OHL Saginaw Spirit

Spirit Host Greyhounds on Teddy Bear Toss Night

December 29, 2022 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


Saginaw, Mich. - The Saginaw Spirit (20-9-2-0) host the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (10-13-5-4) Thursday, December 29, at the Dow Event Center. Tonight's game is Saginaw's annual Teddy Bear Toss night, with proceeds benefiting the Jayden Lamb Memorial Foundation. Fans are encouraged to bring a teddy bear to throw onto the ice after the first Spirit goal. Bears will also be available for purchase on the concourse before the game.

Tonight's Game:

Puck drop is at 7:05 p.m.

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. 466, WNEM TV5+ (Presented by Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort)

Radio: 100.5 FM WSGW, WSGW.com

Last Time:

Saginaw was victorious over their in-state rival Flint Firebirds 5-1 Wednesday, December 14, at the Dow Event Center. Pavel Mintyukov earned four assists and Tristan Lennox made 26 saves on 27 shots in his 14th win of the season. The win gave Saginaw a 2-1 edge in the Coors Light I75 Divide Cup series.

The Soo fell 7-4 to the Flint Firebirds Wednesday, December 28, at the Dort Financial Center in Flint, Michigan. Vancouver Canucks prospect Kirill Kudryavtsev notched two goals and an assist while Kalvyn Watson earned two assists in the loss.

This Season:

The Spirit and the Greyhounds have played each other twice this season, with both games needing overtime to be settled. On November 12, Pavel Mintyukov tied the game with just 16 seconds left in regulation, and T-Bone Codd scored to claim a 4-3 OT victory for Saginaw. A meeting on December 2 in Sault Ste. Marie followed a similar script, with Kalvyn Watson tying the game for the Greyhounds late in regulation before planting the dagger ten seconds into overtime.

Players to Watch:

Matyas Sapovaliv (Czechia) and Andrew Oke (USA) are currently representing their countries at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship. Sapovaliv, who has 11 goals and 19 assists for 30 points with the Spirit this year, earned four assists in a 9-0 win over team Austria on December 27. Earlier this week, the center also signed a three-year entry-level deal with the Vegas Golden Knights, who selected him 48th overall in the 2022 NHL Draft.

Hunter Haight added to his eight-game point streak with an assist against Flint on Wednesday. In that span, he has five goals and nine assists for 14 points. Anaheim Ducks prospect Pavel Mintyukov leads both his team and OHL blueliners in points (43) and assists (30). 15-year-old Michael Misa's 16 goals are the most of any Spirit skater. New York Islanders prospect Tristan Lennox leads Spirit goaltenders with 14 wins, a 3.03 goals against average (GAA), and an .890 save percentage (SV%).

New York Rangers prospect Bryce McConnell-Barker leads the Greyhounds in goals (17) and points (35). Tyler Savard's 21 assists are the most for any Soo skater. Charlie Schenkel is fifth in the OHL in GAA (3.00) and second in SV% (.912).

Saginaw has four (4) players drafted into the National Hockey League (NHL), including Pavel Mintyukov (Anaheim), Matyas Sapovaliv (Vegas), Tristan Lennox (New York Islanders), and Hunter Haight (Minnesota).

The Soo have two (2) players drafted into the NHL, including Bryce McConnell-Barker (New York Rangers) and Kirill Kudryavtsev (Vancouver).

Check out the Saginaw Spirit Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from December 29, 2022


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