OHL Saginaw Spirit

Spirit Count Frontenacs Out 5-2

Published on November 19, 2005 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


(Saginaw) -- The Saginaw Spirit returned to their winning ways with a 5-2 win over the Eastern Conference Kingston Frontenacs Saturday night in Saginaw. Saginaw's powerplay energized the Saginaw win, with three of the goals coming with an extra attacker.

Saginaw opened scoring in the seventh minute of the first period, when Patrick Asselin found the net on the powerplay, from Michal Birner (STL '04) and Matt Corrente. The Spirit jumped ahead 2-0 early in the second period when forward Chris Chappell scored his first OHL goal, from Jack Combs. (See related video at top of page). "It was really a pass," Chappell said of the goal. "But it hit someone and went in. The Spirit extended their lead to 3-0 a minute and a half later, when forward Zack Torquato scored, from Jesse Gimblett and Tom Pyatt (NYR '05). Torquato's ninth goal ties him with Tom Pyatt and Jean-Michel Rizk for the most goals by an underage player in a Spirit uniform.

Kingston broke the Ryan Daniels shutout bid just past the ten minute mark of the second, when defenseman Adam Nemeth scored. The Fronts cut the Spirit lead to 3-2 four minutes later on the powerplay goal from defenseman Ben Shutron. But Saginaw responded two minutes after that, with Asselin's second goal of the game, from Combs and Corrente. "We played with more intensity tonight," Combs said of the win. "We battled when we had to and kept the lead in front of us." The goal marked Asselin's third multiple goal game of the season.

The Spirit and Fronts battled through nearly 18 minutes of scoreless hockey in the third period, when Kingston pulled goaltender Daryl Borden. But Saginaw converted on the empty net just seven seconds later on a Birner goal, assisted by Spirit captain Patrick McNeill (WAS '05) and Jesse Gimblett.

Spirit goaltender Ryan Daniels turned back 36 shots in the effort. The win takes Saginaw's record to 14-7-0-0, with 28 points, good for first place in the OHL West Division. Saginaw resumes action Wednesday versus the defending Memorial Cup champion London Knights at 7:11pm at the Dow Event Center.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from November 19, 2005


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