(Saginaw, MI) The Saginaw Spirit will wrap up the month of November with a two game stand at home. The team will take on the Kingston Frontenacs on Friday, November 27 at 7:11 PM and the Peterborough Petes on Saturday, November 28 at 7:11 PM. The Spirit enter the week in second place in the OHL West Division, fourth in the Western Conference, with 32 points and a record of 15-8-2-0.The Spirit offense is averaging over four goals per game, with 102 total goals in 25 games. The Spirit boast the second highest scoring team in the conference, the third highest scoring team in the league. Saginaw enters the week with the third top power play unit in the league, which averages nearly a goal in every four attempts (0.248).
Saginaw's Jordan Skellett (11G 33A) is ranked the second top scorer in the league, with 44 points in 25 games. Windsor's Taylor Hall (23G 28A) and Adam Henrique (23G 19A) are ranked first and third, respectively. Two other Spirit forwards hold spots in the league's top-20 scorers category, with rookie Ivan Telegin (18G 12A) and Josh Shalla (16G 14A) both tied for fourteenth. Telegin is also the league's top rookie scorer by a margin of 12 points over second ranked Boone Jenner (10G 8A) of the Oshawa Generals.
Kingston Frontenacs at Saginaw Spirit - Kingston enters the week tied for first in the OHL East Division, and tied for second in the Eastern Conference, with 26 points and a record of 12-13-0-2. The Frontenacs edged out the Spirit in a 5-4 overtime decision in late October to take a one game lead in the two game season series between the two teams.
The one-two punch of Pittsburgh Penguins pick Nathan Moon (12G 17A) and New York Rangers prospect Ethan Werek (15G 12A) drive the Frontenacs offense with a combined 56 points on the season. Both are averaging over a point per game. Winger Michael Farrell (6G 13A), overager Zach Harnden (8G 10A) and center Michael Fine (5G 12A) are also big contributors up front. The Frontenacs added some grit to the offense with the off-season acquisition of Kingston native Kaine Geldart (3G 4A) from Spirit rival the Plymouth Whalers. Center Alan Quine (5G 9A), the second overall pick in the 2009 OHL Priority Selection, has posted 14 points in 27 games. The defense boasts two of the top blueliners in the league in San Jose Sharks prospect Taylor Doherty (1G 10A) and top tier NHL prospect Erik Gudbranson (1G 9A). Gudbranson was ranked the fourth top prospect amongst OHL skaters eligible for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft in the NHL's Central Scouting Bureau's preliminary rankings. Dallas Stars pick Tyler Beskorowany serves in net for the Frontenacs, posting a 3.43 goals against average and 0.900 save percentage in 25 games.
Peterborough Petes at Saginaw Spirit -The Petes are ranked first in their division, second in the conference with 26 points and a record of 12-13-0-2. The Petes come to town having a one game advantage over the Spirit in the two game season series between the two teams, following a 5-3 victory in late October.
Sophomore center Ryan Spooner (10G 19) has been garnering a lot of attention lately, both in putting up big points for the Petes and in being considered a top tier prospect for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. The NHL Central Scouting Bureau ranked Spooner the thirteenth top OHL skater eligible for the draft in the recent release of their preliminary rankings. Overager Pat Daley (12G 17A) is the team's current goals leader, and along with Buffalo Sabres pick Zack Kassian (7G 10A), has helped lead Peterborough up front this season. Rookie winger Matt Puempel (11G 4), the sixth overall pick in the 2009 OHL Priority Selection, has contributed instantly in the points department with 15 on the season to date. Defenseman Jamie Doornbosch (5G 20A) often contributes from the back end with a team high 20 assists. Toronto Maple Leafs pick Barron Smith (0G 3A) and veteran Christopher Breen (0G 5A) anchor the blueline, while in the goaltending department Montreal Canadiens prospect Jason Missiaen has gotten the call in 23 games this season, earning a 3.64 goals against average and 0.909 save percentage.
Tickets are on sale now! Tickets are on sale now for the two upcoming homes games, taking place 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.
William Konesko Saginaw Spirit Hockey Club Director of Game Day Operations and Public Relations Office: 989.497.7747 ext. 1913 Cell: 989.598.4797 Fax: 989.799.9426 wkonesko@saginawspirit.com
NEXT HOME GAMES: November 27 vs Kingston Frontenacs at 7:11 PM November 28 vs Peterborough Petes at 7:11 PM
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