OHL Saginaw Spirit

Spirit Wrap Up Regular Season with 5-4 Overtime Loss to Spitfires

March 19, 2011 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


The Saginaw Spirit wrapped up the 2010-2011 regular season Saturday night at The Dow Event Center of Saginaw, losing in overtime to the Windsor Spitfires by a score of 5-4. The Spirit close out the season with 86 points and a record of 40-22-3-3, clinching home ice advantage and the second seed as the title holders of the OHL West Division crown. The Spirit will square off against the Guelph Storm in the first round of the playoffs, with home games Friday, March 25 and Monday, March 28. A full playoff schedule is listed below.

On the ice Saturday night, the Spitfires opened scoring at 10:57 in the first period with a power play goal from defenseman Adrian Robertson with assists courtesy defenseman Ryan Ellis and winger Kenny Ryan.

The second period featured four goals, two from each team. Spirit defensemen Ben Chiarot, assisted by Ryan O'Connor, scored the first goal of the night for the Spirit 3:24 into the period, then moments at 7:35 later O'Connor scored his ninth of the season on the power play from center Vincent Trocheck and defenseman Dalton Prout to make it 2-1 Saginaw. Windsor fired back at 11:52 into the period when Ryan scored a power play marker courtesy of winger Zack Kassian and Ellis. Windsor closed out the period with center Steven Johnston scoring from Ellis and Robertson, moving the score to 3-2 Spitfires.

The Spirit answered in the third period. Spirit blueliner Dalton Prout tied up the contest at 4:51 in the frame from center Mathew Sisca and winger Josh Shalla, then the Spirit took the lead at 6:28 with a power play goal from center Ivan Telegin courtesy assists from Sisca and goalie Jake Paterson. The Spitfires were able to tie up the game and push for overtime, with winger Tom Kuhnhackl scoring at 19:03 from Ryan and center Zack MacQueen. Windsor sealed the victory in the extra frame, with Ellis scoring a power play goal at 1:23 in overtime from center Alexander Khokhlachev and Kuhnhackl. Spirit goalie Jake Paterson notched 39 saves of 44 shots. Spitfires' goaltender Jack Campbell notched 26 saves on 30 shots. Visit www.ontariohockeyleague.com for an official game sheet.

Catch the Playoff Spirit! The 2011 OHL Playoffs start next weekend, with the Spirit playoff series against the Guelph Storm starting at home Friday, March 25 at 7:11 PM. The Spirit playoffs are presented by the Great Lakes Bay Region Convention and Visitors Bureau. Get your tickets - Ticket prices for the first round will remain the same as the regular season!

Check out the Saginaw Spirit Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 19, 2011


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