Spirit’s Codd and Bloom reflect on positive OHL adjustment

Davis “T-Bone” Codd and Josh Bloom are itching to get back on the ice with the Saginaw Spirit. With nods to the coaching staff, the ownership group and their teammates, both players are pleased with what has been an all-around positive transition to the OHL.

The Spirit emerged from the 2019-20 campaign among the OHL’s most dominant with depth up front in Cole Perfetti, Ryan Suzuki, and vets Cole Coskey and Damien Giroux along with steady talent on the blue line that included Mason Millman, Ilya Solovyov and Bode Wilde. Following their successful first-year finish atop the West Division, the two 2019 OHL Priority Selection choices reflected on what made their opening stints so enjoyable.

“We had such a great leadership group last year and coming in as a first year player, you felt like you’d been in the league a lot longer than that,” said Bloom. “I think stepping into the league and coming into the group that we had was unbelievable and really taught me and T-Bone a lot about the OHL and what it takes to play in this league.”

For Codd, the feeling is mutual.

“Whether it be the coaches or management, we had such an unbelievable core to learn from. In your 16-year-old year, you just have to be a sponge and soak it all in and that’s what we were able to do,” said Codd. “Obviously it’s not too shabby when you get to learn from NHL picks like Perfetti and Suzuki and all those guys that have gone through it and played in the league so it was an unbelievable first year.”

Codd was drafted in the fourth round by the Spirit out of the Little Ceasars U16 club. A native of Brighton, Mich., the 17-year-old forward joined a slew of fellow American-born players on the Spirit roster and very much enjoyed the opportunity to play an hour from his hometown.

“It’s just been so special playing not far from home. If I ever get some time off I can zip by and sleep in my own bed, see my parents and my dog. The spot in Saginaw has just been so great,” he added.

Fellow first-year forward Bloom was selected in the second round following a standout season with the Toronto Young Nationals. Bloom, who hails from Oakville, credits the ownership group and his billets with making the four-hour move to Saginaw a smooth adjustment.

#OHL Futures Watch ????:

With the coolest name in the #OHL, T-Bone Codd (@tbone_codd) gets asked the question a lot. Where’d it come from? He joins @SpiritHockey teammate Josh Bloom (@Jbloom97) and @sarahjeanmaher for a lively discussion ???? pic.twitter.com/XapDtzRG5B

— OntarioHockeyLeague (@OHLHockey) May 11, 2021

“We have the best ownership group in the league. Dick Garber, Craig Goslin and Brandon Bordeaux…they treat us like we’re a first class organization and like we’re the best players they’ve ever seen. They’ve really made the experience extra special for us,” the 17-year-old winger said. “I was also gifted with the best billets in the world and I couldn’t be more thankful for them. I think they made that transition so much easier, from living in Oakville to going four and a half hours away to Michigan. And our group last year was an unbelievable group and they made it a seamless transition for me and T-Bone to step into the league. I think just the guys in the group made it that much easier to not get homesick, to want to be at the rink everyday, to want to be at the gym, so I’m thankful for those guys as well.”

A self-described speedy player with a high hockey IQ, Codd put up five goals and nine assists for fourteen points through his 53-game rookie stint. From the very start, Saginaw felt like a fine fit.

“Coach Lazary and coach Mess and Nighter, they teach the modern game and that’s kind of what I’m all about,” continued Codd. “I’m fast, I’m a skilled player, I play both ways of the game and I have a good hockey IQ. During the recruitment process, it was kind of a no brainer because this league and those coaches can definitely produce a good future for me.”

Similarly, Bloom’s speed and high IQ have also made him a solid fit up front with the Spirit. With six goals and eight assists to his name, the Oakville native was also good for a 14-point rookie output.

“My game is definitely an IQ, speed game. I like playing with pace and I think that’s just what Saginaw brings every night,” said Bloom. “We play with a lot of pace and we don’t give the puck up and I think that’s what suits me and T-Bone so well. We like to have the puck on our stick and that’s how the coaches want us to play. I think stepping into the league last year, some teams are dump and chase and our team is a very skilled game. That suits us very well.”

While COVID-19 has unfortunately kept them off the ice with the Spirit for more than a calendar year now, both skaters have taken advantage of the extended offseason in the gym and with their respective skating coaches. Focused on a return for the upcoming 2021-22 season, both Bloom and Codd are confident in their ability to play big roles in helping the team maintain their dominance.

And in tandem with their thankfulness for the organization’s warm welcoming, the two are equally as thankful for each other’s friendship over the past couple years.

“Me and Bloomer came into the league as 16-year-olds so we were able to form a good bond. I had a car in Saginaw so I was always chauffeuring him around. He’s just a great friend and obviously he has a great personality and is a great locker room guy,” said Codd of his teammate.

Once again, the feeling is mutual.

“[He’ll put] put a smile on anybody’s face and there’s not a guy in the room who doesn’t like him.  I think T-Bone is just that gel guy the guy you want in that room,” Bloom said. “There’s no one like T-Bone.”