OHL Saginaw Spirit

Eagles Nest Notes

Published on November 20, 2006 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


Welcome to Eagles' Nest Notes, the weekly Spirit update and preview. The Spirit start off the week with 35 points and a record of 17-6-0-1, good for first place in the OHL West Division and the OHL Western Conference. The Spirit are tied with the Barrie Colts for first place in the OHL. The team will see action against the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds at home Wednesday night at 7:11 PM then head off to London Friday for a 7:30 match up against the Knights. The weekend will wrap up with a 7:11 PM contest against the Owen Sound Attack on Saturday.

Mursak Streak Ends at 22 Games

Spirit forward Jan Mursak has ended his consecutive point streak record at 22 games, the longest in Spirit history, during the Friday November 17th game against the Plymouth Whalers. The streak started in the first game of the season on September 22, 2006 against the London Knights and continued until November 16th, 2006 against the Erie Otters. During that time Mursak accumulated 13 goals and 27 assists (40 points). Mursak shattered the previous Spirit record of 14 games that was held by Nick Lees and Marek Kvapil. It was also the longest point streak in the league since Sarnia Sting forward Trevor Letowski's 34 games during the 1996-1997 season.

Assists Streak Watch

Spirit forward Tyler Haskins has had at least one assist in 8 consecutive games since the October 15 game against the Kingston Frontenacs. Haskins' teammate Ryan McDonough holds the current team record of 10 games.

Starting on Fire

Defenseman Nigel Williams (COL 06) scored his first OHL point with a goal on November 17 against the Plymouth Whalers. In his first three games Williams notched 3 goals, including an overtime game winning goal against Sarnia on November 18.

First OHL Point

Rookie Forward Andrew Clouthier notched an assist during the November 17 Plymouth game to earn his first OHL point. The Pembroke, ON native was selected by the Spirit during the 4th round of the 2006 OHL Priority Selection.

OHL Top 10 Leader Boards

Spirit Captain Patrick McNeill (WSH 05) is ranked 5th in D-man scoring with 11 goals and 13 assists (24PTS).

Forward Jan Mursak (DET 06) is ranked 1st in plus/minus, 3rd in rookie scoring and 8th in overall scoring (13G-28A-41PTS, +23).

Forward Tyler Haskins (7G-28A-35PTS) is currently ranked 3rd in assists scoring

Tom Pyatt (NYR 05) is ranked 1st in game winning goal scoring, 2nd in plus/minus and 6th in goal scoring (20G-16A-36PTS, +21).

Spirit Scoring Tear

The Saginaw Spirit lead the league in goal scoring with 109 goals scored, followed closely by Barrie (104), Mississauga (103), Kingston (102) and London (102).

Wednesday, Nov. 22 at 7:11 PM Vs the Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds

For ticket information, please call 989.497.7747 or check out saginawspirit.com

The Greyhounds enter the week in third place in the OHL West Division with 26 points and a record of 12-11-0-2. Forwards Dustin Jeffrey (14G-17A-31PTS), Cody Thornton (13G-15A-28PTS) and Chicago Blackhawk (2005) draftee David Kuchejda (6G-11A-17PTS) lead the team in scoring production while on the blue line Josh Godfrey (8G-11A-19PTS), Tyler Cuthbert (2G-3A-5PTS) and Andrew Campbell (2G-8A-10PTS, +10) lead the Soo defense. Goalie Kyle Gajewski has started 20 games out of 25 for the Greyhounds. The Spirit already squared off once against the Greyhounds this season (Nov. 1), winning in a 5-4 decision. The Spirit have a record of 12-19-1-0 against the Soo (since 2002).

Friday, Nov. 24 at 7:30 PM At the London Knights

For travel and ticket information, please visit www.londontourism.ca or call 1.800.265.2602

The Knights are in first place in the OHL Midwest Division and second in the Western Conference with 34 points and a record of 16-4-1-1. London boasts the two top scorings in the league in October's OHL Rookie of the Month Sam Gagner (1st with 13G-37A-50PTS) and rookie Patrick Kane (19G-30A-49PTS). Overager Robbie Drummond (11G-24A-35PTS), Adam Perry (13G-7A-20PTS), Chicago Blackhawks (2006) pick David Meckler (16G-11A-27PTS), Philadelphia Flyers (2005) draftee Josh Beaulieu (4G-3A-7PTS) and Montreal Canadians pick Sergei Kostitsyn (10G-19A-29PTS) have a solid presence on offense. Scott Aarssen (12A-12PTS, +16) along with Overagers Toddy Perry (9A-9PTS) and Ryan Martinelli (2G-1A-3PTS, +17) compliment the defense while starting goaltender Steve Mason (CBJ 06), who leads the league with a 0.922 save percentage, will backstop the Knights in net. The Spirit started the season against the Knights in London with a 6-3 loss. London has a 16-1-0-0 record over Saginaw (since 2002) with the only Spirit victory coming in last years 10-7 contest in London on September 23 2005.

Saturday, Nov. 25 at 7:11 PM Vs the Owen Sound Attack

For ticket information, please call 989.497.7747 or check out saginawspirit.com

Owen Sound starts the week with a record of 13-9-0-2 and 28 points, good for a third place in the OHL Midwest Division. The Attack have a team stacked with NHL drafted talent this season. Anaheim Ducks draftee (2005) Bobby Ryan (11G-20A-31PTS), Los Angeles Kings (2006) pick Trevor Lewis (14G-21A-35PTS), and Scott Tregunna (11G-18A-29PTS) lead a high powered offense. On the other end of the ice on defense is Edmonton Oiler pick Theo Peckham (5G-13A-18PTS) and two New York Rangers picks, Bobby Sanguinetti (2006, 13G-11A-24PTS)) and Dalyn Flatt (2005, 3G-2A-5PTS, +11). Goalie Neil Conway has started 14 games in the net for Owen Sound this season. The Spirit and Attack have already faced off twice this season with the Spirit winning both contests, 6-3 on Oct 21 and 5-4 in a shoot out on Nov. 4. Overall Saginaw has a record of 5-12-1-0 against Owen Sound since 2002.

Check out the Saginaw Spirit Statistics

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from November 20, 2006


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