[truebluefan]

Haskins Notches 1 Goal and 2 Assists in Home Opener Defeat

(Saginaw, MI) - The Saginaw Spirit lost 4-3 in Saturday's home opener against the Guelph Storm. The loss takes the Spirit record to 0-2-0-0 with 0 points.

Saginaw started scoring early in the game, with a power play goal from forward Tyler Haskins at the 4:59 mark in the first period. Forwards Zack Torquato and Jan Mursak (DET '06) assisted on the goal. Ryan McDonough followed up with another Saginaw power play goal at 8:35 in the first period, off of an assist from defenseman Matt Corrente (NJ '06) and Haskins. The Spirit held a two goal lead until 13:42 in the first period, when Guelph's Tyler Melancon scored short handed.

The second period remained 2-2 until the17:02 mark, when Guelph's Mike McLean scored. The game remained tied until McLean scored again on the power play at 6:31 in the third period. The game would move to a score of 4-2 after a third goal from McLean at the 8:45 mark, giving McLean a hat trick. Spirit defenseman Patrick McNeill reduced Guelph's lead with a goal in the final seconds of the third period, but the Spirit were unable to close the gap an further with only forty-three seconds left on the clock.

Spirit net minder Ryan Daniels (OTT '06) had 30 saves in the effort.

A complete gamesheet is available at www.ontariohockeyleague.com

Guelph wasn't the only storm to come to Saginaw Saturday night. The fireworks that were to go off in celebration of the Spirit's fifth season have been postponed due to incremental weather.

Join the Saginaw Spirit for their next game, here at the Dow Event Center on September 27th at 7:11 PM!

 

[truebluefan]

Attack Wins Home Opener

The Owen Sound Attack scored three power play goals on the way to a 4-3 win in the home opener over the visiting Soo Greyhounds.

LA Kings draft pick Trevor Lewis led the way with one goal and one assist and was named first star of the game.

Scott Tregunna scored the game winner and blocked a shot with just seconds to go in the game and was named the third star of the game.

Russ Brownell stopped 18 of 21 shots for the win.

The Owen Sound Attack evens their record at 1 win and 1 loss in the young season.

Upcoming Games

Wednesday, September 27 at 7pm against the visiting Sarnia Sting at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre. Cram the Den Night with CFOS, Mix 106, and Country 93.

Friday, September 29 at 7:30pm in London against the Knights at the John Labatt Centre. Broadcast live on Bear Radio on 560 CFOS and on Rogers Cable Channel 53.

Saturday, September 30 at 7:30pm against the visiting Kitchener Rangers at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre. Rematch of the first round of the playoffs last year.

Attack Box Office open weekdays 8:30 - 5pm. Phone orders with Visa or MasterCard by calling 519-371-7452 or toll free 1-866-5ATTACK. Internet orders at www.attackhockey.com.

 

[truebluefan]

Whalers Win in Shootout, 7-6, Over Erie

PLYMOUTH TOWNSHIP - The 2,963 fans who attended the Plymouth Whalers' home opener Saturday night at the Compuware Sports Arena got their money's worth in excitement. The Whalers rallied from deficits of 4-2 and 6-4 to tie the game in regulation before winning, 7-6, over the Erie Otters in a shootout for their first victory of the season.

Plymouth is now 1-1-0-0 on the season; Erie is 1-0-0-1.

Plymouth center Chris Terry - who won three games for the Whalers last season in a shootout - did it again tonight as he beat Erie goaltender Ryan Ludzik with a shot that went five-hole.

"I came down with a pre-set move wanting to fake backhand and then go to my forehand," Terry said. "He (Ludzik) fell for the backhand fake, but took away blocker and poke checked, so the five-hole opened up. So I slid the puck between his legs."

There were plenty of offensive fireworks before Terry's game-winner. James Neal scored twice for Plymouth and now has three goals in two games. Whalers rookie Kaine Geldart scored his first OHL goal, while Jared Boll, Dan Collins (2nd of the year) and Terry all scored single goals in regulation. First star Evan Brophey added five assists for the Whalers. Andrew Hotham scored twice for Erie, while Sean O'Connor, Mitch Gaulton, Josh Vatri, and Derrick Bagshaw scored singles.

Whalers fought from behind in another way as they were shorthanded 17 times and went 14-for-17 on the penalty kill. Referee Shaun Davis sent a constant parade of skaters to both penalty boxes all night long. Plymouth went 2-for-11 of the power play.

With the game tied a 2-2 after one period, Erie opened up a 4-2 lead in the second frame on goals by Hotham (9:43) and Bagshaw (11:37). But Neal scored his second goal of the game at 12:06 of the second period and Boll batted home a rebound at 15:51 and Plymouth tied the game at 4-4. Hotham scored again at 19:04 of the second period and Erie led 5-4 after forty minutes.

Gaulton scored his first OHL goal at 11:35 of the third period to give Erie a 6-4 lead, but Plymouth came back in the period to tie the game on Collins goal at 14:26 and Terry's one-timer from the right dot at 16:32.

After a scoreless overtime, Hodgman appeared to score for Erie in the shootout, but video replay showed the puck went over the goal line after the net was off its' moorings. That set the stage for Terry's shootout winner, which was preserved when Plymouth goaltender Jeremy Smith (Brownstown) stopped Hotham on the final shot of the shootout.

Plymouth outshot Erie, 34-28, through 65 minutes.

The Whalers are off until next Wednesday night when they play in Saginaw against the Spirit (7:00 p.m., www.plymouthwhalers.com) and Friday night when they play in Guelph (7:20 p.m., www.plymouthwhalers.com).

Plymouth's next home game is next Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. against the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

Tickets ($14 and $10) are available by calling the Compuware Sports Arena at (734) 453-8400, or by going to Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com. Ticketmaster can be called at (248) 645-6666.