Spirit host Barrie Colts tonight:

The Saginaw Spirit will look to get back to their winning ways as they host the Barrie Colts tonight at the Dow Event Center for a 7:11 pm faceoff in downtown Saginaw. 

 

The Spirit (5-6-1-1) are currently in a third place tie with the Plymouth Whalers in the west division of the OHL’s western conference with 12-points apiece, just 2-points behind the second place Windsor Spitfires(14), and 10-points behind the red hot division leading Soo Greyhounds(22). 

 

After taking 10-of a possible-12 points to start out the month of October, the Spirit have dropped their last two games (a home-and-home series with the Sarnia Sting last week). The Spirit will look to rebound tonight against the Colts, who feature two of the OHL’s brightest stars in defenseman, Aaron Ekblad and forward, Andreas Athanasiou. Ekblad is one of the highest ranked North American Defenseman according to NHL Central Scouting for the upcoming 2014 NHL draft; while Athanasiou was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings as a fourth round pick, 110 overall in the 2012 NHL draft.

 

The Spirit are back to a complete roster after a few injuries; along with the return of veteran, Eric Locke back in early October. Locke, who was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres (189 overall in the 2013 NHL draft) was held in Rochester, NY for an extended pre-season with the Sabres AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans. Locke led the Spirit in scoring last season with 44 goals, 53 assists, for 97 points which was good enough for fourth place in the entire OHL.