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Stouffville Minor Atom AA Clippers Weston Palmer and Alex Bai usher the Spirit onto the ice at the Stouffville Arena Saturday. (Andy Corneau / OJHL Images)

Christmas came a week early for the Stouffville Spirit.

The Ontario Junior Hockey League team received a big-time boost to its roster with the return of veteran forward Anthony Stavrou to Stouffville.

The Pickering resident played for the Spirit during the 2017-18 season, netting 13 points in 30 games after beginning his second year in the OJHL with the Pickering Panthers.

Stavrou, 19, played the last season and a half at Maryville University in St. Louis, Mo. He had 55 (29 goals/26 assists) points in 53 games for the Saints.

“It's great to have Anthony back with the team,” said Spirit co-coach Brandon Kearnan. “He clicked with the guys right away and will add a veteran presence in the room.  Anthony brings speed to the team as well as a great shot and we are very excited to have him as part of the team.”

Stavrou, who entered the league with Pickering in 2016-17, made his season debut Tuesday in the Spirit’s 3-1 win over the North York Rangers at the Stouffville Arena.

THE SCORES

The Spirit went 2-1-1 during a busy week and improved to 18-10-3-1. They remain in first place in the OJHL North, five points up on the Collingwood Colts with a game in hand. They’re guaranteed to be on top of the division on Christmas morning.

• The Spirit let in the first one then scored three unanswered against North York Tuesday.

Goalie Damon Beaver, back after a week off following dental surgery, was at his highlight-reel best. Defenceman Ben Lindberg scored his first (shorthanded), Luke Strickland his team-leading 18th and Grant Turner his eighth (between the Spirit and Toronto Patriots).

• Playing their third game in three nights, the Spirit were tied 3-3 by the Milton Menace at the Stouffville Arena Saturday. First-star Tanner McEachern scored a pair. Jamie Mazomenos had the other. Lindberg assisted twice.

• In Lindsay Friday, the Spirit exorcised some demons and defeated the hometown Muskies 6-2. Linemates Strickland and Holden Doggett each scored twice and added assists. The third member of the line, captain Connor May, assisted on three goals. Peterborough’s Ryan Baily of the North Kawartha Knights Jr. C squad picked up the win in the Stouffville goal – in his first Jr. A game. The Spirit has had little success against the Muskies in recent years, including losing to the team from Lindsay at the OJHL Governors’ Showcase in Buffalo in September.

• The Spirit could have used some of that scoring Thursday night home as they fell 1-0 to the East leading Toronto Jr. Canadiens

THE SKED

The Spirit closes out its pre-Christmas schedule with a pair of road games, in Markham Friday night and Cobourg Monday night.

Next Spirit home game is the annual New Year’s Eve matinee. Puck drops at 2:30 p.m. There will be plenty of prizes for the kids.

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