[{"id":44571,"date":"2026-08-11T11:00:43","date_gmt":"2026-08-11T15:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/?p=44571"},"modified":"2026-08-11T10:24:50","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T14:24:50","slug":"spirit-announce-updates-returners-to-hockey-operations-staff","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/article\/spirit-announce-updates-returners-to-hockey-operations-staff","title":{"rendered":"Spirit announce updates, returners to hockey operations staff"},"content":{"rendered":"

Saginaw, Mich. \u2013 <\/strong>Spirit GM Dave Drinkill announced Tuesday the following updates to the team\u2019s hockey operations department for the 2026-2027 season.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Saverio Posa <\/strong>will return to the Spirit as an assistant coach. After serving last season with additional duties as the team\u2019s skill development coach, Posa\u2019s responsibilities in 2026-2027 will shift to the penalty kill and working with the team\u2019s defense.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m extremely grateful and excited to return to this organization,\u201d said Posa. \u201cI want to thank our ownership group, Dave Drinkill, and Brendan Taylor for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to continue pursuing my dream of working in the best development league in the world. I\u2019m looking forward to working alongside Brendan and the rest of our staff to create an environment where our players can develop, compete, and reach their full potential.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

From Grand Blanc, Mich., Posa spent two seasons as an assistant and skill development coach with the Flint Firebirds before arriving in Saginaw for the 2025-2026 season. He broke into the league in the 2022-2023 season as a video coach with the Firebirds after a season as the head coach of the Little Caesars 19U women\u2019s team. Posa was also a player-assistant coach with the Huntsville Havoc (SPHL) in 2019-2020 and head coach of the Willmar WarHawks (NA3HL) in 2018-19. As a player in the OHL, Posa skated in 232 regular season games between the Windsor Spitfires and Guelph Storm, captaining the Spitfires in the 2012-13 season. The Spitfires won the Memorial Cup in 2010, Posa\u2019s rookie season.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Spirit welcome Aron Augustitus <\/strong>to the organization as an assistant coach for the 2026-2027 season. Augustitus, from North Caldwell, NJ, comes to Saginaw after five seasons with the NHL\u2019s Columbus Blue Jackets. He served as the team\u2019s video coach in 2025-2026 after four seasons as an assistant video coach.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m really excited for the opportunity to work for such a well-respected and storied franchise like Saginaw,\u201d said Augustitus. \u201cI want to thank Brendan, Dave, and all of management and ownership for bringing me on to the team. Between the players, staff, and the fan base as a whole, I\u2019m really looking forward to the success we are going to have on and off the ice.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Posa and Augustitus will join incoming head coach Brendan Taylor behind the Spirit bench when the team opens its season in Sault Ste. Marie on September 18th.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI am really excited to announce our bench staff for the upcoming season,\u201d said Taylor. \u201cSaverio Posa had all positive reviews from both players and staff and has earned an elevated role where he\u2019ll be responsible for the overall development of the defensemen. Aron Augustitus will assist in working with the forwards and has extensive video experience that will help all players and coaches. I\u2019m looking forward to both of them taking the next steps in their coaching careers.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Josh Romano <\/strong>will join Saginaw\u2019s scouting staff for the upcoming season, responsible for the Eastern U.S. region. Romano served as a scout with the Niagara IceDogs last year and worked for OHL Central Scouting before that.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Additional hockey ops staff returning include Kevin Delamarter,<\/strong> who will serve as the team\u2019s goaltending coach for a third season. Austin Sadler <\/strong>returns as director of strength & conditioning for his fifth season. Athletic Therapist Andrew Plate MEd, ATC <\/strong>will also return behind the Spirit bench for an eighth year, having joined the team in 2019-2020. Saginaw native Aden Gohm <\/strong>returns as well for his second season as head equipment manager.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Saginaw, Mich. \u2013 Spirit GM Dave Drinkill announced Tuesday the following updates to the team\u2019s hockey operations department for the 2026-2027 season.   Saverio Posa will return to the Spirit as an assistant coach. After serving last season with additional duties as the team\u2019s skill development coach, Posa\u2019s responsibilities in 2026-2027 will shift to the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":243,"featured_media":44572,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"article","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[387],"tags":[{"term_id":411,"name":"Hockey Operations","slug":"hockey-operations","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":411,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":2,"filter":"raw","term_order":"189"}],"class_list":["post-44571","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article","tag-hockey-operations","category-387","description-off"],"acf":[],"featured_image":["https:\/\/media.chl.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2026\/08\/11102428\/HOCKEY-OPS-UPDATES.png",1920,1080,false],"hide_from_app_feed":false,"video":false,"gallery":null,"ht_game_id":0,"target_video":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44571","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/243"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44571"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44571\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44573,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44571\/revisions\/44573"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44572"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44571"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44571"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44571"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":44561,"date":"2026-08-10T15:05:38","date_gmt":"2026-08-10T19:05:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/?p=44561"},"modified":"2026-08-10T15:05:38","modified_gmt":"2026-08-10T19:05:38","slug":"futures-watch-saginaw-spirits-2026-draft-class-and-new-faces","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/article\/futures-watch-saginaw-spirits-2026-draft-class-and-new-faces","title":{"rendered":"Futures Watch: Saginaw Spirit\u2019s 2026 Draft Class and New Faces"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the 2026-27 OHL season approaches, the Saginaw Spirit are preparing to build on last year\u2019s campaign. We spoke with the organization about the club\u2019s 2026 draft class and the new faces fans should keep an eye on heading into the upcoming season.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

2026 Draft Class Revisit<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Player Spotlight: <\/b>Drew Bate<\/b><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Profile: <\/b>5\u201910\u201d, 163lbs, right-shot forward<\/span><\/p>\n

Hometown: <\/b>Union, ON<\/span><\/p>\n

Birthdate: <\/b>Sept 10, 2010<\/span><\/p>\n

Drafted: <\/b>1st Round, 6th Overall (2026 OHL Priority Selection)<\/span><\/p>\n

2025-26 Stats (London Jr. Knights U16 AAA): <\/b>27 GP, 34G, 38A, 72 PTS<\/span><\/p>\n

Selected sixth overall in the 2026 OHL Priority Selection, Drew Bate joins the Spirit after an impressive season with the London Jr. Knights U16 AAA program. Bate led ALLIANCE in scoring with 72 points (34-38\u201372) in just 27 games before adding 21 points (7-14\u201321) in eight playoff contests. He continued his strong postseason at the OHL Cup, recording 13 points (7-6\u201313) in six games. A champion at both the U15 (2025) and U16 (2026) levels with the Jr. Knights, Bate was named the 2026 ALLIANCE Player of the Year this spring and earned an invitation to Canada\u2019s National Under-17 Development Camp.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDrew Bate is a highly competitive and productive player who has a unique ability to create offence. His combination of speed, skill, and relentless motor allows him to consistently impact the game, especially when the pressure ramps up. He can execute and elevate his play against top competition. His pace, puck pursuit, and compete level fit extremely well with the way we want to play in Saginaw. We believe Drew has all of the tools to develop into a dominant player at the OHL level.\u201d \u2013 <\/span><\/i>Greg Hammell, Head Scout<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Player Spotlight: <\/b>Kyler Lauder<\/b><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Profile: <\/b>5\u201910\u201d, 156lbs, left-shot forward<\/span><\/p>\n

Hometown: <\/b>Uxbridge, ON<\/span><\/p>\n

Birthdate: <\/b>Jan 15, 2010<\/span><\/p>\n

Drafted: <\/b>2nd Round, 24th Overall (2026 OHL Priority Selection)<\/span><\/p>\n

2025-26 Stats (Central Ontario Wolves U16 AAA): <\/b>32 GP, 35G, 34A, 69 PTS<\/span><\/p>\n

Selected 24th overall in the 2026 OHL Priority Selection, Kyler Lauder led the Central Ontario Wolves U16 AAA team with 69 points (35-34\u201369) in 32 games while serving as an alternate captain. The Uxbridge, Ont., native added another 16 points (7-9\u201316) in eight playoff games and was named the OMHA East Player of the Year.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cKyler Lauder is a dynamic forward with a well-rounded skill set that makes him an exciting addition to our organization. We believe he was one of the top skaters to come out of this year’s draft, with elite acceleration, agility, and the ability to create separation from opponents. With his skill set, compete level, and continued development, we believe Kyler has the potential to become a very impactful player at the OHL level.\u201d \u2013 <\/span><\/i>Greg Hammell, Head Scout<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Player Spotlight: <\/b>Hudson Leenders<\/b><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Profile: <\/b>6\u20190\u201d, 180lbs, left-shot forward<\/span><\/p>\n

Hometown: <\/b>South Huron, ON<\/span><\/p>\n

Birthdate: <\/b>Feb 1, 2009<\/span><\/p>\n

Drafted: <\/b>1st Round, 6th Overall (2026 OHL U18 Draft)<\/span><\/p>\n

2025-26 Stats (Elgin Middlesex Canucks U18 AAA): <\/b>34 GP, 23G, 25A, 48 PTS<\/span><\/p>\n

Selected sixth overall in the 2026 OHL U18 Draft, Hudson Leenders led the Elgin Middlesex Canucks U18 AAA in both regular-season and playoff scoring. The left-shot winger recorded 48 points (23-25\u201348) in 34 regular-season games before adding 19 points (5-14\u201319) in the postseason. Following his U18 campaign, Leenders also appeared in six games with the GOHL\u2019s Listowel Cyclones.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHudson Leenders is a powerful skater with good edges and a knack for finding soft spots on the ice to get his extremely accurate shot off quickly. He also has the ability to take pucks to the net and excel in the dirty areas of the rink, driven by an exceptional work ethic and compete level. Leenders is currently signed with the Stratford Warriors of the GOHL and will look to earn a spot with our team at Main Camp.\u201d <\/span><\/i>\u2013 Jordan Selinger, Director of Player Development<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Player Spotlight: <\/b>Gordei Khotkov<\/b><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Profile: <\/b>6\u20195\u201d, 212lbs, left-shot defenceman<\/span><\/p>\n

Hometown: <\/b>Yaroslavl, Rus<\/span><\/p>\n

Birthdate: <\/b>Mar 10, 2010<\/span><\/p>\n

Drafted: <\/b>1st Round, 16th Overall (2026 CHL Import Draft)<\/span><\/p>\n

2025-26 Stats (CSKA Moskva U17): <\/b>12 GP, 3G, 6A, 9 PTS<\/span><\/p>\n

Selected 16th overall in the 2026 CHL Import Draft, Gordei Khotkov spent the 2025-26 season competing at the U16 and U17 levels with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl and CSKA Moskva. The 6-foot-5 defenceman combined for 63 points (24-39\u201363) across 56 regular-season and tournament games. At the U16 Russia Cup, Khotkov led all defencemen in tournament scoring with 31 points (13-18\u201331) in 19 games. He also represented Russia internationally at the U16 level, recording four assists in four games.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGordei Khotkov is a player who came onto our radar a year ago, and we were very excited to add him through the Import Draft to an already impressive group. He is a mobile, skilled, and smooth-skating defenseman who can contribute at both ends of the ice. We believe Gordei has the abilities, mindset, and physical maturity to be successful in our system and has the potential to become a star in this league and beyond.\u201d <\/span><\/i>\u2013 Dave Drinkill, General Manager<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Player Spotlight: <\/b>Dmitri Savin<\/b><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Profile: <\/b>6\u20192\u201d, 190lbs, left-shot forward<\/span><\/p>\n

Hometown: <\/b>Novosibirsk, Rus<\/span><\/p>\n

Birthdate: <\/b>Apr 14, 2009<\/span><\/p>\n

Drafted: <\/b>1st Round, 31st Overall (2026 CHL Import Draft)<\/span><\/p>\n

2025-26 Stats (CSKA Moskva U17): <\/b>32 GP, 29G, 30A, 59 PTS<\/span><\/p>\n

Selected 31st overall in the 2026 CHL Import Draft, Dmitri Savin spent the 2025-26 season with CSKA Moskva\u2019s U17 and U18 programs. The Novosibirsk, Russia native led the U17 team with 29 goals and 59 points in 32 games before producing 43 points (24-19\u201343) in just 19 games at the U18 level. Savin also appeared in both the U17 and U18 Finals series with CSKA, recording 12 points in each, and added 10 points (3-7\u201310) with Gold Star Hockey U18S at the Andrews International Showcase.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDmitri is a very talented two-way center who brings a high level of skill and attention to detail in all aspects of his game. He\u2019ll fit in extremely well with the rest of our skilled young players, and we\u2019re thrilled to have the opportunity to add him to our organization.\u201d <\/span><\/i>\u2013 Dave Drinkill, General Manager<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Other members of the 2026 class include:\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
PLAYER<\/b><\/td>\nPOSITION<\/b><\/td>\nHOMETOWN<\/b><\/td>\nDOB<\/b><\/td>\n2025-26 TEAM<\/b><\/td>\nDRAFTED<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Egor Sokolov<\/span><\/td>\nG<\/span><\/td>\nThornhill, ON<\/span><\/td>\nMar 16, 2010<\/span><\/td>\nToronto Marlboros U16 AAA<\/span><\/td>\n3rd round, 45th overall<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Brayden Barkic<\/span><\/td>\nLD<\/span><\/td>\nToronto, ON<\/span><\/td>\nJul 24, 2010<\/span><\/td>\nDon Mills Flyers U16 AAA<\/span><\/td>\n3rd round, 58th overall<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Griffin Carver<\/span><\/td>\nRD<\/span><\/td>\nFlat Rock, MI<\/span><\/td>\nJul 07, 2010<\/span><\/td>\nDetroit Little Caesars 15’s<\/span><\/td>\n4th round, 71st overall<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Jacob Curic<\/span><\/td>\nLW<\/span><\/td>\nEtobicoke, ON<\/span><\/td>\nApr 15, 2010<\/span><\/td>\nToronto Nationals U16 AAA<\/span><\/td>\n6th round, 121st overall<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Jonathan Tait<\/span><\/td>\nLD<\/span><\/td>\nBurlington, ON<\/span><\/td>\nApr 08, 2010<\/span><\/td>\nMississauga Senators U16 AAA<\/span><\/td>\n7th round, 127th overall<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mason Martin<\/span><\/td>\nG<\/span><\/td>\nByron, MI<\/span><\/td>\nFeb 10, 2010<\/span><\/td>\nFox Motors HC 15’s<\/span><\/td>\n8th round, 147th overall<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cole Connolly<\/span><\/td>\nC<\/span><\/td>\nTonawanda, NY<\/span><\/td>\nSep 30, 2009<\/span><\/td>\nNichols School Prep B 16U<\/span><\/td>\n8th round, 155th overall<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
A.J. Foyt<\/span><\/td>\nLD<\/span><\/td>\nCarmel, IN<\/span><\/td>\nSep 18, 2010<\/span><\/td>\nMount St. Charles Academy 15’s<\/span><\/td>\n9th round, 167th overall<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gryson Gill<\/span><\/td>\nRD<\/span><\/td>\nBrooklin, ON<\/span><\/td>\nMay 31, 2010<\/span><\/td>\nYork-Simcoe Express U16 AAA<\/span><\/td>\n10th round, 187th overall<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Luke McLean<\/span><\/td>\nC<\/span><\/td>\nLondon, ON<\/span><\/td>\nJun 05, 2010<\/span><\/td>\nHuron-Perth Lakers U16 AAA<\/span><\/td>\n13th round, 247th overall<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hayden Ferra<\/span><\/td>\nC<\/span><\/td>\nPittsburgh, PA<\/span><\/td>\nFeb 10, 2009<\/span><\/td>\nPittsburgh Predators 15’s<\/span><\/td>\n14th round, 267th overall<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Daniel Vasko<\/span><\/td>\nC<\/span><\/td>\nFell Township, PA<\/span><\/td>\nJul 09, 2010<\/span><\/td>\nWilkes-Barre\/Scranton Jr. Knights Premier 15’s<\/span><\/td>\n15th round, 287th overall<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Damon Stodola<\/span><\/td>\nLD<\/span><\/td>\nEtobicoke, ON<\/span><\/td>\nJan 08, 2009<\/span><\/td>\nMississauga Rebels U18 AAA<\/span><\/td>\n2nd round, 26th overall (U18)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

2026 New Faces:<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

*Note: Player additions are current as of publication. Team signings remain ongoing, and this section will be updated throughout the offseason as additional players are signed and trades are completed.<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Player Spotlight: Alexander Milojevic<\/a><\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Profile: <\/b>6\u20190\u201d, 185lbs, left-shot forward<\/span><\/p>\n

Hometown: <\/b>Chicago, IL<\/span><\/p>\n

Birthdate: <\/b>Sept 5, 2009<\/span><\/p>\n

Drafted: <\/b>4th Round, 73rd Overall (2025 OHL Priority Selection)<\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

2025-26 Stats (U.S. National U17 Team): <\/b>47 GP, 8G, 7A, 15 PTS<\/span><\/p>\n

Selected 73rd overall in the 2025 OHL Priority Selection, Alexander Milojevic spent the majority of last season with the U.S. National Team Development Program\u2019s U17 team, recording 15 points (8-7\u201315) in 47 games while also appearing once with the U18 team. Prior to joining the NTDP, the Chicago native starred with the Chicago Mission 15U AAA program, recording 101 points (61-40\u2013101) in 2024-25 \u2013 the most in a single season by a Mission 15U player.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAlexander has the ability to change the game very quickly, using his game-breaking speed and skill to dictate play and create offence. During his draft year, he was widely regarded as one of the top U.S. players in his age group, and we can\u2019t wait to continue building on his already strong foundation here with the Spirit.\u201d <\/span><\/i>\u2013 Dave Drinkill, General Manager<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Player Spotlight: <\/b>Brody George<\/b><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Profile: <\/b>5\u20199\u201d, 170lbs, left-shot forward<\/span><\/p>\n

Hometown: <\/b>Johnstown, PA<\/span><\/p>\n

Birthdate: <\/b>Jan 25, 2008<\/span><\/p>\n

Drafted: <\/b>15th Round, 295th Overall (2025 OHL Priority Selection)<\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

2025-26 Stats (U.S. National U18 Team): <\/b>30 GP, 1G, 6A, 7 PTS\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Selected 295th overall in the 2025 OHL Priority Selection, Brody George spent the 2025-26 season with the U.S. National Team Development Program\u2019s U18 team, recording seven points (1-6\u20137) in 30 games. The left-shot forward also represented the NTDP at the CHL USA Prospects Challenge in Calgary and Lethbridge, AB., in November 2025.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBrody George is a tenacious, competitive player with a relentless motor who really impressed our staff throughout the evaluation process. Brody\u2019s experience with the USNTDP over the past two years will help him transition smoothly into the OHL and adjust quickly to the demands of our league.\u201d <\/span><\/i>\u2013 Greg Hammell, Head Scout<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Player Spotlight: <\/b>Brady Knowling<\/b><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Profile: <\/b>6\u20195\u201d, 205lbs, goaltender<\/span><\/p>\n

Hometown: <\/b>Toronto, ON<\/span><\/p>\n

Birthdate: <\/b>Mar 9, 2008<\/span><\/p>\n

Drafted: <\/b>3rd Round, 60th Overall (2024 OHL Priority Selection)<\/span><\/p>\n

2025-26 Stats (U.S. National U18 Team): <\/b>33 GP, 3.56 GAA, .880 SV%<\/span><\/p>\n

Selected 60th overall in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection, Brady Knowling joins the Spirit following two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development Program. The 6-foot-5 Toronto native posted a 15-13-3-1 record with a 3.51 goals-against average and .883 save percentage with the U18 team last season.<\/span><\/p>\n

Knowling has also built an extensive international r\u00e9sum\u00e9 with Team USA. He helped the Americans capture gold at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, posting four wins alongside a 2.35 goals-against average and .914 save percentage, and was later part of the U.S. roster at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship.<\/span><\/p>\n

At the 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge, Knowling made 42 saves to backstop Team USA to a 4-2 victory in the opening game and earned Player of the Game honours. Ranked as the No. 1 North American goaltender by NHL Central Scouting, Knowling was selected by the San Jose Sharks in the fourth round, 127th overall, of the 2026 NHL Draft.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBrady brings a very strong pedigree as a goaltender to our team and will strengthen our crease. He brings great size, athleticism, and overall skill, and we\u2019re excited to help him continue building on his abilities and development here in Saginaw.\u201d <\/span><\/i>\u2013 Kevin Delemarter, Goaltending Coach<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Player Spotlight: <\/b>Tyler Martyniuk<\/b><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Profile: <\/b>6\u20191\u201d, 192lbs, left-shot defenceman<\/span><\/p>\n

Hometown: <\/b>Washington Township, MI<\/span><\/p>\n

Birthdate: <\/b>Dec 31, 2008<\/span><\/p>\n

Drafted: <\/b>6th Round, 117th Overall (2024 OHL Priority Selection)<\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

2025-26 Stats (U.S. National U18 Team): <\/b>58 GP, 2G, 9A, 11 PTS<\/span><\/p>\n

Selected 117th overall in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection, Tyler Martyniuk spent the past two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development Program. The Washington Township native recorded 11 points (2-9\u201311) during the 2025-26 campaign before representing Team USA at the IIHF U18 World Championship, where he collected three assists in four games.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTyler is a player we really felt would be a great fit in our system dating back to his days with Honeybaked. We believe his game will flourish here in Saginaw, and that he is still just scratching the surface of his potential as a high-end two-way defenseman. We could not be more excited as an organization to have Tyler as part of the Spirit family and look forward to seeing him with our group at training camp in August.\u201d <\/span><\/i>\u2013 Dave Drinkill, General Manager<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Player Spotlight: <\/b>Kade Meyer<\/b><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Profile: <\/b>5\u20199\u201d, 181lbs, left-shot defenceman<\/span><\/p>\n

Hometown: <\/b>Minocqua, WI<\/span><\/p>\n

Birthdate: <\/b>Nov 5, 2008<\/span><\/p>\n

Signed (FA): <\/b>May 15, 2026<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

2025-26 Stats (Waterloo Black Hawks): <\/b>22 GP, 1G, 4A, 5 PTS<\/span><\/p>\n

Signed by the Spirit as a free agent in May, Kade Meyer split the 2025-26 season between the NAHL\u2019s Janesville Jets and USHL\u2019s Waterloo Black Hawks, recording five points with each club. The Minocqua native also brings international experience to Saginaw, having helped Team USA capture gold at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup alongside Spirit players Levi Harper and Nikita Klepov.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cKade caught our eye last summer while playing for Team USA at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He is a very strong, competitive player who plays the game hard with a compete level that you can\u2019t teach. Kade skates extremely well, is highly mobile, and has the ability to transport pucks up the ice with confidence. We\u2019re excited that the Meyer family chose Saginaw out of all their options for next season, and we can\u2019t wait to see Kade on the ice.\u201d <\/span><\/i>\u2013 Dave Drinkill, General Manager<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

With a 2026 draft class highlighted by high-end skill, international additions and depth across multiple positions, the Spirit have continued to add to their prospect pipeline ahead of the new season. Combined with a group of incoming players bringing experience and international competition, Saginaw will have plenty of new faces looking to make an impact when training camp gets underway.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

_____________________________________________________________________________________<\/span><\/p>\n

FloHockey<\/b><\/a><\/span> remains the exclusive streaming home of the Ontario Hockey League, delivering more than 680 regular-season games throughout the year, plus complete coverage of the OHL playoffs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Subscribers can stream games live or watch on demand from anywhere, ensuring they never miss a goal, save, or highlight during the 2026-27 season.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re following your hometown team or tracking prospects across the league, <\/span>FloHockey<\/b><\/a><\/span> provides comprehensive coverage of every OHL club all season long.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A closer look at the Saginaw Spirit\u2019s 2026 draft class and new faces set to join the organization ahead of the 2026-27 OHL season.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":243,"featured_media":44562,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"article","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[387],"tags":false,"class_list":["post-44561","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article","category-387","description-off"],"acf":[],"featured_image":["https:\/\/media.chl.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/08\/10142647\/FuturesWatchWeb.jpg",1920,1080,false],"hide_from_app_feed":false,"video":false,"gallery":null,"ht_game_id":0,"target_video":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44561","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/243"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44561"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44561\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44563,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44561\/revisions\/44563"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44562"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44561"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44561"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44561"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":44557,"date":"2026-08-10T10:54:32","date_gmt":"2026-08-10T14:54:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/?p=44557"},"modified":"2026-08-10T10:54:32","modified_gmt":"2026-08-10T14:54:32","slug":"saginaw-spirit-charitable-foundation-raised-over-668000-in-2025-2026-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/article\/saginaw-spirit-charitable-foundation-raised-over-668000-in-2025-2026-season","title":{"rendered":"Saginaw Spirit Charitable Foundation raised over $668,000 in 2025-2026 season"},"content":{"rendered":"

Saginaw, Mich. \u2013 <\/strong>Through its various jersey auctions, fundraising tickets, 50\/50 sales and other endeavors, the Saginaw Spirit Charitable Foundation raised $668,192 benefiting nonprofit organizations of the Great Lakes Bay Region during the 2025-2026 season.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cFor 25 seasons, the Saginaw Spirit Charitable Foundation has been a pillar of hope for many of our region\u2019s charities,\u201d said President and Managing Partner Craig Goslin.\u00a0\u201cPartnering with the community is part of our mission statement. I\u2019m very proud of our staff, players, fans and ownership as they all work together to create amazing positive results in making Saginaw and the Great Lakes Bay Region better tomorrow than we are today.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Leading the way was the 14th annual Hockey for the Homeless Night with the Rescue Ministries of Mid-Michigan. Through donations from fans, the pregame broomball tournament, and specialty jersey auction, the event raised $113,090. The event\u2019s total impact dating all the way back its inception has now surpassed $780,000, equating to approximately 26,000 nights of shelter.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The 18th annual Shocks and Saves charity game, in conjunction with Central Michigan University and the Pulse3 Endowment, raised $52,730 in the promotion of heart health awareness and the implementation of automated external defibrillators (AED\u2019s) in the surrounding communities.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

From 50\/50 drawings during the team\u2019s 36 regular season and playoff home games, the Saginaw Spirit Charitable Foundation sent $204,830 to local charitable institutions, and an additional $28,650 from cash donations.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Spirit also awarded $15,000 in scholarships through the Charitable Foundation via their Huntington Youth Hockey Scholarship and Memorial Cup Legacy Scholarship programs.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Additional funds were raised through specialty nights such as Go Gus Go, raising awareness for children with Angelman syndrome, First Responders Night, and Superhero Night with the CAN (Child Abuse and Neglect) Council.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Saginaw\u2019s 2026 preseason begins Friday, August 28th as they embark on a trip to play the Newfoundland Regiment of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). The Spirit being their 25th regular season on Friday, September 18th in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. against the Soo Greyhounds.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The team\u2019s 2026 home opener comes on Saturday, September 19th when they host the Flint Firebirds at 7:05pm at the Dow Event Center. Single game tickets<\/a> go on sale Monday, August 17th at 9:00am.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Saginaw, Mich. \u2013 Through its various jersey auctions, fundraising tickets, 50\/50 sales and other endeavors, the Saginaw Spirit Charitable Foundation raised $668,192 benefiting nonprofit organizations of the Great Lakes Bay Region during the 2025-2026 season.   \u201cFor 25 seasons, the Saginaw Spirit Charitable Foundation has been a pillar of hope for many of our region\u2019s…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":243,"featured_media":44558,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"article","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[387],"tags":[{"term_id":518,"name":"Saginaw Spirit Charitable Foundation","slug":"saginaw-spirit-charitable-foundation","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":518,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1,"filter":"raw","term_order":"0"}],"class_list":["post-44557","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article","tag-saginaw-spirit-charitable-foundation","category-387","description-off"],"acf":[],"featured_image":["https:\/\/media.chl.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2026\/08\/10104041\/Charitable-Cover.jpg",1920,1080,false],"hide_from_app_feed":false,"video":false,"gallery":null,"ht_game_id":0,"target_video":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44557","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/243"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44557"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44557\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44559,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44557\/revisions\/44559"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44558"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44557"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44557"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44557"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":44546,"date":"2026-08-04T19:34:22","date_gmt":"2026-08-04T23:34:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/?p=44546"},"modified":"2026-08-04T19:34:22","modified_gmt":"2026-08-04T23:34:22","slug":"brendan-taylor-introductory-press-conference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/KJT52rSnmLk","title":{"rendered":"Brendan Taylor Introductory Press Conference"},"content":{"rendered":"

Brendan Taylor addresses the media for the first time as the Spirit head coach from the Dow Event Center atrium.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Brendan Taylor addresses the media for the first time as the Spirit head coach from the Dow Event Center atrium.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":243,"featured_media":44548,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"link","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[418],"tags":false,"class_list":["post-44546","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-link","category-418","description-off"],"acf":[],"featured_image":["https:\/\/media.chl.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2026\/08\/04193341\/67f64e18-75fb-4bbd-8772-4b72653545beSpirit-Coach-8-4-26-6361-scaled.jpg",2560,1707,false],"hide_from_app_feed":false,"video":false,"gallery":null,"ht_game_id":0,"target_video":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44546","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/243"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44546"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44546\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44550,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44546\/revisions\/44550"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44548"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44546"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44546"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44546"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":44533,"date":"2026-07-29T09:00:57","date_gmt":"2026-07-29T13:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/?p=44533"},"modified":"2026-07-28T18:10:54","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T22:10:54","slug":"brendan-taylor-named-saginaw-spirit-head-coach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/article\/brendan-taylor-named-saginaw-spirit-head-coach","title":{"rendered":"Brendan Taylor named Saginaw Spirit head coach"},"content":{"rendered":"

Saginaw, Mich. \u2013 <\/strong>The Saginaw Spirit have hired Brendan Taylor as the 11th head coach in team history, General Manager Dave Drinkill announced Wednesday.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI want to start by welcoming Brendan to Saginaw,\u201d said Drinkill. \u201cHe has earned this opportunity through his work ethic and a commitment to hockey. Brendan has worked his way up every step of the coaching ladder \u2013 <\/em>nothing has been handed to him. He\u2019s put in the time, continued to grow, and consistently proven himself by developing top-end NHL talent.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Taylor, 37, arrives in Saginaw with ten years of coaching experience in the Ontario Hockey League. Most recently, he spent four seasons as an assistant coach with the Soo Greyhounds. Taylor helped guide the Greyhounds to three straight playoff appearances from 2024 to 2026. \u00a0He brought gold to Canada in 2025, serving as an assistant coach for Team Canada Red at the U17 World Hockey Challenge along with Drinkill, who was Team Canada Red\u2019s director of operations.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a privilege to work alongside Brendan with Hockey Canada and to win together,\u201d said Drinkill. \u201cThat gave me a firsthand look at how he leads, prepares, and conducts himself every day. Players respect him because he\u2019s genuine, he\u2019s demanding, and he invests in their development. It stood out to me throughout this process how closely his vision aligns with ours when it comes to developing players and how we want to play the game.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Prior to joining the Greyhounds, the Oakville, Ontario native was an assistant coach with the Mississauga Steelheads for five seasons (2017-2022). <\/em>Taylor joined the Steelheads for the 2016-2017 season as a video coach.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In nine seasons as an assistant coach in the OHL, Taylor has aided in the development of more than 30 NHL drafted or signed players between the Steelheads and Greyhounds. In 2026 alone, the Greyhounds saw four players picked in the NHL Draft, including defenseman Chase Reid to the Seattle Kraken at seventh overall.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOn behalf of Dick Garber, we are thrilled to welcome Brendan to the Saginaw Spirit family,\u201d said President and Managing Partner Craig Goslin. \u201cHe\u2019s demonstrated throughout his career great coaching ability and high character, plus he\u2019s a Spirit alumnus. His daily focus on developing elite student athletes into successful people on and off the ice makes him a great addition to the Spirit family. Brendan\u2019s success and congruency with GM Dave Drinkill will make them a very strong leadership team for our players, all stakeholders, and overall hockey operations success.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Taylor\u2019s coaching career officially began in 2014 when he was announced as an assistant coach for the Jr. A Oakville Blades of the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL). He spent two seasons with the Blades before breaking into the OHL with Mississauga.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I’m very excited to take the head coaching position here in Saginaw,” said Taylor. “I’ve enjoyed getting to know the organization throughout this process. I’m excited to get to know the city and our fan base, and to get started with a really talented group of players.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Taylor\u2019s position in Saginaw is somewhat of a homecoming. In his playing days, he appeared in 30 games as a forward for the Spirit during the 2007-2008 season, making him the first Spirit alum to serve as the team\u2019s head coach. Taylor\u2019s 120-game OHL career also saw stops with the Peterborough Petes and Belleville Bulls.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

An introductory press conference for Saginaw\u2019s new head coach is scheduled for Tuesday, August 4th at 3pm at the Dow Event Center (303 Johnson St.). The press conference will be open to the public.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Brendan Taylor\u2019s arrival in Saginaw is dependent on U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services approval.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Saginaw, Mich. \u2013 The Saginaw Spirit have hired Brendan Taylor as the 11th head coach in team history, General Manager Dave Drinkill announced Wednesday.   \u201cI want to start by welcoming Brendan to Saginaw,\u201d said Drinkill. \u201cHe has earned this opportunity through his work ethic and a commitment to hockey. Brendan has worked his way…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":243,"featured_media":44537,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"article","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[387],"tags":[{"term_id":517,"name":"Brendan Taylor","slug":"brendan-taylor","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":517,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1,"filter":"raw","term_order":"0"},{"term_id":515,"name":"Head Coach","slug":"head-coach","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":515,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":2,"filter":"raw","term_order":"0"},{"term_id":417,"name":"Team Canada","slug":"team-canada","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":417,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":3,"filter":"raw","term_order":"405"}],"class_list":["post-44533","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article","tag-brendan-taylor","tag-head-coach","tag-team-canada","category-387","description-off"],"acf":[],"featured_image":["https:\/\/media.chl.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2026\/07\/28181038\/NEW-COACH-WEB.png",1920,1080,false],"hide_from_app_feed":false,"video":false,"gallery":null,"ht_game_id":0,"target_video":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44533","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/243"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44533"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44533\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44538,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44533\/revisions\/44538"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44537"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44533"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44533"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44533"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":44529,"date":"2026-07-27T09:07:29","date_gmt":"2026-07-27T13:07:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/?p=44529"},"modified":"2026-07-27T09:07:42","modified_gmt":"2026-07-27T13:07:42","slug":"from-nhl-com-ducks-sign-klepov-to-three-year-entry-level-contract","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nhl.com\/ducks\/news\/ducks-sign-nikita-klepov-to-three-year-entry-level-contract","title":{"rendered":"From NHL.com: Ducks Sign Klepov to Three-Year Entry-Level Contract"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Ducks announced that they have signed right wing Nikita Klepov to a three-year entry-level contract. Klepov was Anaheim\u2019s first round selection (15th overall) during the 2026 NHL Draft.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Ducks announced that they have signed right wing Nikita Klepov to a three-year entry-level contract. Klepov was Anaheim\u2019s first round selection (15th overall) during the 2026 NHL Draft.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":243,"featured_media":44530,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"link","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[418],"tags":[{"term_id":460,"name":"2026 NHL Draft","slug":"2026-nhl-draft","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":460,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":9,"filter":"raw","term_order":"28"},{"term_id":294,"name":"Anaheim Ducks","slug":"anaheim-ducks","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":307,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":5,"filter":"raw","term_order":"45"},{"term_id":441,"name":"Nikita Klepov","slug":"nikita-klepov","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":441,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":12,"filter":"raw","term_order":"287"}],"class_list":["post-44529","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-link","tag-2026-nhl-draft","tag-anaheim-ducks","tag-nikita-klepov","category-418","description-off"],"acf":[],"featured_image":["https:\/\/media.chl.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2026\/07\/27090706\/esmbxvikdjr01pbvkfae.png",1664,936,false],"hide_from_app_feed":false,"video":false,"gallery":null,"ht_game_id":0,"target_video":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44529","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/243"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44529"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44529\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44532,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44529\/revisions\/44532"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44530"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44529"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44529"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44529"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":44524,"date":"2026-07-24T13:00:22","date_gmt":"2026-07-24T17:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/?p=44524"},"modified":"2026-07-24T12:37:58","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T16:37:58","slug":"dima-zhilkin-brady-knowling-set-to-attend-world-junior-summer-showcase-in-windsor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/article\/dima-zhilkin-brady-knowling-set-to-attend-world-junior-summer-showcase-in-windsor","title":{"rendered":"Dima Zhilkin, Brady Knowling set to attend World Junior Summer Showcase in Windsor"},"content":{"rendered":"

Windsor, Ont. \u2013 <\/strong>A pair of Saginaw Spirit players will join their respective countries\u2019 World Junior Summer Showcase roster this weekend. The 2026 World Junior Summer Showcase is set for July 26-Aug 1, 2026 at the WFCU Centre. Goaltender Brady Knowling will join Team USA, while Hockey Canada announced forward Dima Zhilkin to its roster of camp participants on Friday afternoon.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The 2008-born Zhilkin is entering his third season with the Spirit. A native of Windsor, Zhilkin was named the 27th captain in team history last year. He posted career-highs across the board with 36G-39A\u201475P in 59 games played during the 2025-2026 season, in addition to three goals and an assist in four playoff games.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Zhilkin joined Canada for the 2026 U18 World Championships this spring, where he registered five goals and two assists in just five games to lead his team in goals and points. He first represented his country at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, with three goals in five games enroute to a bronze medal. Zhilkin is considered a top prospect for the 2027 NHL Draft.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Spirit signed dual-citizen goaltender Brady Knowling earlier this summer after he spent two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development Program. Knowling was originally drafted by Saginaw in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection (3rd round, 60th overall). He posted a 15-13-3-1 record in 2025-26 with a 3.51 GAA and .883 SV% with the NTDP\u2019s U18 team in 2025-26.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Knowling led Team USA to a Hlinka Gretzky Cup gold medal in 2025 with four wins, a 2.35 GAA and .914 SV%. He was also a part of Team USA\u2019s IIHF World Junior Championship team in January of 2026.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Team USA begins its World Junior Summer Showcase schedule with a split-squad set of games on July 26. Team USA White plays Finland at 12:00pm, while Team USA Blue plays Sweden at 4:00pm.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Team Canada will practice July 27 and 28 before taking on Sweden on July 29, Finland on July 30 and the United States on Aug. 1.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tickets for the 2026 World Junior Summer Showcase<\/a> are on sale now starting at $18 plus applicable fees. Full event packages and team-specific ticket packages can also be purchased. Visit HockeyCanada.ca\/Tickets<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Windsor, Ont. \u2013 A pair of Saginaw Spirit players will join their respective countries\u2019 World Junior Summer Showcase roster this weekend. The 2026 World Junior Summer Showcase is set for July 26-Aug 1, 2026 at the WFCU Centre. Goaltender Brady Knowling will join Team USA, while Hockey Canada announced forward Dima Zhilkin to its roster…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":243,"featured_media":44526,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"article","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[387],"tags":[{"term_id":516,"name":"2026 World Juniors","slug":"2026-world-juniors","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":516,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1,"filter":"raw","term_order":"0"},{"term_id":440,"name":"Brady Knowling","slug":"brady-knowling","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":440,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":6,"filter":"raw","term_order":"71"},{"term_id":449,"name":"Dima Zhilkin","slug":"dima-zhilkin","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":449,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":5,"filter":"raw","term_order":"123"},{"term_id":203,"name":"Hockey Canada","slug":"hockey-canada","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":209,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":18,"filter":"raw","term_order":"187"},{"term_id":70,"name":"team usa","slug":"team-usa","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":71,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":6,"filter":"raw","term_order":"406"},{"term_id":18,"name":"World Juniors","slug":"world-juniors","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":249,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":3,"filter":"raw","term_order":"454"}],"class_list":["post-44524","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article","tag-2026-world-juniors","tag-brady-knowling","tag-dima-zhilkin","tag-hockey-canada","tag-team-usa","tag-world-juniors","category-387","description-off"],"acf":[],"featured_image":["https:\/\/media.chl.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2026\/07\/24123743\/SUMMER-SHOWCASE-WEB.jpg",1920,1080,false],"hide_from_app_feed":false,"video":false,"gallery":null,"ht_game_id":0,"target_video":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44524","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/243"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44524"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44524\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44525,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44524\/revisions\/44525"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44526"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44524"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44524"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44524"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":44521,"date":"2026-07-24T10:00:24","date_gmt":"2026-07-24T14:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/?p=44521"},"modified":"2026-07-23T17:34:13","modified_gmt":"2026-07-23T21:34:13","slug":"spirit-hire-tera-szeliga-as-director-of-sales-and-public-relations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/article\/spirit-hire-tera-szeliga-as-director-of-sales-and-public-relations","title":{"rendered":"Spirit hire Tera Szeliga as director of sales and public relations"},"content":{"rendered":"

Saginaw, Mich. \u2013 <\/strong>The Saginaw Spirit Hockey Club is pleased to announce the hiring of Tera Szeliga as its director of sales and public relations. Szeliga brings more than 20 years of experience in marketing, communications, community engagement, and partnership development across the Great Lakes Bay Region.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt is an absolute honor to welcome Tera Szeliga into the Saginaw Spirit Family as our director of sales and public relations,\u201d said Team President and Managing Partner Craig Goslin. \u201cTera\u2019s background in building up the Great Lakes Bay Region\u2019s community makes her a perfect fit for the Spirit. Her family values alongside husband Martin and kids exemplify our \u201cwhy,\u201d and add to the focus on high-energy family entertainment for which this team has become synonymous. Tera\u2019s role will focused on selling tickets, suites, and sponsorships, along with expanding on the Sprit\u2019s public relations and community outreach.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Szeliga comes to the Spirit after seven years at the Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance, serving most recently as its director of marketing and communications. Much of her work has been in building connections among businesses, schools, nonprofits, and civic organizations, while creating impactful programs and community-focused initiatives.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Prior to her time with the Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance, Szeliga served in leadership roles with United Way of Bay County and General Motors. She is a graduate of Saginaw Valley State University and an active volunteer and community advocate.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Szeliga resides in Pinconning with her husband, Martin, and their three children, Raven, Max, and Josie.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Saginaw, Mich. \u2013 The Saginaw Spirit Hockey Club is pleased to announce the hiring of Tera Szeliga as its director of sales and public relations. Szeliga brings more than 20 years of experience in marketing, communications, community engagement, and partnership development across the Great Lakes Bay Region.   \u201cIt is an absolute honor to welcome…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":243,"featured_media":44522,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"article","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[387],"tags":false,"class_list":["post-44521","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article","category-387","description-off"],"acf":[],"featured_image":["https:\/\/media.chl.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2026\/07\/23173327\/TERA-WEB.jpg",1920,1080,false],"hide_from_app_feed":false,"video":false,"gallery":null,"ht_game_id":0,"target_video":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44521","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/243"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44521"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44521\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44523,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44521\/revisions\/44523"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44522"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44521"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44521"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44521"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":44513,"date":"2026-07-22T15:00:50","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T19:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/?p=44513"},"modified":"2026-07-22T15:01:09","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T19:01:09","slug":"spirit-head-coach-chris-lazary-departs-to-pursue-further-opportunities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spirit\/article\/spirit-head-coach-chris-lazary-departs-to-pursue-further-opportunities","title":{"rendered":"Spirit Head Coach Chris Lazary departs to pursue further opportunities"},"content":{"rendered":"

Saginaw, Mich. \u2013 <\/strong>Spirit GM Dave Drinkill announced Wednesday afternoon that Head Coach Chris Lazary will be departing the organization for another coaching opportunity.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cFirst off, I want to thank Chris for putting everything he had into our organization since his hiring in 2016,\u201d said Drinkill. \u201cHe has done an outstanding job developing young talent, creating a culture of winning, and helping to build this organization into one of the premier programs in junior hockey. I look forward to watching Chris start the next chapter of his coaching career and wish him nothing but the best. He will be missed tremendously here in Saginaw, but we will continue to build on our success from the last eight years.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Lazary had been with the organization since the 2016-17 season, when he joined as an associate coach. He spent eight seasons as the tenth head coach in franchise history after being promoted in November of 2018. Three of Saginaw\u2019s West Division titles (2019, 2020, 2024) came under Lazary\u2019s tenure, as well as two trips to the Western Conference Final and the team\u2019s 2024 Memorial Cup Championship. A 50-win, 102-point regular season in 2023-2024 (50-16-1-1) was the team\u2019s best to date.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOn behalf of Dick Garber and the Saginaw Spirit staff, we are forever grateful to Chris Lazary for his eight seasons as our head coach,\u201d said President and Managing Partner Craig Goslin.\u00a0\u201cHis commitment to excellence, resilience, and work ethic are the values that have made him an exceptional coach.\u00a0 We wish Chris, his wife Jackie, and their children all the best in their new home. \u00a0Chris and the entire Lazary family will always be a major ingredient to the fabric of the 2024 Memorial Cup Championship and the Spirit Family.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In his time behind the Spirit bench, Lazary established a new franchise record for coaching wins at 249. He guided the Spirit through 507 regular season, playoff, and Memorial Cup games, and is the organization\u2019s longest-tenured head coach. Lazary concludes his time in Saginaw with a regular season record of 249-171-16-12.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Spirit won five playoff series during Lazary\u2019s time in Saginaw and had a postseason record of 26-28. Their tournament record during their 2024 Memorial Cup Championship was 4-1, including round robin, semi-final, and championship games.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThe past ten years with the Saginaw Spirit have been the most rewarding of my coaching career,\u201d said Lazary. \u201cI want to thank Dick Garber, Craig Goslin, Brandon Bordeaux, Dave Drinkill, Brian Prout, our players, staff, billets, and the incredible fans for believing in me and supporting our vision. Together, we built something I\u2019m incredibly proud of, culminating in a Memorial Cup Championship and the development of so many outstanding young men. Accepting this new opportunity was an incredibly difficult decision because of what Saginaw means to me and my family. It is a unique opportunity for continued growth, but Saginaw will hold a special place in my heart. I will always be grateful to have been a part of this remarkable organization.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Since his first season as head coach in 2018-19, 18 players have gone on to be selected in the NHL Draft from Lazary\u2019s Spirit teams. Five of those players, including Nikita Klepov in 2026 (15th overall, Anaheim), were top-15 picks. Under the guidance of Lazary, this gives Saginaw the most players selected in that range from any CHL team since 2020.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The organization will begin the search for Saginaw\u2019s next head coach immediately.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Saginaw, Mich. \u2013 Spirit GM Dave Drinkill announced Wednesday afternoon that Head Coach Chris Lazary will be departing the organization for another coaching opportunity.   \u201cFirst off, I want to thank Chris for putting everything he had into our organization since his hiring in 2016,\u201d said Drinkill. \u201cHe has done an outstanding job developing young…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":243,"featured_media":44514,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"article","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[387],"tags":[{"term_id":515,"name":"Head Coach","slug":"head-coach","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":515,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":2,"filter":"raw","term_order":"0"},{"term_id":219,"name":"Chris 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griffinshockey.com: Spirit alum Marcus Crawford signs AHL deal in Grand Rapids"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":243,"featured_media":44510,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"link","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[418],"tags":[{"term_id":514,"name":"Spirit Alumni","slug":"spirit-alumni","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":514,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1,"filter":"raw","term_order":"0"},{"term_id":194,"name":"Marcus 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