OHL Saginaw Spirit

Spirit Power Team OHL win over Russia, 4-3

Published on November 27, 2006 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


(Oshawa, ON) Three Saginaw Spirit players helped Canada's Team OHL secure a 4-3 win over Russia in the 2006 ADT Canada-Russia Challenge tonight in Oshawa, Ontario.

Spirit forward Ryan O'Marra (NYI 05) scored the first goal for Team OHL during the first period, assisted by Spirit forward Tom Pyatt (NYR 05) and Ottawa 67's forward Logan Couture. Spirit defenseman Patrick McNeill (WSH 05) finished the period with a goal scored on the power play, assisted by Oshawa Generals' forward John Tavares and London Knights' forward Sam Gagner. O'Marra latter earned an assist on a goal from Barrie Colts forward Brian Little during the third period. Sudbury Wolves defenseman Marc Staal also assisted on the goal.

Ryan O'Marra's two point game earned him Team OHL's player of the game honors.

All three Saginaw players are expected to re-join their Spirit teammates for the Thursday night home game against the Kitchener Rangers.

A complete game sheet is available at http://www.chl.ca/CHLRussiaChallenge/home.html

Press Release from earlier today:

Three Spirit Represent Canada in ADT Challenge Tonight

(Oshawa, ON) Spirit defenseman Patrick McNeill, forward Tom Pyatt and forward Ryan O'Marra were recently named to the OHL roster for the 2006 ADT Canada-Russia Challenge. The game will be played tonight in Oshawa, ON at 7:00 PM. All three players participated in last years ADT Challenge (O'Marra representing Erie).

"We are very excited for Patrick, Tom, and Ryan", stated Spirit General Manager and Head Coach Bob Mancini, "All three are very deserving of this opportunity".

A live radio Webstream and more information on the event are available at http://www.chl.ca/CHLRussiaChallenge/home.html

Spirit captain Patrick McNeill will represent Saginaw on defense tonight. The Strathroy, ON native was the Ontario Hockey League's top scoring defenseman last season with 77 points (21 goals and 56 assists) and was selected to play in the 2006 OHL All Star Classic in Belleville. McNeill was chosen by the Washington Capitals in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. To date he has notched 11 goals and 13 assists in 24 games played.

Tom Pyatt will represent Saginaw on offense. The Thunder Bay, ON native helped Team Canada secure a gold medal in the 2006 World Junior Tournament and was named the Western Conference MVP in the 2006 OHL All Star Classic. Pyatt notched two consecutive hat tricks during the early part of the season (on Oct. 15, 06 and on Oct. 19, 06) and to date has scored 20 goals and 18 assists in 27 games played.

Ryan O'Marra will join Pyatt on offense during tonight's game. The Mississauga, ON native earned a gold medal playing for Team Canada in the 2006 World Junior Tournament and participated in the 2006 OHL All Star Classic. The New York Islanders pick (2005) was recently acquired by the Spirit in a trade with the Erie Otters this November. This season O'Marra has 10 goals and 6 assists in 16 games played; two of those goals were scored in his first three games in Spirit uniform.

The ADT Canada Russia Challenge is a yearly event that plays an important role in the selection process of the Team Canada roster for the World Junior Championship. The Challenge is played twice in the QMJHL, the WHL, and the OHL. Sarnia and Oshawa were chosen as the Ontario Hockey League's host cities.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from November 27, 2006


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