“Windsor” Gets the Win for Saginaw, Thursday night at the WFCU Centre
Friday January 27th, 2012, 12:01am
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Saginaw Spirit Goalie Clint Windsor makes a save (Photo: Kevin Chauvin)
After a shaky first period start, Saginaw goalie Clint Windsor made a comeback that helped the Saginaw Spirit earn an important win as they defeated the Spitfires 5-4 in a shootout tonight, at the WFCU Centre.
Just 33 seconds into the opening period, Kerby Rychel made his presence felt as he got his first of two goals to put his team on the board. After the initial shot, the puck bounced off a Saginaw defenseman and found its way behind goalie Clint Windsor. Similar to the first goal, Rychel again shot the puck at the net, and following a few bounces, it rolled into the net. The Spits led 2-0 after just over 5 minutes of play, even outshooting the Spirit 12-2 at one point. Stephen Alonge would wrap up the scoring for the period after Nick Czinder went around the net and passed the puck across the crease, making it an easy opportunity for the winger. The Spits kept the pressure going strong all the way to the buzzer.
The second period started, and the game was now in Saginaw’s control. The Spirit retaliated with pressure of their own, resulting in a powerplay goal. Brandon Saad was left alone beside the net, and so Michael Fine could not miss the pass that led to a goal. Later, while Windsor’s number 89 was in the penalty box, Saginaw’s number 89, Vincent Trocheck, cut the lead to one after his goal. Constant pressure and good speed contained the Spits both offensively and defensively. It eventually caught them as new Spitfire Jeff Braithwaite lost his stick chasing Brandon Saad, who had sprung free on a breakaway. This resulted in a penalty shot, which was denied by Spits goalie Jaroslav Pavelka. Windsor was outshot 22-10 in the second period.
Saginaw flowed right into the third period, not missing one step. They kept pressure on the young Windsor team and it was followed by a goal by Michael Fine. The Spits would not sit back just yet. After breaking into the zone, Saverio Posa would fire a rocket of a slap shot past Clint Windsor to tie the game at 4. In the last 5 minutes, it was back and forth action between the two western rivals, but regulation wouldn’t be enough.
The Spits failed on their overtime powerplay and were now facing Saginaw in a shootout. Alexander Khokhlachev was the lone Spitfire to score in the shootout as Carlos Amestoy and Vincent Trocheck scored for the Spirit. The final score of the game was 5-4 Saginaw.
Hooked on a Feeling
There were a total of six hooking penalties called against both teams tonight, four in the first period alone. In a game that saw 11 minor penalties, neither team could really capitalize with the man advantage, scoring only 1 goal each on the powerplay.
Windsor’s next home game is Sunday, February 5th against Mississauga.
This Saturday, Spits fans have an opportunity to meet some of the team as there will be a player appearance, from 12pm to 2pm at the Rogers store in Tecumseh, located at 13300 Tecumseh Road East, in the Green Valley Plaza.
On January 30th, the Spits players will be celebrity servers at the Kelsey’s restaurant, located on Amy Croft Drive, from 6pm to 8pm.
