SPIRIT THIS WEEK: STOUFFVILLE-MARKHAM BATTLE FIRED UP AGAIN
Spirit forwards Peter Kioussis (left) and Anthony Lamanna sport Hockey Gives Blood/Canadian Blood Services stem cell registry tuques at practice Thursday.
The hockey battles between Markham and Stouffville go back 70 years when the neighbouring communities iced intermediate or senior teams in the Ontario Hockey Association.
It was the Stouffville Clippers and Markham Millionaires competing on the ice – and off it in the recruitment of players.
Today, the OHA fight is between Jr. A teams in the Ontario Junior Hockey League, the Stouffville Spirit and Markham Royals.
The communities have had a couple of postseason match-ups in more recent time, the Spirit winning four games to two in both 2017 and 2011 - when the Markham team was the Waxers.
Only one of the two will make the playoffs this year. With a month remaining in the regular season, they’re tied for fourth place in the OJHL North. The Spirit has three games in hand.
The teams meet three more times – all in the next eight days – beginning tonight in Markham.
Anthony Lamanna and captain Joe Kennedy are the only players remaining from the Spirit team that defeated Collingwood in seven games in an opening-round series two years ago this month. (Ryan Cutler played in three games as a U18 AP.)
Lamanna sees a new attitude since the provincewide January COVID-19 pause ended and a path to the playoffs. Especially in ‘Spirited’ come-from-behind victories over Collingwood and Brantford.
“We really have to play as a team and play hard,” he said at practice Thursday. “If we play as a team and play for each other, we can make the playoffs and, I think, go on a run.”
“We had energy and stayed positive in those games we came back to win last month. It gave us confidence.”
THE SKED
Stouffville at Markham, March 4, 7:30
Stouffville at Georgetown, March 5, 7:30
Markham at Stouffville, March 10, 2:30
Stouffville at Markham, March 11, 7:30
THE SCORES
Hayden Simpson scored the last-minute game-winner on the power play as the Spirit defeated Collingwood 3-2 Saturday at the Stouffville Arena. Dawson Hettiarachchi and Carston Whitson also earned goals. Captain Kennedy had two assists. Ayden Bulmer earned the W, stopping 24 shots including a few of the spectacular variety.
The Spirit lost 6-1 in Pickering Friday and 4-1 in Collingwood Sunday.
Spirit This Week is sponsored by Farmer Jack’s in Stouffville and Sharon
