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Saginaw Spirit (OHL, 2023-24)

2023-24 Regular Season:
Spirit vs. Kitchener Rangers
      The 2023-24 season was the 21st season of existence for the Saginaw Spirit, and a historic season as well. Spirit ownership was able to secure the rights to the 2024 Memorial Cup tournament, the first time that tournament has ever been held in Michigan. Due to being the host team, the Spirit had an automatic berth in Canadian junior hockey's version of the Frozen Four. 

     Chris Lazary was back as Head Coach for the Spirit, his fifth season behind the bench. Dave Drinkill returned as General Manager. The Spirit play their home games at 5,500-seat Wendler Arena at Dow Event Center. 

     One of the reasons Saginaw was able to be Memorial Cup host this year was due to having a loaded roster. Indeed, the Spirit finished 50-16-1-1, finishing in first place in the OHL West Division, seven points ahead of the Soo Greyhounds. Saginaw was just two points back of the London Knights, who finished first overall in the OHL. Attendance climbed to 3,688 per game, and the majority of postseason games were sellouts.

     Saginaw had the third-best offense in the OHL this season, scoring 303 goals. 17-year old defenseman Zayne Parekh led the team in scoring with 33 goals and 96 points, both franchise records for a Spirit defenseman. Exceptional Status (allowed to play in the league despite being underage) left winger Michael Misa was next, with 29 goals and 75 points. Hunter Haight (25), Calem Mangone (22), and Rodwin Dionicio (20) were the other 20-goal scorers in Saginaw.

     The Spirit had the fourth-best defense in the league, allowing just 215 goals. Lazary used two netminders this season: Andrew Oke and Nolan Lalonde. Oke played in 41 games, finishing with a 29-10-1 record, a 2.89 GAA and two shutouts. Lalonde went 21-6-1 in 32 games, with a 3.15 GAA, including a 15-game winning streak. Both goaltenders saw action in the playoffs.

     Saginaw drew the Owen Sound Attack in Round 1 of the OHL Playoffs. Owen Sound finished 29-30-6-3 this season, just two points ahead of eighth-seed Flint. The Spirit swept aside the Attack in four straight, outscoring them 18-8. In Round 2, the Spirit battled it out with the Soo Greyhounds, needing the full seven games to send the Hounds packing. Saginaw's OHL playoff run would end in the Western Conference Finals, as they fell to the London Knights in six games, who then won the OHL championship in four straight over Oshawa. The Spirit were the only team to defeat the Knights in the playoffs.

     Usually, a loss in the postseason is the end of a recap, but with Saginaw hosting the Memorial Cup, the Spirit had more postseason life left. The Spirit would face not only London, but also the WHL champion Moose Jaw Warriors and QMJHL champ Drummondville Voltigeurs. The Spirit had a strong showing in the tournament, losing only to London in the Round Robin tournament but defeating Moose Jaw and Drummondville to advance to the Memorial Cup Finals. In a packed Wendler Arena, the Spirit jumped out to a 3-0 lead and were outshooting the Knights 22-3. London, being the powerhouse they are, eventually tied the game up in the third period, but Spirit forward Josh Bloom stuffed in a rebound past London goalie Michael Simpson with just 22 seconds left in regulation. The Spirit then ran out the clock and won their first-ever postseason championship, capturing the Memorial Cup. They are the first American team to host and win the trophy in their first attempt since the Portland Winterhawks in 1983. They are also the first Michigan-based OHL franchise to bring home the Memorial Cup.

     This is an 86-page program, all in color and is given away during Spirit games. It's from the January 27, 2024 game between the Spirit and Kitchener Rangers. The Rangers were 30-14-2-0 at the time, just ahead of the Spirit in Western Conference standings. In front of a crowd of 4,800, the Spirit defeated Kitchener 5-2. Each West Division team has a preview article. Saginaw's selection in the 2023 OHL Priority Draft are listed on pages 54-55. Season ticket holders are listed on pages 78-79, a number that's a far cry from the bad old days of the late 1990s. 

     Local advertisements include SVSU, Saginaw Old Town Junction, UNO Chicago Bar and Grill, Harvey's Grill and Bar, and WNEM TV5.


References:

Ontario Hockey League Statistics: 2023-24, from hockeydb.com


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