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OHL Saginaw Spirit

Saginaw Fall 4-3 to Hounds in First Shootout of Season

February 10, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


Saginaw Spirit's Roberto Mancini and Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds' Kalvyn Watson
Saginaw Spirit's Roberto Mancini and Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds' Kalvyn Watson
(Saginaw Spirit, Credit: Natalie Shaver)

Saginaw, Mich. - The Saginaw Spirit (26-20-2-1) fell 4-3 to division rivals the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (15-22-8-5) Friday, February 10, at the Dow Event Center.

Hunter Haight netted a goal and an assist for the Spirit while Tristan Lennox stopped 17 of 20 shots. Bryce McConnell-Barker potted a goal and an assist for the Soo, and Charlie Schenkel made 30 saves on 33 shots.

The game started with four penalties in the first seven minutes. Neither team scored on the penalties.

Joey Willis was called for hooking at 13:18 in the first period, giving the Soo a powerplay. Saginaw held them scoreless on the chance.

The Spirit went down a skater after James Guo took a tripping penalty at 18:05 in the opening period. The Greyhounds were unable to find the back of the net.

The first period ended with neither team scoring despite Saginaw holding a 4-3 shot advantage.

The second period began with Calem Mangone committing a tripping penalty at 1:34, giving the Soo a man-advantage. Saginaw held the Greyhounds from breaking the tie with several clearing attempts.

The Soo went on the powerplay again after Roberto Mancini was called for boarding at 4:43 in the second frame. The Spirit successfully killed off the penalty.

Saginaw got on the score sheet first at 11:49 in the middle period. Dean Loukus forced a turnover at the offensive blue line and fed Theo Hill to his left. The overager spotted Matyas Sapovaliv and set him up with a one-timer pass to make it 1-0 Spirit.

Kalvyn Watson took a slashing at 11:55 middle frame, giving the Spirit another powerplay. The Soo kept the Spirit from adding to their lead on the opportunity.

A few minutes later, Saginaw made it 2-0 with a tally at 15:50 in the second period. Sebastien Gervais brought the puck into the zone and passed to Hunter Haight. The Minnesota Wild prospect fired a shot towards Schenkel. Calem Mangone put his stick in the lane and deflected the puck past the goaltender for his 11th goal of the season.

The Spirit found themselves down two skaters after Sebastien Gervais was called for hooking at 16:22 and Matyas Sapovaliv took a slashing penalty at 16:49 in the second frame. The Hounds used this chance to tie the game with two goals just 62 seconds apart.

The first goal, scored at 17:02 in the middle period, saw Kalvyn Watson receive a pass from Mark Duarte to Lennox's left. The winger wristed a shot over his glove to make it 2-1 Saginaw.

The second goal was potted at 18:04 in the middle frame, and was started by Kirill Kudryavtsev. The Vancouver Canucks prospect gave Marco Mignosa the puck and he shot a quick pass to Bryce McConnell-Barker. The New York Rangers prospect netted his 27th of the season while falling in front of the goal to make it two apiece.

At the end of the second period, both teams had two goals apiece despite a 14-11 Saginaw shot advantage.

The third period opened with the Greyhounds going down a skater after they were caught with too many players on the ice at the end of the second period. Saginaw was unable to regain the lead on the chance.

Theo Hill took a boarding penalty at 7:09 in the third frame, giving the Soo a man-advantage. Saginaw was able to keep the Greyhounds off the score sheet on the chance.

The Spirit retook the lead at 9:42 in the final frame. Hunter Haight scored an unassisted goal after he stole the puck in the Greyhound's zone and rifled a shot from the center of the circles. The center earned his 14th of the season and made it 3-2 Saginaw.

With time running out, Schenkel was called to the bench with under three minutes to go. The Soo tied the game at 18:27 in the final period. Jordan D'intino collected a rebound after Bryce McConnell-Barker took a shot at Lennox. The winger quickly potted his 20th of the season and Brenden Sirizzotti earned an assist on the play.

Mark Durante earned a penalty shot with 33 seconds left in the game after Zayne Parekh committed a check from behind. Lennox stopped Durante with his pads after he skated up the center to keep it tied at three apiece.

At the end of regulation, the game was tied at three apiece despite a 30-20 Saginaw shot lead.

In overtime, neither team was able to convert despite Saginaw controlling the puck for almost the entire period. In the shootout, Bryce McConnell-Barker and Mark Duarte scored for the Soo, while Hunter Haight and Zayne Parekh were denied by Charlie Schenkel. The Greyhounds picked up a 4-3 shootout win as a result.

The Spirit are back in action tomorrow as they host the Windsor Spitfires Saturday, February 11, at the Dow Event Center. Puck drop is at 7:05, and tickets are available at Ticketmaster, the Saginaw Spirit Store (6321 State Street), Dow Event Center Box Office, and by phone at (989) 497-7747.

Tomorrow's game is the Talk Today, Hope for Tomorrow mental health awareness night in conjunction with the Barb Smith Suicide Resource and Response Network. There will be members from the network in the Budweiser Red Room and resources available prior to the game. For more information, head to their website.

Check out the Saginaw Spirit Statistics




Images from this story

Saginaw Spirit's Roberto Mancini and Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds' Kalvyn Watson
Saginaw Spirit's Roberto Mancini and Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds' Kalvyn Watson
(Natalie Shaver)		   



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