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Sarah Macalisang with Spirit players Wesley Weir, Isaak Philips and Justin Mahabir earlier this season.

The Stouffville Spirit prides itself on advancing its players to the next level.

Same goes for staff members.

Sarah Macalisang, the Jr. A hockey team’s director of sales and marketing/graphic designer, has done just that.

After three years with her hometown hockey club, she joined the Oshawa Generals as their new social marketing co-ordinator this week. The five-time Memorial Cup champion Generals play in the Ontario Hockey League – one rung higher than the Spirit’s Ontario Junior Hockey League.

Macalisang became a fixture with the Spirit, during game nights, meetings with clients and special events in the community.

She’s a graduate of St. Brother Andre High School in Markham and George Brown College’s graphic designs program. 

“We thank Sarah and wish her nothing but the best in Oshawa,” said Spirit general manager and co-owner Kenny Burrows.

The Spirit hired from within for a replacement.

Ed Matthews, the team’s longtime Pointstreak scorekeeper, is the new director of marketing.

The personable Stouffville native is well-known in the local hockey and softball communities.

WEEK AHEAD: The 7-17-0-1 Spirit plays its next three game at home, before seven straight on the road. The Markham Royals renew the Battle of Hwy. 48 with a trip to the Stouffville Arena Thursday. The Wellington Dukes, who received an honourable mention in the national top 20 this week, are in Stouffville Saturday. Both games are 7:30 p.m. starts.

GOOD REVIEWS: Rookie defenceman Isaak Phillips received positive reviews in a story in the Sudbury Star this week. Sudbury Wolves’ general manager Rob Papineau is impressed with his 2017 draft pick.

"Isaak's just a really good two-way defenceman," Papineau said in the article. "He has moved into the OJHL as a 16-year-old and he's playing in a top-four role on that team. I say he's a two-way player, because he's a good defender, he's got great feet and he's very mobile, and he's putting up some points for a young guy in that league, as a defenceman. They had him playing some power-play time when I was in to see him."

You can read the story here: http://www.thesudburystar.com/2017/11/21/phillips-aiming-for-roster-spot

HELLO, GOOD-BYE: Goaltender Nathan Torchia is back in Spiritville after being called up by Oshawa of the OHL …. The Spirit dealt Andrew Hughes, 20, back to the Pickering Panthers for Anthony Stavrou, 17, Friday. Stavrou assisted in his first game with the Spirit, a 7-1 loss in Oakville the next night.

All Spirit games are broadcast on WhiStle Radio – 102.9FM in the Stouffville area and whistleradio.ca everywhere.

Spirit This Week is sponsored by Farmer Jack’s in Stouffville and Sharon.