(Saginaw, MI) The Saginaw Spirit continue to climb the rankings of the OHL Western Conference, thanks in part to a three game win streak that included a two-game weekend sweep over the Sarnia Sting and Windsor Spitfires. The team enters Week Eight in fourth place in the conference, second in the OHL West Division, with 22 points and a record of 10-4-2-0. Saginaw is 7-2-1-0 in their last ten games. The Spirit take part in three contests this weekend, the first on the road against the Sarnia Sting Thursday, November 5. The squad returns home for games against the Oshawa Generals on Friday, November 6 and the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds on Sunday, November 8.The Spirit offense is ranked third in the league, second in the conference, in goal scoring with 70 markers tallied in 16 games. Twenty-three of those goals came on the man advantage, thanks to the special teams play of the leagues third top power play unit in the Saginaw Spirit.
Several Spirit players continue to play amongst the top players in the league. Jordan Skellett (7G 22A) is ranked third in the top scorers tally and first in the assists scoring category. Rookie Ivan Telegin is tops in the rookie scorers category, and also enters the week ranked seventeenth in the goals scoring category with 10 markers on the season. Joining Telegin in the goal scoring category is Josh Shalla, who is ranked sixth with 13 goals on the season. T.J. Brodie (3G 16A) is ranked third in the league amongst top scoring defenseman, followed closely by Nick Crawford (3G 13A) in the sixth spot. Both are also ranked in the top assists scoring category, with Brodie ranked eighth and Crawford eighteenth. In the rookie scoring category, the Spirit are represented by Telegin, Vincent Trocheck (5G 5A) in seventh and Garret Ross (2G 4A) in twentieth.
Saginaw Spirit at Sarnia Sting - For the second time in as many weeks the Spirit will take on the Sarnia Sting at the Sarnia RBC Centre. The two division rivals will square off at 7:30 PM on Thursday, November 5. Sarnia enters the week tied for seventh place in the OHL Western Conference with 19 points and a record of 9-7-1-0.
The Spirit dropped the Sting 6-1 in their last contest, with the Spirit goal scoring coming from six different skaters. Rookie winger Craig Hottot (2G 4A) scored the lone Sting goal in the effort, his second goal of the season. Sarnia would quickly rebound with a 4-2 win over the Belleville Bulls last Saturday, powered by a two goal showing from center Ben O'Quinn (7G 8A). The Sting would finish out their three game weekend with a 4-1 loss to the Kitchener Rangers last Sunday, with the one Sarnia goal coming from team leading scorer Kale Kerbashian (4G 12A). Hottot is part of a strong youth movement on the Sting offense that also features winger Brandon Alderson (6G 0A), winger Brett Ritchie (3G 2A), winger JC Campagna (2G 3A) and winger Brandon Francisco (1G 3A). Kerbashian and Columbus Blue Jackets pick Kyle Neuber (1G 1A) provide veteran leadership up front. Boston Bruins prospect Adam Courchaine anchors the net.
Oshawa Generals at Saginaw Spirit - The Spirit host the Oshawa Generals on Friday, November 6, in the first contest of the two game season series between the two teams. The Generals are ranked fifth in the OHL Eastern Conference with 16 points and a record of 7-8-2-0. The team enters the week on a five game losing skid.
Veteran center Brett Parnham has become the big topic of discussion in Oshawa these days, pertaining to both his return from a pre-season injury and his garnering interest from other teams looking to add a top tier forward via trade. The overager posted a 50 goal, 76 point campaign for Oshawa last season and is considered one of the league's top offensive weapons going into this season. With or without Parnham, the Generals still boast a lot of talent up front with winger Christian Thomas (9G 13), center Jeff Hayes (9G 10A), winger Andy Andreoff (6G 9A) and rookie center Boone Jenner (8G 5A). Defenseman Tony DeHart (3G 16A) is a constant contributor from the blue line and enters the week the third top scorer on the team. New York Islanders pick Calvin de Hann (2G 7A) and Anaheim Ducks prospect Scott Valentine (1G 6A) anchor the Generals defense while Tampa Bay Lighting draftee Michael Zador services the net.
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds at Saginaw Spirit - The Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds entered the season riding a seven game win streak before dropping six straight contests in mid October. The Hounds enter the week if fifth place in the OHL Western Conference with 21 points and a record of 10-7-0-1, and are 3-6-0-1 in their last ten games. Saginaw beat the Soo in their last outing, a 4-1 decision in mid October.
The Hounds boast a talented roster driven by high scoring forwards like St. Louis Blues pick James Livingston (10G 7A), winger Vern Cooper (9G 7A) and center Brett Thompson (9G 4A). The team recently traded away veteran forwards T.J. Battani and Kyle DeCoste, but rookies Nick Cousins (3G 7A) and Daniel Catenacci (2G 8A) have jumped right in to contribute with a combined 20 points in 18 games. Blueliners Jacob Muzzin (3G 12A), Brock Beukeboom (2G 10A) and Michael Quesnele (2G 9A) bolster the defense. Swedish import and Ottawa Senators pick Robin Lehner as posted a 2.84 goals against average and 0.923 save percentage in 12 games.
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