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Saginaw Spirit

Spirit Advance to Memorial Cup Final with 7-1 Defeat of Moose Jaw

May 31, 2024 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


Saginaw Spirit celebrate win
Saginaw Spirit celebrate win
(Saginaw Spirit, Credit: Eric Young)

Saginaw, Mich. - The Saginaw Spirit defeated the Moose Jaw Warriors, 7-1, on May 31st at the Dow Event Center in the Semi-Finals of the 2024 Memorial Cup presented by Dow. Ethan Hay scored a pair of goals and a pair of assists to end the night with four points. Jackson Unger started in net for Moose Jaw saving 30 of 37 shots while Andrew Oke stopped 23 of 24 shots on goal for Saginaw.

Saginaw struck first, scoring just three minutes into the game. Lincoln Moore made a board pass to Sebastien Gervais who then passed behind him to Ethan Hay in front of the net. Hay wasted no time ripping a shot over Unger's glove hand for the 1-0 lead.

Moose Jaw quickly tied up the game with Jagger Firkus scoring an unassisted goal at the seven-minute mark.

AFTER 1: SAG 1 - 1 MJ (Total Shots: 9 - 6)

Two minutes into the second period, Captain Braden Haché broke the tie. After receiving a pass from Michael Misa, Haché swiftly fired a shot just a foot away from the blueline where it tipped over Unger's glove off a Moose Jaw stick. Jorian Donovan also received an assist on this goal.

Saginaw wasn't done as Owen Beck would score another for the Spirit just two minutes later. Josh Bloom made a cross-ice pass to Beck, who then fired a shot from the right circle. Rodwin Dionicio picked up an assist on the goal that extended Saginaw's lead to 3-1.

With eleven minutes left in the second, Saginaw scored another goal to further extend their lead to 4-1. Ethan Hay passed to Sebastien Gervais who then passed to Lincoln Moore in the corner of the redline. Moore was able to fire a shot which sailed over Ungers pads into the left bottom corner of the net.

At 11:12, Ethan Hay scored his second goal of the contest with assists going to Lincoln Moore and Rodwin Dionicio. After collecting a pass from Moore, Hay fired a shot from the slot that flew directly over Unger's blocker.

At 14:24, Saginaw scored their fifth goal of the second period. After a faceoff in the Moose Jaw's zone, Sebastien Gervais attempted a shot from the Warriors doorstep, but Unger managed to swipe it away. Gervais collected the rebound and flipped the puck off the goaltender's pads and into the net for a five-goal advantage.

AFTER 2: SAG 6 - 1 MJ (2nd Period Shots: 21 - 11 Total Shots: 30 - 17)

Only 1:10 into the final period, Rodwin Dionicio scored his first goal of the contest. After intercepting a Moose Jaw pass, Dionicio skated to the slot where he wired a shot over the goaltender to set the final scoreline.

FINAL: SAG 7 - 1 MJ (3rd Period Shots: 7 - 8 Total Shots: 37 - 25)

Powerplay: SAG 0/1, MJ 0/1

Goaltenders: SAG: Andrew Oke (23 Saves / 24 Shots, W) - MJ: Jackson Unger (30 Saves / 37 Shots, L)

In their first appearance at the Memorial Cup, the Saginaw Spirit will face the London Knights in the Final. Puck drop is on Sunday at 7:30pm from the Dow Event Center.

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Saginaw Spirit celebrate win
Saginaw Spirit celebrate win
(Eric Young)		   

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