Friday Night Faceoff: Spirit rookie trio exceeding all expectations, and then some

The Saginaw Spirit faced a pivotal crossroads heading into the trade deadline last month.

Following their most successful season in franchise history—highlighted by winning the Memorial Cup as hosts—Spirit General Manager Dave Drinkill and his staff recognized the need to make strategic moves to secure the team’s future.

“It was extremely difficult,” said Drinkill, reflecting on the tough decision to trade key players Joey Willis, Will Bishop, and captain Ethan Hay to the Kingston Frontenacs. “Anytime you win with players at any level, there’s a special relationship built that makes deals like that even harder.”

While parting with players who played vital roles in their Memorial Cup victory was painful, Drinkill and his team believed there was enough talent on the roster to offset the losses.

The Spirit took a leap of faith—and their gamble appears to have paid off.

Since the deadline, the Spirit haven’t missed a beat, thanks largely to the impressive performances of rookies Jacob Cloutier, Carson Harmer, and Dimian Zhilkin. All three forwards have stepped into prominent roles, each earning OHL Rookie of the Week honours.

“They really showed us there was an opportunity to take on more ice time and elevate their roles within the group,” Drinkill continued. “I think it’s been a win-win-win for everybody.”

Cloutier and Harmer, both signed in 2023, have excelled this season, sitting atop the OHL rookie scoring race with 39 and 38 points respectively. Their success can be traced back to their development last season in the GOJHL.

Cloutier shined with the Chatham Maroons a season ago, Saginaw’s GOJHL affiliate, amassing 31 points in 29 games while playing in all situations under head coach Richard Santos.

“It was tough being sent down at first,” Cloutier admitted during an interview with YourTV at Wednesday night’s game in Windsor. “But you learn from it. It was a great opportunity with plenty of ice time, excellent coaching, and supportive teammates. Overall, it was a fantastic experience.”

Harmer had an outstanding season with the Stratford Warriors, leading all GOJHL rookies with an impressive 65 points in 46 games.

“All the credit goes to Chatham and Stratford,” said Jordan Selinger, the Spirit’s Director of Player Development. “Those guys were just 16, but they played a ton, in every situation, and were ‘the guy’ for their teams.”

Zhilkin, Saginaw’s first-round pick in the most recent OHL Priority Selection, had a challenging start to his rookie season. A lower-body injury delayed his debut by three months, but the Toronto Jr. Canadiens alumnus has made an immediate impact, recording eight goals and 18 assists for 26 points in 38 games.

“His attitude and work ethic during recovery speak volumes about his character,” Selinger added. “He plays fearlessly and has incredible skill. We’re all excited to see where his career goes in a Spirit uniform—the sky’s the limit for him.”

Cloutier, Harmer, and Zhilkin are set to be integral to Saginaw’s future. In the short term, they aim to continue their strong performances as the Spirit travel to Brantford for a matchup against the Bulldogs on Friday night.

Catch the game streaming for free at 7:00 PM on OHL Live, YouTube, X, and Facebook!