Peter Kioussis was named player of the game after his three points led the Spirit to a 4-1 win over his hometown Oakville Blades Saturday night. (Photos by Tim Bates/OJHL Images and Tiffany Phan-Chu)
Stouffville Spirit forward Peter Kioussis sure likes home cooking.
The Oakville native did it again to the Oakville Blades Saturday night, scoring twice, assisting once and earning the Spirit’s player of the game belt.
The Spirit bested the Blades 4-1 to grab sole possession of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Eastern Conference. There were 1,510 fans in attendance at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex in north Oakville.
The Blades should be thankful it’s the only meeting between the two clubs this season.
Kioussis, now 19, had a pair of two-goals against them last year. During his rookie season, he scored his first OJHL hat trick against Oakville in Stouffville in one game and potted a game winner to beat the Blades in Oakville in another.
“It felt great,” said Kioussis, who lives 10 minutes from Sixteen Mile. “I always like playing in Oakville. We usually only get to play there once a year. It’s a great feeling to play in front of my family. It’s always special.”
In his third year with the Spirit, Kioussis leads the team with 64 points (31 goals/ 33 assists) in 49 games. Four of his goals, including his second Saturday night, have been game winners. Following a 21-point rookie campaign in Spiritville, he had 47 last year.
“A lot of memorable moments against Oakville,” he said Sunday night. “I don’t know what the situation is. I guess I just get some hometown luck.”
Kioussis played his first few years of his minor hockey in Oakville, giving him more local knowledge of the olympic-sized rink than most.
“I’ve been there, played there, watched games there my whole life,” he said.
Kioussis is in his second year of part-time business studies at McMaster University.
“It’s a dream situation,” the speedy forward said. “I love playing hockey and I want to get my education.”
He plans to return to the Spirit next season, his final at the junior level, and then continue playing at the intercollegiate level.
The Spirit leads the Lindsay Muskies by two points for eighth place and has a game in hand. It sets up a huge meeting between the two teams Saturday night in Lindsay.
The Spirit has seven games remaining on their schedule, which ends Sunday, March 3, at home to the Aurora Tigers.
THE SCORES
Stouffville 4, Oakville Blades 1, Saturday, Feb. 17
Kyle Downey was extra busy and nearly perfect in goal for the Spirit who were outshot 51-33.
Rookies Nolan Jackson and Julian Demiglio had single goals to go with Kioussis’ pair. Fellow first-year players Andoni Fimis and Danny Thomakos assisted twice.
Markham Royals at Stouffville, Feb. 15. Postponed.
Cobourg 4, Spirit 1, Monday, Feb. 12.
Fimis had the lone goal for the Spirit who were outshot 52-26.
The only thing to celebrate was Captain Odaro Ewere’s 150th game in a Spirit uniform. Kioussis is at 142 games.
THE SKED
Georgetown Raiders at Stouffville, Monday, Feb. 19. 2:30 p.m.
Brantford 99ers at Stouffville, Thursday, Feb. 22, 7:30 p.m.
Stouffville at Lindsay, Saturday, Feb. 24, 7 p.m.
All Spirit games are broadcast on FloHockey. Go to: https://www.flohockey.tv/
WESTERN DINING
The Spirit’s only loss to a Western Conference team this season was an overtime decision against Leamington. They have defeated Milton, Buffalo, Caledon, Mississauga, Niagara Falls, Burlington and Oakville and tied the Toronto Patriots.
Still to play from the West: Georgetown, Brantford and Collingwood.
NOTEBOOK
Thursday’s snowed-out home game with the Markham Royals has to be rescheduled.
Kids 12 and under will be admitted free to Monday’s Family Day matinee.
Two kids will go home with new bikes as Monday’s chuck-a-puck champs.
Stoufffville’s Richard Bartley and Todd Williamson of Williamson Uxbridge Automotive are sponsoring the annual give-away again this year.
Stouffville soloist Sarah Ranson will sing the national anthem Monday. On Thursday it’s the Voices Alive Choir, who are based out of St. James Presbyterian Church in downtown Stouffville.
Spirit This Week is sponsored by Farmer Jack’s in Stouffville and Sharon
