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OHL Saginaw Spirit

Spirit Can Clinch Coors Light I-75 Divide Cup against Flint Thursday

December 14, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


Saginaw, Mich. - The Saginaw Spirit (17-9-0-1) will face-off against in-state rival, the Flint Firebirds (13-13-2-1), for the sixth time this season on Thursday, December 12th, at the Dow Event Center. The Spirit currently hold a 4-1 series lead in the Coors Light I-75 Divide Cup series and can clinch their fifth title with a victory tonight.

Tonight's Game:

Puck drop is at 7:05 PM

Tickets:

Ticketmaster

Phone: (989) 497-7747

In-Person: Saginaw Spirit Store (6321 State St.), Dow Event Center Box Office

Broadcast

Television: CHL TV, CHL App, OHL Action Pak Ch. 468

Radio: 100.5 FM WSGW, WSGW.com

Last Matchup:

Saginaw's last game was a 7-1 win against the Flint Firebirds on Saturday, December 9th, at the Dort Financial Center. Flint's Tristan Bertucci was the first to score, but the Spirit responded with seven unanswered goals. Braden Haché enjoyed the first multi-goal game of his career, followed by Hunter Haight, Zayne Parekh, Michael Misa, Alex Christopoulos and Sebastien Gervais who scored on a last minute power play goal. Czechia native Matyas Sapovaliv was also credited with 3 assists in this game. Nolan Lalonde protected the goal crease for the Spirit, stopping 22 of 23 shots on goal while Flint's Nathan Day stopped 22 of 29.

The Flint Firebirds lost to the Windsor Spitfires on December 10th at the WFCU Centre by a score of 6-3. Windsor's Oliver Peer scored a hattrick in the first period before Flint's Jeremy Martin scored in the second. Ryan Abraham and Liam Greentree were the next Spitfires to score followed by Nolan Dann and Braeden Kressler scoring for the Firebirds. Liam Greentree sealed the game scoring on an empty net to win the game, handing Flint their third loss in row. Nathan Day started in net for the Firebirds, stopping 22 of 27 shots on goal with Ian Michelone started in net for the Spitfires and stopped 47 of 50 Flint shots.

Players to Watch:

Zayne Parekh leads the Spirit in points (40) and assists (29), putting him 2nd among OHL defensemen in both categories. Michael Misa leads the team in goals (14), with three being game winning goals. The Spirit will be without the services of center Matyas Sapovaliv (Czechia) and defenseman Rodwin Dionicio (Switzerland) who are each at their third World Junior camp. Andrew Oke leads the team in all major goaltending categories with a 2.77 goals against average (GAA), putting him third in the OHL, a .903 save percentage (SV%), and 11 wins.

Gavin Hayes leads the Firebirds in points (36) and goals (19) with an additional 17 assists. He joins Team USA at their World Junior camp in Plymouth, Mich. Braeden Kressler is tied for second on the team in points (33) alongside Zacharie Giroux. Kressler is also first on the team in assists (20). Flint will also be without center Simon Slavicek, as he joins Saginaw's Matyas Sapovaliv on team Czechia in preparation for the 2024 World Junior Championship. Nathan Day leads all Firebird goaltenders with a 3.90 GAA, a .865 SV%, and 11 wins.

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).

Flint currently has five (5) players with NHL ties, including Coulson Pitre (Anaheim), Braeden Kressler (Toronto, FA), Gavin Hayes (Chicago), Tristan Bertucci (Dallas), and Nathan Day (Edmonton).

Check out the Saginaw Spirit Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from December 14, 2023


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