OHL Saginaw Spirit

Spirit Lose To Spitfires 8-5 In Thursday Night Scoring Frenzy

January 7, 2010 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


(Windsor, Ontario) The Saginaw Spirit and the Windsor Spitfires battled in a hard fought yet high scoring game Thursday night at the WFCU Centre in Windsor, with the Spitfires edging out the Spirit in the third period to claim an 8-5 victory. Winger Josh Shalla tallied two goals and winger Joe Pleckaitis posted thee assists in the effort. The Spirit have 42 points and a record of 19-16-3-1.

The first period saw a plethora of scoring from both teams, with a combined six goals in the game's opening frame. Saginaw defenseman Ryan O'Connor scored unassisted at 8:18 to give the Spirit an early 1-0 lead, which was increased by a goal to 2-0 less than a minute later when winger Josh Shalla scored at the 8:51 mark. Wingers Joe Pleckaitis and Jordan Skellett assisted on Shalla's goal. The Spitfires responded moments later when winger Kenny Ryan tallied a goal at 10:08, assisted by defenseman Mark Cundari and winger Austin Watson.

The back-and-forth scoring in the first continued with Spirit center Michael Sgarbossa moving the score to 3-1 Saginaw after notching his twelfth of the season at 10:22, courtesy assists from centers Vince Trocheck and Barry Sanderson. Windsor would capitalize on a power play to reduce the deficit moments later however, this time with a goal from winger Taylor Hall at the 13:38 mark that was assisted by winger Dale Mitchell and Cundari. Spirit winger Garret Ross would respond with a goal at 15:54 to round out the first period at 4-2 Saginaw, assisted by Pleckaitis and Sanderson.

The Spitfires countered early in the second period to even up the contest, the first coming from defenseman Harry Young :23 seconds in that was assisted by Watson and Ryan. A shorthanded goal from winger Eric Wellwood at the 1:49 mark, assisted by defenseman Ryan Ellis, moved the score to 4-4. Saginaw's Shalla scored his second goal of the night at 8:12 to regain the Spirit lead and advance the score to 5-4, with Pleckaitis earning his third assist of the game on the play.

Two consecutive goals from Spitfires winger Greg Nemisz would close out the second period and open the third to give the Spitfires a 6-5 lead. Nemisz scored at 13:11 in the second off of assists from Wellwood and defenseman Marc Cantin and again in the third period at the 1:00 minute mark courtesy assists from Wellwood and Ryan. Hall would tally his second goal of the night at 8:13 in the third to give the Spitfires a two goal lead, moving the score to 7-5 Windsor. Center Adam Henrique and winger Justin Shugg assisted on the goal. Henrique sealed the Spitfires victory by a score of 8-5 with a goal at 16:31 that was assisted by Hall and Cundari.

Saginaw goaltender Edward Pasquale posted 43 saves on 51 shots while Windsor netminder Philipp Grubauer tallied 27 saves on 32 shots.

For a complete game sheet, please visit www.ontariohockeyleague.com

Tickets are on sale now! Tickets are on sale now for both upcoming home games, on January 8 against the Guelph Storm and January 9 against the Owen Sound Attack. Friday's game features the first ever Jet's Pizza Toss contest and a rookie poster giveaway, while Saturday's game features the season premiere of the McDonald Cadillac GMC Shootout. 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 7, 2010


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