Stouffville Spirit rookie defenceman Nolan Jackson said he would keep it “short and simple.”
His entire speech: “Boys, we’re in the playoffs – let’s go!”
The Spirit’s jam-packed dressing room at Markham Centennial Community Centre erupted.
(A video of the rambunctious announcement was viewed more than 7,000 times, as of Saturday night, on Instagram.)
The Spirit had just defeated the Markham Royals 5-2 to seal up the eighth and final playoff spot in the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s East Division. They eliminated the Lindsay Muskies, who despite defeating North York Friday, cannot catch the Spirit during this, the final weekend of regular season play.
The Spirit, who finish up their schedule Sunday afternoon at home with the Aurora Tigers, will play the Trenton Golden Hawks in the first round of the postseason. Dates and times TBA.
Jackson, Evan Breckles, Julian Demiglio, Zack Corte and Andoni Fimis scored for the Spirit. Kyle Downey was outstanding in the Spirit goal against the high-powered Royals
After earning points in five straight games in late January, the Spirit went 6-5-1 in February to earn the playoff berth.
They did so with a shorthanded lineup, thanks largely to injury. They played many of those late-season games with only four Jr. A defencemen, relying on affiliates from area U18 to fill in.
“It was a lot of hard work,” Captain Odero Ewere said Saturday. “A lof of guys stepped up in the second half. We’re excited to see what will happen in the playoffs.”
The Spirit took big steps to the playoffs with wins in Lindsay (4-3) last Saturday and at home to Markham (5-4) in a matinee Tuesday. Corte netted the hat trick in Lindsay and Cam Kosurko matched him with three goals of his own Tuesday.
SUNDAY HONOURS
The Spirit will honour two groups of people before Sunday’s game:
• It’s four graduating (20-year-old) players: Ewere, Kosurko, Nathan Twohey and Myles Yearwood.
• The four families who have billeted players this season.
ALUMNI NIGHTS
Will Acton and Joel Sheppard were in the crowd for Thursday’s 4-3 loss to the Collingwood Blues. They were on the Spirit team that went to the OJHL championship final in 2006. Acton is a pro scout for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Also in attendance was former Spirit captain Michael Lombardo.
Another alum, Ethan Werek, was at Friday’s game in Markham. The New York Rangers draft pick has played pro since 2011, including this season with HC Slovan Bratislava in Slovakia.
NOTES: Stouffville rock band Revcall is hosting a pregame gathering at Boston Pizzza Sunday at 1:30 p.m…former Spirit GM Tom Milne was elevated to head coach in Aurora earlier this season.
(Photo by OJHL Images)
Spirit This Week is sponsored by Farmer Jack’s in Stouffville and Sharon.
