Spirit players celebrate No. 6 Ryan Harvey’s goal during their 3-1 win over the Cobourg Cougars at the Stouffville Arena Saturday. (Photo by Ray MacAloney/OJHL Images)
More than halfway through the 2023-24 Ontario Junior Hockey League season, the Stouffville Spirit are in an okay place.
The Jr. A team is 14-10-0-3 with a .574 win percentage. In the games-played department, they have four to nine games to make up on the other 11 teams in the highly competitive East Conference.
They’ll play six games to close out 2023, beginning tonight in Markham.
“We’ve got a good team, playing in a tough conference,” said captain Odaro Ewere. “We’ve played through a lot of adversity. From playing in this league for a few years, I know the second half of the season is a lot harder than the first half, but I’ve seen a lot of growth in our team. We’ve got a lot of players willing to step up and take on some big roles in the second part of the season and into the playoffs.”
Stouffvilles; own Kendall Lily will play a pregame concert in the Stouffville Arena lobby Saturday from 6:50-7:25.
The Lions Club of Stouffville will be collecting toys for kids 10 and older at Saturday’s game.
THE SKED
Stouffville at Markham, Friday, Dec. 15, 7:30
Lindsay at Stouffville, Saturday, Dec. 16, 7:30
Stouffville at Pickering, Dec. 19, 2:30
Stouffville at Trenton, Dec. 22, 7:30
Stouffville at St. Michael’s, Dec. 29, 7:30
St. Michael’s at Stouffville, Dec. 30, 7:30
All Spirit games are broadcast on FloHockey. Go to: https://www.flohockey.tv/
THE SCORES
THE SCORES
Spirit 3, Cobourg 1, Dec. 9
Ewere, Lachlan Wells and Ryan Harvey scored for the Spirit. Stephen Toltl stopped 27 shots to remain unbeaten (7-0-0).
Wellington 3, Spirit 2, Dec.10
Another one-goal loss for the Spirit on the road. Ewere and Cam Kosurko scored.
NOTEBOOK
Goaltender Kyle Downey spent last weekend on emergency loan to the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League. Storm backup Damian Slavik is playing for Slovakia at the World Junior A Challenge in Nova Scotia.
Spirit affiliate goaltender Gabe Carnevale of the Markham Majors has been selected to play in the GTHL’s 2024 U18 ‘AAA’ All-Star Game fuelled by Gatorade Jan. 27 in Downsview.
The Spirit are teaming up with the Whitchurch-Stouffville Food Bank to fight hunger this month.
At the Jr. A hockey team’s final two games of 2023, Dec. 16 and 30:
- Volunteers from the food bank will accept donations of food and cash.
- All proceeds from in-game 50/50 draws will go to the food bank.
TRANSACTIONS
Forward Duncan Grube has been sent to his former Jr. C team, the Alliston Hornets, at his request. Grube is embarking on a career in plumbing.
Grube had three goals and three assists in his debut for the first-place Hornets on Dec. 10, a 13-0 win over last-place Midland.
Spirit This Week is sponsored by Farmer Jack’s in Stouffville and Sharon
