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OHL Saginaw Spirit

Spirit Take on Spits in Windsor Thursday Night

January 12, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


Windsor, Ont. - The Saginaw Spirit (24-11-2-0) face off in the first of two games this week against the Windsor Spitfires (23-9-3-1) Thursday, January 12, at the WFCU Centre. Tonight will be the second of three meetings between the Spirit and Spitfires in an 11-day span.

Tonight's Game:

Puck drop is at 7:05 p.m.

Broadcast:

Television: CHL TV, CHL App, YourTV, OHL Action Pak Ch. 469

Radio: 100.5 FM WSGW, WSGW.com

Last Time:

Saginaw was blanked 3-0 by the London Knights Saturday, January 7, at the Dow Event Center. Tristan Lennox stopped 26 of 27 Knight shots in the loss, and London tacked on a pair of empty-netters to seal the deal. Saturday's loss was just the second time this season that the Spirit were on the receiving end of a shutout, the first being a 1-0 loss to Kitchener on November 4.

The Spitfires beat the Flint Firebirds 6-3 on January 8 at the WFCU Centre. Liam Greentree had a goal and an assist, while former Niagara IceDog Rodwin Dionicio scored his first goal as a Spitfire. Joey Costanzo stopped 31 of 34 shots enroute to his sixth straight victory.

This Season:

The Spirit and the Spitfires have faced off four times this season, with both teams winning two games each. On October 8, Windsor won 5-4 in Saginaw. Vegas Golden Knights prospect Matyas Sapovaliv scored two goals and an assist for the Spirit. Five different Spitfire skaters scored, including Alex Christopoulos, who scored the game winner.

On October 20, Saginaw won their first game against the Spitfires with a 3-2 OT win in Windsor. Dean Loukus tied the game late in the second period, and Mitchell Smith scored the game winner just 22 seconds into OT for the Spirit.

November 26 saw Saginaw win 7-2 at home after Zayne Parekh scored two goals and two assists for his team. Alex Christopoulos and Liam Greentree both scored a goal for Windsor.

Windsor evened up the series with a 5-2 win on January 4. Michael Misa scored his 19th goal of the season for the Spirit and Ethan Miedema earned two assists for the Spitfires.

Players to Watch:

Ahead of Tuesday's OHL Trade Deadline, the Spirit traded Pavel Mintyukov to the Ottawa 67s for nine picks (three 2nd rounders, four 3rd rounders, two 4th rounders). They also acquired defenseman James Guo and a 6th rounder from Peterborough for Cam Gauvreau, a 3rd and a 4th. Guo had a goal and eight assists in 29 games with the Petes prior to arriving in Saginaw. The Spitfires were busy ahead of the deadline as well, acquiring Jacob Holmes from Sudbury, Brett Harrison from Oshawa, Aidan Castle and Rodwin Dionicio from Niagara, and Shane Wright from Kingston.

Wright, who was selected fourth overall by Seattle in this summer's NHL Draft, is expected to make his OHL season debut against the Spirit. An exceptional status player in 2019, Wright tallied 94 points (32G, 62A) last season with the Frontenacs.

Minnesota Wild prospect Hunter Haight has recorded a point in every game but two since he joined the Spirit on December 1. In 13 games, he has seven goals and 12 assists (19 points). The most recent Exceptional Status player in the OHL, Michael Misa, leads both the Spirit and OHL rookies in points (39) as well as goals (19). Michigan native Dean Loukus' 21 assists are the most for any Saginaw skater. New York Islanders prospect Tristan Lennox leads Saginaw's goaltenders with a 2.92 goals-against average (GAA) and an .892 save percentage (SV%).

Matthew Maggio is second in the OHL with 28 goals and is tied for fourth in points (51). The New York Islanders prospect leads the Spitfires in both goals and points as well. Oliver Peer's 26 assists top all Windsor skaters. Goaltender Joey Costanzo leads the Spitfires with a 2.90 GAA and a .909 SV%.

Saginaw has three (3) players drafted into the National Hockey League (NHL), including Matyas Sapovaliv (Vegas), Tristan Lennox (New York Islanders), and Hunter Haight (Minnesota).

Windsor has five (5) players drafted into the NHL, including Brett Harrison (Boston), Shane Wright (Seattle), Matthew Maggio (New York Islanders), Daniil Sobolev (Montreal), and Jacob Holmes (Dallas).

Check out the Saginaw Spirit Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 12, 2023


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