Win For Jim: Otters Have Offensive Outburst on Emotion-Charged Night
Erie, Pennsylvania – To say that the loss of Erie Otters’ owner Jim Waters, who unexpectedly passed away on Friday, December 13, was a loss to the hockey world at-large would be an understatement. While a community and organization looked to make sense of the untimely news, the game of hockey would go on on Saturday Night in downtown Erie as Jim Waters would have wanted. With the defending Memorial Cup champion Saginaw Spirit in town for the first time this season for the team’s annual Winter Wonderland Night, the Otters would put on an absolute show.
In the opening 10 minutes of the game, Erie would strike three times from Sam Alfano (15) – :28 in –Callum Hughes (3), and Wesley Royston (8, GWG) to set the tone for the night’s game. Erie would add another pair of goals before the period would end as Carey Terrance (14, SHG) and Callum Hughes (4) would cap off an offensive explosion of a period for the Otters. Despite being outshot 14-10, Erie would hold a 5-0 lead over the visiting Spirit.
The power play unit would start off the scoring in the second period, as Sam Alfano (16, PPG) would net his second goal of the evening – and Erie’s only of the middle frame. Sebastien Gervais (3) would finally stop the Spirit bleeding with 8:42 gone by in the frame, but Erie would remain ahead by five goals with a 6-1 advantage through 40. Shots would continue to favor the Spirit 26-19.
In the third period, it would take just :24 for Michael Misa (30, PPG) to find the back of the net – becoming the fastest Spirit player to score 30 goals in team history. This, however, would be the last of the night for the Spirit. Erie would add an additional pair as Sam Alfano (17, Hat Trick) and Martin Misiak (10, PPG) would ensure an Erie victory in dominant fashion, 8-2.
Only one game remains before the holiday break for the Erie Otters – a proverbial date with destiny with bitter rival, the London Knights, for the aptly-named Rivalry Night in Erie game. This edition of the Sweet Caroline Rivalry will see Erie host the Knights for the first time this season, taking place at 7:00 P.M. on Wednesday, December 18. After the time away, Erie will then close out 2024 with 60 Years of Hockey Hist-ERIE Night (pres. by Stairways Behavioral Health) on December 28, and New Year’s Rockin’ Eve (pres. by Printing Concepts) on December 31.
