OHL Saginaw Spirit

Preview: Saginaw Hosts Kingston in Eighth Annual 'Hockey for the Homeless' Game

Published on March 2, 2019 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


Saginaw, MI - The Saginaw Spirit return to The Dow Event Center tonight following a two-week absence as they host the Kingston Frontenacs.

Wednesday marks the second of a two-game regular-season series between the Spirit and last-place Ontario Hockey League Eastern Conference Frontenacs.

Opening faceoff is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. (EST).

The Spirit won the last meeting in Kingston on January 25, 7-1.

Broadcast, Promotional & Ticket Info

Listen live on OHLLive.com, the flagship WSGW 100.5 FM Talk & Sports and fmtalk1005.com with Joey Battaino and Dennis Desrosiers. "Countdown to Faceoff" with host Domenic Papa starts at 6:50 p.m. (EST).

Fans are encouraged to bring any canned food items or donate $1 as part of the eighth annual Hockey for the Homeless Game. A donation will be made eligible to be entered to win a prize courtesy of Fox Sports Detroit.

$13 upper-level fundraising tickets are available online with $5 from every purchase going back to support the Rescue Ministries of Mid-Michigan.

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

The Spirit scored five consecutive goals Wednesday in the 5-3 win over the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

Saginaw finished the five-game road swing with nine of a possible 10 points and jumped the Greyhounds for first place in the Ontario Hockey League West Division with the tiebreaker advantage.

Both teams are at 85 points through the early part of March

The Spirit have not led the division since the 2018-19 opener, coming back from a 12-point difference when the hiring of Chris Lazary was made official on November 18, to now also sit in second place in the OHL Western Conference.

Spirit Standouts

Forward Cole Perfetti earned OHL Rookie of the Month honors for February after rounding out the month with 21 points on 10 goals and 11 assists. It's also been a week since the former 2018 OHL Priority Selection fifth overall pick passed former Detroit Red Wing Jan Mursak for the franchise record for most goals in a single-season by a first-year player.

2018 New York Islanders second-round (41st overall) pick Bode Wilde picked up his 63rd point of the season in the win over Sault Ste. Marie to sit third among OHL blueliners in assists (46) and points. The Plymouth, Michigan, native is also tied for first in power play goals (9).

Detroit Red Wings prospect Brady Gilmour recorded two assists on Wednesday for his 11th point and fifth goal of the month. The four-year veteran has tied Chicago Blackhawks forward Brandon Saad for 20th all-time in Spirit history in points (131).

Owen Tippett, the former 2017 tenth overall selection by the Florida Panthers, also finished with two assists against the Greyhounds to claim the top spot in points among all Saginaw players this season (64). The 20-year-old has totaled 21 points in the last 11 games dating back to February 2.

Second-year forward Nicholas Porco became the sixth Saginaw player to surpass the 20-goal mark in 2018-19 with his second-recorded goal on Sault Ste. Marie this year. Porco's shots on goal (148) are the third-most on the team.

2018 Minnesota Wild fifth-rounder Damien Giroux notched a career-high 44th point with his 26th goal of the year in the second period Wednesday. The 18-year-old yields the second-highest plus-minus rating on the Spirit at +25.

2018 Arizona Coyotes fourth-round (155th overall) goaltending draft choice Ivan Prosvetov made 20 saves Wednesday en route to his 32nd win in 47 appearances this season. The Moscow, Russia, native has a goals-against average (GAA) of 3.07 and 0.906 save percentage (SAV%).

On special teams, the Spirit have the league's sixth-best power play unit on 50 goals for a 24.9 percent success rate this season. The penalty kill is ranked third overall with 38 goals allowed for an 82.1 percent success rate.

Kingston Scouting Report

The Frontenacs will look to end a two-game losing streak tonight, after falling to last place in the OHL on Friday, in a loss to the Flint Firebirds.

26 points separate Kingston, who are out of playoff contention for the first time since the 2011-12 season, and the ninth-place Barrie Colts in the Eastern Conference.

The Frontenacs will play five of their final seven games this year on the road, including tonight, where they've won just once in the last five years.

Former 2014 Priority Selection tenth-round (195th overall) pick Ryan Cranford leads Kingston in goals (16) and points (37) as well as second in assists (21).

In 42 appearances, goaltender Brendan Bonello has compiled a record of 7-34-1-0 with a goals-against average (GAA) of 4.18 and 0.884 save percentage (SAV%).

On special teams, Kingston is ranked 18th in the OHL on the penalty kill this season with 47 goals allowed for an 81.6 percent success rate. The Frontenacs also have the 18th-best man-up unit with 59 goals scored for a 73.4 percent success rate.

Featured NHL Prospects

There will eight players on the ice Saturday with their rights owned by NHL teams. For the Spirit, it'll be Blade Jenkins (NY Islanders), Ryan McLeod (Edmonton), Reilly Webb (Detroit), Gilmour (Detroit), Prosvetov (Arizona), Tippett (Florida), Giroux (Minnesota) and Wilde (NY Islanders).

Looking Ahead

Saginaw will conclude the two-game homestand tomorrow at The Dow when they host the Peterborough Petes.

It'll be the final of a two-game regular-season series between Saginaw and sixth-place OHL Eastern Conference Petes.

Fans are welcome to bring expired or unused medications as donations towards the first annual Opioid Awareness Night. Any contributions given will be good towards a complimentary upper-level voucher to a future Spirit home game.

$13 upper-level fundraising tickets are available online with $5 from every purchase going back to supporting the effort of ending the opioid crisis in the Great Lakes Bay Region.

2018 San Jose Sharks first-round (21st overall) pick Ryan Merkley is first on the team in assists (53) and points (64) while Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Christopher Paquette leads in goals (26).

Check out the Saginaw Spirit Statistics

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 2, 2019


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