GAME PREVIEW: 67’s hop the border to face Spirit

OTTAWA, ON – The Ottawa 67’s (39-14-1-2) kick off their four-game road trip in Saginaw, taking on the Spirit (21-30-3-4), February 26th, 2026, at 7:05 p.m. Fans can tune in via Flo Hockey, or listen to TSN 1200 for play-by-play from Kenny Walls.

This will be the return game for 67’s deadline acquisition Nic Sima. Sima has quickly become a key piece for the Barber Poles since joining the team, potting 13 points over 18 games. He has already faced off against the Spirit, helping the 67’s beat them 6-0 at home earlier in January. However, this will be his final regular-season game in the Dow Event Center. 

“I love that city, love the organization, love the players,” Sima said of Saginaw.

“I spent four years there, some of the best memories of my life,” he said. “I am super excited to go back to the place where so many good things happened and to play against the guys I love.”

Outside of Sima, the 67’s have numerous weapons to look out for, including Cooper Foster and Jasper Kuhta, who both sit above a point-per-game heading into the game. Meanwhile, it feels like Sam McCue is due for a big game.

On the otherside, the Spirit are led by their youth movement comprised of 2026 NHL draft prospect Nikita Klepov—who leads the team in points with 81—and 2027 NHL draft eligibles Levi Harper and Dimian Zhilkin. 

The 67’s showed no mercy in the two teams’ last matchup just over a month ago, stomping the Spirit 6-0 in one of the 67’s best matches of the season. That game saw Kohyn Eshkawkogan pick up two goals while Ryder Fetterolf stopped a perfect 16 of 16 for his fourth shutout of the season. Those are the kinds of performances the team will look to emulate on this road trip as they look to bounce back from a recent skid.

“We’re hungry,” says 67’s forward Nic Sima. “We’ve lost four of our last five, we’ve lost our last game; we’re not happy with the way we’re playing right now.”

“We know we should be somewhere where we’re not,” he added. “We’re coming in, looking for three wins.”

 

Capital connections: 

The Spirit’s roster contains a single player from the Ottawa-Gatineau area in Winnipeg Jets prospect Jacob Cloutier (Ottawa). 

 

By the numbers

Ottawa 67’s	Player	Total
Goals	Jasper Kuhta	28
Assists	Kohyn Eshkawkogan	35
Points	Cooper Foster	56
Power play goals	Cooper Foster	10
+/-	Connor Bewick	33
Saginaw Spirit	Player	Total
Goals	Nikita Klepov	33
Assists	Egor Barabanov	50
Points	Nikita Klepov	81
Power play goals	Nikita Klepov	11
+/-	Dimian Zhilkin	10