Saginaw Spirit 2008-2009 Schedule

The Saginaw Spirit are pleased to announce their 2008-2009 regular season schedule. The Spirit kick off the new season with the league opener on Wednesday, September 17th against the London Knights. The two teams will face-off at TheDow Event Center at 7:11 PM.

Stay tuned to Saginawspirit.com for a complete promotion and pre-season schedule, to be released soon!

For a complete league schedule, please visit Ontariohockeyleague.com

HOME GAMES IN BOLD

17-Sep Wed 7:11 PM London Knights

20-Sep Saturday 7:11 PM Windsor Spitfires

26-Sep Friday 7:00 PM Sarnia Sting

27-Sep Saturday 7:00 PM Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds

3-Oct Friday 7:30 PM London Knights

4-Oct Saturday 7:11 PM Sudbury Wolves

10-Oct Friday 7:11 PM Kingston Frontenacs

11-Oct Saturday 7:30 PM Sarnia Sting

12-Oct Sunday 4:00 PM Plymouth Whalers

17-Oct Friday 7:11 PM Barrie Colts

18-Oct Saturday 7:11 PM Niagara IceDogs

24-Oct Friday 7:00 PM Erie Otters

25-Oct Saturday 7:00 PM Niagara IceDogs

26-Oct Sunday 2:00 PM Guelph Storm

1-Nov Saturday 7:11 PM Oshawa Generals

2-Nov Sunday 4:00 PM Kitchener Rangers

7-Nov Friday 7:11 PM Ottawa 67's

8-Nov Saturday 7:11 PM Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds

13-Nov Thursday 7:05 PM Windsor Spitfires

14-Nov Friday 7:05 PM Plymouth Whalers

15-Nov Saturday 7:11 PM Windsor Spitfires

19-Nov Wed 7:00 PM Owen Sound Attack

21-Nov Friday 7:30 PM Sudbury Wolves

22-Nov Saturday 7:30 PM Barrie Colts

28-Nov Friday 7:05 PM Windsor Spitfires

29-Nov Saturday 7:11 PM Sarnia Sting

4-..hursday 7:00 PM Brampton Battalion

5-Dec Friday 7:30 PM Kitchener Rangers

7-Dec Sunday 4:00 PM Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds

10-Dec Wed 7:05 PM Plymouth Whalers

12-Dec Friday 7:30 PM Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds

13-Dec Saturday 7:11 PM Erie Otters

19-Dec Friday 7:11 PM Windsor Spitfires

27-Dec Saturday 7:05 PM Plymouth Whalers

28-Dec Sunday 4:00 PM Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds

30-..uesday 7:11 PM London Knights

2-Jan Friday 7:11 PM Plymouth Whalers

4-Jan Sunday 4:00 PM Guelph Storm

7-Jan Wed 7:00 PM Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds

9-Jan Friday 7:30 PM Sarnia Sting

11-Jan Sunday 4:00 PM Kitchener Rangers

15-Jan Thursday 7:00 PM Peterborough Petes

16-Jan Friday 7:30 PM Ottawa 67's

18-Jan Sunday 2:00 PM Kingston Frontenacs

22-Jan Thursday 7:11 PM Brampton Battalion

24-Jan Saturday 7:11 PM Peterborough Petes

25-Jan Sunday 7:00 PM Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds

30-Jan Friday 7:11 PM Mississauga S.M. Majors

31-Jan Saturday 7:11 PM Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds

6-Feb Friday 7:11 PM Belleville Bulls

7-Feb Saturday 7:00 PM Erie Otters

8-Feb Sunday 2:00 PM Mississauga S.M. Majors

11-Feb Wed 7:11 PM Plymouth Whalers

13-Feb Friday 7:30 PM Kitchener Rangers

14-Feb Saturday 7:15 PM Belleville Bulls

16-Feb Monday 2:05 PM Oshawa Generals

20-Feb Friday 7:11 PM Erie Otters

21-Feb Saturday 7:11 PM Guelph Storm

22-Feb Sunday 2:00 PM Plymouth Whalers

25-Feb Wed 7:11 PM Plymouth Whalers

28-Feb Saturday 7:11 PM Owen Sound Attack

1-Mar Sunday 2:00 PM Windsor Spitfires

3-Mar Tuesday 7:11 PM Sarnia Sting

6-Mar Friday 7:30 PM Guelph Storm

7-Mar Saturday 7:30 PM Owen Sound Attack

12-Mar Thursday 7:11 PM Owen Sound Attack

13-Mar Friday 7:30 PM London Knights

14-Mar Saturday 7:11 PM Sarnia Sting

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Rogers OHL Championship Series

The Kitchener Rangers defeated the Belleville Bulls 5-2 on Wednesday to take a 1-0 lead in the Rogers OHL Championship Series.

Game 2 is Friday, May 2nd.

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Spirit coach realistic about job ahead of him

Spirit coach realistic about job ahead of him

The Saginaw Spirit's summer of uncertainty began a little early.

Actually, it started when the Soo Greyhounds swept Saginaw out of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs last month, well before the official beginning of summer on Saturday, June 21.

The moment the final horn sounded March 27 in TheDow Event Center's Wendler Arena, following a 4-2 Soo victory, planning for the Spirit's 2008-09 roster got under way.

Saginaw General Manager Don Edwards and coach Todd Watson didn't sit down and talk that night, but you know both were thinking immediately about what they could do to get the Spirit into the second round or beyond in next year's playoffs.

The biggest question marks surround who Saginaw will bring back as 20-year-old over-agers. The Spirit's top two scorers from this past season, Jack Combs and Ryan McDonough, are eligible to return.

Saginaw undoubtedly wants them back, but do Combs and McDonough want to return for one final kick at the can in the OHL?

''It's real difficult,'' Watson said. ''Those kids want to try and move on and you can't blame them. You want them to do well and if they get the opportunity to move on, they will. Just think if neither of those guys are back. Where does that leave the team?

''Yeah, that is the biggest question because you want to figure out, your over-age situation.''

Will the Spirit pressure Combs and McDonough to make a decision sooner rather than later?

''I don't think that's fair to the kids,'' Watson said. ''It would be great to know, but in fairness to the players, you can't ask or, at least, demand an answer.''

Unquestionably both would like to sign free-agent contracts with a National Hockey League team and move on to that club's American Hockey League affiliate. Will that happen? That's difficult to answer, but more than likely NHL squads will wait to see if Combs and McDonough can duplicate their outstanding seasons.

The knock on Combs is he's too slow, while at 5-foot-9, McDonough is tagged as too small.

But if Combs returns to Saginaw and again posts 100 points (42 goals and 58 assists) and McDonough improves on his 89-point season (45-44), NHL teams will give them a contract.

There was talk right after the end of the Spirit's season Combs might head to an East Coast Hockey League team, but Watson said he talked to the talented forward and since Combs didn't end up in the ECHL, it appears Combs listened to his coach.

In addition to Combs and McDonough, Chris Chappell, Brad Smith and Ryan Daniels also could come back as over-agers. Of the three, Chappell is the only one I see coming back if Combs and McDonough return.

Why not Daniels? Watson wouldn't come out and say unequivocally the goalie who was drafted by the Ottawa Senators wouldn't be asked to return. But he spent several minutes talking about how 17-year-old Eddie Pasquale would be the Spirit's No. 1 goaltender next year.

''Eddie will be given a chance to take charge goaltending,'' Watson said. ''It's up to him. He has to have a good summer and come ready. We also have lot of defensemen coming back. We only lose Garrett (Sinfield). Really, the holes are up front.

''I'll be really blunt. The team we have going into next year on paper doesn't match up to the team we had on paper going into 2007-08. I think that's a fair statement. I don't think it's a criticism of this year's team. But look at some of the players we had going into 07-08, not what we ended up with, and then look the team we have going into 08-09.''

The challenges facing Watson and assistant coach John Kisil are formidable, and Watson was straight-forward when talking about them.

''Our core of players have to get better, they can't stay the same,'' Watson said of players such as Tyler Murovich, Jordan Szwarz, Joe Pleckaitis, Daniel Pachis, Nick Crawford, Adam Comrie, T.J. Brody, Joe Underwood and Chris Breen.

''The year they played is huge going into next season. Look at what Szwarz, Murovich and Pachis and the rest of them experienced this year: A full training camp, a regular season and a playoff round. That's experience you can't buy.

''But we all should be cautious about the coming year. Can this team coming in get 33 wins like last year? You don't know about Eddie, you lose a steady guy in Sinfield and you potentially have those holes up front.

''There certainly will be a lot of coaching involved next year.'' v

Mark Constantine is a writer for The Saginaw News. You may reach him by calling 776-9769.

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Former Spirit players putting a charge into the Bulls

Former Spirit players putting a charge into the Bulls

The Belleville Bulls stamped their ticket to the Memorial Cup Wednesday night, thanks to the Kitchener Rangers doing their job the last week.

No, the Bulls haven't won the Ontario Hockey League title, thus earning a berth in the Memorial Cup that goes with the championship. Instead, Belleville captured the Eastern Conference crown, beating Oshawa 4-1 behind some outstanding play from three former Saginaw Spirit players. More on them in a moment.

First, Kitchener is hosting the Memorial Cup this year, which means the Rangers have an automatic bid to the week-long event. Belleville now will move on to the round-robin tournament after halting Oshawa, no matter what happens in the OHL Finals.

By the way, the Memorial Cup brings together the champions from the OHL, Western Hockey League and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, along with the host team. The four teams battle it out for supremacy of Major Junior A hockey.

Jan Mursak, Nigel Williams and Parker VanBuskirk have helped Belleville battle their way to the Eastern Conference championship.

VanBuskirk, in particular, showed his mettle after coming in for starting goalie Mike Murphy in Game 2 of the series, after Oshawa scored three goals in the first 3:56.

But VanBuskirk turned in a huge performance, blanking the Generals the rest of the way, stopping all 28 shots he saw. That allowed the Bulls to win the game when they scored four second-period goals to prevail 4-3.

Belleville has needed just 15 games on its way to steamrolling to the conference title. The Bulls used five games to take out Peterborough in the first round and swept Barrie in the semifinals before taking out Oshawa.

Mursak, who signed an entry-level contract with the Detroit Red Wings before the start of the season, is making Detroit look like it knew what it was doing, with seven goals and nine assists for 16 points in the playoffs.

Williams, meanwhile, has contributed five goals and five assists for 10 points and, just as important, is plus-7 through Belleville's 13 playoff games.

The knock on Williams in Saginaw was he wasn't responsible enough in his own end, but in Belleville he seems to have turned that around. Perhaps playing on an outstanding team surrounded with quality players has as much to do with that as Williams' performance defensively.

Whatever the case, Williams, who was drafted by Colorado, has with his post-season performance more than likely earned himself a hefty contract from the Avalanche. That will come after the conclusion of Belleville's season, which more than likely will come late in May.

Kitchener is finding a way to win despite the absence of Steve Mason, its No. 1 goaltender, whom the Columbus Blue Jackets signed this year. Mason had arthroscopic surgery Friday to repair a minor tear in a knee, according to the Columbus Dispatch.

The Rangers lead the Soo Greyhounds 3-1 in the Western Conference Finals, with Josh Unice skating into goal to replace Mason. Kitchener has not missed a beat with Unice in net.

But Mason's injury will keep him off the ice for four to six weeks, meaning he won't play in the Memorial Cup, Blue Jackets General Manager Chris MacFarland told the Columbus newspaper. v

Mark Constantine is a writer for The Saginaw News. You may reach him by calling 776-9769.

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Future Spirit to be Drafted Saturday

Future Spirit to be Drafted Saturday

The Saginaw Spirit are participating in the 2008 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection this Saturday, May 3rd, starting at 9:00 AM.  The draft will be conducted via both telephone and internet; fans can follow along live at Ontariohockeyleague.com.

The Spirit select 10th overall in the first round.  The team selected forward Daniel Pachis (16th overall) in the first round of the 2007 OHL Priority Selection; other players selected last season include forward Jordan Szwarz (24th overall), defenseman Cody Sol (116th overall), and goalie Joseph Lepera (276th overall).

Saginaw boasts 8 picks in the first 5 rounds of the 2008 OHL Priority Selection, 16 picks overall.  'We are excited to have 8 picks in the first 5 rounds," stated Spirit General Manager Don Edwards, "The Spirit scouting staff has worked all season long to pinpoint the top players that best fit our organization's vision of a championship caliber team."

First Round: 10th (10th overall)
Second Round: 17th (37th overall)
Third Round: 17th and 19th (57th and 59th overall)
Fourth Round: 10th and 14th (70th and 74th overall)
Fifth Round: 4th and 10th (84th and 90th overall)
Sixth Round: No Spirit SelectionSeventh Round: No Spirit Selection
Eighth Round: 10th (150th overall)
Ninth Round: 10th (170th overall)
Tenth Round: 10th (190th overall)
Eleventh Round: 10th (210th overall)
Twelfth Round: 10th (230th overall)
Thirteenth Round: 10th (250th overall)
Fourteenth Round: 10th (270th overall)
Fifteenth Round: 5th (285th overall)

The OHL Priority Selection is the primary method for building a successful OHL franchise.  Last season's Spirit roster featured several players selected by Saginaw in the draft, including forward Kain Allicock (127th overall, 2006), defenseman Chris Breen (125th overall, 2005), defenseman T.J. Brodie (47th overall, 2006), forward Chris Chappell (202nd overall, 2004), defenseman Adam Comrie (172nd overall, 2006), defenseman Nick Crawford (12th overall, 2006) and goalie Ryan Daniels (48th overall, 2004).

Previous Spirit first round selections include forward Daniel Pachis (2007), defenseman Nick Crawford (2006), forward Zack Torquato (2005), defenseman Matt Corrente (2004), defenseman Patrick McNeill (2003) and forward Jean-Michel Rizk (2002).

North American players born between January 1, 1989 and December 31, 1992 are eligible for selection.  OHL teams are permitted to register a maximum of four 16 year old players chosen in the Selection; those 16 year old players that are allowed to dress and play are the first two 16 year old players selected and a maximum of addition of two 16 year old 'wild card' players.  All other 16 year old players selected are eligible to be called up as an 'affiliate player' or 'floating affiliate player' for a maximum of 10 games, unless the member team is eliminated from competition for that season.

For more information on the Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection, please visit Ontariohockeyleague.com.

Saginaw Spirit:  'Here Today, NHL Tomorrow!'

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OHL Playoff Update

Western Conference
Kitchener Rangers 4, Sarnia Sting 0
Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds 4, Guelph Storm 1
 
Eastern Conference
Bellville Bulls 4, Barrie Colts 0
Oshawa Generals 4, Niagra Ice Dogs 2

--------------------------------------------------------

Kitchener Ranger vs. Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds
Game 1 – Wed. April 16 at Kitchener, 7:30 p.m.
Game 2 – Thurs. April 17 at Kitchener, 7:30 p.m.
Game 3 – Sunday April 20 at Sault Ste. Marie, 7:00 p.m.
Game 4 – Monday April 21 at Sault Ste. Marie, 7:00 p.m.
Game 5 – Wed. April 23 at Kitchener, 7:30 p.m.*
Game 6 – Friday April 25 at Sault Ste. Marie, 7:30 p.m. *
Game 7 – Sunday April 27 at Kitchener, 7:30 p.m. *

Bellville Bulls vs Oshawa Generals
Game 1 - Wed. April 16 at Belleville, 7:15 p.m.
Game 2 - Fri. April 18 at Oshawa (7:35 p.m.)
Game 3 - Sat. April 19 at Belleville, 7:15 p.m.
Game 4 - Mon. April 21 at Oshawa (7:05 p.m.)
Game 5 - Wed. April 23 at Belleville, 7:15 p.m. *
Game 6 - Fri. April 25 at Oshawa (7:35 p.m.) *
Game 7 - Sun. April 27 at Belleville, 7:15 p.m. *

* = If Necessary

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Several former Spirit players prospering in the playoffs

Several former Spirit players prospering in the playoffs

The Ontario Hockey League season ended almost two weeks ago for the Saginaw Spirit.

But 10 former Saginaw players on six squads are still battling for the league title.

Jan Mursak, Nigel Williams and Parker VanBuskirk play for Belleville, Patrick Asselin for Oshawa, Matt Corrente and Scott Fletcher for Niagara, Ryan Berard and Andrew Clouthier for Barrie, Tim Priamo for Guelph and Steve Whitely for Sarnia.

Mursak, who can play all three forward positions and Williams, a defenseman, along with Asselin, a veteran right winger, have had the biggest impact on their respective teams.

Mursak and Williams have played in all eight games the Bulls have played in the playoffs with Mursak topping Belleville with five goals and six assists for 11 points, while Williams has four goals and four assists for eight points heading into action Wednesday night.

VanBuskirk has yet to see any postseason action thanks to Mike Murphy, the OHL’s best goalie in the regular season, playing the part again in the playoffs.

The Bulls needed five games to eliminate Peterborough in a quarterfinal series, then Belleville swept Barrie 4-0 in one of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Asselin is among the Generals’ leading scorers with four goals and five assists for nine points. Oshawa swept Ottawa in the quarterfinals and has a 3-1 lead on Niagara in the other Eastern Conference semifinal.

Corrente, the first-round pick -- second overall -- of the Spirit in 2004, has produced just two points for the IceDogs through seven playoff games, which includes Niagara sweeping Mississauga in the first round. Fletcher, meanwhile has seen action three times in the playoffs and has no points to show for his efforts.

Ryan Berard has just one point for the Colts, and Clouthier is still looking for his first, while Priamo has two assists for the Storm and Whitely one assist for the Sting.

There were whispers after last season that Mursak wore down in a big way following his first season of hockey in North America.

The Detroit Red Wings draft pick was signed by the big club before the start of the 2007-08 campaign, and seemed to pout some while in a Spirit uniform when he finally came back from the Red Wings’ training camp.

That’s one reason the Spirit hierarchy felt it was necessary to move him, thinking a change of scenery would do everyone involved good. Saginaw dealt him, Williams and VanBuskirk to Belleville and in return picked up goalie Edward Pasquale and forwards Brendon Taylor and Kyle Tront.

The key to the trade for the Spirit was acquiring Pasquale, who some experts say is one of the top 1990-born goalies in the league. The Saginaw brass certainly hope so, because he is going to get every opportunity to display that skill as the Spirit’s No. 1 goalie next season.

Yes, Ryan Daniels can come back for an over-age season, but a source said there is little chance Saginaw will bring him back after consecutive playoff failures.

The Spirit also felt it was getting rid of problems in Mursak, who wasn’t playing as hard as he could, and Williams, who some on the club felt wasn’t responsible enough in his own end.

But whatever the case, the pair have fit in nicely in Belleville, which should meet Oshawa in the Eastern Conference finals. There, look for the Bulls to upend the Generals in what’s shaping up as a classic series.

The Western Conference is too tough to call, at least when it comes to the series between the Soo and Guelph. Granted, Kitchener needed three overtimes to take a 2-0 lead over Sarnia in the other Western Conference semifinal. But the Rangers are just too strong and it’s only a matter of time before the advance the finals.

In the end, however, look for Kitchener and Belleville to meet in the OHL Finals with the Rangers prevailing.

Because the Memorial Cup is coming to Kitchener, the Rangers have an automatic berth in the round-robin tournament involving the OHL, Western Hockey League and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League champs. That means the team Kitchener plays in the finals will advance to the Memorial Cup, too. v

Mark Constantine is a sports writer for The Saginaw News. You may reach him by calling 776-9769.

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OHL Playoff Update

Round One
Western Conference
Kitchener 4 - Plyouth 0
Sault Ste. Marie 4 - Saginaw 0
Windsor 1 - Sarnia 4
London 1 - Guelph 4

Eastern Conference
Belleville 4 - Peterborough 1
Brampton 1 - Barrie 4
Oshawa 4 - Ottawa 0
Niagra 4 - Mississauga St. Michael’s 0
------------------------------------------
Round 2 (so far)
Western Conference
Kitchener 2 - Sarnia 0
Sault Ste. Marie 1 -Guelph 1

Eastern Conference
Bellville 3 - Barrie 0
Oshawa 2 - Niagra 1

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Spirit dish out awards

Spirit dish out awards

The sixth annual Saginaw Spirit Awards Ceremony took place in TheDow Event Center’s Heritage Theater Tuesday night.

A large crowd of season ticket holders cheered on the team in its final official function of the 2007-08 Ontario Hockey League season.

Here is the rundown:

- Nouvel Catholic Central Student of the Year: Tyler Murovich

- Davenport University Student of the Year: Jack Combs

- Fan Favorite: Murovich, Combs

- Heart and Soul Award: Murovich

- Wren Blair Leadership Award: Ryan McDonough

- Community Service Award: Ryan Daniels

- Most Improved Player: Jordan Ogilvie

- Best Defenseman: T.J. Brodie

- Rookie of the Year: Jordan Szwarz

- MVP: McDonough

- First tally: Murovich, Brodie, Szwarz, Adam Comrie, Brad Smith, Zane Neily, Daniel Pachis and Kain Allicock each received a certificate for scoring their first Ontario Hockey League goal.

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Plenty of talent returns for Spirit

Plenty of talent returns for Spirit

Three playoff series, three losses, two sweeps.

That’s the raw tale of the Saginaw Spirit’s stroll through the Western Conference postseason the past three years.

Adding insult to injury, the Spirit have won just two games during that span, both last season in falling to the Soo Greyhounds 4-2. The other two times, Saginaw was swept out of the playoffs.

Ouch.

But there is much more to this story than the raw numbers.

Let’s start with this past year, during which many so-called experts predicted the Spirit would never earn a postseason berth. Saginaw proved everyone wrong, remaining in the hunt for the Western Conference’s fifth seed heading into the final week of the regular season before settling on No. 7.

That itself should prove invaluable next season, since a good, young nucleus of players experienced in white-knuckle games are expected to return.

Tyler Murovich, Jordan Szwarz, Adam Comrie, Joe Pleckaitis, T.J. Brodie, Nick Crawford, Chris Breen, Joe Underwood and Eddie Pasquale provide that core of young talent.

Youngsters such as Daniel Pachis, Kain Allicock, Cody Sol, Zane Neily, Kyle Tront and Joe Lepara look are on the verge of taking big strides forward, giving the Spirit even more talented young players around which to build.

If leading scorer Jack Combs and captain Ryan McDonough return, the Spirit will have two outstanding 20-year-old, over-agers to lead them. McDonough set a record this year for most goals in a single season, with 45. Combs registered just one assist in the Soo’s playoff sweep of Saginaw this year, but scored 100 points during the regular season.

The Spirit also must find two Europeans, but with a pair of first-round picks in this summer’s Canadian Hockey League Import Draft, there is a good chance Saginaw will add a couple of quality players.

So, the cupboard is certainly not bare, as some predicted a year ago when Saginaw loaded its roster with veteran players in an unsuccessful attempt to make a long playoff run. That process included trading away many draft picks that GM Don Edwards has replaced this year.

The big constant the last two years is Saginaw’s lack of outstanding goaltending in the post-season. In fact, the Spirit in their six-year history in mid-Michigan have yet to put on the ice a netminder capable of winning games all by himself.

Ryan Daniels has shown spurts of greatness, twice earning OHL Goaltender of the Month recognition. But the 19-year-old’s biggest problem is consistency throughout the grind of a long season.

Daniels failed the last two years in the playoffs against a Soo squad that seemed to get into his head. He grew worse as this year’s playoff series wore on, leaving Saginaw head coach Todd Watson little choice but to sit him in favor of Pasquale, a 17-year-old who made his first post-season start in Game 4 of the series.

Daniels, or so some who know tell me, has National Hockey League potential physically, but mentally he has to get much, much better or he’ll find himself back in his hometown of Pickering, Ontario, getting on with his post-hockey life.

Can he do it? Goaltenders tend to mature later than those who play in front of them. So there’s a chance that with the right coaching and the normal maturation process, he can one day play in the NHL.

The Ottawa Senators drafted him and reports out of their training camp last fall were they were impressed with the youngster. Now it’s up to him to turn his potential into reality. I’m hoping he can do it.

Mark Constantine is a sports writer for The Saginaw News. You may reach him by calling 776-9769.

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Zaborsky Joins the Wolf Pack – Slovakian Native Signs with AHL

Zaborsky Joins the Wolf Pack – Slovakian Native Signs with AHL

Saginaw Spirit forward Tomas Zaborsky has signed with the American Hockey League’s Hartford Wolf Pack, the official AHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s New York Rangers.  Details of the signing were not disclosed; Zaborsky left Saginaw to play with the Wolf Pack at the conclusion of the 2007 post season.

Zaborsky, who was selected by the New York Rangers in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, came to the Spirit via the 2006 CHL Import Draft.  The 1987-born Trencin, Slovakia native wrapped up his second OHL season, compiling an OHL regular season career record of 50 goals and 63 assists, 31 goals and 39 assists during the 2007-2008 regular season.  Zaborsky tallied 3 goals and 3 assists in 10 post-season games, including 2 goals and 1 assist in 4 games during the 2008 post-season.

"Tomas had an outstanding year and was third in team scoring," stated Spirit General Manager Don Edwards, "He was also one of our best forwards in the post-season.  The Spirit family wish this talented young man the best of luck in his pro career."

For a more information, please visit theahl.com or hartfordwolfpack.com, the official websites of the AHL and the Hartford Wolf Pack.

The Saginaw Spirit – ’Here Today, NHL Tomorrow!"

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End of Season Merchandise Sale

End of Season Merchandise Sale

This Saturday, April 5, the Saginaw Spirit will be holding an end of season sale at the Spirit Store, 5789 State Street in Saginaw. All merchandise, excluding jerseys, will be 15% off, with select items being up to 75% off!

Additional discounts do not apply.

The sale will run from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the Saginaw Spirit Merchandise Store, 5789 State Street in Saginaw.

For more information, please contact the Spirit at 989-497-7747

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Jarram Moves Up to AHL’s Americans

Jarram Moves Up to AHL’s Americans

Spirit forward David Jarram has signed a contract with the American Hockey League’s Rochester Americans, the official AHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Florida Panthers.  Details of the signing were not disclosed.

Jarram arrived in Saginaw via a January 2008 trade with the Oshawa Generals.  The 1987-born native of Kitchener, Ontario posted 14 goals and 15 assists in his five year OHL career that saw stops in Sault Ste. Marie, Ottawa, London, Oshawa and Saginaw.  He tallied 11 goals and 7 assists during the 2007-2008 season, 5 goals and 2 assists in 29 games with the Spirit.  Jarram tallied a hat trick at the beginning of the season while with the Generals, on October 12th, 2007 against the Erie Otters.

"The Saginaw Spirit want to win OHL Championships, but just as importantly, this organization strives to develop its players into future NHL’ers," stated Spirit President and Managing Partner Craig Goslin, "The fact that he signed a pro contract immediately following the end of our season is a testament to the fact that the OHL is the top developmental program for the NHL.  We are thrilled for David and wish him the best of luck - the entire Spirit family will be rooting for his continued success as he works toward the day when he skates with the NHL’s Florida Panthers."

For a more information, please visit theahl.com or amerks.com, the official websites of the AHL and the Rochester Americans.

The Saginaw Spirit – ’Here Today, NHL Tomorrow!"

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Spirit Cap off Season with 4-2 Loss

Spirit Cap off Season with 4-2 Loss

The Saginaw Spirit lost 4-2 to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds tonight, ending a 2007-2008 season that saw a regular season record of 33-25-8-2 with 76 points and a post season record of 0-4-0-0.  Chris Chappell and Nick Crawford notched goals for Saginaw in the effort.

Saginaw’s Chris Chappell gave the Spirit a 1-0 lead early in the game with a goal at the 10:09 mark of the first.  Defenseman Joe Underwood and goalie Edward Pasquale assisted on the goal.  The Greyhounds would be quick to respond, scoring two goals to give themselves a 2-1 lead exiting the period.  Winger Anthony Peluso notched a goal at 14:03 in the period, assisted by center Matt Caria and winger Brandon Biggers.  Biggers followed with a goal at the 15:45 mark, assisted by defenseman Michael Quesnele.  The first period ended 2-1 Greyhounds.

Both teams traded goals in the second period.  Spirit defenseman Nick Crawford fired one in from the blue line at the 11:49 mark, assisted by center Ryan McDonough and center Jack Combs.  The Greyhounds would answer with a goal courtesy winger Wayne Simmonds (LA) at 18:56 in the second.  Quesnele and Caria assisted on the goal.

The two teams would battle into the third period and till the final seconds.  The Spirit pulled goalie Edward Pasquale in the final seconds for an extra attacker but were unable to tie up the contest when Greyhounds center Dustin Jeffrey (PIT) scored an empty net goal at the 19:55 mark.  The game ended 4-2 Greyhounds.

Spirit goalie Edward Pasquale tallied 28 saves on 31 shots in the effort, giving him the second star of the game.  Greyhounds goalie Kyle Gajewski earned the first star of the game with 32 saves on 34 shots.

For a complete game sheet, please visit www.ontariohockeyleague.com

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Spirit Suffer 6-2 Loss to Greyhounds

Spirit Suffer 6-2 Loss to Greyhounds

The Spirit returned to action Wednesday night in their first playoff home game of the 2008 post season.  The Greyhounds beat the Spirit 6-2 in the contest, giving them a three game lead in the best-of-seven series.  The two team’s face-off again tomorrow night at TheDow Event Center in Saginaw, with a 7:11 PM start time.

The Greyhounds took a three goal lead in the first period, with the game’s scoring being kicked off by center Matt Caria at the 1:41 mark.  Center Dustin Jeffrey (PIT) and defenseman Josh Godfrey (WSH) assisted on the power play goal.  Winger James Livingston moved the score to 2-0 with a goal at 11:45 in the first, assisted by winger Brandon MacLean and defenseman Tyler Cuthbert.  D-man Godfrey gave the Greyhounds a 3-0 lead exiting the first period with a goal at the 17:50 mark, assisted by defenseman Cameron Odam and winger Jacob Lalonde.

The second period would see two more goals from the Greyhounds and a responding Spirit goal.  Greyhounds winger Wayne Simmonds (LA) tallied a goal at 2:16 in the second, taking the score to 4-0.  MacLean and defenseman Andrew Campbell assisted on the goal, resulting in Spirit goalie Edward Pasquale coming in for Ryan Daniels.  Sault Ste. Marie’s Livingston would notch his second of the night, courtesy an assist from Caria and defenseman Michael Quesnele, at the 12:46 mark.  Saginaw winger Tomas Zaborsky (NYR) would respond for Saginaw, scoring the team’s first goal of the game at 18:35 in the second.  Defensemen T.J. Brodie and Garrett Sinfield assisted on the power play goal. 

Zaborsky followed with another goal in the third period, this one coming at the 12:52 mark courtesy assists from center Ryan McDonough and Brodie.  Sault Ste. Marie would hinder Saginaw’s late scoring drive moments later courtesy a goal from winger Anthony Peluso at 14:29 in the third.  The game ended 6-2 Greyhounds.

Spirit goalie Ryan Daniels (OTT) posted 12 saves on 16 shots in 22:16 minutes of action.  Spirit goalie Edward Pasquale tallied 13 saves on 15 shots in 37:44 minutes of action.  Greyhounds netminder Kyle Gajewski notched 29 saves on 31 shots.

For a complete game sheet, please visit www.ontariohockeyleague.com

The Spirit host game 4 of the series on Thursday, March 27, at 7:11 PM and will matchup against the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Students who show their school ID will get a to the game, courtesy Meijer!  Students can visit the Saginaw Spirit Merchandise Store, 5789 State Street in Saginaw, or TheDow Event Center Box Office to get their ticket!

In addition, the Spirit and TheDow Event Center are pleased to announce beer and concession specials for Thursday night.  TheDow will be selling 22 oz draft beers for $2.50 each – regularly priced at $5.00 each!  Popcorn, medium soft drinks and king size candy bars will be sold for $1.00 each, plus fans can receive a special $1.00 off coupon for a frozen drink at TheDow Event Center’s Frosty Coconut Bar!

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