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OHL Saginaw Spirit

Parekh Ties McNeill as Spirit Defeat Petes 3-1

January 20, 2024 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


Peterborough, Ont. - The Saginaw Spirit (28-12-0-1) defeated the Peterborough Petes (15-22-4-1), sweeping the season series for their third straight win. Zayne Parekh finished with a one-and-one night (1G,1A) while Michael Misa and Rodwin Dionicio both added powerplay goals. Parekh's 22nd goal of the season tied him with Spirit alum Patrick McNeill for the most goals by a defenseman in a single season in team history. Liam Sztuska started for the Petes stopping 45 of 47 shots, while Andrew Oke manned the goal crease for the Spirit, knocking away 34 of 35 in the win.

Saginaw opened the game's scoring late into the first period following a penalty on Peterborough's Chase Lefebvre. On the Spirit powerplay, Peterborough killed off the first minutes before a faceoff in the left circle of the Peteborough zone. The faceoff was pulled back behind the net and picked up by Pete's defender. His attempted clear hit a fellow defender in the center of the ice and left the puck in front of goaltender Liam Sztuska. Michael Misa fought for possession but was unable to get a shot away. In the effort to clear the puck, a Petes defender knocked the puck straight out to Rodwin Dionicio, who was waiting at the right circle. Dionicio gathered the puck and ripped a shot short side, over the glove of Sztuska for his 13th goal of the year and setting a 1-0 Saginaw lead.

Aside from a few more shots, nothing more notable would take place. Saginaw led Peterborough 1-0 while outshooting the Petes 18 to 7.

Peterborough got their tying goal on the board at 12:04 of the second period. In the final seconds of a Pete's powerplay, Cam Gauvreau retreated into his own zone and looked to move the puck up ice. Gauvreau fed a pass to Tommy Purdeller, who tapped it to Chase Lefebvre. The forward's speed through the neutral zone was used to his advantage and blazed past the Saginaw penalty killers. After sealing off the defender, Lefebvre laced a shot from the left circle past the glove of Spirit goaltender Andrew Oke to tie the game at 1-1 headed into the second intermission.

Saginaw again shot out Peterborough in the second period, 16-12, while the Spirit also outshot the Petes through the game 34 to 19.

After a dustup following a stopped puck, Saginaw's Alex Christopoulos and Peterborough's Grayden Strohack both received offsetting roughing calls at 4:40 into the period, with Strohack picking up an extra two minutes to set Saginaw up on their fifth powerplay of the game. Following Saginaw's faceoff win, Zayne Parekh collected the puck near the blue line and rattled off a pass to Hunter Haight while being pressured. Haight received the pass and then fed a pass to the left circle, finding Michael Misa. The Saginaw forward fired a shot toward goal that goaltender Liam Sztuska tipped down but could not stop from crossing the line. Saginaw now led, 2-1 late into the third period, thanks to Misa's 21st goal of the season.

The Spirit tacked on an empty net goal at 18:13 into the third period, courteous of Zayne Parekh with an assist from Hunter Haight, to finish off a 3-1 win while outshooting the Petes 48 to 35 throughout the game.

Saginaw's third straight win, and second against Peterborough, lifts the Spirit to 28-12-0-1, keeping the Memorial Cup hosts squarely in second place in the West Division.

Saginaw's next game is Sunday, January 21st, where the Spirit will finish the weekend against the Kingston Frontenacs, 2:00pm at the Leon's Centre.

For more information, visit saginawspirit.com or follow the team on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

For media inquiries, contact Dillon Clark at [email protected].

Check out the Saginaw Spirit Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 20, 2024


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