OHL Saginaw Spirit

Eagles Nest Notes: Spirit Wrap Up January With Three Games

Published on January 28, 2010 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


(Saginaw, MI) Another three games in as many days stretch is on tap for the Saginaw Spirit this week, with two of the games on home ice at the Dow Event Center. The Spirit will play host to the Brampton Battalion on Thursday, January 28 at 7:11 PM. The game against the Battalion will be another Spirit WNEM TV 5 Five for Five promotional night. With your coupon, five dollars will get you a hot dog, Pepsi, popcorn, candy bar, and a piece of Spirit merchandise. Friday night Saginaw will travel to the RBC Center in Sarnia for the first of back to back games vs. the Sting. The return engagement is Saturday night at 7:11 PM, a contest that will be preceded by the third annual MCVI Foundation Shocks and Saves game.

The Spirit enter this week's action in fourth place in the OHL West Division and seventh in the Western Conference with a record of 22-20-4-1 for 49 points. On the ice, Western Conference All Star Jordan Skellett (20-49-69) continues to lead the OHL in assists, and is fourth in league scoring. NHL Draft Eligible Ryan O'Connor (9-22-31) has been on a bit of a points tear of late and finds himself 16th among defensemen in point production. Spirit forward Josh Shalla (25-23-48), also eligible for this year's NHL Draft, continues to lead the Spirit in goals. On the injury front, the Spirit will be without the services of Garret Ross (7-4-11) (knee), while Ivan Telegin (18-13-31) could be back this weekend as he is recovering from an upper body injury.

Brampton Battalion at Saginaw Spirit - The Spirit host the second game of their season series against the Battalion (16-21-6-4 42 points) on home ice after Brampton won the first meeting back in early October. The defending Eastern Conference Champions have undergone a major face lift this season after the departure of a number of high end players to the pro ranks, and are fighting for playoff positioning in the conference. At the top of that list is Matt Duchene, a member of the Colorado Avalanche, who is making a strong bid for Calder Trophy consideration as the NHL's Rookie of the Year as he entered the week number one in first year scoring. Last season's OHL Rookie of the Year Evgeny Grachev is now in the New York Rangers system with Hartford of the American League, while Detroit prospect Thomas McCollum is part of the goaltending rotation with the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins. The Battalion are also having to make due without Cody Hodgson, the reigning Ontario Hockey League Player of the Year, and a first round pick of the NHL's Vancouver Canucks who has been battling a bad back all season.

The Battalion's strong suit is from the blueline back with a veteran defense corps led by Anaheim pick Matt Clark (3-12-15), and stabilized by the goaltending of Patrick Killeen, who is enjoying a great campaign and is arguably Brampton's Most Valuable Player this season. Brampton also features three players rated by NHL's Central Scouting in its mid season rakings - forwards Sam Carrick (14-14-28), and Phil Lane (13-12-25), and defenseman Cameron Wind (3-5-8). Former Erie Otter Sean Jones (26-9-35) will represent the Battalion at the OHL All Star Classic, and leads the team in goals and points.

Saginaw Spirit at Sarnia Sting/Sarnia Sting at Saginaw Spirit - The Spirit will make their final regular season visit to Sarnia (14-32-2-1 31 points) on Friday night before the two teams switch venues to the Dow Event Center for Saturday's rematch. Like the Battalion, the Sting are in a makeover position after seeing the departure of the team's four main offensive threats from a season ago. Sarnia lost a total of 125 goals with the graduation of Justin DiBenedetto, Mark Katic, Matt Martin and Jamie Arniel to the American Hockey League. DiBenedetto, Katic and Martin are all in the Islanders system in Bridgeport, while Arniel skates with Boston's affiliate in Providence, where he was the AHL's Rookie of the Month in November. The Sting managed to stockpile a number of draft picks for the future by dealing several veteran players this season including Jordan Hill to Saginaw, Adam Courchaine, to Erie, and Steve Reese to Sudbury. While the Sting have gone through some lumps this year they continue to work hard and have been a tough team to play against with victories against some of the league's best including the Windsor Spitfires, Kitchener Rangers and Barrie Colts twice. Two members of the Sting appear in NHL Central Scouting's most recent rankings defenseman Joe Rogalski (5-17-22), who will represent Sarnia at the All Star Game, and Brandon Alderson (12-8-20).

Tickets are on sale now! The Spirit host home games on January 28 and January 30. Tickets are on sale now for both games, which start at 7:11 PM. 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.

MCVI Foundation's Shocks and Saves! Join the Spirit prior to their home game against the Sarnia Sting on January 30 when local doctors and paramedics hit the ice with Red Wing great Jiri Fischer to raise funds and educate fans on the cause of healthy heart awareness! Also tentatively scheduled to appear are former Red Wings Dave Lewis, Mickey Redmond, Igor Larionov, Dallas Drake and Jason Woolley! Tickets are on sale now - contact the Spirit for more info!

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