SAGINAW SPIRIT SEASON OPENER...

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SAGINAW SPIRIT SEASON OPENER...

By Jack B. Tany
Review Sports Columnist

The bar has been set.

This year's goal for the Saginaw Spirit hockey team is to make the
playoffs. That may - or may not - be realistic for the second-year team. In
its inaugural season a year ago the Saginaw franchise finished with an
11-45-5-7 record, easily the worst team in the Ontario Hockey League.

Spirit owner Dick Garber, President/General Manager Costa Papista, and Head
Coach Dennis Desrosiers are all in agreement that the playoffs are a must.
The team drew a wide-range of support last season from the large fan base,
to an over abundance of local and corporate sponsors. Now, it is the Spirit
who must deliver in 2003-04.

And if the season-opening victory over the Windsor Spitfires is any
indication, the Saginaw Spirit is right on track. The Spirit, behind
stellar goaltending of Mike Brown, blanked the Spitfires 5-0 in front of a
record crowd (5,497) at the Saginaw County Event Center's Wendler Arena.

Fans got their first glimpse of the newly refurbished main entrance. It's a
beut! The atrium design resembles something one would witness in a much
larger city than Saginaw. It also helped with the crowd flow.

There were a few significant changes around the facility from last year,
one being the netting on both ends of the rink. The net, a league
requirement, was installed over the summer and does not really affect
viewing of the game. You actually get used to it and after awhile don't
even realize it is there.

Thunder Sticks, courtesy of The Dow Chemical Co., were placed on every seat in the arena. Great move. It added for a festive atmosphere and was a big hit with the fans.

The big (and vast) improvement to Wendler Arena was the brand-spanking new concession area. In the area, which formerly housed the box office, fans were moved along cafeteria style through the line. At the next game you attend try the Bosco Sticks, which are bread sticks stuffed with Mozzarella cheese and packaged with a container of Marinara sauce.

When you attend your next Spirit hockey game, plan on picking up a 2003-04
Souvenir Program. The attractive, full-color booklet is definitely worth
the $4.
Last year's pre-game festivities seemed to drag on and on. But keep in mind
it was not only the season-opener, but also the franchise opener as well.
This year the Canadian National Anthem was sung by Honesty Elliott, while
Mayor Wilmer Jones Ham gave her rendition of the American National Anthem
(complete with three bunny hops at the end).

The 2003-04 Spirit team was introduced among fireworks, cannon shots, smoke
and blaring music. The lingering effects of the smoke didn't clear the
arena until midway through the first period.

The game? Obviously Brown played superbly in goal as he made 21 saves
(including a few juggling stops) for the franchise's first-ever shutout.
Overall, the boys skated better and displayed crisp passes. Most
importantly, they played defense for the entire 60 minutes.

Geoff Platt, the Spirit's second-year centerman, tallied a goal and
assisted on four others for a five-point night. Platt recently returned
from the San Jose Sharks training camp where he impressed the Sharks'
brass.

Mike Suggs added two tallies and Patrick McNeill added a pair of assists.
Single goals came off the sticks of Patrick Asselin and Adam Gibson, with
the latter adding two assists.

If Papista and Desrosiers can keep the troops focused throughout the
68-game season, they should have no problem making the playoffs.
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There are four ways to obtain tickets to the Saginaw Spirit: Simply call
the Saginaw County Event Center Box Office (759-1330), the Saginaw Spirit
General Office (497-7747), Ticket Master (754-4800), or go online to
eventcenter.saginawcounty.com.

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