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Saginaw Spirit

Spirit Win Fourth West Division Title with Win in Sarnia

March 22, 2024 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


Saginaw Spirit celebrate win
Saginaw Spirit celebrate win
(Saginaw Spirit)

Sarnia, Ont. - The Saginaw Spirit (48-16-1-1) clinch the West Division title with a 4-2 win over the Sarnia Sting (24-39-3-1) at Progressive Auto Sales Arena on Friday evening. Josh Bloom finished with three points (1G, 2A), Rodwin Dionicio collected a goal and an assist, and Zayne Parekh netted his 32nd of the season while shorthanded. Nick Surzycia started for Sarnia stopping 32 of 36, while Andrew Oke got the win for Saginaw, grabbing 17 of 19 in his 100th OHL game.

Sarnia wasted little time being the first on the board scoring at 7:14 into the first period. Zach Filak won an offensive zone faceoff back to Mitch Young, and the Sarnia defenseman scored his 11th of the season for the 1-0 lead.

At 10:16 into the first period, Sarnia's Easton Wainwright was whistled for a minor tripping call, setting up Saginaw on their second powerplay of the night. Rodwin Dionicio ripped his 24th of the season from the center point to tie the game with assists coming from Hunter Haight and Matyas Sapovaliv.

Dionicio later took a cross checking penalty that saw the Spirit to their first penalty kill of the game. Owen Beck and Josh Bloom teamed up to force a turnover, and Zayne Parekh wired home a shorthanded goal for the go-ahead goal in the final minute of the period.

At the end of the first period, Saginaw led 2-1 with only nine total shots being recorded by both teams, 5-4 in favor of the Sting.

Saginaw built upon their lead at 7:24 of the second when Alex Christopoulos jammed home a rebound for his 26th of the season. Owen Beck and Josh Bloom again added the assists, and Beck's now-18 game point streak was at 30 points.

At the end of the second, Saginaw lead 3-2 while out shooing the Sting 19-4 in the second, and 23-9 overall.

The Spirit again extended their lead in the third at 3:20 into the period. After knocking down an attempted clear by Sarnia, Rodwin Dionicio placed the puck down on the ice and skated in to the high slot. His pass to Josh Bloom ended up in the back of the net for a 4-1 lead, extending Bloom's goal streak to six games (8G).

Easton Wainwright added a shorthanded goal late in regulation, but the Spirit hung on. As the final horn sounded, Saginaw would take the 4-2 win and their fourth West Division title.

Saginaw's next game is Saturday, March 23rd, where the Spirit play their final home game of the season against the Windsor Spitfires with a 7:05 start time.

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Saginaw Spirit celebrate win
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