OHL Saginaw Spirit

Spirit On the Road Tonight for Big Match-Up

December 16, 2008 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


(Windsor, ON) The Saginaw Spirit are in Windsor, Ontario preparing for a big game tonight against the league leading Windsor Spitfires. Fans can listen to the 7:05 PM contest live on FM Talk and Sports 100.5, via the radio or free webstream available through SaginawSpirit.com. Get live and up-to-date information from play-by-play announcer Leigh Cunningham and color commentator Dennis Desrosiers!

The Spitfires have only suffered four regulation losses this season for a record of 28-4-0-1. They suffered one of those losses last Thursday against the Belleville Bulls, being shutout 4-0. The team quickly rebounded, beating the London Knights 5-1 last Saturday and the Erie Otters 4-1 last Sunday. Their 57 points give them a commanding lead in the OHL Western Conference, with an eight point lead on the second place London Knights. The Spirit enter tonight's contest with 42 points, a record of 20-9-0-2 and the third place seed in the OHL Western Conference.

It will be a battle of defenses between the two teams, with Windsor boasting the lowest goals against ranking in the league (82 GA) and the Spirit right behind with the second lowest goals against ranking (85 GA). Spitfires goalie Andrew Engelage and Spirit netminder Edward Pasquale have been one on the biggest reasons for this. Engelage is ranked first in wins (24 wins), third in GAA (2.31 GAA) and eleventh in save percentage (0.916 SVSP), while Pasquale is ranked second in wins (20 wins), fifth in GAA (2.55 GAA) and fifth in save percentage (0.922 SVSP).

The Spitfires roster features two of the top five scores in the league, with Taylor Hall (23G 31A) ranked number one and Ryan Ellis (15G 33A) ranked number two. The Spirit caught a break Monday afternoon with the naming of Ellis to Team Canada's World Junior squad. However, the league's top scorer, 1991-born Hall, is till on hand to lead his team against the Spirit this week. Forwards Dale Mitchell (18G 18A) and Greg Nemisz (13G 22A) have been a constant presence up front as well, while defenseman Rob Kwiet (9G 28A) has provided support from the blue line. All three players are also ranked in the league's top-20 scorers. The Spitfires also added forward Lane MacDermid (10G 8A) to the roster after a recent trade with the Owen Sound Attack, and since arriving in Windsor he's posted 2 goals and 2 assists in 5 games.

BIG HOME GAME FRIDAY!

The Spirit host the Spitfires Friday night in an epic re-match at TheDow Event Center in Saginaw. For tickets, contact the Official Saginaw Spirit Ticket and Merchandise Store at 989-497-7747 or 5789 State Street in Saginaw.

Check out the Saginaw Spirit Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from December 16, 2008


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