OHL Saginaw Spirit

Three Spirit Represent Canada in ADT Challenge Tonight

Published on November 27, 2006 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


(Oshawa, ON) Spirit defenseman Patrick McNeill, forward Tom Pyatt and forward Ryan O'Marra were recently named to the OHL roster for the 2006 ADT Canada-Russia Challenge. The game will to be played tonight in Oshawa, ON at 7:00 PM. All three players participated in last years ADT Challenge (O'Marra representing Erie).

"We are very excited for Patrick, Tom, and Ryan", stated Spirit General Manager and Head Coach Bob Mancini, "All three are very deserving of this oppourtunity".

A live radio Webstream and more information on the event are available at http://www.chl.ca/CHLRussiaChallenge/home.html

Spirit captain Patrick McNeill will represent Saginaw on defense tonight. The Strathroy, ON native was the Ontario Hockey League's top scoring defenseman last season with 77 points (21 goals and 56 assists) and was selected to play in the 2006 OHL All Star Classic in Belleville. McNeill was chosen by the Washington Capitals in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. To date he has notched 11 goals and 13 assists in 24 games played.

Tom Pyatt will represent Saginaw on offense. The Thunder Bay, ON native helped Team Canada secure a gold medal in the 2006 World Junior Tournament and was named the Western Conference MVP in the 2006 OHL All Star Classic. Pyatt notched two consecutive hat tricks during the early part of the season (on Oct. 15, 06 and on Oct. 19, 06) and to date has scored 20 goals and 18 assists in 27 games played.

Ryan O'Marra will join Pyatt on offense during tonight's game. The Mississauga, ON native earned a gold medal playing for Team Canada in the 2006 World Junior Tournament and participated in the 2006 OHL All Star Classic. The New York Islanders pick (2005) was recently acquired by the Spirit in a trade with the Erie Otters this November. This season O'Marra has 10 goals and 6 assists in 16 games played; two of those goals were scored in his first three games in Spirit uniform.

The ADT Canada Russia Challenge is a yearly event that plays an important role in the selection process of the Team Canada roster for the World Junior Championship. The Challenge is played twice in the QMJHL, the WHL, and the OHL. Sarnia and Oshawa were chosen as the Ontario Hockey League's host cities.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from November 27, 2006


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