OHL Saginaw Spirit

Spirit Week Preview

Published on March 4, 2004 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


By the Numbers:

Nick Lees is the 4th leading goal-scorer in the league with 39. Sean Courtney's 16 goals ties a personal best, Justin McCutcheon is two points away from a personal best in points, which is even more impressive since he's missed 14 games to injury. Jesse Gimblett is four points off his personal best. Jean-Michel Rizk has tied his goal total from last season.

Spirit goaltender Mike Brown remains tied for second in the league in shutouts with 4.

Finishing the Season Strong:

The Spirit are averaging 2.4 goals per game, and 3.3 goals against in the 2003-04 season. Since the Christmas break, the team is averaging 2.6 goals per game, and 3.1 goals against. The team is averaging 4224 in attendance game through February, but 4349 in attendance since the break.

With 63 games played last season, the Spirit were 11-40-5-7, good for 34 points. The team was 0-8-2-0 over their previous 10 games at this point, last year. This season, the team is 16-40-3-4, good for 39 points, and is 2-6-1-1 over the past 10 games.

Defeating the East:

The Spirit won their season series against the Eastern Conference's East Division, 5-4-1-0. The stat includes a sweep of Peterborough, and a win against the defending Eastern Conference champion, Ottawa. Saginaw also picked 19 of 40 possible points against the Eastern Conference, with an 8-9-1-2 record, including a sweep of the conference's leading team, the Mississauga Ice Dogs.

Listen to Spirit Games All Season Long on Eagle 97.3 FM WEEG

Spirit @ Kitchener, 3/5/04 7:30 PM (32-22-6-2, 72 PTS)

Saginaw is 1-1-0-1 against the defending OHL and Memorial Cup champs this season, including a victory at home on January 3rd that started a three game winning streak. Kitchener has clinched a playoff spot, and is battling with Erie and Plymouth for position. The team features the league's leading scoring defenseman in Andre Benoit, and the 5th and 7th rated OHL skaters for the coming NHL draft in Boris Valabik and Evan McGrath.

Spirit @ Owen Sound, 3/6/04 7:30 PM (27-25-7-4, 65 PTS)

The Spirit are 0-3 against the Attack this season. The Attack are working to clinch a playoff spot. They feature the league's sixth leading scoring defenseman in Mark Giordano, and eighth leading scoring rookie, Bobby Ryan. Goaltender Dan LaCosta has the ninth best GAA in the OHL and is rated 3rd among OHL goaltenders for the coming NHL draft by NHL Central Scouting.

From the Eagle's Nest:

Weekend of 3/5/04

Spirit @ Kitchener 3/5

Spirit @ Owen Sound 3/6

Check out the Saginaw Spirit Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 4, 2004


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