Giroux fires game winner capping third period Spirits uprising

SAGINAW, MI (Courtesy Saginaw Spirit) – The Saginaw Spirit scored the final three goals to turn a 3-1 deficit into a 4-3 win in its Ontario Hockey League Pre-Season opener at the Dow Event Center on Saturday night (Sept. 2, 2017).

The Spirit controlled the pace of the game early in the first period registering the first four shots on goal. The Spirit had two power play opportunity to try to get on the board first, but came up empty thanks to the goaltending of Matthew Villalta, 18, from Ontario and a Third Round Selection of the Los Angeles Kings in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.

Greyhounds struck first at 15:23 of the first period when Philadelphia Flyers first round pick Morgan Frost, 18, from Ontario found himself alone in the slot and beat Evan Cormier, 19, from Ontario on his blocker side. Colorado Avalanche prospect Conor Timmins, 18, from Ontario and Holden Wale, 17, from Ontario, assisted on Frost’s goal.

The Spirit continued to press in hopes of tying the game before the first period buzzer but to no avail. Despite outshooting the Greyhounds, 12-7, the Spirit trailed 1-0 after 20 minutes.

The Sault Ste. Marie penalty kill pulled through early in the second period scoring a shorthanded breakaway goal from Keeghan Howdeshell, 19, from Brighton, MI at 2:57 to double its margin.

The Spirit got on the board for the first time at 14:10 when 2017 first round pick Nicholas Porco, 16, from Ontario was the beneficiary of a turnover by Villalta. Heavy forecheck pressure from Ryan Stepien, 15, from Ontario caused Villalta to hand the puck to Max Grondin, 17, from Ontario, who then slid the puck in front to Porco, staring at a yawning net. Greyhounds held its lead despite the Spirit holding a lopsided 13-4 edge on the shot clock through the middle frame.

The third period started with Jack Kopacka, 19, from Metamora, MI, 2016 Anaheim draft pick, scoring an unassisted goal at 2:26.

Saginaw answered back shortly after with a tip-in goal from Cole Coskey, 18, from Zion, IL off a shot from Brock Hill, 18, from Gurnee, IL at 3:58. Hayden Davis, 18, from Ontario picked up the other assist on the Coskey goal.

Only seconds later, Saginaw struck again with a goal from Grondin tying the game 3-3.

The Greyhounds attempted to take the lead again on a Spirit penalty. A solid Spirit penalty kill and a series of timely saves by Cormier, kept the game tied at 3-3 nearing the end of the third.

With the clock winding down in the third, the Spirit looked to capitalize on a series of scoring chances during a battle in front of Villalta. Finally emerging with the puck was Spirit sophomore Damien Giroux, 17, from Ontario who fluttered the puck between the pads of the Soo Goalie.

The Spirit held off a last-ditch effort from the Greyhounds, winning their first preseason game 4-3.

The Spirits are scheduled to play a return match in the Soo Sunday (Sept. 3). Next home game will be Friday, September 15^th against the Flint Firebirds. General admission tickets are $7.00 and available by calling the Saginaw Spirit Store at (989) 497-7747 or log onto www.saginawspirit.com.

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.