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OHL Saginaw Spirit

Spirit Tie Franchise Record with Ninth Straight Win

November 25, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


Saginaw Spirit's Michael Misa celebrates win
Saginaw Spirit's Michael Misa celebrates win
(Saginaw Spirit, Credit: Eric Young/Saginaw Spiriit)

Saginaw, Mich. - The Saginaw Spirit (13-7-0-1) defeated the Sarnia Sting (9-14-0-0) by a score of 6-1 at the Dow Event Center on Saturday, November 25th to tie the franchise record of nine consecutive wins. Matyas Sapovaliv had four points (1G, 3A), Michael Misa added a goal and an assist, and Hunter Haight and Zayne Parekh both added a pair of assists apiece. Alex Christopoulos notched his first in a Spirit uniform along with a pair of assists. Nolan Lalonde started for Saginaw stopping 18 of 19 in the win, while Nicholas Surzycia started for Sarnia stopping 35 of 41 in the loss.

Saginaw opened the game's scoring at 6:37 into the first period. Sebastien Gervais fed a pass from the right-wing boards to Dean Loukus at the right side of the goal mouth. Loukus faked a backhanded shot then skated behind the net looking for a teammate. A quick pass to the slot found Will Bishop, who's quick wrist shot flew past Sarnia goaltender Nicholas Surzycia. off the post, and into the net to open the Spirit lead, 1-0.

At 12:40 into the period, Michael Misa was circling in the neutral zone and flipped a pass back to the Saginaw blue line. Zayne Parekh collected the puck and sent a perfect pass to PJ Forgione at the Sarnia blue line. Forgione slashed into the Sarnia zone, beat the defense, and backhanded a shot between the legs of Surzycia for his second of the year and a 2-0 lead.

Both teams would take a penalty a piece before the period's end, with neither team able to capitalize on the chances.

At the end of the first period, Saginaw led Sarnia 2-0 with the Spirit out shooting the Sting 14-12.

Sarnia scored their first goal of the game at 6:25 into the second period. The puck was trapped in a scrum behind the net, until being dug out by Cooper Way. He spun with the puck and fed a pass to the front of the net. Carson Hall got enough room to one-time a shot between the left pad and glove of goaltender Nolan Lalonde. Hall's second of the game brought the Sting to within one goal, 2-1.

After killing off a PJ Forgione interference penalty, the Spirit would extend their lead back to two. Matyas Sapovaliv collected a blocked shot near the left circle and sent a shot on net. After rebounding off Sarnia goaltender Nickolas Surzycia, Alex Christopoulos collected the puck and backhanded a pass through the defense finding the stick of Dean Loukus. His shot glanced off the glove of Surzycia and into the top netting. With Loukus's sixth of the year, Saginaw led 3-1.

Sarnia's Nathan Omeri was assessed a holding minor at 13:10 and with seconds left in Saginaw power play Sarnia's Easton Wainwright would receive a tripping minor, setting up a short five-on-three power play for the Spirit.

Saginaw took advantage just seconds after the first penalty was released when Michael Misa collected the puck and fed a pass to James Guo who tapped the puck to Zayne Parekh. The Spirit defensemen slapped a puck on goal the ricocheted to the slot straight to Matyas Sapovaliv. He fed a pass through multiple Sarnia defenders to find a wide open Michael Misa standing on the right side of the goal. Misa slapped the puck into the virtually open net for his team leading twelfth of the season, and sixth on the powerplay, setting a 4-1 scoreline.

Before the end of the second period, Zayne Parekh would be assessed a tripping minor with 48 seconds remaining, setting up the Sting for a powerplay that would carry over into the third period.

At the conclusion of the second period, Saginaw continued to lead 4-1 while outshooting Sarnia 13 to 5 in the period, and 27 to 17 overall.

The third period got underway with a Sarnia penalty on Andrew LeBlanc for cross-checking, which sent Saginaw up on their fourth power-play of the game.

On the power-play Saginaw entered the zone near the left boards with Matyas Sapovaliv collecting the puck near the blue line. With Sarnia defenders closing in, Sapovaliv sent a puck to the right circle with two Saginaw forwards in the area. Hunter Haight collected the pass and placed a shot on goal that was knocked out of the air by goaltender Nicholas Surzycia. The puck came straight out to Alex Christopoulos who lifted his shot over the sprawling Surzycia and into the top netting for his first with the Spirit and a 4-1 lead.

At 9:45 into the period, a barrage of penalties saw Saginaw again go up on the powerplay. 13 seconds in Sarnia would take a second penalty, setting up a long five-one-three opportunity. Zayne Parekh started the play off by faking a shot and passing to Michael Misa in the right circle. A quick pass to Alex Christopoulos, saw him backhand a pass while falling to the ground. His pass found Hunter Haight, who looked out the back door finding Matyas Sapovaliv open at the right goal mouth. A quick tap home gave Saginaw their sixth on the night and Sapovaliv his eighth of the year.

After another set of offsetting penalties, the period would end with Saginaw leading 6-1 and winning their ninth game in a row, tying a franchise record.

Their victory propels the Spirit to 13-7-0-1, while Sarnia drops their sixth loss straight falling to 9-14-0-0.

Saginaw's next game is on Sunday, November 26th at the Dow Event Center to face the Niagara IceDogs at 5:30 pm.

For more information, visit saginawspirit.com or follow the team on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

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Images from this story

Saginaw Spirit's Michael Misa celebrates win
Saginaw Spirit's Michael Misa celebrates win
(Eric Young/Saginaw Spiriit)		   



Ontario Hockey League Stories from November 25, 2023


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