Saginaw to name new coach
As the Saginaw Spirit is positioned to rise as one of the up-and-coming teams in the Ontario Hockey League, it will name its new head coach on Monday.
The bench boss vacancy in Saginaw was created a few weeks back when Spencer Carbery moved on from the Spirit after one season on the job to take an assistant coach position with the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League.
Through a carefully-crafted plan, third-year Saginaw general manager Dave Drinkill has set up the Spirit as a work in progress that is on its way to developing into a bona fide OHL contender.
With a patient approach, good solid drafting and acquisitions through free agent and trade routes, Drinkill will present the incoming Saginaw coach with a blossoming roster full of players with plum potential.
RISING SPIRIT
While it may not be ready to compete for the top spots in 2017-2018, the Spirit looms as a formidable force for the future with so much young talent.
The roster of 1999 and 2000 birth year players who have already debuted in Saginaw boast promise and potential and includes forwards Brady Gilmour, Cole Coskey, D.J. Busdeker, Damian Giroux and Maxim Grondin and defensemen Hayden Davis and Brock Hill.
Then there are a pair of 2000 birth year dandies who committed to Saginaw during this off season after being draft picks in 2016 — forward Blade Jenkins and defensemen Caleb Everett.
Saginaw has also signed 2017 first-rounder Nick Porco, a 2001 birth-year forward from Sault Ste. Marie who the Spirit took fourth overall at the April 8 minor midget draft.