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Saginaw Spirit

Spirit Rally To Down Hounds 5-4

November 24, 2004 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


(Saginaw) -- The new Saginaw Spirit head coach, Bob Mancini, is 1-0 thanks to a come from behind victory over the Soo Greyhounds Wednesday night in Saginaw. The win evens the season series with the divison rival at 1-1. "This team has been through a lot," Mancini said, referring to the resignation Monday of former head coach Doug Lidster. "Now, we're going to focus on hockey. We just need to make sure that we capitalize on the opportunities we're given, and tonight that worked out."

The Spirit opened scoring when winger Marek Kvapil dragged defenders down the right side of the ice. Kvapil then hit center Tom Pyatt, who put the puck in at close range just past the four minute mark of the first period.

Right wing Jean-Michel Rizk jumped the Saginaw lead to 2-0 at the halfway mark of the period, when he buried a wrist shot from above the hashmarks. "The early 2-0 lead helped us," Rizk said. "It let us play a smart game the rest of the way." Sean Courtney and Jamie Klie assisted. However, the Hounds fought back and cut the lead to 2-1 when the Philadelphia Flyers first round pick Jeff Carter put in his own rebound. The Spirit had two minor penalites in the first period, but wouldn't sit in the box for the rest of the game.

Carter evened the game 2-2 at the halfway mark of the second period, with a top-shelf wrist shot. But the Spirit re-took the lead two minutes later, when forward Jesse Gimblett fought his way out of a scrum behind then net, and beat Soo goalie Jakub Cech on the wraparound. Tom Pyatt and Marek Kvapil assisted. The Greyounds tied the game 3-3 when Jeff Carter earned his natural hat trick five minutes later. Saginaw's defense helped keep the game close, with a number of big hits during the period including several from first year d-man, and Haslett, Michigan native Scott Fletcher.

Hounds center Chris Lawrence gave the Soo what would be their only lead of the game in the seven minute mark of the third period, on a wrist shot from close in. But Saginaw wouldn't quit, and evened the score at 4-4 two minutes later, when defenseman Patrick McNeill pinched in from the point, and beat the goalie low to the stick side. Jesse Gimblett and Marek Kvapil assisted.

The game appeared to be heading to overtime, when the Spirit pushed the puck into the Soo's zone near the 13 minute mark. Defenseman Dan Idema put the puck in to the far side corner. That's where Jean-Michel Rizk found the puck, fought through traffic and got into the clear. He faked a slap shot, and when goaltender Cech committed, went around him on a wrist shot for the game winning goal. "Brownie (Spirit goaltender Mike Brown) kept telling me all night 'fake shot, fake shot'. He saw something in their goaltender, and it worked."

Saginaw faced an extra attacker when the Soo pulled the goaltender at 18:46 of the third, and forwards Sean Courtney and Tom Harrison narrowly missed empty net goals. Spirit goaltender Mike Brown turned back 36 shots to earn the win.

The win takes the Spirit record to 7-14-1-3 on the season, good for a fourth place tie in the Western Conference's West Division. Saginaw returns to ice Friday against the Kitchener Rangers. The Spirit return home Saturday to face the Guelph Storm at the Dow Event Center.

Additional note:

Former Spirit forward Jesse Jenish was traded to the Mississauga Ice Dogs for a 5th round, 2006 pick in the Ontario Hockey League priority selection.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from November 24, 2004


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