KITCHENER, Ontario – On Friday night, the Saginaw Spirit (23-18-4-0) continued the last game of their road trip as they traveled to Kitchener to face the Rangers (32-14-2-0). This game ended the Spirit’s longest road stand of the season. Friday’s game marked the third of four meetings between the Spirit and Rangers. Saginaw Spirit Head Coach Troy Smith returned to the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium to face his former team. Mason Kohn also entered the game as a former Kitchener Ranger before going to Oshawa and now with the Spirit. A goal early on from Ryan Stepien would give the Spirit a 1-0 lead, but Kitchener struck back with five unanswered goals. Kohn scored giving the Spirit a three-goal deficit, which was erased with Kole Sherwood’s 3rd goal of the night. The Spirit fell 6-2 in their last road game of a three-day, three-game weekend.

The first period was opened with a Spirit goal from Ryan Stepien at 1:54. A long wrist shot that beat Mario Culina would secure a Saginaw lead early in the game. The Spirit controlled the puck and had the first five shots on goal during the game. Kitchener answered back with their first shot on goal scoring their first goal of the game by Columbus Blue Jackets prospect, Kole Sherwood. A pass across the net from Jack York would set up Eric Guest to tap in the puck past Evan Cormier Kitchener would go two-for-two as their second shot on goal would give them a 2-1 at 6:18. A pass from behind the Spirit net by Nick McHugh gave Riley Damiani the opportunity to squeeze the puck into the net on Cormier’s short side. Though the Spirit outshot the Rangers 12-9 in the first period they headed to the locker room down 3-1.

The Spirit took the ice for the second frame with one goal against the Rangers’ three. The Rangers began attacking left to right and controlling the puck for the first half of the second period. Saginaw found themselves unable to capitalize on a goal during the second period as they accumulated eight penalty minutes. With a 5-on-3 power play Sherwood took a pass at the top of the left circle scoring his 2nd goal of the game and the Rangers’ fourth. Kitchener would hold a 4-1 lead going into the third period.

Less than 30 seconds into the third period a shot by Blade Jenkins shattered a pane of glass behind the Rangers’ net. Both teams were sent back to their locker rooms while staff replaced the glass. After a 20-minute delay the game resumed and the two teams took the ice to finish off the remaining 19:44. Adam Mascherin faced Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Keaton Middleton on a 1-on-1. Mascherin put the puck between Middleton’s legs and was able to get it over the shoulder of Cormier making the score 5-1. Returning to the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium for the first time since being traded, Mason Kohn scored with a snapshot from the bottom of the left circle after getting a backhand pass from Nick Porco. Sherwood would score his 2nd career hat trick against the Spirit with the last goal of the game ending in a 6-2 loss for the Spirit.

Applebee’s Three Stars of the Game

1. Kole Sherwood (KIT) –3G, 1A, +2
2. Adam Mascherin (KIT) – 1G, 3A, +2
3. Logan Brown (KIT) – 3A, +2

The Saginaw Spirit (23-18-4-0, 50 points, t-3rd in West Division) will face the Windsor Spitfires (23-18-2-2, 50 points, t-3rd in West Division) at The Dow Event Center on Saturday, January 27th, puck drops at 7:05 p.m. The game on Saturday marks the first night of Ice Blast Weekend held at The Dow Event Center on January 27th and 28th. On Saturday night there will be a Chili Cook Off with samples for the fans while supplies last and a show from the Dueling Pianos. Both nights will feature $2.00 Jets Pizza. All events are free with the purchase of a ticket to the game.

Season Tickets for the 2017-18 season are on sale NOW! Reserve your seat at The Dow Event Center by calling (989) 497-7747 or visit www.saginawspirit.com for more information. YOUR Region. YOUR team. YOU’RE invited.

Stay current with the latest from your Spirit by logging on to www.saginawspirit.com. Follow the Spirit all season long on Facebook (www.facebook.com/spirithockey), Twitter (@SpiritHockey), Instagram (@saginawspirit), and Youtube (SaginawSpirit)