Highlights: Spirit 9, Knights 3
Saginaw, Mich. – The Saginaw Spirit (24-43-1-0) wrapped up the 2021-22 season Saturday night by tying a season-high with nine goals in a 9-3 victory of the London Knights (38-22-5-2) in front of 4,268 at The Dow Event Center in Saginaw.
Overagers Dalton Duhart and Nick Wong provided a storybook ending to their junior hockey careers by scoring two goals each, Duhart’s coming 12 seconds apart in the opening period, the quickest two goals scored by the Spirit this season.
With the game tied 3-3 after the first period, Saginaw exploded for six unanswered goals. It started with four goals in the middle frame after Wong and Duhart left their mark on the game, Ian Phillips broke the tie with his fifth goal of the season from Luke McNamara and Mitchell Smith at 3:11. The Spirit built on their lead by cashing in on back-to-back power play opportunities. The first came courtesy of Dean Loukus (22) earning his 50th point of the season. Loukus tipped a Pavel Mintyukov shot past the London goaltender Flores at 10:37. On yet another power play Mitchell Smith (16) tallied his 15th point of the season on the man advantage this season, to make the Saginaw lead 6-3. Saginaw extended their lead to 7-3 on a shorthanded goal by Matyas Sapovaliv (18) set up on a fourth assist of the game for Pavel Mintyukov to take over the Spirit team lead in points with 62 points.
At 5:19 of the third period, Carson Christy earned his first OHL point on a pass to PJ Forgione, who scored his sixth goal of the season. Ian Phillips also earned an assist on the Forgione goal. As the game went on, the Spirit coaching staff gave Dalton Duhart and Nick Wong the proper send off by double and triple shifting them in the final 10 minutes of the game. It paid off for Wong, who scored his second goal of the game and 24th of the season from Mitchell Smith and Brayden Hislop at 17:48. Andrew Oke earned the victory in goal for his 13th of the season, just three off the Spirit rookie single-season record for most wins as a goaltender set by Ryan Daniels in 2005-06.
We thank you for following the Saginaw Spirit all season long and appreciate all your support. We wish Spirit Nation a happy and healthy summer and look forward to seeing you all again in October.
