OHL Saginaw Spirit

Spirit Look To Big Weekend Against Conference Rivals

Published on January 6, 2010 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


(Saginaw MI) The Saginaw Spirit will begin the first full week of 2010 with three games, including two at home on Friday and Saturday at the Dow Event Center. Saginaw is coming off a stretch of three games in which the team secured five of a possible six points against three of the best in the Ontario Hockey League. A point earned in a shootout loss in Windsor on New Year's Eve was followed up with wins against the Kitchener Rangers at home and the London Knights at the John Labatt Center in London. The loss against the Spirit was just London's third on home ice this season. This week the Spirit will make a return trip to Windsor on Thursday, January 7, before hosting Guelph on January 8 and Owen Sound on January 9.

The Spirit enter the week ranked fourth in the OHL West Division and sixth in the OHL Western Conference with a record of 19-15-3-1, good for 42 points. The team has recorded 138 goals on the season which ranks fifth in the conference. Saginaw's power play checks into the week fifth in the league with a success rate of just over 22 percent.

Jordan Skellett (15-41-56) remains in the top ten in OHL scoring as he enters the week as the league's fourth leading point producer, as well as ranking tops in assists. Two time OHL Rookie of the Month Ivan Telegin (18-13-31) continues to lead league rookies in goals and is tied for first in points. It is expected that Telegin will be back for this week's games after skating with Team Russia at the World Juniors. Meantime freshman Vince Trocheck (11-14-25) ranks sixth in points amongst first year skaters in the league. The Spirit will also welcome forward Michael Kantor to the fold after signing the free agent from the Albert Lea Thunder of the NAHL.

Saginaw Spirit at Windsor Spitfires - The Spirit will begin the week against the number one rated team in the CHL, and last season's Memorial Cup Champions, 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 (66), and are tied with the Barrie Colts for the league lead in wins with 31 victories as they look to become the first team to win back to back OHL titles since the Soo Greyhounds in the early 1990's. Six Windsor players took part in the recently completed World Jr. Hockey Championship and those skaters could be reinserted into the Spitfires lineup Thursday. Taylor Hall, Adam Henrique, Greg Nemisz, and Ryan Ellis all toiled for Team Canada while Cam Fowler skated with Team USA. Richard Panik was a member of Team Slovakia, where his 6 goals and 8 points led the team. Heading into this week Hall, Henrique, and Nemisz, were second, seventh, and eleventh in league scoring respectively. Troy Passingham has also been solid this season for the Spitfires, leading the circuit in goaltending wins with 29.

Guelph Storm at Saginaw Spirit - The Guelph Storm, last year's first round playoff opponent for the Spirit entered this season with high expectations with a talent filled roster featuring a potent group of forwards. However, significant injuries and inconsistency have plagued the Storm, who are looking for a revival in the second half of the season with the playoffs on the horizon. Despite their ninth place ranking in the Western Conference entering the week, this is still a dangerous team with many high end players. Guelph has been led on the ice by forward Taylor Beck (22-33-55), a draft pick of the Nashville Predators who is currently fifth in league scoring, and former Niagara IceDog Matt Sisca (22-11-33) who has been on a goal scoring tear of late and was one of the league's top offensive producers in December. Anaheim first round pick Peter Holland (10-20-30) and Michael Latta (10-17-27) also bear watching up front for the Storm. The game also marks the return of former Saginaw defenseman Adam Comrie (6-14-20) who leads the Storm blueline in points.

Owen Sound Attack at Saginaw Spirit - The Owen Sound Attack have also been searching for consistency this season as they currently hold down the eighth and final playoff spot in the West. Entering the week, the Attack have won four straight games, included in the mix a victory against Barrie which snapped the Colts 22 game win streak. Owen Sound's fine play of late has been enhanced by the return of high scoring NHL Draft Prospect Joey Hishon (6-14-20) from a foot injury which kept him out of the lineup for a good portion of the season. The Attack are also getting an outstanding season out of former Kingston Frontenac Bobby Mignardi, who is 17th in league scoring. Other Owen Sound offensive contributors include draft eligible Steve Shipley (13-28-41), Garrett Wilson (21-16-37), and veteran Marcus Carroll (19-17-36). On the blueline, Geoffrey Schemitsch (4-27-31) has been a great find for the Attack ranking second in rookie points and tops in assists for first year players. In goal, New York Rangers prospect Scott Stajcer is a workhorse.

Tickets are on sale now! Tickets are on sale now for Spirit hockey, including home games on January 8 against the Guelph Storm and January 9 against the Owen Sound Attack. Both games start at 7:11 PM. 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 January 6, 2010


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