Spirit honour franchise great Vincent Trocheck
The Saginaw Spirit saluted a franchise cornerstone on Wednesday, raising Vincent Trocheck‘s #89 to the roof of the Dow Event Center.
Enjoying an All-Star season with the Florida Panthers in 2016-17, Trocheck skated with the Spirit from 2009-13 before ending his OHL career with the Plymouth Whalers. He is the Spirit franchise’s leader in assists (146) and sits second in points with 240 (94-146–240) over 236 career regular season games.
“This organization has done a lot for me in my career. My time here meant a lot to me,” said Trocheck before thanking the Spirit organization, fans, his former billets and teammates during a pre-game ceremony.
The Pittsburgh native was an offensive presence in the Spirit lineup shortly after being the club’s second round (24th overall) pick in the 2009 OHL Priority Selection. He put up 43 points (15-28–43) as a rookie in 2009-10 before returning as a sophomore to record 62 points (26-36–62) and earn an invitation to the 2011 Sherwin-Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. He was Florida’s third round (64th overall) pick in the 2011 NHL Draft.
Trocheck was dominant in his 18-year-old season, registering 29 goals, 56 assists and 85 points in 65 games, helping the Spirit reach the second round of the OHL Playoffs for a second straight year.
His 19-year-old and final OHL season was his best as he earned the Red Tilson Trophy as the OHL’s Most Outstanding Player along with the Eddie Powers Trophy as the league’s leading scorer with 50 goals, 59 assists and 109 points in 63 games between Saginaw and Plymouth.
The dynamic centreman also made big waves on the international stage, helping lead the United States to a Gold Medal finish at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship where he recorded six points (3-3–6) over seven games.
Trocheck competed in the 2017 NHL All-Star Classic in Los Angeles this past weekend and is in the midst of a productive season with the Florida Panthers, recording 18 goals, 16 assists and 34 points over 51 games.
Trocheck is the first player in the 15-year history of the Spirit to have his number retired by the team.
