News

Brandon Scott of the Spirit battles for position  with Nathan Naves of the Georgetown Raiders in front of Spirit goaltender Ayden Bulmer during the OJHL Governors’ Showcase in Cobourg Monday. The Spirit won 4-1 and defeated the Oakville Blades by the same score Wednesday. (Photo by Ray MacAloney / OJHL Images)

The Stouffville Spirit picked a nice time to rebound.

With NHL, NCAA, U SPORTS and Ontario Hockey League scouts in the stands, the Spirit won 4-1 decisions over the Georgetown Raiders and Oakville Blades at the Ontario Junior Hockey League Governors’ Showcase in Cobourg this week.

The victories came on the heels of weekend losses to Collingwood and Pickering.

Against Georgetown on Monday, second-year forward Ryan Russell scored two goals and was named player of the game. Odaro Ewere added a goal and two assists. Rookie Michael Di Santo scored his third of the young season.

In the win over Oakville Wednesday, Ewere stayed hot, scoring and assisting, Jeremy Hirsh scored his first OJHL goal – and his initial player of the game nod. Other scorers were Peter Kioussis and Josh Schmidt. Nathan Twohey assisted twice.

Ayden Bulmer turned aside 27 Georgetown shots and 23 against Oakville to earn both wins.

The native of Ennismore, near Peterborough, has the fourth best save percentage (.927) and fifth lowest goals against average (2.28) in the 21-team league.

“I think we really just focused on playing as a team,” Bulmer said after the Showcase wins. “We stuck to the game plan that our coaches put in place and worried only about what we could control. I thought that our team came out very committed to bounce back from the two previous losses.”

“All four lines were producing offensively and doing what was necessary to win. Many players put their bodies on the line, whether that was blocking shots or taking a hit to make a play. I think as a team we focused on playing strong defence and letting that lead to offence. 

“Many of our key players, like Odaro Ewere and Peter Kioussis, played an important role in our success, leading the way up front. I also thought our defensive core played well structurally and made my job much easier. “

THE SKED

The Spirit visits the veteran Markham Royals Friday night (7:30, Markham Centennial Centre) and Mississauga Chargers Saturday (7:45, Port Credit Arena)

The Spirit returns home for two games during the Thanksgiving weekend.

Markham visits Saturday, Oct. 8, at 7:30 and Caledon is in Stouffville Monday, Oct. 10, beginning at 2:30.

NOTEBOOK

Ewere has six goals and is tied with five other players atop the OJHL goal-scoring race. His 13 points puts him in a tie for third highest … Spirit players were out in force Sunday volunteering at refreshment stops at the Stouffville Terry Fox Run. More than 1,000 people took part.

TRANSACTIONS

The Spirit added defenceman Chris Bertucci this week. The King City product has OJHL experience with the Mississauga Chargers and Brantford 99ers.

Forward Hayden Simpson, who split last year between the Spirit and the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League, has been dealt to the North York Rangers of the OJHL.

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