OHL Saginaw Spirit

This Week with the Spirit: February 8th, 10th, and 11th

February 7, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


Saginaw Spirit defenseman James Guo
Saginaw Spirit defenseman James Guo
(Saginaw Spirit, Credit: Steven Frank)

Another busy week of hockey is waiting for the Saginaw Spirit, who have a trio of home games coming up against conference opponents. The Spirit host the Erie Otters on Wednesday in a game that was rescheduled from December 17th. On Friday, the Soo Greyhounds come to town for the fifth of eight matchups this season. The week concludes Saturday with the Windsor Spitfires' final visit to the Dow Event Center this season. All games this week will begin at 7:05pm

Quick Hits:

Saginaw Spirit (25-20-2-0)

3rd in the West Division

5th in the Western Conference

Spirit by the Numbers

Defenseman PJ Forgione and forward Nic Sima are each sitting at 99 career OHL games. With Sima's potential return to the lineup this week, both players could hit the 100 game mark. Sima has missed the last five games with a lower body injury. Both Sima (#133) Forgione (#214) were ranked in NHL Central Scouting's midterm rankings in January.

Spirit forward Dean Loukus has been a model of consistency in the past ten games, recording 11 points (3G, 8A) in that time frame. In his sophomore OHL season, the Calumet, MI native has 15 goals and 29 assists for 44 points through 46 games.

The OHL record for goals by a 16-year-old defenseman (19) was set by Rick Corriveau of the London Knights in 1987-1988. With eight days until his 17th birthday, rookie defenseman Zayne Parekh is just two goals shy of Corriveau's record with 17. Parekh will be in a race against the clock this week, having just three games left to make OHL history.

Game by Game

Wednesday, February 8th vs. Erie - 7:05pm

This is the rescheduled date for the original December 17th matchup and Erie's first visit to the Dow Event Center this season. The Otters and Spirit have split the season series so far. Rookie Malcom Spence scored an overtime winner on October 15th to give the Otters a 4-3 win over Saginaw. The 2nd overall pick in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection after Saginaw's Michael Misa, Spence has 25 points (10G, 15A) in 43 games this season.

Saginaw's 8-3 win over the Otters on December 6th was just Hunter Haight's third game with the Spirit. He recorded two goals and two assists while bringing Saginaw back from a 3-1 deficit. He has ten goals and 17 assists for 27 points in 23 games with the Spirit.

Friday, February 10th vs. Sault Ste. Marie - 7:05pm

Saginaw will host five trophies from the Hockey Hall of Fame on Friday as they welcome the Greyhounds. The Conn Smythe, James Norris, Vezina, William M. Jennings, and Willie O'Ree trophies will be on display in the Budweiser Red Room prior to the game. Additionally, former Red Wings goaltender and Spirit Partner Chris Osgood will be signing autographs and taking pictures with fans.

The Spirit are 2-1-1-0 in four matchups against the Greyhounds this season. Their most recent faceoff at the Dow Event Center resulted in a 5-4 overtime win for the Spirit. Michael Misa assisted on then-Spirit defenseman Pavel Mintyukov's game winner and finished the evening with a goal and two assists. Saginaw looks to rebound from a 6-3 loss at GFL Memorial Gardens in mid-January. Soo forward Kalvyn Watson has been exceptional against the Spirit, notching seven goals and three assists for ten points in just four contests.

Saturday, February 11th vs. Windsor - 7:05pm

Saturday night will be one of mental health awareness at the Dow Event Center; Talk Today, Hope forTomorrow night with the Barb Smith Suicide Resource & Response Network. Beginning at 5:30, resources and giveaways will be offered in the Budweiser Red Room, as well as a brief presentation from Barb Smith. For more information on the SRRN, click here.

The Windsor Spitfires have claimed four of six matchups against the Spirit, and currently sit in first place in the OHL's Western Conference. Windsor captain Matthew Maggio leads the OHL in goals (40) and points (79). He's managed three goals and three assists against the Spirit this season. Saginaw's most recent win against Windsor came on November 26th. In a 7-2 win, Zayne Parekh scored two goals and two assists for his first career four-point game.

Check out the Saginaw Spirit Statistics




Images from this story

Saginaw Spirit defenseman James Guo
Saginaw Spirit defenseman James Guo
(Steven Frank)		   



Ontario Hockey League Stories from February 7, 2023


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