Saginaw Spirit
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| Saginaw Spirit | |
|---|---|
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| City: | Saginaw, Michigan |
| League: | Ontario Hockey League |
| Conference: | Western |
| Division: | West |
| Founded: | 2002–03 |
| Home Arena: | The Dow Event Center |
| Colors: | Midnight blue, red, silver, and yellow |
| Head Coach: | Todd Watson |
| General Manager: | Don Edwards |
| Affiliate(s): | Leamington Flyers |
| Franchise history | |
| 1943–47: | St. Catharines Falcons |
| 1947–62: | St. Catharines Teepees |
| 1962–76: | St. Catharines Black Hawks |
| 1976–82: | Niagara Falls Flyers |
| 1982–02: | North Bay Centennials |
| 2002–Present: | Saginaw Spirit |
The Saginaw Spirit are a junior ice hockey team from Saginaw, Michigan, United States of America, playing in the Ontario Hockey League, one of the leagues of the Canadian Hockey League.
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[edit] History
The Saginaw Spirit were born when Dick Garber, the owner of several local automobile dealerships, purchased the North Bay Centennials and moved the team after the 2001–02 season to Saginaw and renamed them the Saginaw Spirit.
The team can trace its roots back to St. Catharines, Ontario where it played from 1943-1976, as the Falcons, Teepees and Black Hawks. The franchise won the Memorial Cup in 1954 & 1960. The team also played as the Niagara Falls Flyers from 1976-1982, and as the North Bay Centennials from 1982–2002.
The Saginaw Spirit have done extensive promotions in the Mid-Michigan area, increasing their fan base and season ticket-holder numbers. The Spirit have one of the highest attendance rates in the Ontario Hockey League.
After three rebuilding seasons the Saginaw Spirit clinched their first playoff berth on March 2nd, 2006, but lost in the first round to the Guelph Storm.
The team entered the post season the following two seasons, both times against the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. The Spirit lost to the Greyhounds in six games in the 2007 post season and in four games in the 2008 post season.
[edit] Coaches
The first coach in Saginaw Spirit history was Dennis Desrosiers. He was well known to local fans, with many years of hockey experience in Michigan. As a player he spent 10 years for the Saginaw Gears (IHL), and spent time coaching the Flint Generals, Saginaw Generals & Kalamazoo Wings all in Michigan. In total, there have been four coaches in Saginaw Spirit history to date.
List of coaches. Numbers of seasons in parentheses.
- 2002-03 - Dennis Desrosiers (2)
- 2003-04 - Dennis Desrosiers / Moe Mantha
- 2004-05 - Doug Lidster / Bob Mancini
- 2005-07 - Bob Mancini (3)
- 2007-Present - Todd Watson
[edit] Players
See complete list of all List of Saginaw Spirit alumni.
[edit] Award winners
- 2003-2004 - Patrick McNeill, Jack Ferguson Award -1st overall OHL Priority Draft Selection
- 2005-2006 - Ryan Daniels, F.W. "Dinty" Moore Trophy -Best Rookie GAA
- 2005-2006 - Craig Goslin, OHL Executive of the Year
- 2006-2007 - Tom Pyatt, William Hanley Trophy -Most Sportsmanlike Player of the Year
- 2006-2007 - Craig Goslin, OHL Executive of the Year
[edit] NHL alumni
Since 2002 the Saginaw Spirit have graduated three players who have played in the National Hockey League.
[edit] Current squad
Roster updated as of May 28th, 2008
| Goaltenders | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Player | Glove | Acquired | NHL Draft | Place of Birth | |
| 20 |  |
Ryan Daniels | L | Saginaw Spirit 2004 | OTT 2006 | Pickering, Ontario |
| 31 | |
Edward Pasquale | L | Trade BLV 2007 | 2009 | Toronto, Ontario |
| 37 | |
Joseph Lepera | L | Saginaw Spirit 2007 | 2009 | Oakville, Ontario |
| Defensemen | ||||||
| Number | Player | Shoots | Acquired | NHL Draft | Place of Birth | |
| 3 | |
Jordan Ogilvie | L | Free Agent 2007 | Free Agent | Ancaster, Ontario |
| 4 | |
Nick Crawford | L | Saginaw Spirit 2006 | 2008 | Caledon, Ontario |
| 5 | |
Cody Sol | L | Saginaw Spirit 2007 | 2009 | Woodstock, Ontario |
| 6 | |
Christopher Breen | L | Saginaw Spirit 2005 | Free Agent | Uxbridge, Ontario |
| 17 |  |
Joe Underwood | R | Trade GUE 2007 | 2008 | Canton, Michigan |
| 24 | |
Adam Comrie | L | Saginaw Spirit 2006 | 2008 | Ashburn, Virginia |
| 25 | |
T.J. Brodie | R | Saginaw Spirit 2006 | 2008 | Dresden, Ontario |
| Forwards | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Player | Shoots | Position | Acquired | NHL Draft | Place of Birth | |
|
Mitch Fillman | R | RW | Free Agent 2007 | 2008 | Oakville, Ontario | |
|
Connor Smee | L | LW | Saginaw Spirit 2005 | Free Agent | Toronto, Ontario | |
| 7 | |
Zane Neily | L | LW | Free Agent 2008 | Free Agent | Brantford, Ontario |
| 9 | |
Sloan Stewart | R | RW | Saginaw Spirit 2007 | 2009 | Guelph, Ontario |
| 11 | |
Tyler Murovich | L | C | Free Agent 2007 | 2008 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| 12 | |
Kyle Tront | L | LW | Trade BLV 2008 | Free Agent | Thunder Bay, Ontario |
| 14 | |
Jordan Szwarz | R | RW | Saginaw Spirit 2007 | 2009 | Burlington, Ontario |
| 15 | |
Joe Pleckaitis | L | LW | Trade BAR 2007 | Free Agent | Markham, Ontario |
| 16 | |
Daniel Pachis | L | C | Saginaw Spirit 2007 | 2009 | Whitby, Ontario |
| 18 | |
Kain Allicock | L | LW | Saginaw Spirit 2006 | 2008 | Thornhill, Ontario |
| 19 | |
Chris Chappell - A | L | C | Saginaw Spirit 2004 | Free Agent | Pickering, Ontario |
| 21 | |
Jack Combs - A | L | C | Trade KIT 2005 | Free Agent | St. Louis, Missouri |
| 22 | |
Jason McDonough | L | LW | Trade PTB 2007 | Free Agent | Etobicoke, Ontario |
| 23 | |
Brendan Taylor | R | C | Trade BLV 2007 | Free Agent | Oakville, Ontario |
| 28 | |
Brad Smith | R | C | Free Agent 2007 | Free Agent | Summerside, PEI |
| 29 | |
Ryan McDonough - C | L | C | Trade SBY 2005 | Free Agent | Toronto, Ontario |
[edit] Team records
| Team Records for a single season | ||
| Statistic | Total | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Most Points | 91 | 2006–07 |
| Most Wins | 44 | 2006–07 |
| Most Goals For | 291 | 2006–07 |
| Least Goals For | 150 | 2004–05 |
| Least Goals Against | 217 | 2006–07 |
| Most Goals Against | 275 | 2002–03 |
| Individual player records for a single season | |||
| Statistic | Player | Total | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most Goals | Ryan McDonough | 45 | 2007–08 |
| Most Assists | Tyler Haskins | 60 | 2006–07 |
| Most Points | Jack Combs | 100 | 2007–08 |
| Most Points, rookie | Jan Mursak | 80 | 2006–07 |
| Most Points, defenseman | Patrick McNeill | 77 | 2006–07 |
| Best GAA, goalie | Chuck Goddard | 2.49 | 1962–63 |
| Goalies = minimum 1500 minutes played | |||
[edit] Season-by-season results
[edit] Regular season
Legend: OTL = Overtime loss, SL = Shoot Out Loss
| Season | Games | Won | Lost | Tied | OTL | SL | Points | Pct % | Goals For |
Goals Against |
Standing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002–03 | 68 | 11 | 45 | 5 | 7 | – | 34 | 0.250 | 158 | 275 | 5th West |
| 2003–04 | 68 | 16 | 45 | 3 | 4 | – | 39 | 0.287 | 161 | 228 | 5th West |
| 2004–05 | 68 | 18 | 42 | 4 | 4 | – | 44 | 0.324 | 150 | 260 | 4th West |
| 2005–06 | 68 | 36 | 30 | – | 2 | 0 | 74 | 0.544 | 242 | 246 | 2nd West |
| 2006–07 | 68 | 44 | 21 | – | 0 | 3 | 91 | 0.669 | 291 | 217 | 2nd West |
| 2007–08 | 68 | 33 | 25 | – | 8 | 2 | 76 | 0.559 | 234 | 231 | 4th West |
[edit] Playoffs
- 2002–03 Out of playoffs.
- 2003–04 Out of playoffs.
- 2004–05 Out of playoffs.
- 2005–06 Lost to Guelph Storm 4 games to 0 in conference quarter-finals.
- 2006–07 Lost to Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 4 games to 2 in conference quarter-finals.
- 2007–08 Lost to Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 4 games to 0 in conference quarter-finals.
[edit] Uniforms and logos
The Saginaw Spirit logo depicts an American bald eagle with the colors of the Stars and Stripes along its neck, on the words "Saginaw Spirit." The uniform scheme is similar to that previously used by the U.S.A. national team. The home jerseys are white backgrounds with navy blue sleeves and red trim. The away jerseys are navy blue backgrounds with red sleeves and white trim. The Saginaw third jersey (inset) has a red background with navy blue sleeves and white trim, bearing across the chest the word "Saginaw" spelled diagonally downwards from left to right.
[edit] Mascots
Saginaw's main mascot is "Sammy Spirit," resembling an American bald eagle. The team held a vote on their website to name a new secondary mascot for the 2006–07 season. The mascot was named[1] Steagle Colbeagle the Eagle after Stephen Colbert. Colbert had promoted the contest on his show, The Colbert Report. After naming the mascot after Colbert, the Spirit won seven straight games before losing to the Sarnia Sting on October 20. Since then, The Colbert Report has featured ongoing comedy sketches related to the team, the mascot, and other teams in the Ontario Hockey League, especially the Oshawa Generals, and Oshawa, Ontario mayor John Gray.[2]
[edit] Arena
The Spirit play at Wendler Arena (capacity 5,527), which is part of The Dow Event Center complex in downtown Saginaw. The OHL All-Star Classic was hosted here in 2007. This was the first time in history that the OHL All-Star Game was hosted in an American city. The Arena was formerly home to the Saginaw Gears, Saginaw Generals, Saginaw Hawks, Saginaw Wheels and the Saginaw Lumber Kings.
- Capacity = 5,527
- Ice size = 192' x 85'
- Wendler Arena The OHL Arena & Travel Guide
[edit] Mid Michigan Spirit
The Saginaw Spirit in partnership with Meijer food stores sponsor the Mid Michigan Spirit. This is a women's hockey club based out of Midland, Michigan. The 16U team took second at the MAHA state tournament during the 2006-2007 season. A 16U team moved up to 19U for the 2007-2008 season. This team once again took second at the MAHA state tournament in Canton, Michigan on March 9th, 2008.
[edit] References
- ^ Spirit on the Colbert Report Tonight. Saginaw Spirit (2006-10-03). Retrieved on 2007-02-01.
- ^ Sunaya Sapurji (2007-02-01). The Steagle has landed. Toronto Star. Retrieved on 2007-02-01.
[edit] External links
- www.saginawspirit.com Saginaw Spirit official site
- Ontario Hockey League Official web site
- Canadian Hockey League Official web site
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