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OHL Saginaw Spirit

Spirit Come Up Short Against Spitfires In Windsor

October 21, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


Saginaw Spirit try to score against the Windsor Spitfires
Saginaw Spirit try to score against the Windsor Spitfires
(Saginaw Spirit, Credit: Jim Parker)

Windsor, Ont. - The Saginaw Spirit (3-4-0-0) were defeated by the Windsor Spitfires (2-7-0-0) by a score of 5-2 at the WFCU Centre on Saturday night. Andrew Oke started the night for the Spirit before leaving late in the second period, stopping 15 of 18 shots. He was replaced by Nolan Lalonde, who stopped all eight shots he saw. Joey Costanzo made 29 saves on 31 shots in his second win of the season.

The game started with back-to-back penalties by Windsor when Connor Walton committed a hooking penalty at 1:48 was followed by an Anthony Cristoforo trip at 3:37. Despite their opportunities, the Spirit were unable to score.

Windsor struck first after Liam Greentree received a pass across the ice from Rodwin Dionicio and placed a shot on goal. Saginaw goaltender Andrew Oke made that save and the puck was loose in front of the net. Oliver Peer would corral the loose puck and place a shot past Oke for his third of the year and a 1-0 Spitfire lead.

The Spitfires would score again at 14:31 when Rodwin Dionicio again fed a pass off the sideboards, cross-ice to Oliver Peer. He found find Liam Greentree wide open on the opposite side of the crease for an easy tap-in past Saginaw's Andrew Oke, and 2-0 Windsor lead.

At 18:11, Saginaw's PJ Forgione committed a boarding penalty and picked up an offsetting roughing call with Windsor's James Jodin. The Windsor powerplay would extend beyond the first period.

The opening period would end 2-0 in favor of Windsor, with the Spitfires outshooting the Spirit 10-8.

The Spitfires extended their lead in the second when Aiden Castle dug the puck out of a crowd near the Saginaw bench and fed a pass to Colton Smith, streaking down the middle of the ice. Smith took a wrist shot on goal that sailed by Andrew Oke for his third of the year and put Windsor up 3-0.

Saginaw would get their first goal of the game at 2:52 into the second after Windsor's Oliver Peer received a holding penalty. Michael Misa slung a cross-ice pass to Sebastien Gervais, who placed a shot toward Spitfire goaltender Joey Costanzo. Valentin Zhugin, standing in front of the crease, deflected the shot past Costanzo and into the back of the net to put the Spirit within two, 3-1.

At 16:03, Saginaw would again score when Hunter Haight passed the puck to PJ Forgione, waiting at the blue line for a shot. Forgione took a slap shot that was wide right of the cage and rebounded in front. Calem Mangone took a quick shot that was blocked by Windsor goaltender Joey Costanzo and recollected the puck. Mangone wrapped back around behind the net and slipped the puck in to bring the Spirit back to within one 3-2.

At 19:35 into the second, Jacob Maillet carried a puck toward the net and collided with Saginaw goaltender Andrew Oke. In the ensuing scrum, Windsor's Rodwin Dionicio and Saginaw's Branden Haché would receive offsetting roughing penalties, with Haché receiving an extra roughing call, putting Windsor up on a power play they would take into the third.

Andrew Oke would leave the game having made 15 saves on 18 shots and was replaced by Nolan Lalonde.

At the conclusion of the second period, Windsor continued to lead the game 3-2, with shots in the second period being 11-8 in favor of Saginaw.

Shots would go back and forth in the third until Saginaw's Calem Mangone drew an interference penalty from Windsor's AJ Spellacy at 14:44 into the third period.

Saginaw would fail to take advantage despite heavily outshooting the Spitfires. Liam Greentree and Jacob Maillet each added an empty netter to boost Windsor's lead to three goals.

At the horn, Windsor claimed a 5-2 victory over the Saginaw Spirit despite being outshot 31-28 in the game.

Saginaw's next game will be Sunday, October 22nd, when the Spirit will be back at the Dow Event Center to face the London Knights at 5:30 PM.

For more information, visit saginawspirit.com or follow the team on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

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Images from this story

Saginaw Spirit try to score against the Windsor Spitfires
Saginaw Spirit try to score against the Windsor Spitfires
(Jim Parker)		   



Ontario Hockey League Stories from October 21, 2023


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