Preview: Spirit open Northern Ontario swing in North Bay Thursday
North Bay, Ontario – The Saginaw Spirit (11-9-1-1 24pts.) travels to North Bay Memorial Gardens for a Thanksgiving matchup against the North Bay Battalion (10-11-0-1 21pts.) The puck drops at 7:00 p.m. Thursday and marks the first game of a three-game road swing. The Spirit took the first meeting of the season versus the Battalion, 6-2 at The Dow Event Center back on October 13.
Saginaw captain Damien Giroux captured first star honor in the game against North Bay earlier this season. The Minnesota Wild prospect had five points with a hattrick in the game and had a plus-minus of plus-five. Giroux has four goals and nine points in five career games against the Battalion.
New York Islanders prospect Blade Jenkins scored a goal in the game against North Bay this season. The Jackson, Michigan native has four goals in three games versus the Battalion in his career. Jenkins had his first career hat trick against North Bay back on November 4 of last season.
Plymouth, Michigan native Bode Wilde was a plus-three at home against the Battalion earlier this season. The New York Islanders prospect had a goal and assist in the game back on October 13. The Saginaw Spirit defenseman has averaged better than a point a game thus far in his first OHL season.
The Spirit will try to contain Battalion right-winger Justin Brazeau, currently second among all OHL players with 43 points. The North Bay captain is fourth in the OHL in goals with 20 and fifth in assists with 22. Saginaw kept him scoreless in the first matchup this season with a plus-minus of minus-four.
The Battalion recently traded for former Guelph Storm center Mason Primeau. Primeau is the son of 14-year NHLer Wayne Primeau and the nephew of former Detroit Red Wings first round pick Keith Primeau. The Toronto, Ontario native has scored two goals in his first three games with North Bay.
Bloomfield Hills native Theo Calvas has played the last 15 games with the Battalion. Calvas was traded to North Bay after four games this season with the division rival Sarnia Sting.
Arizona Coyotes prospect Ivan Prosvetov earned the victory over North Bay earlier this season. Prosvetov allowed just two goals on 20 shots in the first matchup.
Opening faceoff at the North Bay Memorial Gardens will be at 7:00 p.m. Thursday evening. Fans can catch all the action on FM Talk and Sports 100.5 or at fmtalk1005.com with Joey Battaino and Dennis Desrosiers with the call.
The Spirit returns home Thursday, November 29, against the West Division rival Sarnia Sting. Saginaw will look to avenge the first two games against Sarnia that ended in defeat. There is a $5 student and military ticket rush presented by Reder Landscaping.
To purchase tickets to any Saginaw Spirit home game call (989) 497-7747, visit saginawspirit.com, or by visiting the Saginaw Spirit Store at 5789 State Street, Saginaw, MI.
