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OHL Saginaw Spirit

Return from Break Sees Greyhounds Visit Saginaw

December 28, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


Saginaw, Mich. - The Saginaw Spirit (20-9-0-1) host the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (22-8-2-1) for the third time this season at the Dow Event Center on Thursday, December 28th.

Tonight's Game:

Puck drop is at 7:05 pm

Broadcast:

Television: CHL TV, CHL App

Radio: 100.5 FM WSGW, WSGW.com

Last Time:

Saginaw defeated Sudbury on Saturday, December 16th, 4-3, highlighted by a three-goal second period. Sudbury struck first, scoring the lone goal of the first period. Saginaw responded with two goals before the Wolves netted a second goal, tying the game at two. The Spirit again responded with two straight goals and, aside from letting up a late Sudbury goal, defended the 4-3 lead for the win. Zayne Parekh netted his twelfth of the year and was plus-three on the night, Joey Wilis finished with three assists, and Sebastien Gervais netted the game-winning goal for his third of the year and fourth point in the last four games. Andrew Oke started in net for the Spirit, stopping 22 of 25 shots in his team-leading 13th win of the season.

The Soo fell to the Guelph Storm in a shootout on Saturday, December 16th, 3-2. The Greyhounds opened the game with a goal and ended the first period up 1-0. Guelph responded halfway through the second before giving up a Greyhounds power-play goal with 30 seconds left, setting a 2-1 third period. Guelph responded with a powerplay goal of their own early in the third, tying the game at two and sending it to overtime. Both teams went back and forth in overtime, but neither could net a goal. The shootout saw Guelph score twice and the Soo score once, finishing a 3-2 for the Storm. Brady Martin and Marco Mignosa scored in regulation for the Soo, and Jack Beck scored in the shootout. Landon Miller started in goal, stopping 19 of 21 in his first shootout loss of the year.

Last Matchup:

Saginaw and Sault Ste. Marie last faced off on Friday, December 1st, at the GFL Memorial Gardens. Saginaw completed a 3-1 win while outshooting the Greyhounds 29 to 28. The Spirit and Greyhounds traded goals in the first before Saginaw added a goal in the second and third to solidify the win. Rodwin Dionicio, Hunter Haight, and Zayne Parekh all scored for the Spirit, while Brady Martin scored the lone goal for the Soo. Charlie Schenkel started for the Greyhounds, stopping 26 of 29, while Andrew Oke stopped 27 of 28.

Players to Watch:

Zayne Parekh, fresh off being named to the 2024 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospect game, continues to lead the Spirit in points with 42, placing him second among all OHL defensemen. His 12 goals are also second most among OHL defensemen. Hunter Haight and Michael Misa are tied for the Saginaw goal lead (14), with half of Misa's goals coming via the league's top powerplay. Matyas Sapovaliv (Team Czechia) and Rodwin Dionico (Team Switzerland) are currently at the IIHF World Junior Championship in Gothenburg, Sweden. Calem Mangone looks to continue a nine-game point streak where he has collected 12 points (3G, 9A) and Andrew Oke continues to lead the Spirit in all major goaltending categories, sporting 2.80 goals against average (GAA), a .900 save percentage (SV%), and 13 wins.

Jack Beck leads the Greyhounds in points with 41, slotting him at tenth in the OHL. Arttu Kärki leads in goals (16) but is also away at World Juniors representing Finland, while teammate Owen Allard is making waves for Team Canada. Justin Cloutier leads all active players with 15 goals, including two shorthanded tallies. Jack Beck's 13 power play assists tie him for fourth in the OHL, and Andrew Gibson's +18 ties him for eleventh in the OHL. Travis Hayes is tied for fourth among all OHL rookies in points. Charlie Schenkel have a split of the goaltending stats, including a 3.09 GAA and 16 wins for Schenkel, while Miller sports an .884 SV%.

Saginaw currently has seven (7) players tied to the National Hockey League (NHL), including Joey Willis (Nashville), Matyas Sapovaliv (Vegas), Hunter Haight (Minnesota), Ethan Hay (Tampa Bay), Braden Haché (Florida), Rodwin Dionicio (Anaheim) and Nolan Lalonde (Columbus, FA).

Sault Ste. Marie has five (5) players tied to the National Hockey League (NHL), including Jack Beck (Calgary), Bryce McConnell-Barker (NY Rangers), Andrew Gibson (Detroit), Kirill Kudryavtsev (Vancouver), and Arttu Karki (Vegas).

Check out the Saginaw Spirit Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from December 28, 2023


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