Spirit announce leadership group for 2026-2027 season
Saginaw, Mich. – Spirit head coach Brendan Taylor announced Friday morning his leadership group for the franchise’s 25th season. Dima Zhilkin begins his second year as the team’s captain, while Josh Glavin, Levi Harper, Jacob Cloutier, and Brody Pepoy serve as alternate captains.
“I think there’s a natural impact from guys like Jacob and Brody coming back from NHL training camps,” said Taylor. “They’ve shown guys the way off the ice and back it up with their play on the ice, so have Josh and Levi. When they speak, guys really listen. Dima is the straw that stirs the drink for our team. He’s an elite player with elite habits across the board, he holds guys accountable, and he drives the team forward.
Dima Zhilkin “C”
The 17-year-old Zhilkin enters his second season as the captain of the Saginaw Spirit. He became the 27th player to wear the ‘C’ on January 9th, 2026, and is just the fifth player to do so across multiple seasons. Zhilkin has appeared in 115 career games with the Spirit, totaling 55G-68A—123P. He was named to the OHL’s first All-Rookie team in 2025 and earned a bronze medal with Team Canada at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Zhilkin has also represented Canada at the U18 World Championships and World Junior Summer Showcase. He is a top prospect for the 2027 NHL Draft. Zhilkin’s draft year has begun with five points (3G-2A) in his first two games and was last year’s Cogeco OHL Player of the Week.
Josh Glavin “A”
Saginaw’s lone overager is also the team’s active leader with 182 games played. The Spirit drafted the Sarnia, Ontario native in the third round of the 2022 OHL Priority Selection. Glavin has seen action in each of the last five seasons with the Spirit and has skated in 14 playoff games. He was named a finalist for the 2026 Ted Baker Teammate of the Year for his loyalty, dependability, and leadership qualities.
Levi Harper “A”
Harper has captivated Spirit fans since his first moments wearing the jersey. He established a new team record for scoring by a rookie defenseman last season with 57 points (12G-45A) in 68 games. Harper was named to the First All-Rookie Team for both the CHL and OHL as a result. He also took home the Bobby Smith Award as the OHL’s Scholastic Player of the Year. With Team USA, Harper won gold at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and participated in the 2026 U18 World Championships.
Jacob Cloutier “A”
A seventh-round pick of the Winnipeg Jets in 2025, Cloutier returns to Saginaw for his 19-year-old season. He was named to the OHL’s Second All-Rookie Team after his first full season in 2024-2025. Cloutier has seen 135 games of Spirit action since making his debut in 2023, totaling 46G-49A—95P.
Brody Pepoy “A”
Pepoy joined the Spirit as a free agent invite to training camp in 2025. After earning an OHL contract, he gave the Spirit 29 points (16G-13A) in a 67-game rookie season. The Toronto Maple Leafs then drafted him in the sixth round of the 2026 NHL Draft. The Troy, Michigan native is off to a strong start in his sophomore OHL season with a goal and two assists in his first two games.
