Calisti shootout winner lifts Greyhounds past Spirit 5-4

Sault Ste. Marie, ON (Courtesy Saginaw Spirit) – On Sunday (Sept. 3, 2017), the Saginaw Spirit wrapped up a home-and-home exhibition weekend with the Soo Greyhounds, dropping a 5-4 decision following a shootout at the Essar Center in the Soo.

The Spirit were looking to build off of an exciting 4-3 third period comeback win the previous evening at The Dow Event Center. Today marked the homecoming for Sault Ste. Marie natives Nicholas Porco and Camaryn Baber, both 16.

Greyhounds hit the board first, stunning the guests with a pair of shorthanded markers five seconds apart in the opening period.

Jack Kopacka,, 19, from Metamora, MI found his way to a loose puck on the right side boards and fired a wrister past the right pad of Brendan Bonello, 18, from Ontario. Morgan Frost, 18, from Ontar fired the other, his second goal of the preseason, setup by Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Boris Katchouk, 19, from BC. The Hounds outshot the Spirit in the period, 8-7.

Porco went end-to-end and scored 48 seconds into the middle frame, scoring his team’s opener for a second straight game. The Hounds were quick to respond as Zack Trott, 17, from Ontario found the back of the mesh just before the five-minute mark.

After some impressive board work from Danny Katic, 17, from Ontario Baber, and Nate Boomhower, 17, from Ontario, it was Boomhower emerging from the left side boards and firing a shot over the shoulder of Matthew Villalta, 18, from Ontario to bring the Spirit back within one goal at 3-2. The Spirit led in shots 19-13 after two periods.

The Spirit had the confidence of its third period comeback win the night before fresh in their minds as they entered the final frame. At 2:33, Cole Coskey, 18, from Zion, IL tied the game for the Spirit with his second goal of the preseason.

Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Keaton Middleton, 19, from Ontario, fired a shot from the left point that was deflected in Baber, giving the Spirit their first lead of the game just as a Hounds’ penalty wrapped up, turning a third period deficit into a lead in back-to-back games against the Soo.

With Villalta on the bench late in the third, Trott cashed in on a goalmouth scramble in front of Cameron Lamour, 17, from Ontario for his second goal of the game.

In an eight-round shootout, the only goal was scored by Robert Calisti, 16, from Ontario of the Soo Greyhounds for the win.

The Spirit continue preseason action on Fri. Sept. 15^th against the Flint Firebirds. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m. at The Dow Event Center.

Season Tickets for the 2017-18 season are on sale NOW! Reserve your seat at The Dow Event Center by calling (989) 497-7747 or visit www.saginawspirit.com for more information.