OHL Saginaw Spirit

Eagles Nest Notes

Published on November 16, 2008 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


The Saginaw Spirit are hitting the road this weekend for a three-game series against the Owen Sound Attack Wednesday, the Sudbury Wolves Friday and the Barrie Colts Saturday. Listen to all three games live on FM Talk and Sports 100.5!

The Spirit enter the week in second place in the OHL West Division, fourth in the OHL Western Conference, with 25 points and a record of 12-7-0-1. The team still boast one of the lowest goals against ranking in the league, with only 59 goals tallied against the team in 20 games.

Week 9 Recap

The Spirit were in Plymouth last Friday for a match-up against Whalers. Jack Combs opened scoring courtesy assists from T.J. Brodie and Chris Chappell. Despite the early drive, the Whalers claimed victory 5-1 in regulation. The loss snapped Saginaw's four game win streak.

The Spirit returned to action last Saturday when the team hosted the CHL leading Windsor Spitfires. The two teams battled through out the game, with the Spitfires taking a 3-2 lead early in the third period. T.J. Brodie tallied a goal in the final frame, forcing the game into overtime. Both teams called on 14 different shooters in an epic shootout, the longest in Spirit history. The Spitfires took the sudden death shootout, winning 4-3. Kyle Bochek and Jakub Svoboda also scored in regulation for the Spirit, and goalie Edward Pasquale turned aside 44 of 47 shots.

Week 10 Preview

Owen Sound Attack

The Owen Sound Attack host the Spirit at 7:00 PM Wednesday night, at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre. It is the first meeting between the two OHL Western Conference teams this season. The Attack are in fifth place in the OHL Midwest Division with 20 points and a record of 8-10-3-1.

Center Joey Hishon (13G 14A) carries the load on offense, posting 1.29 points per game. Rookie center Steven Shipley (5G 5A), the Attacks first round pick in the 2008 OHL Priority Selection, has made a solid showing in his OHL premier. The veteran leadership brought to the team by overage winger Andrew Wilkins (7G 12A), who spent four seasons with the London Knights, solidifies the Attack's offense. Defenseman Paul Bezzo (2A) leads the team in plus/minus with a plus-8.

Dallas Stars pick Tyler Beskorowany anchors the net, posting a 3.43 goals against average and 0.905 save percentage in 15 games this season. He's posted one shutout this season.

Sudbury Wolves

The Spirit and the Sudbury Wolves square off for the second of two contests this season. The Spirit bested the Wolves in their last meeting, a 3-2 shootout on October 4th. Kyle Bochek and Richard Jarusek tallied goals in the effort. Friday's re-match takes place at 7:30 PM Friday night, at the Sudbury Community Arena.

The Wolves enter the week following a 6-3 victory over the Sarnia Sting Sunday, moving them above 0.500 with a record of 10-9-1-1. Winger Patrick Lusnak and rookie center John McFarland each notched two goals in the effort. The Wolves have 22 points and are in third place in the OHL Central Division (OHL Eastern Conference).

Lusnak (14G 9A), McFarland (9G 9A), Anaheim Ducks second round pick Eric O'Dell (9G 13A) and winger Matt Dias (8G 10A) lead the team up front, combing for 81 points. Phoenix Coyotes pick Jared Staal (6G 11A) is also a constant presence on the offense. Defenseman Peter Hermenegildo (4G 6A) also chips in from the blue line, averaging nearly a point every other game. D-man Tyler Sheldrake (1G 3A) leads the defense with a plus-7.

Goalies Andrew Loverock and Alain Valiquette have shared duty in net this season.

Barrie Colts

The Spirit head into Saturday's contest looking for a re-match following their 3-0 defeat to the Colts on October 17th. This Saturday's game takes place at the Barrie Molson Centre, at 7:30 PM. The Colts have 20 points and a record of 9-11-1-1, good for fourth place in the OHL Central Division (OHL Eastern Conference).

Washington Capitals pick Stefan Della Rovere (14 G 9A) and center Alex Hutchings (11G 10A) lead the Colts in scoring, with rookies Michael Sgarbossa (2G 10A) and Darren Archibald (8G 3A) contributing a lot of points despite their youth. Blueliners Kyle van de Bospoort (3A) and Ryan Gottschalk (4G 5A) anchor a strong defense that has only allowed 66 goals this season.

The Colts boast two of the top goaltenders in the league - Peter Di Salvo has earned a 2.35 goals against average and 0.927 save percentage in 11 games, while Michael Hutchinson has posted a 3.30 goals against average and 0.905 save percentage in 12 games. The Colts have had 3 shutout victories in 23 games this season, two courtesy Di Salvo and one from Boston Bruins pick Hutchinson.

Check out the Saginaw Spirit Statistics

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from November 16, 2008


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