OHL Saginaw Spirit

Preview: Top OHL Teams, Spirit and 67's Meet Sunday Afternoon in Ottawa

Published on January 27, 2019 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


Ottawa, ON - The Saginaw Spirit (30-12-2-2 64pts.) takes on the CHL's fifth ranked Ottawa 67's (34-9-3-1 72pts.) Sunday, January 27 in the second and final meeting of the season. Puck drop from TD Place in Canada's capitol is set for 2:00 p.m. The Spirit dropped the first game against the 67's at home, 8-2.

The game features two of the hottest teams in junior hockey. The 67's have won four straight games and seven in their last nine games. The Spirit may be the hottest team in the past two months going 16-1-1-0 in the last 18 games. Saginaw has won five straight games after defeating the Kingston Frontenacs Friday evening.

Listen to the game live on the flagship 100.5 FM Talk and Sports or www.fmtalk1005.com with Joey Battaino and Dennis Desrosiers on the call. Catch the pre-game coverage on "Countdown to Face-off" beginning at 1:45 p.m.

Fans can watch the game live from the Saginaw Spirit "Watch Party" from the 2690 Tittabawassee Road Buffalo Wild Wings location.

The Spirit almost put together one of the most complete outings of the season on Friday evening. Saginaw outshot Kingston, 36-21 en route to a 7-1 victory.

Defenseman Bode Wilde led the way for the Spirit, collecting first-star honors with a three-point effort. Wilde scored his 13th goal of the season to go along with two assists. The goal came on the power play, giving him seven goals on the man-power advantage this season.

The 2018 second round pick of the New York Islanders signed an entry-level contract with the club earlier this season.

2019 NHL Draft prospect Nicholas Porco contributed the first two goals in Friday's game. The Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario native has been strong so far on the road swing with three goals in two games.

Porco recently landed 101st in the NHL Scouting Midterm Rankings for the 2019 NHL Draft from Vancouver, British Columbia on June 21-22.

Spirit captain Damien Giroux added a goal and assist in the victory over Kingston. The Minnesota Wild prospect has been a reliable leader playing in 45 of the Spirit's 46 games this season.

Spirit leading scorer Cole Coskey extended his six-game point streak with an assist in the victory over Kingston. The Zion, Illinois native is the only Saginaw player in the top-20 in the OHL in points.

Both the Spirit and 67's were active in the recent trade deadline attempting to load up for the approaching playoffs.

Saginaw acquired top NHL prospects Owen Tippett and Ryan McLeod in two separate trades with the Mississauga Steelheads before the deadline.

Tippett, a 10th overall pick of the Florida Panthers, has three goals and six assists since becoming a Spirit. The Peterborough, Ontario native has 42 points this season despite beginning the campaign in the NHL with the Panthers.

McLeod was selected in the second round of the 2018 NHL Draft by the Edmonton Oilers. The playmaking center is second on the team in assists with 32 and his 46 points is third among Spirit players.

Ottawa added two of the OHL's top scorers in overagers Kyle Maksimovich and Lucas Chiodo.

Maksimovich, a former Erie Otter, is 12th among OHL scorers with 58 points this season. The left-winger has paid dividends recently scoring five points in the last two games, including a hat-trick in Friday's game against Oshawa.

The former Barrie Colt Chiodo had four assists in Friday's game against the Oshawa Generals. The Churchill, Ontario native had 50 points in 39 games before the Ottawa trade.

Ottawa right-winger Tye Felhaber leads the OHL with 50 goals and 82 points. The former Spirit first round pick is four points and eight goals ahead of second place Justin Brazeau of North Bay. Felhaber had a goal and assist in the first game against the Spirit.

The 67's have six players with rights own by NHL teams, forwards Sasha Chmelevski (San Jose Sharks), Mitchell Hoelscher (New Jersey Devils), Kody Clark (Washington Capitals, defensemen Noel Hoefenmayer (Arizona Coyotes), Kevin Bahl (Arizona Coyotes), and goaltender Michael DiPietro (Vancouver Canucks).

The Spirit boasts eight players drafted by NHL clubs, forwards Brady Gilmour (Detroit Red Wings), Blade Jenkins (New York Islanders), Owen Tippett (Florida Panthers-signed), Ryan McLeod (Edmonton Oilers), Damien Giroux (Minnesota Wild), defensemen Reilly Webb (Detroit Red Wings), Bode Wilde (New York Islanders-signed), and goaltender Ivan Prosvetov (Arizona Coyotes).

Saginaw returns home Saturday, February 2 when they continue the I-75 Divide Rivalry against the Flint Firebirds at 7:30 p.m. The Spirit clinched the I-75 Divide Cup in a 9-1 road win against the Firebirds back on January 2.

Before the game marks the 12th annual Shocks and Saves Charity Game presented by Pulse 3. Puck drop for the charity game against the Detroit Red Wings alumni and the local EMT's and doctors is at 4:30 p.m.

To purchase tickets to any Saginaw Spirit home game call (989)497-7747, visit www.saginawspirit.com, or by visiting the Saginaw Spirit Store at 5789 State Street, Saginaw, MI.

Check out the Saginaw Spirit Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 27, 2019


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.

OurSports Central