This week, I’ll break down all 20 OHL clubs division by division and unveil my predictions for the 2012-13 season. Today, let’s look at the Western Conference’s West Division (listed in alphabetical order):

Plymouth Whalers
Coach/GM: Michael Vellucci
2011-12 finish: 47-18-2-1, 1st division, 2nd conference
Playoff finish: Lost to Kitchener 4-3 in conference semifinals
Key players: LW Stefan Noesen (38 goals, 44 assists, 82 points; signed with Ottawa), C Mitchell Heard (29-28-57; signed with Colorado), RW Alex Aleardi (36-29-65), LW J.T. Miller (25-37-62; signed with N.Y. Rangers; G Matt Mahalak (19-8-0-0 record, 2.66 goals-against average, .923 save percentage, 3 shutouts; Carolina prospect)
Key losses: G Scott Wedgewood (28-10-2-1, 3.02, .911, 3 SO; signed with New Jersey), D Beau Schmitz (14-40-54, +37; signed with Carolina), C Andy Bathgate (19-44-63)
Outlook: The Whalers had a chance to reach the Western finals last season, but they lost Game 7 at home to Kitchener. They lost some key players off that team, but the Whalers still have are strong enough to make a deeper run this season.

Saginaw Spirit
Coach/GM: Greg Gilbert/Jim Paliafito
2011-12 finish: 40-22-4-2, 3rd division, 5th conference
Playoff finish: Lost to London 4-2 in conference semifinals
Key players: C Vincent Trocheck (29-56-85; signed with Florida), LW Brandon Saad (34-42-76; signed with Chicago), LW Garret Ross (25-29-54), C Eric Locke (20-20-40), D Dalton Young (5-15-20)
Key losses: LW Josh Shalla (40-36-76; signed with Nashville), RW Michael Fine (22-45-67), C John McFarland (20-21-41; signed with Florida), D Brad Walch (5-18-23, +21)
Outlook: Trocheck and Saad headline an offense that ranked fifth in the league a season ago with 259 goals. Now they have to solidify a defense that allowed 259 goals, the fourth most in the league. Clint Windsor and Jake Paterson are the keys in net.

Sarnia Sting
Coach/GM: Jacques Beaulieu
2011-12 finish: 34-27-2-5, 2nd division, 4th conference
Playoff finish: Lost 4-2 to Saginaw in conference quarterfinals
Key players: C Alex Galchenyuk (0-0-0 in 2 games; signed with Montreal), G J.P. Anderson (27-23-2-4, 3.03, .908, 3 SO), LW Reid Boucher (28-22-50), D Connor Murphy (8-18-26; signed with Phoenix), D Alex Basso (9-27-36, +5)
Key losses: RW Nail Yakupov (31-38-69 in 42 games; signed with Edmonton), C Brett Thompson (32-38-70; former Otter), C Ryan Spooner (29-37-66; signed with Boston), LW Tyler J. Brown (21-27-48), D Adrian Robertson (10-28-38, +13)
Outlook: Yakupov, the No. 1 pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, isn’t expected to rejoin the Sting. But Galchenyuk, the No. 3 pick in the draft, returns after missing nearly all of last season with a knee injury. But can the Sting overcome other key losses?

Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Coach/GM: Mike Stapleton/Kyle Dubas
2011-12 finish: 29-33-2-4, 5th division, 9th conference
Playoff finish: Did not qualify
Key players: C Nick Cousins (35-53-88; signed with Philadelphia), G Matt Murray (13-19-0-1, 4.08, .876; Pittsburgh prospect), D Ryan Sproul (23-31-54, +16), RW Andrew Fritsch (13-19-32 in 35 games; Phoenix prospect), LW Michael Schumacher (26-24-50)
Key losses: C Brett Findlay (20-36-56; traded to Peterborough), C Carson Dubchak (16-16-32)
Outlook: The Greyhounds are trying to avoid a third straight season out of the playoff picture. But does Stapleton, the Otters’ former associate and assistant coach, have enough talented depth to make that happen in a challenging conference?

Windsor Spitfires
Coach/GM: Bob Boughner/Warren Rychel
2011-12 finish: 29-32-5-2, 4th division, 8th conference
Playoff finish: Lost to London 4-0 in conference quarterfinals
Key players: LW Kerby Rychel (41-33-74); C Brady Vail (22-30-52), LW Chris Marchese (18-25-43; former Otter), D Nick Ebert (6-33-39), RW Joshua Ho-Sang (No. 5 pick in OHL Priority Selection), LW Ben Johnson (18-20-38)
Key losses: C Alexander Khokhlachev (25-44-69; playing in Russia), C Zack MacQueen (18-20-38; son of former Otters coach Dave MacQueen)
Outlook: The unexpected departure of Khokhlachev will hurt thre Spitfires, unless forwards like Rychel, Vail, former Otter Marchese and first-round pick Ho-Sang pick up the slack. But will they have enough on defense and in net to win consistently?

- Victor Fernandes

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that a media conference is scheduled for Wednesday at 12 pm at the John Labatt Centre in London, Ontario, to announce the winner of the Red Tilson Trophy presented to the OHL’s Most Outstanding Player of the Year for the 2011-12 season.

The Red Tilson Trophy is the most prestigious individual award presented annually by the league to the Most Outstanding Player in the Ontario Hockey League during the regular season schedule of games as voted by sports writers and broadcasters in the OHL. The award is in honour of Albert “Red” Tilson, who was killed in action in Europe during World War II. Tilson was the OHA scoring champion for the 1942-43 season after scoring 19 goals and 38 assists for 57 points in 22 games with the Oshawa Generals. Ryan Ellis of the Windsor Spitfires captured the award last season.

2011-12 Red Tilson Trophy Nominees
Barrie Colts – Tanner Pearson
Belleville Bulls – Brendan Gaunce
Brampton Battalion – Sam Carrick
Erie Otters – Adam Pelech
Guelph Storm – Matt Finn
Kingston Frontenacs – Darcy Greenaway
Kitchener Rangers – Tobias Rieder
London Knights – Michael Houser
Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors – Riley Brace
Niagara IceDogs – Mark Visentin
Oshawa Generals – Kevin Bailie
Ottawa 67’s – Tyler Toffoli
Owen Sound Attack – Mike Halmo
Peterborough Petes – Andrew Yogan
Plymouth Whalers – Stefan Noesen
Saginaw Spirit – Brandon Saad
Sarnia Sting – Nail Yakupov
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds – Nick Cousins
Sudbury Wolves – Michael Sgarbossa
Windsor Spitfires – Kerby Rychel

- From OHL news release

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Brandon Saad of the Saginaw Spirit is the 2011-12 recipient of the William Hanley Trophy awarded to the OHL’s Most Sportsmanlike Player.

Saad, a 19-year-old from Gibsonia, PA, scored 34 goals and 42 assists for 76 points in just 44 games while recording just 38 penalty minutes in his second OHL season with the Spirit. He becomes the second member of the Spirit to win the award following current Tampa Bay Lightning forward Tom Pyatt who received the honour in 2006-07.

“It’s an honor to win any award and be recognized by the league,” commented Saad. “I’m excited about the news and happy to win the award and accept this award on behalf of the Saginaw Spirit and my teammates.”

The Spirit captain led all OHL players with 1.73 points-per-game after beginning the season with the Chicago Blackhawks who selected him in the second round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Upon his return to Saginaw he immediately produced an eight-game point-streak and received OHL Player of the Week honours following his second week in action ending October 23. That week included his first career five-point game where he scored a career-high four goals October 20 as first star of a 5-2 win over the Brampton Battalion.

A member of the U.S National Junior Team at the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship, Saad recorded 21 multi-point games this season and had the fourth longest point-streak in the league at 16 games between January 15 and February 24. He also finished with the sixth-best plus-minus rating in the OHL with a mark of plus-35.

“Brandon has been an outstanding player for the Spirit organization,” said Head Coach Greg Gilbert. “His commitment both on and off the ice exemplifies the type of player and person he is. His passion for the game and his leadership for our club have been second to none. He plays each game with determination and respect, not only for the game itself, but for his team and opponents. He is a true leader.”

The William Hanley Trophy is awarded each year based on a selection by the 20 General Managers of the Ontario Hockey League. Teams are not permitted to vote for their own candidate with players receiving five points for a first place vote, three points for a second place vote, and one point for a third place vote. The trophy is presented by the OHL to commemorate William Hanley, former Secretary-Manager of the Ontario Hockey Association for over 25 years.

“Since his first day in Saginaw, Brandon Saad has displayed an extraordinary commitment to doing things right, both on and off the ice,” said Craig Goslin, Spirit Managing Partner, President and Governor. “Whether communicating with his teammates or visiting sick kids in a local hospital or doing a community appearance, his approach is consistently conducted with class and respect for others. Our franchise has certainly been the recipient of an outstanding future NHL hockey player and an outstanding person as well.”

Saad received 45 points in the voting process ahead of Tobias Rieder of the Kitchener Rangers who received 38 voting points, and Freddie Hamilton of the Niagara IceDogs who finished in third place with 31 voting points.

Former winners of the William Hanley Trophy include Wayne Gretzky (Sault Ste. Marie 1977-78), Brian Campbell (Ottawa 1998-99), Brad Boyes (Erie 2000-01 and 2001-02), Jeff Carter (Sault Ste. Marie 2004-05), Wojtek Wolski (Brampton 2005-06), and Cody Hodgson (Brampton 2008-09). Last season OHL top scorer Jason Akeson of the Kitchener Rangers claimed the award, while Ryan Spooner won the award in 2009-10 as a member of the Peterborough Petes.

Saad will be presented with the William Hanley Trophy at the 2011-12 OHL Awards Ceremony set for Tuesday June 5 at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. He will also be the OHL’s nominee for Sportsman of the Year at the Annual CHL Awards.

- From OHL news release

The Erie Otters went down Friday night. But they didn’t go down without a fight.

Stephen Harper’s goal with 44.6 seconds left in regulation capped Erie’s furious comeback from a three-goal deficit against Saginaw. But Carlos Amestoy scored the lone shootout goal, and goaltender Clint Windsor stopped Luke Cairns on the final attempt, in Erie’s 8-7 loss in front of 2,314 at Tullio Arena.

The teams exchanged a pair of goals apiece in six the opening minutes. Saginaw’s Michael Fine scored at the 1:23 mark, followed by Otters rookie Jake Evans’ goal 3:30 later. Brandon Saad’s first of two short-handed goals snapped the 1-1 tie at the 6:02 mark. Then Connor Brown scored on the power play 19 seconds later to tie the score at 2.

Saginaw built a 5-2 lead early in the second on a goal from Amestoy and two from Eric Locke. Cairns moved the Otters within 5-3 at the 4:19 mark, only to have Saad’s second short-handed goal regain the Spirit’s three-goal lead at 6-3 6:49 into the period. Then the teams exchanged goals – Brown’s second power-play goal and Josh Shalla’s 35^th goal of the season – to send the Otters into the third trailing 7-4.

Ramis Sadikov returned to the ice for the third to replace rookie backup Devin Williams, who was injured late in the second. Williams allowed three goals on 17 shots in 26 minutes. Then the Otters’ comeback began with 8:50 left on Kris Grant’s second goal of the season and third in 101 career OHL games.

Dane Fox (goal, two assists) had a goal waved off a short time later, but his power-play goal with 5:04 left sliced the Spirit’s lead to 7-6.

Then with Sadikov on the bench for an extra attacker in the final minute, Harper’s goal off a deflection in front of Windsor completed the Otters’ three-goal comeback. But Fox, Sondre Olden and Cairns failed to score in the shootout.

Shalla and Fine led the Spirit (28-26-1-7) with a goal and two assists apiece.

- Victor Fernandes

SUMMARY

Spirit 8, Otters 7 (SO)

Saginaw  4  3  0  0  1  —  8

Erie  2  2  3  0  0  —  7

1^st Period — 1. Saginaw, Michael Fine 20 (Shalla, Young), 1:23. 2. Erie, Jake Evans 8 (Olden, Harper), 4:53. 3. Saginaw, Brandon Saad 27 (unassisted), 6:02 (sh). 4. Erie, Connor Brown 22 (unassisted), 6:21 (pp). 5. Saginaw, Carlos Amestoy 6 (Shalla, Fine), 11:58. 6. Saginaw, Eric Locke 16 (Trafford), 14:04. Penalties — Saad (S) tripping, 5:14.

2^nd Period — 7. Saginaw, Locke 17 (Trafford, Strong), 2:09. 8 Erie, Luke Cairns 11 (Brown, McDowell), 4:13. 9. Saginaw, Saad 28 (Fine), 6:49 (sh). 10. Erie, Brown 23 (Fox, Evans), 17:50 (pp). 11. Saginaw, Josh Shalla 35 (Lopez, Ross), 18:33. Penalties — Archibald (S) slashing, 5:15; Saginaw, too many men (served by Perklin), 16:05.

3^rd Period — 12. Erie, Kris Grant 2 (Olden), 11:10. 13. Erie, Dane Fox 22 (Pelech, 14:56 (pp). 14. Erie, Stephen Harper 20 (McDowell, Fox), 19:15. Penalties — Trocheck (S) kneeing, 5:24; Saad (S) interference, 11:26; Saad (S) unsportsmanlike conduct, 11:26; Evans (E) 5-min. fighting, 18:14; Webermin (S) 5-min. fighting, 18:14.

Overtime — None. Penalties — Archibald (S) closing hand on puck, 4:21.

Shootout — Fox (E) no goal, Amestoy (S) goal, Olden (E) no goal, Trocheck (S) no goal, Cairns (E) no goal.

Shots on goal — Saginaw, 13-15-7-4-1—40; Erie, 9-16-14-2-0—41.

Goaltenders — Saginaw, Clint Windsor 14-7-2-3 (41 shots, 34 saves); Erie, Ramis Sadikov 6-22-3-2 (22 shots, 18 saves), Devin Williams (17 shots 14 saves).

Power plays — Saginaw (0-0), Erie (3-7).

Referees — Joel Washkurak, Korey Bannerman. Linesmen — Ray King, Adam Harris.

Attendance — 2,314.

Three stars

* Connor Brown, Otters (2 goals, assist) ** Dane Fox, Otters (goal, 2 assists) *** Brandon Saad, Spirit (2 SH goals)

The Erie Otters faced a three-goal deficit for the second straight night on Saturday.
But unlike a 7-4 win against Brampton on Friday, there was no comeback victory.
Saginaw goaltender Jake Paterson made that lead stand up, as he stopped 40 shots and recorded his first OHL shutout in the Spirit’s 3-0 win against the Otters in front of 3,814 at Tullio Arena. His solid effort helped the Spirit (23-22-0-5) snap the Otters’ two-game streak. Paterson has stopped 83-of-84 shots in two games against the Otters this season.
Erie (7-38-3-1) was shut out for the fourth time this season after totaling 14 goals in their previous two games. That overshadowed a 30-save effort by rookie goaltender Devin Williams, who earned his first career loss in his first home start and second start overall.
Williams, a native of Saginaw, Mich., had an inauspicious start to his home debut for the Otters. During the game’s opening power play, Brandon Saad fired a wrist shot – Saginaw’s first shot of the game – past a surprised Williams to hand the Sting a 1-0 lead 2:49 into the game. But Williams settled down after that.
He stopped the Sting’s final nine shots in the period. Meanwhile, Paterson stopped all 13 shot he faced to keep the Otters scoreless in the first period. Saginaw added to its lead on Josh Shalla‘s 25th goal of the season 4:38 into the second period. He slipped a shot past Williams from in front to hand the Spirit a 2-0 lead.
Then with 8:24 left in the second, the Otters faced a 3-0 deficit for the second straight night. Saad scored his second goal of the game on assists from Shalla and Vincent Trocheck for the Spirit’s second power-play goal on two chances.
Paterson took over down the stretch, as he stopped all 16 Otters’ shots in the third period.
Saad, who added an assist, finished with three points for the Spirit. Shalla (goal, assist) and Trocheck (two assists) added two points apiece.

- Victor Fernandes

SUMMARY

SPIRIT 3, OTTERS 0
Saginaw 1 2 0 — 3
Erie 0 0 0 — 0
1st Period — 1. Saginaw, Brandon Saad 17 (Trocheck, Walch), 2:49 (pp). Penalties — Olden (E) checking from behind, 1:24; Ringuette (S) hooking, 19:05.
2nd Period — 2. Saginaw, Josh Shalla 25 (Fine, Saad), 4:38. 3. Saginaw, Saad 18 (Shalla, Trocheck), 11:36 (pp). Penalties — Glass (E) holding, 10:34; Amestoy (S) goaltender interference, 16:49; Walch (S) tripping, 17:37; Wood (E) checking to the head, 18:41; Fox (E) roughing, 18:56; Archibald (S) roughing, 18:56.
3rd Period — None. Penalties — Schumacher (S) hooking, 4:29; Brown (E) unsportsmanlike conduct, 9:01; Trocheck (S) unsportsmanlike conduct, 9:01; Erie, too many men (served by McDonnell), 13:16; Trocheck (S) interference, 13:49; Cairns (E) hooking, 17:54.
Shots on goal — Saginaw, 10-15-8—33; Erie, 13-11-16—40.
Goaltenders — Saginaw, Jake Paterson 12-15-0-2 (40 shots, 40 saves); Erie, Devin Williams 1-1-0-0 (33 shots, 30 saves).
Power plays — Saginaw (2-5), Erie (0-5).
Referees — Jason Faist, Ben Wilson. Linesmen — Adam Harris, Mike Harrington.
Attendance — 3,814.

Three stars
* Brandon Saad, Spirit (2 goals, assist) ** Jake Paterson, Spirit (40 saves) *** Devin Williams, Otters (30 saves)

Otters Watch

What: Erie Otters (17-17-1-1) at Saginaw Spirit (23-7-3-1)

When: Wednesday, 7:11 p.m.

Where: Dow Event Center – Saginaw, Mich.

On the air: WFNN-AM/1330, www.ottershockey.com (live stream)

Players to watch

Erie – C Greg McKegg (25 goals, 29 assists, 54 points), RW Shawn Szydlowski (17-15-32), RW Anthony Luciani (13-17-30), G Ramis Sadikov (17-12-1-1 record, 2.92 goals-against average, .912 save percentage, 2 shutouts), C Phil Varone (13-14-27)

Saginaw – LW Josh Shalla (29-12-41), G Mavric Parks (17-7-0-1, 2.57, .927), C Vincent Trocheck (15-22-37), LW Brandon Saad (20-16-36), RW Jordan Szwarz (13-18-31)

Fast facts

Erie – The Otters continue a three-goal West Division road trip with a matchup against the Western Conference’s top team. … The Otters are 1-5-0-1 against West Division teams, including a pair of one-goal home losses to the Spirit (3-2 on Sept. 25 and 4-3 on Nov. 12). … They won both meetings in Saginaw last season. … The Otters are without rookie LW Chris Marchese (3-7-10) and rookie D Adam Pelech (1-5-6, plus-1), who are representing Ontario in the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. Ontario begins play today at 8:30 p.m. against Czech Republic in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. The tournament runs through Tuesday. … Sadikov extended his franchise-record streak of consecutive starts to 26 games in Tuesday’s loss to Plymouth. … The Otters are 8-9-1-0 on the road.

Saginaw – The Spirit hold a six-point lead over Midwest Division-leading Kitchener and Owen Sound atop the conference. … Saad, a native of the Pittsburgh suburb of Gibsonia, and Trocheck will play in the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, set for Jan. 19 in Toronto. They are rated among the top five OHL prospects eligible for the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. … Shalla is tied with Ottawa RW Tyler Toffoli for the league lead in goals. Yet he doesn’t rank among the top 20 in points. … Parks leads the league in save percentage and ranks among the top five in wins and goals-against average. … The Spirit rank among the league leaders in goals scored (129) and goals against (95). … They are 13-2-1-0 at home – the third-best record in the league behind Mississauga St. Michael’s (14-1-0-1) and Kitchener (14-1-2-1).

Up next: at Windsor (Friday, 2:05 p.m.), vs. Niagara (Jan. 5, 7 p.m.)

– Victor Fernandes

What: Saginaw Spirit (13-4-1-1) at Erie Otters (7-12-1-0)

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Where: Tullio Arena

On the air: WFNN-AM/1330, www.ottershockey.com (live stream)

Players to watch

Erie – C Greg McKegg (11 goals, 16 assists, 27 points), G Ramis Sadikov (7-9-1-0 record, 2.90 goals-against average, .912 save percentage, 1 shutout), RW Shawn Szydlowski (7-11-18), D Tyler Hostetter (3-12-15), RW Anthony Luciani (4-3-7 in 6 games)

Saginaw – LW Brandon Saad (11-10-21, 6 power-play goals), C Vincent Trocheck (9-11-20), RW Jordan Szwarz (7-10-17), C Ivan Telegin (5-12-17), LW Josh Shalla (13-2-15, 6 PPG)

Fast facts

Erie – The Otters have a two-game winning streak for the first time in a month. They also have won three of their last four. … They haven’t won three straight since February. … The Otters are 4-3 during a key nine-game stretch that concludes this weekend with two of eight home games. … C Mike Cazzola (broken wrist) will miss the next six to 12 weeks, coach Robbie Ftorek confirmed Thursday. … Luciani had a goal and assist in Wednesday’s win against Guelph, his first game since breaking his right wrist a month ago. … Sadikov has started the past 10 games. He leads the OHL with 1,034 minutes played – 159 more than London’s Michael Houser – and ranks among the top 10 in goals-against average and save percentage. … Szydlowski had three assists against the Storm after missing the previous two games because he was ill. … D Brady Austin (neck spasms) missed Wednesday’s game but will play tonight. … McKegg has only four goals and seven points in his past 12 games. He’s still tied for seventh overall in scoring. … The penalty kill has stopped 23 straight chances to reach ninth in the league (81.6 percent).

Saginaw – The Western Conference-leading Spirit have lost two straight and three of their last four games, including a 5-4 loss at Niagara on Thursday. … Saad, a native of the Pittsburgh suburb of Gibsonia, leads the Spirit’s offense in his rookie season. … They are third in the league on the power play (21.7 percent) and second on the penalty kill (86.7). … They have one of the league’s most potent offenses without a single player among the top 20 scorers. … G Mavric Parks (8-4-0-1, 2.58, .927) was the league’s goaltender of the month for October.

Up next: vs. London (Saturday, 7 p.m.), at Peterborough (Thursday, 7 p.m.)

The Saginaw Spirit took a pair of one-goal lead. The Erie Otters erased those deficits both times.

But the third time around wasn’t the charm for the Otters.

Spirit center Vincent Trocheck’s second goal snapped a tie with 3 minutes, 42 seconds left and handed the Otters a 3-2 loss in front of a home-opening crowd of 4,746 at Tullio Arena on Saturday night.

The Otters (1-1-0-0) began the game with the spirit of former Otter Vince Scott on their side. The club honored Scott, who died in automobile accident in April, by retiring his No. 16 in a pregame ceremony.

But the Spirit overcame the Otters’ emotionally charged start to the game. Then Saginaw snapped the scoreless tie on rookie Brandon Saad’s first Ontario Hockey League goal 5:33 into the opening period.

Saad, a Pittsburgh native and projected top-five pick in the 2011 National Hockey League Entry Draft, banged in a rebound on the power play during a goal-mouth scramble.

Two minutes later, Otters defenseman Tyler Hostetter fired a wrist shot past Spirit goaltender Mavric Parks to tie the score at 1. Other than that, the Otters couldn’t solve the overage Parks. He stopped 14-of-15 shots in the first period. The Otters outshot Saginaw 15-6 in the period.

Erie’s commanding lead in shots continued in the second. The Otters fired 14 more shots at Parks. But the Spirit scored midway through the period, as Trocheck fired a wrist shot over Otters goaltender Ramis Sadikov’s left shoulder for a 2-1 lead at the 9:20 mark.

Yet the teams headed to the second intermission tied at 2. Anthony Luciani, who has filled departed captain Zack Torquato’s spot on the Otters’ No. 1 line, scored his second goal in two nights off assists from linemates Greg McKegg and Mike Cazzola with 30 seconds left in the period.

The Otters dominated the opening half of the third period. They held the Spirit without a shot on goal for 10-plus minutes. But the Otters failed to capitalize on several quality scoring chances.

The Spirit responded with 12 shots on goal down the stretch. Trocheck scored the game-winner on a 4-on-4 situation to snap the 2-2 tie and hand the Spirit (1-1-0-0) their first win of the season.

SUMMARY

Spirit 3, Otters 2

Saginaw  1  1  1  —  3

Erie  1  1  0  —  2

1^st Period — 1. Saginaw, Brandon Saad 1 (Ashman, Telegin), 5:33 (pp). 2. Erie, Tyler Hostetter 1 (Luciani, Cazzola), 7:36. Penalties — Szwarz (S) slashing. :04; Paton (E) checking from behind, 4:55; Saad (S) 10-min. misconduct, 7:36; Trocheck (S) unsportsmanlike conduct, 10:53; Szydlowski (E) hooking, 15:06; Hermenegildo (S) roughing, 16:46.

2^nd Period — 3. Saginaw, Vincent Trocheck 1 (O’Connor, Saad), 9:20. 4. Erie, Anthony Luciani 2 (McKegg, Cazzola), 19:30. Penalties — Broll (E) 5-min. fighting, :02; Kantor (S) 5-min. fighting, :02; Sgarbossa (S) cross checking, 11:02; Hermenegildo (S) checking from behind, 19:49; Appio (E) 10-min. misconduct, 19:49; Kantor (S) 10-min. misconduct, 19:49.

3^rd Period — 5. Saginaw, Trocheck 2 (Szwarz, O’Connor), 16:18. Penalties — Shalla (S) interference, 11:46; Austin (E) checking from behind, 14:18; Walch (S) holding, 16:02.

Shots on goal — Saginaw, 6-10-12—28; Erie, 15-14-7—36.

Goaltenders — Saginaw, Mavric Parks 1-1-0-0 (36 shots, 34 saves); Erie, Ramis Sadikov 1-1-0-0 (28 shots, 25 saves).

Power plays — Saginaw (1-3), Erie (0-7).

Referees — Jason Faist, Darcy Burchell. Linesmen — Fraiser MacIntire, Ray King.

Attendance — 4,746.

Three stars

* Vincent Trocheck, Spirit (2 goals) ** Anthony Luciani, Otters (goal, assist) *** Mike Cazzola, Otters (2 assists)

What: Saginaw Spirit (0-1-0-0) at Erie Otters (1-0-0-0)

When: Today, 7 p.m.*

Where: Tullio Arena

On the air: WFNN-AM/1330, www.ottershockey.com (live stream)

Players to watch

Erie – C Greg McKegg (0 goals, 0 assists, 0 points), C Mike Cazzola (1-1-2), RW Anthony Luciani (1-0-1), RW Shawn Szydlowski (0-2-2), G Ramis Sadikov (1-0-0-0 record, 1.00 goals-against average, .979 save percentage)

Saginaw – LW Josh Shalla (1-1-2), C Michael Sgarbossa (1-0-1), C Vincent Trocheck (0-1-1), C Brandon Saad (0-0-0), G Mavric Parks (0-1-0-0, 5.00, .889)

Vince Scott (Contributed/Erie Otters)

Fast facts

Erie – The Otters will retire the late Vince Scott’s No. 18 in a pregame ceremony. Scott, who played in Erie from 2003-07, died in an automobile accident in April. Scott, whose family will attend the game, joins Brad Boyes as the only players in franchise history to have their numbers retired. … The Otters have an 8-5-1 all-time record in home openers. They snapped a two-game home-opening winning streak with a 5-4 overtime loss to London last season. … The Otters haven’t won two straight to start a season since a three-game streak in 2002-03. … McKegg, who was named the 11^th captain in team history on Friday, rejoined the team in time for a season-opening win in Brampton. He scored a goal in his NHL preseason debut with the Toronto Maple Leafs. … Rookies Kris Grant, Chris Marchese and Adam Pelech recorded their first OHL points in the opener.

Saginaw – The Spirit opened the season with a 5-2 loss in Kitchener on Friday. … Saad, a native of the Pittsburgh suburb of Gibsonia, joined the Spirit this season after completing a two-year stint with the United States National Team Development Program. Saad, a projected top-five pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, didn’t record a point in his Spirit debut. … The Spirit lost all four meetings with the Otters last season. … Sgarbossa signed an entry-level contract with the NHL’s San Jose Sharks on Tuesday.

Up next: at Niagara (Thursday, 7 p.m.), at Kitchener (Friday, 7:30 p.m.)

* Opening faceoff is set for approximately 7:20 p.m. because of the pregame ceremony