Talk about making up for lost time.
After a two-week break from games centred around the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s All-Star Celebration, the Stouffville Spirit returns to action tonight.
The 7:30 start with the Leamington Flyers at the Stouffville Arena is the first of five games in eight days for the Spirit.
The 17-15-3 Spirit squad is in the ninth spot in the OJHL East Conference, seven points behind the Lindsay Muskies who hold down eighty place – and the final playoff spot.
In the good news department, the Spirit has four games in hand on the Muskies.
“We have a pretty tough schedule coming up but the boys are really together,” said Spirit captain Odaro Ewere. “We’ve had good practices this week. We just have to pull it together on the ice this weekend and listen to what our coaches have to say.”
The coach agrees
“Despite not getting the results we wanted the last couple of weeks, we remain together and focused on growth and improvement,” Spirit head coach TJ Hill told Bullet Point News in Stouffville.
“We have a lot of time to heal, practice, and learn from the last couple of weeks, and we intend to use that time as best we can to make ourselves better,” Hill said. “We are excited about the opportunity we have to put our best foot forward down the stretch and finish the season strong.”
Players to watch on Leamington include goaltender Sebastian Gatto, one of three OJHL players ranked for this June’s NHL Draft in Las Vegas.
THE SKED
- Leamington Flyers at Stouffville, Saturday, Jan. 20, 7:30 p.m.
- Stouffville at North York, Sunday, Jan. 21, 2:30 p.m.
- Stouffville at North York, Tuesday, Jan. 23, 4:30 p.m.
- Stouffville at Burlington, Friday, Jan. 26, 7:30 p.m.
- Toronto Jr. Canadiens at Stouffville, Saturday, Jan. 27, 7:30 p.m.
All Spirit games are broadcast on FloHockey. Go to: https://www.flohockey.tv/
NOTEBOOK
Spirit players will thank donors at the Canadian Blood Services clinic at the Canadian Mar Thoma Church in Stouffville Feb. 3. Each donor will be given two tickets to a Spirit game.
Special home nights on the calendar:
- OSPCA animal shelter, Feb. 8
- Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library, Feb 15
Spirit This Week is sponsored by Farmer Jack’s in Stouffville and Sharon
