OHL Saginaw Spirit

Spirit Host Spitfires Looking for Seventh Straight Win

January 28, 2024 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


Saginaw, Mich. - The Saginaw Spirit (31-12-0-1) duel with the Windsor Spitfires (14-26-3-1) at the Dow Event Center to bookend the weekend series.

Tonight's Game:

Puck drop is at 2:00 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 defeated the Kitchener Rangers on January 27th in a 5-2 come-from-behind victory at home. Kitchener scored once in the first, then again halfway through the second to take a 2-0 lead. Saginaw scored 56 seconds later, then four straight goals in the third to secure the 5-2 win.

Joey Willis scored twice, and Calem Mangone finished with a three-point night (1G, 2A). Michael Misa scored his 23rd of the year, taking the lead in the Saginaw goal scoring race, while Hunter Haight scored his 20th. Andrew Oke started between the pipes for the Spirit, stopping 16 of 18 in the win.

Windsor knocked down the Peterborough Petes in an 8-2 home victory on January 27th. The Spitfires scored twice in the first and entered the second period up 2-0. Windsor scored three times in the second, bookended by two goals from Peterborough, setting a 5-2 score. Finally, three goals in the third solidified a 8-2 win for Windsor.

Liam Greentree added to his stellar year with a hat-trick in a six-point night (3G, 3A), and Noah Morneau finished with a goal and an assist. Anthony Cristoforo racked up three assists, and Max Donoso turned away 28 of 30 shots in the win.

This Season:

Saginaw and Windsor have faced off six times this year, with Saginaw leading the season series at 5-1-0-0. The first of these games happened on October 21st when Windsor had a 5-2 win at home. Since then, five straight Spirit wins with a 3-1 win on November 11th, a 6-5 win on November 12th, a 5-4 OT win on December 30th, an 11-3 trouncing on January 10th, and most recently, a 5-4 win on January 25th.

Saginaw has outscored Windsor 32 to 22 in six games this year and is 8-8-0-0 while hosting the Spitfires over the last five years.

Players to Watch:

Zayne Parekh returns following a two-game suspension and continues to lead Saginaw in points (64) and assists (42) while being seventh in the OHL points race and tied for third in OHL assists. Michael Misa holds the team's goal lead with 23. Matyas Sapovaliv has continued an 11-game point streak by collecting 23 points (6G, 17A) since November 22nd. Andrew Oke continues to lead Saginaw in all major goaltending categories, including a 2.98 goals against average (GAA), a .890 save percentage (SV%), and is tied for fourth in OHL wins with 20.

Captain Liam Greentree currently leads Windsor in all scoring categories with 27 goals, 36 assists and 63 points. Former Saginaw forward Valentin Zhugin has totaled 14 points (9G, 11A) in 26 games since being acquired by Windsor. Cole Davis ranks seventh in OHL rookie points (24), including 13 goals and 11 assists. Max Donoso leads in all major goaltending categories, including a 3.78 GAA, a .884 SV%, and 11 wins.

Saginaw currently has ten 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), Owen Beck (Montreal), Braden Haché (Florida), Rodwin Dionicio (Anaheim), Jorian Donovan (Ottawa), and Nolan Lalonde (Columbus, FA).

Windsor currently has two players with NHL ties in Pasquale Zito (Detroit) and Djibril Toure (Ottawa, FA).

Check out the Saginaw Spirit Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 28, 2024


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