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OHL Saginaw Spirit

Spirit Host Defending Champion Petes on Saturday Night

January 6, 2024 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


Saginaw, Mich.- The Saginaw Spirit (23-10-0-1) welcomes the reigning OHL Champion Peterborough Petes (15-17-3-1) to the Dow Event Center on Saturday, January 6th.

Tonight's Game:

Puck drop is set for 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. 470

Radio: 100.5 FM WSGW, WSGW.com

Last Time:

Saginaw's last game was a rousing 3-2 victory over league-leading Kitchener on Thursday, January 4th. The Rangers opened with two straight goals in the first period, followed by Saginaw netting two of their own in the second. The third period saw the Spirit score halfway through, then hold on for their 23rd win of the season. Hunter Haight and Calem Mangone finished with a goal and an assist, Dean Loukusscored his ninth of the year, and Michael Misa added two helpers in the win. Andrew Oke protected the blue paint, stopping 11 of the Ranger's 13 shots.

Peterborough's last game was a 3-1 road loss to the Flint Firebirds on Friday, January 5th. Both teams scored in the first, entering the first intermission tied at one. Flint scored twice in the third, solidifying a 3-1 scoreline for the Firebirds. Chase Lefebvre scored for the Petes, with Ryder McIntyre and Donovan McCoy providing the assists, and Liam Sztuska started for Peterborough, turning away 34 of 36 shots.

Last Season:

Saginaw and Peterborough faced off twice last season, with Saginaw winning both games. The first matchup, a 4-2 home win on November 13th, saw Saginaw score three third-period goals enroute to the win. The second matchup, a 2-0 road win on March 2nd, saw Saginaw score late into the first and second periods and 59 saves from Tristan Lennox, an OHL record going back at least 25 years.

Over the past five years, Saginaw is 5-1-0-0 while facing the Petes while being 2-1-0-0 at home. In that time frame, the Spirit have outscored the Petes 25 to 12, including an 8-0 win at home in 2019.

Players to Watch:

Zayne Parekh leads the Spirit in points (45), collecting 13 goals and 32 assists. His marks place him second among all OHL defensemen in points and goals and tied for second in assists. Michael Misa leads the Spirit in goals (17) and powerplay goals (7). Rodwin Dionicio returns from the Swiss IIHF World Junior team, having collected four points (2G, 2A) in five games. Andrew Oke leads in all major goaltending categories, including a 2.87 goals against average (GAA), fourth in the OHL, a .895 save percentage (SV%), and 15 wins.

Matyas Sapovaliv is not yet expected to dress after winning a bronze medal with Team Czechia yesterday. Josh Bloom is expected to be in the lineup after being reassigned by the Vancouver Canucks. Bloom tallied an assist in 14 AHL games with the Abbotsford Canucks, and two assists with the ECHL's Kalamazoo K-Wings in eight games. The 2022-23 season saw Bloom set career highs across the board between Saginaw and North Bay (32G-39A-71P).

Jax Dubois leads the Petes in points (34), netting 13 goals and a team-leading 21 assists. Owen Beck leads Peterborough in goals (16), including a team-leading five powerplay goals. Carson Cameron is coming off being named OHL East Division Academic Player of the Month, and rookie Braydon McCallum is eighth among OHL rookies with 18 points (6G, 12A). Zach Bowen and Liam Sztuska lead the Petes in all goaltending categories, including a 3.07 GAA and a .909 SV% for Bowen and eight wins for Sztuska.

Saginaw currently has eight (8) players tied to the National Hockey League (NHL), including Joey Willis (Nashville), Josh Bloom (Vancouver), Matyas Sapovaliv (Vegas), Hunter Haight (Minnesota), Ethan Hay (Tampa Bay), Braden Haché (Florida), Rodwin Dionicio (Anaheim) and Nolan Lalonde (Columbus, FA).

Peterborough currently has one (1) player tied to the National Hockey League (NHL) in Owen Beck (Montreal).

Check out the Saginaw Spirit Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 6, 2024


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