OHL Saginaw Spirit

Spirit's Matyas Sapovaliv Named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week

Published on April 3, 2023 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


Toronto, Ont. - The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Vegas Golden Knights prospect Matyas Sapovaliv of the Saginaw Spirit is the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week, recording three goals, three assists and six points in a pair of playoff contests.

Helping the Spirit take a 2-0 first round series lead over the in-state rival Flint Firebirds, Sapovaliv started the week with a trio of assists in a 7-1 Game 1 victory on Thursday night. He proceeded to pick-up first star honours on Friday, scoring a hat trick as the Spirit defeated the Firebirds 4-1 at the Dow Event Center.

A 19-year-old centreman from Kladno, Czechia, Sapovaliv led the Spirit with 27 goals, along with 29 assists and 56 points over 61 games this past season. The 6-foot-3, 190Ib. pivot recorded 52 points (18-34-52) over 68 games as a first-year player last season. Sapovaliv was instrumental in Czechia's silver medal finish at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship, being named one of his country's top-three players in the tournament with seven assists in as many contests. Originally Saginaw's first round (15th overall) pick in the 2021 CHL Import Draft, Sapovaliv was selected by the Vegas Golden Knights in the second round (48th overall) of the NHL Draft last summer.

Also considered for the award this week, Kitchener Rangers captain Francesco Pinelli scored a pair of shorthanded goals and added three assists for five points in a pair of victories.

2022-23 Cogeco OHL Players of the Week - Playoffs:

Mar. 27 - Apr. 2: Matyas Sapovaliv (Saginaw Spirit)

2022-23 Cogeco OHL Players of the Week - Regular Season:

Mar. 20 - Mar. 26: Ethan Miedema (Kingston Frontenacs)

Mar. 13 - Mar. 19: Brandt Clarke (Barrie Colts)

Mar. 6- Mar. 12: Sahil Panwar (Hamilton Bulldogs)

Feb. 27 - Mar. 5: Christian Kyrou (Sarnia Sting)

Feb. 20 - Feb. 26: Braeden Bowman (Guelph Storm)

Feb. 13 - Feb. 19: Nolan Burke (Sarnia Sting)

Feb. 6 - Feb. 12: Sean McGurn (London Knights)

Jan. 30 - Feb. 5: Matthew Maggio (Windsor Spitfires)

Jan. 23 - Jan. 29: Sahil Panwar (Hamilton Bulldogs)

Jan. 16 - Jan. 22: James Hardie (Mississauga Steelheads)

Jan. 9 - Jan. 15: Colby Barlow (Owen Sound Attack)

Jan. 2 - Jan. 8: Bryce McConnell-Barker (Soo Greyhounds)

Dec. 26 - Jan. 1: Connor Lockhart (Peterborough Petes)

Dec. 12 - Dec. 18: Evan Vierling (Barrie Colts)

Dec. 5 - Dec. 11: Ryan Gagnier (Oshawa Generals)

Nov. 28 - Dec. 4: Quentin Musty (Sudbury Wolves)

Nov. 21 - Nov. 27: Jorian Donovan (Hamilton Bulldogs)

Nov. 14 - Nov. 20: Matthew Poitras (Guelph Storm)

Nov. 7 - Nov. 13: Brody Crane (London Knights)

Oct. 31 - Nov. 6: Matvey Petrov (North Bay Battalion)

Oct. 24 - Oct. 30: Deni Goure (Owen Sound Attack)

Oct. 17 - Oct. 23: Owen Beck (Mississauga Steelheads)

Oct. 10 - Oct. 16: Matthew Maggio (Windsor Spitfires)

Oct. 3 - Oct. 9: Pavel Mintyukov (Saginaw Spirit)

Sept. 29 - Oct. 2: Tucker Robertson (Peterborough Petes)

Check out the Saginaw Spirit Statistics

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