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OHL Saginaw Spirit

Spirit Fall to Steelheads, 4-3

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


Saginaw Spirit Fall battle the Mississauga Steelheads
Saginaw Spirit Fall battle the Mississauga Steelheads
(Saginaw Spirit, Credit: Tim Leighton)

Mississauga, Ont. - The Saginaw Spirit were defeated by the Mississauga Steelheads, 4-3 on Saturday, October 14th. Braden Haché scored his first goal in a Spirit uniform in the loss. Ryerson Leenders started between the pipes for Mississauga and Andrew Oke protected the Saginaw crease, stopping 18 of 21 shots on net.

Mississauga scored the first goal of the night just 3:46 into the first period. Jakub Fibigr passed up to Lucas Karmiris who was there for the shot that hit Andrew Okes right in his chest. Karmiris potted the rebound around Oke's right pad for a 1-0 lead. Luke Misa, registered an assist on the goal.

Only a few seconds later, Luke McNamara passed the puck across the ice to Braden Haché, who took a long shot from behind the left circle. The puck met the back of the net after sailing just a few inches above Ryerson Leenders glove. This would be Haché's first goal of the season to tie the game at one apiece.

11:52 into the first period, PJ Forgione was sent to the penalty box on a kneeing call to give Mississauga their first power play opportunity of the night.

Lucas Karmiris took a shot on goal which bounced off Andrew Oke's skate to Luke Misa. Misa then passed the puck to Mason Zebeski who'd take a shot and score on the power play, 6:57 into the first period. This would end the first period with Mississauga leading 2-1. Saginaw outshot the Steelheads, 8-5.

Only 33 seconds into the second period Lucas Karmiris would be sent to the penalty box on a hooking call for Saginaw's first powerplay of the night. The Spirit took four shots on goal but none would go in.

The Spirit peppered Ryerson Leenders as the period went on, but couldn't find the back of the net.

Chas Sharpe intercepted a Spirit pass and would skate up ice and soon pass the puck across ice to MacGregor Richmond. Richmond took the puck and shot just inside the left circle. The puck would hit Andrew Oke in the shoulder, bouncing up and behind him. Sharpe was there already to take advantage of the opportunity and flipped the puck in for the 3-1 lead, 9:52 into the second period.

Justin DeZoete would be sent to the penalty box on a delay of game penalty giving Saginaw another power play opportunity. However, with only seconds left into the power play, Hunter Haight would be called for a check to the head penalty and be sent to the penalty box as well.

13:50 into the second period, Braden Haché was called on a cross checking penalty on Chas Sharpe. Sharpe would then slide into Andrew Oke and be called for roughing. Both went to the penalty box for what would be offsetting penalties.

Hunter Haight would return to the game only to be called for blindsiding. This would cause a small skirmish to take place between the Spirit and Steelheads. Luke McNamare and Angus MacDonell then dropped the gloves, scrapped, and were sent to the penalty boxes with fighting majors. All this would result in a Mississauga 5 on 3 power play opportunity. The Spirit killed off the chance, allowing three shots on goal.

With less than two minutes left in the second, Mason would be sent to the penalty box after a check to the head call and the Spirit would take advantage. Zayne Parekh skated past two Steelhead defenders to then pass behind him to Matyas Sapovaliv. The center would waste no time taking a shot which flew past Leenders to cut Saginaw's deficit to 3-2 on a power play goal. Hunter Haight would also be credited for an assist.

The second period would end with Mississauga leading Saginaw, 3-2. The Spirit would out shoot the Steelheads, 31-13 (23-8 in the second period).

Only 1:36 into the third period, Mississauga's Lucas Karmiris took a holding penalty, immediately followed by a Stevie Leskovar hit from behind to put the Spirit up 5-on-3.

With 14:09, Joey Willis would pass the puck from behind the net to Valentin Zhugin who'd pass then across ice to Hunter Haight. Haight wasted little time to flip the puck behind Ryerson Leenders for the power play goal and his fifth goal of the season. This would tie the game at 3-3.

A string of penalties would soon follow this goal. Finn Harding would be called for holding 4:46 into the third. Stevie Leskovar was called for a check from behind 5:31 into the third. Zayne Parekh would soon follow a minute after, this one for interference. PJ Forgione would also be called for interference with 11:19 left in the third. 11:47 into the third, Stevie Lekovar would go back to the penalty box, this time for delay of game, to give Saginaw their sixth power play opportunity of the night. The Spirit were unable to capitalize.

With 3:33 remaining in the third period, Calem Mangone would be sent to the penalty box for holding. The Spirit killed the penalty, but with 1:29 left in the game, Zander Veccia deflected his first goal of the season past Oke for what proved to be the game-winning goal in a 4-3 Steelheads win. The Spirit outshot Mississauga 13-8 in the period and a whopping 44-21 in the game.

Saginaw's will be on the road for their next game to take the Windsor Spitfire on October 21st. Puck drop is at 7:05pm at WFCU Centre.

Check out the Saginaw Spirit Statistics




Images from this story

Saginaw Spirit Fall battle the Mississauga Steelheads
Saginaw Spirit Fall battle the Mississauga Steelheads
(Tim Leighton)		   



Ontario Hockey League Stories from October 14, 2023


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