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OHL Saginaw Spirit

Preview: McLeod, Tippett Set to Make Debut as Spirit Host Rangers Saturday

January 5, 2019 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


Saginaw, MI - What a week it has been for the Saginaw Spirit.

Led by a six-point affair from veteran Cole Coskey this past Wednesday at the Dort Federal Event Center, the Spirit have clinched the Coors Light I-75 Divide Cup for the second straight year, along with winning their fifth consecutive game this season over the Flint Firebirds.

Coskey would pick up his first OHL hat trick as well as three assists en route to a nine-goal throttling, a feat that hasn't been matched by the Spirit since November 10, 2013.

Having gained 17 of a possible 18 points in the last nine games, dating back to December 8, Saginaw returns to The Dow Event Center tonight to embark on a three-game home stand.

The Spirit will welcome the debuts of their newest trade acquisition in 2018 Edmonton Oilers second-round (40th overall) draft pick Ryan McLeod and 2017 Florida Panthers first-round (10th overall) draft selection Owen Tippett as they host the Kitchener Rangers at 7:05 p.m.

Saturday marks the fourth and final meeting between the Spirit and Rangers, with Saginaw leading the series, 2-1.

Broadcast & Ticket Info

Listen live on OHLLive.com, the flagship WSGW 100.5 FM Talk & Sports and fmtalk1005.com with Joey Battaino and Dennis Desrosiers. Pre-game coverage starts 15 minutes before puck drop.

Discounted tickets are available for $13 with $5 from every purchase to be donated to Holly Cross Services.

A non-profit healthcare organization, Holly Cross Services works to bring hope, promote change, and help children and adults live free, healthy and productive lives.

Detroit Red Wings radio play-by-play announcer Ken Kal and Red Wings television play-by-play broadcaster Ken Daniels will be speaking on behalf of the religious provider at the Budweiser Red Room from 5:30-6:30 p.m. To purchase your tickets for all Saginaw home games, call (989) 497-7747, visit saginawspirit.com, or by visiting the Saginaw Spirit Store at 5789 State Street, Saginaw, MI.

Last Time Out

With the win over the Firebirds, Saginaw is enjoying their highest points standing (48) in the OHL Western Conference this season, sitting only behind the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (51) and London Knights (56) for the top spot.

At 22 wins, 11 losses, two overtime losses and two shootout losses, the Spirit also continue their steady pace in the race for the West Division crown, looking to capture their first title in over eight years.

Since the Firebirds relocated from Plymouth, Michigan, to Flint before the 2015-16 season, the Spirit have compiled an all-time record of 18-5-4-1 against their in-state rivals, winning 12 of the last 13 meetings.

Under the helm of head coach Chris Lazary, Saginaw is 11-2-1-1 going back to November 22.

Spirit Standouts

The addition of McLeod from the Mississauga Steelheads was announced by general manager Dave Drinkill on Thursday.

In exchange for the 19-year-old, the Spirit have sent defenseman Duncan Penman, a 2019 third-round pick (LDN), 2020 second-round pick (SAG), 2022 third-round pick (SAG), 2024 third-round pick (SAG), and a conditional draft pick.

McLeod comes to Saginaw after spending the last four seasons (2015-18) with the Steelheads where he has appeared in 230 OHL games during that time. After being selected No. 3 overall in the 2015 OHL Priority Selection, McLeod has recorded 54 goals, 116 assists for 170 points.

The 6-foot-3, 173 pound forward tallied 30 goals and 51 assists for 81 points in 74 games for the Toronto Marlboros Mdgt AAA in 2014-15 and was named Player of the Year in the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL).

McLeod becomes the second player on the Spirit player roster alongside defenseman Bode Wilde (NY Islanders) to be drafted in the second round of the 2018 NHL Draft.

Recently being named the OHL Defenseman of the Month for December, Wilde ranks second in assists (30), third in points (40) and fifth in goals (10) among all league blueliners this season.

The Islanders prospect received second-star honors on Wednesday with a goal, two assists and a plus-minus rating of +4 against the Firebirds. Wilde is currently on a seven-game points streak, collecting 20 points since November 29.

Tippett, a former 2015 first-round (4th overall) draft pick by the Steelheads, joins McLeod after spending the last four seasons in Mississauga, recording 114 goals and 89 assists for 203 points in 182 career games played.

The Peterborough, Ontario native began the 2017-18 season with the Panthers and scored his first NHL goal Oct. 27, 2017 against the Anaheim Ducks.

Most recently, Tippett competed for Team Canada at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Vancouver, British Colombia, Canada. The 6-foot-2, 204-pound forward, tallied four points in five games in the tournament.

The Spirit have sent center Aidan Prueter, a 2020 second-round pick (BAR), a 2021 second-round pick (SBY), a 2019 third-round pick (SAG), a 2020 third-round pick (SAR), a 2019 seventh-round pick (SAG), and a 2020 seventh-round pick (SAG) for Tippett.

Outside of Wilde, Coskey is the only Spirit player to surpass the 40-point mark this season through 37 games played. The native of Zion, Illinois, scored or assisted on the first five Saginaw goals in Flint, registering his first of three goals in the first minute of the opening period.

Drafted in the third round (47th overall) of the 2015 OHL Priority Selection, Coskey has already accounted for a season-high in assists (25) while leading the team in goals (20) and points (45).

Two major milestones were achieved by Detroit Red Wings prospect Brady Gilmour on Wednesday, having now played 200 career OHL games and collecting his 50th career goal at 12:49 in the first period.

Gilmour is on a four-game points streak since returning from injury on December 28, obtaining two goals and three assists for five points during that timeframe.

The seventh-round (193rd overall) by the Red Wings in 2017, Gilmour is seventh on the team in total assists (16) and points (24) this season.

Six players for the Spirit would finish with two points in the win over the Firebirds, including overager Reagan O'Grady, defenseman Mason Millman and forward Danny Katic. All of whom contributed to the scoring spree with one goal each.

2018 New York Islanders fifth-round (134th overall) draft pick Blade Jenkins continues his points surge in the last month, having logged at least one point in 10 of the previous 11 games. Jenkins has also scored a combined five goals since the win over Sault Ste. Marie on December 28.

Goaltender Ivan Prosvetov has been held to without a loss in six straight games in net, dating back to December 9. The fourth-round (114th overall) draft pick in 2018 by the Arizona Coyotes is averaging 25.8 saves per game and has the fifth most wins (18) among league goalies this season.

Backup Tristan Lennox achieved his first career OHL shutout on December 30 at home, where he stopped 23 shots for his second win this season. The 16-year-old from Cambridge, Ontario, has a goals against average (GAA) of 2.379 with a 0.906 save percentage (SAV%) in six appearances.

On special teams, the Spirit scored two power play goals on Wednesday to have the league's fifth-best man-up unit with 33 total goals for a 25.6 percent success rate this season. The penalty kill is ranked eighth with 25 goals allowed for an 80.3 percent success rate.

Kitchener Scouting Report

With the second half of the season rolling on, the Rangers have gone back to their winning ways, taking four straight since December 28 after losing seven of the last eight before Christmas.

As the reigning OHL Midwest Division champions and Western Conference Finals runner-up, Kitchener remains in the playoff picture in the early part of January, but are four points behind the Sarnia Sting for sixth place.

At 17 wins, 17 losses and three overtime losses for 37 points, the Rangers are improving at the right time in hopes of not missing the playoffs for the first time since 2014.

Coming off a two-game home stand, Kitchener took a 4-3 decision from the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium on Friday against the Owen Sound Attack, after knocking off the Peterborough Petes, 3-1, this past Tuesday.

Kitchener has scored 15 goals and allowed just six over the last week. This will be the second time this season in which the Rangers have visited Saginaw, with the last meeting at The Dow ending in a 2-1 win for the Spirit on October 14.

Five players are over the double-digit mark in scoring for Kitchener, including 19-year-old Jonathan Yantsis with 26 goals and 10 assists for 36 points. Yantsis recently dropped three points on December 29 in the win over the Attack.

Having enjoyed a 10-game points streak from November 17-December 13, former 2015 first-round (12th overall) Priority Selection pick Greg Meireles has recorded 15 goals and 26 assists for 41 points this season.

Tied for second in total points for the Rangers alongside Yantsis are Hudiksvall, Sweden, native Rickard Hugg (15 goals, 21 assists) and fourth-year defenseman Joseph Garreffa (11 goals, 25 assists).

Not too far behind is 2018 Dallas Star fifth-round (137th overall) draft choice Riley Damiani at 13 goals and 19 assists for 32 points. Damiani has notched 17 points over the last 10 games played, scoring a hat trick in the 5-2 win over Saginaw over a month ago.

Goaltenders Luke Richardson and Lucas Pfiel have combined for 42 appearances and 2,221 minutes in net this season. As the go-to starter, Richardson has a record of 12-13-2-0 with a goals against average (GAA) of 3.56 with a 0.889 save percentage (SAV%).

On special teams, Kitchener is ranked first in the OHL on the power play this season with 36 goals scored for a 27.3 percent success rate. The Rangers have the ninth best man-down unit with 22 goals allowed for an 80 percent success rate.

Featured NHL Prospects

There will be a combined 10 players on the ice Saturday with their rights owned by NHL teams. For the Rangers, it'll be Alexey Lipanov (Tampa Bay) and Damiani (Dallas).

Defenseman Reilly Webb (Detroit), captain Damien Giroux (Minnesota), McLeod (Edmonton), Tippett (Florida), Gilmour (Detroit), Prosvetov (Arizona), Jenkins (NY Islanders) and Wilde (NY Islanders) and will represent Saginaw.

Looking Ahead

The Spirit will wrap up the home stand on Sunday, December 6, and Wednesday, December 9, against the Sudbury Wolves and Hamilton Bulldogs, respectively. Puck drop for tomorrow is set for 5:30 p.m.

Leading up to Sudbury's second game in three days tonight at the Dort Federal Event Center against the Firebirds, the Wolves have been held winless since the beginning of the season's second half stretch.

After falling in three straight games in regulation since December 28, Sudbury would allow the game-winning goal to the Windsor Spitfires in overtime last Thursday in a 5-4 final.

Former 2015 first-round (No. 1 overall) OHL Priority Selection pick David Levin leads the team in goals (16), assists (20) and points (36) through 35 games played this season.

Catboy from the hit Disney Junior series, PJ Masks, will be at The Dow tomorrow for meet-and-greet and photo opportunities before gametime.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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