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OHL Saginaw Spirit

Misa's Multi-Goal Effort Brings Spirit New Year's Eve Win in Soo

December 31, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. - The Saginaw Spirit (22-10-0-1) downed the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (23-10-2-1), by a 4-3 scoreline at GFL Memorial Gardens on New Year's Eve afternoon. Michael Misa and Jack Beck scored twice for their respective teams, and Saginaw's Dean Loukus connected for a three-assist night. Charlie Schenkel started for the Soo, stopping 20 of 24, while Andrew Oke guarded the Saginaw goal, turning away 23 of 26.

The first period opened with a good pace of back-and-forth play until Sault Ste. Marie struck first. After Marco Mignosa was stripped of the puck entering the Saginaw zone, the Spirit defense attempted to move the puck back up ice. A pass up the side boards by a Saginaw defender missed its target and was collected by Mignosa. The Greyhound forward turned and fired a shot through the net-front traffic, finding the netting behind goaltender Andrew Oke and giving the Soo an early 1-0 lead.

Despite a few extra shots from each team, the score remained 1-0 at the break with Sault Ste. Marie leading in shots 10 to 9.

Saginaw responded with their own goal, which was only 1:03 into the second period. After the puck was dumped in, Michael Misa's forecheck forced a puck battle near the boards. After the puck was swept out, Dean Loukus skated to retrieve it. He dove to chip the puck up to Braden Haché, whofired a shot on goal that was shut down by the left pad of Soo goaltender Charlie Schenkel. Misa quickly collected the rebound, sliding the puck through the legs of the sprawling Schenkel, then finishing the goal with a secondary shot. Misa's team-leading 16th of the year helped tie the game up 1-1.

At 8:14, Saginaw struck once more, this time on the powerplay. The play began with a pass-through traffic by Dean Loukus that Nic Sima just missedon a one-time opportunity. The puck bounced off the corner boards and to Zayne Parekh, who looked to set up the next chance. Parekh looked across the ice and fired a pass, finding a wide-open Sebastien Gervais on the far post. A quick shovel shot by Gervais netted his fourth of the year and Saginaw's second of the game.

The Greyhounds returned to the scoresheet only 22 seconds after the ensuing center-ice faceoff. After winning the faceoff, Sault Ste. Marie's Jack Beckpassed the puck up to Jordan D'Intino. The Greyhounds' forward entered the zone and skated to the high slot. A pass toward the Saginaw goal was tipped by Beck and saved initially by goaltender Andrew Oke. Beck slapped at the puck once more, putting it around Oke and tying the game up 2-2 at the end of 40 minutes.

At the end of the second, Saginaw and the Soo were knotted at two apiece, with the Spirit outshooting the Greyhound in the second 11 to 8 and 20 to 18 overall.

Only 24 seconds into the third period, Misa scored a second time for the Spirit. After Dean Loukus brushed the puck deep into the Greyhounds' zone, Michael Misa's forecheck again forced a turnover in the offensive zone. Misa's body check behind the net allowed the puck to rebound off the boards and out to Calem Mangone. He fired a pass across the crease to Dean Loukus, whose shot was expertly saved by goaltender Charlie Schenkel. Loukus recollected the puck and fired a no-look spinning pass to the back door, finding Michael Misa on the far side, whose shot was fired into the virtually open net. Misa's 17th on the year and fifth multi-goal game this year gave Saginaw a 3-2 lead.

The Spirit extended their lead at 10:42 into the third period after Ethan Hay scored the eventual game-winner. Will Bishop collected the puck out of another puck battle and fired a pass up the boards for Sebastien Gervais to go chase. Gervais ran the puck down, slowed up, and fired a backhanded pass to the center of the ice, finding Ethan Hay as he entered the Greyhounds' zone. Hay cocked the puck back and fired a shot between the legs of Charlie Schenkel and into the net for his eighth of the year and setting Saginaw up with a 4-2 lead.

Sault Ste. Marie would not go quietly as they responded at 16:08 into the third. After Brenden Sirizzotti won the faceoff to his right, Justin Cloutier collected the puck in the right circle and passed it up to winger Jack Beck. The Soo forward drifted to the high slot and fired a shot that blazed past goaltender Andrew Oke's trapper and into the top netting for his 15th of the year, bringing the Greyhounds back to within one with approximately four minutes remaining.

Despite the Soo's best efforts and some excellent scoring chances late, Andrew Oke and Saginaw's defense were able to fend off their West Division rival as they completed the 4-3 win.

Saginaw continues its road trip on Thursday, December 4th, as they travel to face the powerhouse Kitchener Rangers at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium at 7:00pm.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from December 31, 2023


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