Big game in OJHL standings at Stouffville Arena tonight
The Stouffville Spirit will play Santa Claus this Christmas – with some help from our friends in the community.
The Jr. A hockey club will host its first-ever Teddy Bear Toss during its home game on Thursday, Dec. 12. The Spirit hosts the Aurora Tigers at the Stouffville Arena in its only home game during December that night. Game time is 7:30 p.m.
In Teddy Bear Toss tradition, after the Spirit scores its first goal that night, fans will be invited to throw stuffed animals onto the ice surface. The stuffies will be collected and presented to the Lions Club of Stouffville for its annual toy drive.
If you don’t have a bear, you can purchase one that night from the Spirit. All proceeds will go to the Lions.
- Representatives from Stouffville’s Boston Pizza will be in the arena lobby that night collecting toys for the Lions drive at the Spirit’s Community Table.
- During the pregame, from 6:50 to 7:20 p.m., Stouffville recording artist Sofia Marie will sing Christmas songs in the lobby before performing the anthem on the ice.
Jersey nights
The Spirit will host youth hockey nights Nov. 30 and Dec. 12. Boys and girls wearing their local youth hockey jerseys will be admitted free of charge. Bring the entire team!
Thanks for buying a poppy
Between the players one-day blitz of the community and distribution during home games, the Spirit collected more than $1,000 for Stouffville Branch 459 of the Royal Canadian Legion during the hockey team’s 2024 poppy campaign.
Return from Battle
Spirit players Julian Demiglio, David Paglia and Max Davidson returned from the Battle of Ontario in Smith Falls Wednesday. The two-day event featured All-Star and Prospect teams from the Ontario Junior Hockey League and the Central Canada Junior Hockey League. An OJHL squad won the All-Star tournament and the OJHL Prospect teams won three of four games.
The showcase was heavily scouted by reps from NHL, NCAA, CHL and U SPORTS teams as well as NHL Central Scouting.
Love a parade
Look for the Spirit players in the Stouffville Santa Claus Parade on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 6 p.m. Thanks to Scott Burrows of Farmer Jack’s for driving our big, ‘Spirited’ truck. The parade route travels along Main Street, from Ninth Line to Park Drive, through downtown Stouffville.
THE SCHEDULE
The Spirit (14-9-0-3) are in fifth place in the tightly-contested East Conference race in the OJHL – only three points behind the second-place Toronto Jr. Canadiens and Haliburton Huskies.
Nov 21, Toronto Jr. Canadiens at Stouffville, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 22, Stouffville at Wellington, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 30, Lindsay at Stouffville. 7:30 p.m.
All games broadcast on 102.9FM whistlefm.ca radio and FloHockey TV https://www.flohockey.tv/leagues/10826657-ontario-junior-hockey-league-ojhl (subscription required).
THE SCORES
Stouffville 4, Oakville Blades 0, Nov. 16.
At the Stouffville Arena, Kyle Downey recorded his third shutout of the season. Elias Greenwood, acquired earlier in the week from the North York Rangers, scored in his Spirit debut. Other scorers: ex-Blade Lachlan Wells, Julian Demiglio and Jacob Martineau.
Leamington Flyers 4, Stouffville 1, Nov. 14
The Spirit hung with the top team in the 24-team OJHL much of the night in Leamington, trailing 2-1 midway through the third period. A late goal and an empty-netter sealed the deal for the Flyers, the 3rd-ranked team in the Canadian Junior Hockey League. Jacob Breckles, with his team-leading 14th, had the only goal of the first period.
Spirit This Week is sponsored by Farmer Jack’s in Stouffville and Sharon.
