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OHL Saginaw Spirit

Sima's Hat Trick Sends Spirit to 6-4 Win Over Knights

October 22, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


Saginaw Spirit's Nic Sima on game night
Saginaw Spirit's Nic Sima on game night
(Saginaw Spirit)

Saginaw, Mich. - The Saginaw Spirit (4-4-0-0) defeated the London Knights (6-4-0-1) Sunday night, October 22nd, by a score of 6-4. Nic Sima scored his first goal of the season and his first hat trick. Nolan Lalonde started in net for the Spirit, stopping 26 of 30 shots. Owen Willmore started in net for the Knights, saving 22 of 28 shots on goal.

The opening period was a back and forth battle between Saginaw and London. Nevertheless, neither team scored a goal or tallied a penalty in the first period. The Spirit outshot the Knights 9-7.

With 18:29 left in the second period, the Knights struck first. After receiving a flat pass from Jackson Edward, Kasper Halttunen skated up ice passing multiple spirit defenders. Halttunen soon rifled the puck from the right circle that slipped right under Nolan Lalonde's arm. This gave the Knights a 1-0 lead over the Spirit.

The Spirit responded with a goal of their own when Sebastien Gervais made a short pass across ice to Aiden Young. Young instantly gave the puck up toNic Simawho'd skate past three London defenders to take a shot from the center of the right circle. The puck sailed past Owen Willmore's head to meet the net and tie the game up at one apiece. This would be Nic Sima's first goal of the season with 16:48 left in the second period.

5:32 into the second period, Jacob Cloutier would be sent to the penalty box on a cross checking call. This was the first penalty of the game, giving London a power play opportunity. Saginaw showcased their league-best penalty kill and negated the chance.

London struck again soon after the penalty. Kasper Halttunen skated up ice and shot the puck between the inner hash marks which sailed under Nolan Lalonde's arm again. This gave the Knight back the lead, 2-1, with 10:34 left in the second period. Alec Leonard and William Nicholl would get credited for the assists on Halttunen's second of the night.

The Spirit responded again with another goal, this one at the 4:30 mark of the second period. Valentin Zhugin made a short pass to Luke McNamara from the right hash marks. McNamara took a shot but the puck bounced off Owen Willmore's stick. Nic Sima was there for the rebound and tapped the puck in to tie the game up again, 2-2.

With 56 seconds left in the second period, London's Jackson Edward took a seat in the penalty box on a slashing call. Only seconds later, after Matyas Sapovaliv won the faceoff, Joey Willis took a shot on goal with the puck bouncing off the right post. This was originally called a goal but after a long review it was called off.

The second period ended tied at two apiece. The Spirit continued to out shoot the Knights 19-15 (8-10 in the second period).

The third period opened up with the Spirit still on a power play opportunity, but Willmore and the Knights made short work of it.

Saginaw soon took the lead when Nic Sima tipped home a PJ Forgione shot from the blue line. Sima's third of the game gave the Spirit a 3-2 lead, and Aiden Young grabbed an assist.

London responded only minutes after when Jacob Julien received a pass off the wall from Brody Crane. Julien passed behind him but the puck missed and bounced off Nolan Lalonde's stick. However, William Nicholl was there to tip the puck back towards the net, going over Lalonde's blocker and tying the game at 3-3.

The scoring didn't stop there. 3:32 into the third period, Matyas Sapovaliv would win the face-off in the right circle of London's zone after an icing call. Dean Loukus was there to get the puck and instantly pass across ice to Zayne Parekh. Parekh took a shot from behind the right circle, deflecting off a few defenders and giving the Spirit a 4-3 lead.

London wasn't done yet when Max McCue sent a pass to Isaiah George who took a shot from 15 feet. The puck flew past Nolan Lalonde's blocker at 4:55, giving Isaiah George his third goal of the year and tying the game at 4-4.

7:20 into the third period, Braden Haché took a long shot at goal with Owen Willmore deflecting it. The puck sailed through the air and landed right in front of Valentin Zhugin. The forward saw the opportunity and slipped his sixth goal of the year past Willmore for a 5-4 Spirit lead.

PJ Forgione received a match penalty for slew footing at the 8:50 mark in the third. This would be the end of Forgione's night, and a 5:00 powerplay for London. The Spirit penalty killers, along with their goaltender, held off the attack to maintain their lead.

With the London net empty, Joey Willis poked a puck past Sam Dickinson at the Saginaw blue line, skated down the ice, and gave the Spirit some breathing room with an empty-netter. This goal came with only 1:45 left in the game and extended Saginaw's lead 6-4.

London pulled their goalie again but Jackson Edward would be sent to the penalty box with 25 seconds left in the game on a slashing call. The Spirit failed to convert, but skated off the ice with a massive 6-4 win.

With the victory, the Spirit snapped their three-game losing streak. The final shot count held a 30-28 London advantage (9-15 In the third period).

Saginaw's next game will be against the Soo Greyhounds at home on Friday, October 27th. Puck drop is at 7:05pm.

For more information, visitsaginawspirit.comor follow the team onTwitter, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

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Images from this story

Saginaw Spirit's Nic Sima on game night
Saginaw Spirit's Nic Sima on game night
   



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