OHL Saginaw Spirit

Spirit Lose Early Lead, Fall to Kitchener 6-3

Published on November 5, 2004 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


(Kitchener, ON) – The Saginaw Spirit jumped out to an early lead against the Kitchener Rangers, but were unable to capitalize on the lead, falling 6-3 in Kitchener Friday night.

Saginaw opened scoring in the two minute mark of the game, when former Ranger Tom Harrison fed defenseman Rick Caughell in the far side slot. Caughell saw Marek Kvapil, who buried the puck to put he Spirit up 1-0.

Kvapil was instrumental in the second Spirit goal, three minutes later when he carried the puck into the offensive zone, and hit defenseman Dan Idema, who backhanded the puck for his first OHL goal.

The score remained 2-0 until the halfway mark of the second period, when three straight Kitchener goals delivered the lead to the Rangers. The league's leading scoring defenseman, Andre Benoit, opened scoring at 9:22. Kitchener then scored on the power play, when forward Patrick Davis found a bouncing puck away from a pile of players, dove and pushed the puck in to tie the game 2-2. The Rangers took the lead five minutes later, when Philadelphia Flyers draft pick Mike Richards scored the tie-breaker.

The Spirit began the third period on the power play, but Kitchener killed the penalty, then snapped off two quick goals, thirty seconds apart, from Craig Voakes and Mike Duco. The Spirit then replaced goaltender Mike Brown with Aaron Rock, and the game settled down until the 18 minute mark. Saginaw scored on a 5-3 power play, when Minnesota Wild draft pick Jean-Michel Rizk connected with Tom Pyatt at close range. Patrick McNeill also assisted on the goal. But Kitchener answered less than thirty seconds later, when Mike Richards took a shorthanded break-away in for the final tally of the game.

Spirit goaltenders Mike Brown and Aaron Rock turned back 48 shots on the evening. The Spirit return to action tomorrow at 7:30 against the Owen Sound Attack, and return home to the Dow Event Center at 6:00 PM Sunday to face the Oshawa Generals. Sunday's Armed Forces night, with special ticket prices for active duty and veterans of the Armed Forces.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from November 5, 2004


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