the guys in the dressing room and on the bus. I’m happy to be back playing games with them, because that’s the best part about playing hockey.”

Despite being sidelined for three months, Watters maintained his conditioning.

“I was riding the bike, weightlifting and bag-skating, and I think that really helped me out.”