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OHL Saginaw Spirit

Spirit off to Hot Start in 2018

September 21, 2018 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


Saginaw Spirit celebrate a goal in the season opener
Saginaw Spirit celebrate a goal in the season opener
(Saginaw Spirit)

You have to love it when a plan comes together.

General Manager Dave Drinkill had a plan when he took over the hockey operations for the Saginaw Spirit to put together a deep, skilled team that can overmatch or outlast even the toughest of opposition. Now three years into its implementation, that plan is coming together.

"I think it's refreshing," Drinkill said. "It's been a long time coming for this franchise. They won the West Division championship back in 2011, and that's something we're trying to do every year and have this be a contending team."

Forget contending. So far, Saginaw has been downright dominating adding NHL-caliber prospects throughout the summer, rolling undefeated through the five-game exhibition slate before trouncing defending conference champion Sault Ste. Marie at home 5-2 in the Ontario Hockey League's season opener.

And that's against a Greyhound team that was 55-7-3-3 last season.

And that was without four Spirit players away at NHL camps.

And it's just the start.

"We've got 67 games to go," Spirit coach Troy Smith said after Wednesday's big win. "We've got to worry about Sarnia (on Saturday). It's always nice to start off on the right foot, but there's definitely some room for improvement. As we get some more guys back, hopefully our depth continues to improve."

Just hours before the season opener, the Canadian Hockey League releases its preseason Top 10 teams as determined by NHL scouts, and Saginaw came in at No. 8 out of the 60 teams eligible behind only London and Niagara among OHL teams.

That's the Spirit now feature a roster stacked with NHL prospects, including 11 who attended NHL camps as either draftees or free agent invites, a club record.

Longtime Spirit standouts Keaton Middleton (San Jose), Cole Coskey (Buffalo) and Brady Gilmour (Detroit) led a group that included Damien Giroux (Minnesota), Blade Jenkins (NY Islanders), Bode Wilde (NY Islanders), Caleb Everett (Columbus), Max Grondin (Carolina) and Reilly Webb (Detroit) all with invites.

Then Drinkill added Ivan Prosvetov (Arizona) to the goalie group through the Import Draft and picked up overage forward Albert Michnac (Arizona) in a trade, after the Czech native produced nearly a point a game last year for Mississauga.

And that's not even counting prospects such as Nicholas Porco and Duncan Penman who are heading into their draft year this season.

"I thought we had a really good summer with players committing to our program who are elite players and are going to make us better," Drinkill said. "What's exciting to me is the depth we've created and the internal competition. Guys are pushing at practice because they know there is limited ice time, and that's what makes a winning franchise.

"I know the kids we drafted are good people and good players, but I really think our depth is going to be an asset for us. If we have injuries, guys can move up and down the lineup. I believe we can come in waves offensively. We can have guys on three or four lines scoring goals."

Three different lines had a player record a goal in the opener against the Soo, highlighted by first round phenom Cole Perfetti who lit the lamp twice in his debut playing with Giroux and D.J. Busdeker.

However, Saginaw had highlight performances up and down the lineup with speed, skill, length, competitiveness and confidence on every line outmatching the normally hard-charging Greyhounds.

"It's a big win, especially inside our room," Gilmour said. "But every time in this league is good, so you have to bring it every night."

For tickets and more information:

Reserve your seat at The Dow Event Center by calling (989) 497-7747 or visit www.saginawspirit.com for more information. YOUR Region. YOUR team. YOU'RE invited.

By: Cory Butzin, Digital Content Provider

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Saginaw Spirit celebrate a goal in the season opener
Saginaw Spirit celebrate a goal in the season opener
   



Ontario Hockey League Stories from September 21, 2018


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