OHL Saginaw Spirit

Spirit Hop On The Bus For Three Game Road Stint

Published on November 17, 2009 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


(Saginaw, MI) The Saginaw Spirit go on the road this week, starting with a match-up against the Owen Sound Attack at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre Wednesday, November 18, at 7:00 PM. The Spirit visit the Sudbury Community Arena on Friday, November 20, for a 7:35 PM contest against the Sudbury Wolves and then the team wraps up the weekend with a game against the Barrie Colts at the Barrie Molson Centre on Saturday, November 21, at 7:30 PM.

The Spirit enter the week in third place in the Ontario Hockey League's Western Conference with 30 points and a record of 14-6-2-0. The team is 7-2-0-1 in the last ten games, the last of which was a 3-2 victory over the fourth ranked London Knights last Saturday.

Saginaw boasts a potent offense that has tallied 93 goals in 22 games, which is the second top ranked in the conference, third in the league. The team's power play unit is the best in the conference, second in the league, with the Spirit scoring in nearly 26% of attempts (28 power play goals, 108 attempts). Four Spirit skaters enter the week averaging over a point per game. Winger Jordan Skellett (11G 28A) is the team's top point producer with 39 points in 22 games, and is currently the second top points producer in the league. Center Ivan Telegin (16G 10A) is tops in goal scoring and rookie scoring, and last week winger Josh Shalla (14G 11A) became the third Spirit forward to hit the 25 point plateau on the season. Captain Tyler Murovich (7G 9A) is average 1.07 points per game since his return from pro try-outs in mid-October.

Saginaw Spirit at Owen Sound Attack - The Saginaw Spirit head to the Bayshore Wednesday night to take on the Owen Sound Attack. The Attack enter the week ranked tenth in the OHL Western Conference with 19 points and a record of 8-13-1-2. They are 4-6-0-0 in the last ten games.

The Attack's offense is one of the more talented units in the league, with the likes of winger Bobby Mignardi (15G 10A), center Steven Shipley (6G 17A), overager Marcus Carroll (13G 7A) and Florida Panthers pick Garrett Wilson (11G 8A). Overager Grant McGee (4G 4A) had a two goal game against the Guelph Storm last Saturday. The blueline features two of the team's top six scorers in rookie Geoffrey Schemitsch (2G 14A) and import Milan Doczy (1G 13A). The Attack added Toronto Maple Leafs pick Jesse Blacker (2G 7A) to the defense via a mind-October trade with the Windsor Spitfires. New York Rangers pick Scott Stajcer has seen duty in the Attack's goal crease in 20 games this season, posting a 3.67 goals against average and 0.904 save percentage.

Saginaw Spirit at Sudbury Wolves - The road trip continues when the Spirit take on the Sudbury Wolves Friday night, in the second of two games between the two teams this season. The Spirit beat the Wolves 5-3 on October 9th. The Wolves are tied for ninth in the OHL Eastern Conference with 18 points and a record of 8-12-0-2. They are 5-4-0-1 in the last ten games.

Anaheim Ducks pick Eric O'Dell (11G 15A), Phoenix Coyotes pick Jared Staal (6G 16A) and top-tier NHL prospect John McFarland (8G 12A) lead a potent Wolves offense that is bolstered by Buffalo Sabres pick Marcus Foligno (1G 10A) and the overage trio of Steve Reese (7G 12A), John Kurtz (11G 2A) and Daniel Lombardi (6G 6A). Kurtz and Reese both tallied two goals in the Wolves 6-5 shootout loss to the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors last Friday. New York Rangers pick Daniel Maggio (5G 7A) and d-man Peter Hermenegildo (3G 6A) anchor the blueline. The goaltending duo of Alain Valiquette and Andrew Loverock have shared duty in net this season, with Valiquette posting a 3.48 goals against average and 0.912 save percentage in 14 games and Loverock a 3.80 goals against average and 0.906 save percentage in 10 games.

Saginaw Spirit at Barrie Colts - The Barrie Colts host the Spirit Saturday night for the first game in the two game season series between the two teams. The Colts are ranked third in the OHL Eastern Conference with 33 points and a record of 16-4-0-1. They are two points out from the first place Mississauga St. Michael's Majors. The Colts are 9-0-0-1 in their last ten games.

The Colts are one of the top teams in the league this season, due in no small part to having the top scoring team in the Eastern Conference with 99 goals tallied in 21 games. Overager Luke Pither (14G 16A) is averaging a point and a half per game with 30 total points on the season. Other big names up front include center Taylor Carnevale (11G 16A), center Alexander Burmistrov (9G 18A), Tampa Bay Lightning pick Alex Hutchings (10G 13A) and winger Bryan Cameron (11G 9A). Los Angeles Kings pick Kyle Clifford (6G 7A) and Washington Capitals prospect Stefan Della Rovere (8G 9A) round out the offense. Overager Ryan Gottschalk (0G 2A) provides leadership on the blue line, and defensemen Stephen Gaskin (1G 5A), Matt Stanisz (0G 6A) and Chris Wiggin (1G 4A) all enter the week plus-10 or higher. The defense was bolstered with the recent acquisition of Calgary Flames pick T.J. Brodie (4G 19A) and Buffalo Sabres prospect Nick Crawford (5G 20A) from the Spirit in a trade last week. Goalie Peter Di Salvo has tallied two shutouts this season and has earned a 2.58 goals against average and 0.918 save percentage in 19 games.

Tickets are on sale now! The Spirit return to Saginaw next week for home games on Friday, November 27 and Saturday, November 28. For more information, please contact the Official Saginaw Spirit Ticket and Merchandise Store located at 5789 State Street in Saginaw or call 989-497-7747.

Check out the Saginaw Spirit Statistics

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from November 17, 2009


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