Preview: Spirit host Spitfires for opening night of Ice Blast Weekend at The Dow Event Center
Broadcast Info
TV: CW46 WBSF Saginaw (Tape Delay), Your TV Windsor, OHL Action Pak
Radio: 100.5 WSGW-FM (Saginaw), www.fmtalk1005.com
Mobile: FM Talk 100.5 App, OHL Live App
Web Stream: OHL Live
SAGINAW, Michigan -On Saturday night, the Saginaw Spirit (23-18-4-0, 50 points, T-3rd in West Division) square off against the Windsor Spitfires (23-18-2-2, 50 points, T-3th in West Division) at The Dow Event Center. Tonight is the first installment of Ice Blast Weekend, an event featuring a chili cook off, $2 Jets pizza and dueling pianos as part of the festivities in the Budweiser Red Room beginning when Doors Open at 5:30 p.m. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m.
Tonight’s contest marks the second leg of three consecutive games for the Spirit this weekend. On Friday, the Spirit traveled to Kitchener in what was a 6-2 victory for the hometown rangers. Spirit overage winger Mason Kohn scored his 13th goal of the season in his return to the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium. Ryan Stepien also buried his 6th goal of the 2017-18 campaign in the Friday night battle.
As for Windsor, the Spitfires did not fare much better in their contest last night as Michael DiPietro allowed four goals in the first period against the Soo Greyhounds before Brock Baier was called upon to finish the game. Spitfires’ right wing Jake Smith recorded two goals, and Curtis Douglas nabbed two assists in the losing affair. The Spitfires fought back to get the game to 5-4 in the third period, but the Greyhounds an empty net goal to make it 6-4.
The Spirit and Spitfires have battled for 3rd place of the division much of the regular season.
Both clubs enter tonight with two wins apiece in the eight-game season series with the Spirit claiming the last two victories. Saginaw closed the 2017 calendar year with a 4-2 victory over the Spitfires on New Year’s Eve and later toppled Windsor 3-2 in a shootout on January 14th.
On the Windsor side of the ledger, the Spitfires ice three 30-point scorers with Cole Purboo leading the way with 37 points (16G, 21A). The Spitfires, however, boast five such players as Cole Coskey sets the pace with a team-high 40 points (22G, 18A) for the Spirit. Coskey is closely followed by Crawford and Kohn at 39 and 38 points respectively.
