OHL Saginaw Spirit

Spirit Host Two Division Match-Ups Leading into Holiday Break

Published on December 16, 2009 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


Meijer Eagles Nest Notes: Spirit Host Two Division Match-Ups Leading into Holiday Break

(Saginaw, MI) The Saginaw Spirit will close out the pre Christmas portion of their schedule with two games against divisional rivals at the Dow Event Center this week. The Spirit will host the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds on Thursday December 17, before entertaining the number one rated Windsor Spitfires on Saturday, December 19. The Spirit sport a two and one record against the Greyhounds this season, and defeated Windsor in the only previous meeting of the season between the two teams.

The Spirit enter the week ranked fourth in the OHL's West Division and sixth in the Western Conference with a record of 16-13-3-0, good for 35 points. The team has recorded 119 goals on the season which ranks sixth in the Conference. Saginaw's power play checks into the week seventh in the league with a success rate of just over 22 percent.

Jordan Skellett (14-34-48) remains in the top ten in OHL scoring as he enters the week as the league's sixth leading point producer, and second in assists behind Windsor's Cam Fowler. Two time OHL Rookie of the Month Ivan Telegin (18-13-31) continues to lead league's other rookies in goals and points. Meantime freshman Vince Trocheck (10-11-21) ranks seventh in points among first year skaters in the league. The Spirit will also welcome back forward Jordan Szwarz (12-14-26) to the lineup after serving a two game suspension.

Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds at Saginaw Spirit- This game marks the fourth meeting of the season between the two West Division Rivals with the Soo entering the week ranked fourth in the Western Conference, six points ahead of the Spirit. The Greyhounds began the season with seven straight wins before enduring a stretch which saw the team win just three of 16 games. The Hounds have rebounded nicely in recent days and have won seven of their last ten games.

Sault Ste. Marie boasts one of the better one two punches in goal. Ottawa Senators prospect Robin Lehner has been solid posting twelve wins, a goals against of 2.56 and a .925 save percentage so far this season. NHL Draft Eligible prospect Bryce O'Hagan compliments Lehner in goal. The Greyhounds also have one of deepest bluelines in the OHL with Jacob Muzzin (9-29-38) leading the way. Muzzin is the second leading point producer among defenseman and he teams with veteran Michael Quesnele to anchor the powerplay which stands third in the OHL. In fact, special teams have been key in terms of the Greyhounds' fortunes this year as the their penalty killing is number one in the OHL. Up front, Los Angeles pick Jordan Nolan spearheads the attack, along with 19 goal man Brett Thompson and St. Louis prospect James Livingston. Sault Ste. Marie also features two prize rookies in Daniel Catenacci, the first player taken in the last OHL Priority Selection, and Nick Cousins.

Windsor Spitfires at Saginaw Spirit- The Spirit will break for the Christmas recess following the game against the number one rated team in the CHL, and last season's Memorial Cup Champion, the Windsor Spitfires. The Spits have picked up right where they left off last season as they have accumulated the most points in the OHL (58) and are tied for the league lead in wins with Barrie with 27, as they look to become the first team to win back to back OHL titles since the Soo Greyhounds in the early 1990's.

It will be a short staffed Windsor crew as four players Taylor Hall, Greg Nemisz, Adam Henrique, and Ryan Ellis have all cracked the Canadian roster for the upcoming World Jr. Hockey Championship. Hall (26-33-59) is the OHL's leading point producer entering this week with Henrique (28-25-53) and Nemisz (24-24-48) ranking second and fifth respectively in OHL points. Windsor could very well be without two other skaters as Cam Fowler, a top prospect for the next NHL Draft, remains a candidate for the US World Jr. Team and Richard Panik is a good bet to skate for Slovakia.

Meijer Eagles Nest Notes is provided weekly by Leigh Cunningham, Saginaw Spirit Director of Communications and play-by-play broadcaster. Join Leigh and color commentator Dennis Desrosiers every home and away game for complete coverage on Saginaw Spirit hockey, only on FM Talk and Sports WSGW 100.5!

Tickets are on sale now! Tickets are on sale now for the two upcoming homes games, taking place on Thursday, December 17 and Saturday, December 19. For more information, please contact the Official Saginaw Spirit Ticket and Merchandise Store located at 5789 State Street in Saginaw or call 989-497-7747.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from December 16, 2009


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