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)

Erie Otters (7-38-3-2) at Saginaw Spirit (24-22-0-5)

When: Friday, 7:11 p.m.

Where: Dow Event Center

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

Up next: at Windsor (Saturday, 7:05 p.m.), vs. Niagara (Wednesday, 7 p.m.)

Fast facts: The Otters have scored a combined one goal in a two-game losing streak after scoring 14 goals in the previous two games, both wins. … The Otters, which have allowed an OHL-worst 237 goals, have surrendered three goals or fewer in seven of their last 11 games. … The Otters are 28 points out of the Western Conference’s final playoff spot with 18 games left. Any combination of Erie losses and wins by eighth-place Guelph or Sault Ste. Marie totaling nine points would eliminate the Otters. … LW Stephen Harper (17 goals, 5 assists, 22 points) leads all players from the 2011 OHL draft class with 17 goals. He’s tied for third among all rookies in goals and among the top 20 in points. … RW Connor Brown (18-17-35) ranks second among rookies in goals, third in points and fifth in assists. … RW Johnny McGuire is expected to serve a one-game suspension for a game misconduct Wednesday against Owen Sound. He fought LW Daniel Zweep at the start of the first period. … LW Anthony Cortellessa (sore back muscle) rejoined the lineup Wednesday after missing both of last weekend’s games. … The Otters have lost five straight overtime or shootout games after posting wins against Kitchener (4-3 in OT) and Guelph (3-2 in SO) on consecutive nights Oct. 28-29. … Saginaw has won three straight and earned points in nine of 10 games (7-1-0-2) to move into sixth in the West standings. The Spirit are three points behind fourth-place Sarnia. … The Spirit are 23-14-0-5 since starting the season 1-8. … The Spirit are sixth in the OHL with 185 goals scored, but are in the bottom five with 205 goals against. Yet they posted their first shutout win of the season in a 3-0 victory against the Otters last Saturday. … C Vincent Trocheck, a Pittsburgh native, is tied for fourth in the league with 40 assists and tied for seventh with 65 points. … LW Josh Shalla ranks among the top 15 in goals (26). … The broadcast of Saturday’s game at Windsor can be heard on a tape-delayed basis after the Erie BayHawks game.

- Victor Fernandes

NEW YORK – The Detroit Red Wings will host the Toronto Maple Leafs at Michigan Stadium on the University of Michigan campus in the 2013 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic on Tuesday, Jan. 1, the National Hockey League announced today.

Nicknamed “The Big House,” the stadium is the largest in North America.  It is anticipated that the 2013 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic could set an all-time world attendance record for a hockey game.  The game will be broadcast live on NBC in the U.S. and on CBC and RDS in Canada.

“The Red Wings’ tradition of excellence, Detroit’s passion for hockey and the glorious history of the Maple Leafs create a Winter Classic scenario for the ages,” Commissioner Gary Bettman said. “The meeting of these two ‘Original Six’ rivals, at this iconic venue, will lift this Winter Classic to incomparable heights. The demand to be there will be so great that this event could only be held at ‘The Big House.’”

In concert with the 2013 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic, beginning in mid-December Comerica Park in downtown Detroit will be home to a celebration of hockey titled the Hockeytown Winter Festival™.  The main attraction of the festival will be an ice rink built on the Comerica Park field where a special game between notable Red Wings and Maple Leafs alumni – the NHL Alumni Showdown – will be played.

The outdoor rink at Comerica Park will feature games between teams representing every level of hockey and opportunities for open skating for the public.  Over a quarter of a million fans are expected to watch youth games, high school hockey games, sled hockey games, AHL games, OHL games and more.  The Grand Rapids Griffins, the AHL affiliate of the Red Wings, will play the Toronto Marlies, the AHL affiliate of the Maple Leafs, on the Comerica Park rink.

For the first time in its history, the Great Lakes Invitational will be played outdoors as Michigan Tech, the University of Michigan, Michigan State and Western Michigan University will be part of the Hockeytown Winter Festival.  Also, the ballpark will host two OHL matchups: the Windsor Spitfires vs. Saginaw Spirit and the Plymouth Whalers vs. London Knights.

“Mike and Marian Ilitch are deeply committed to their beloved Detroit.  That commitment has never wavered,” Commissioner Bettman added.  “The Hockeytown Winter Festival is just the latest example of their passion for their city and for hockey.”

The 2013 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic continues the tradition the NHL has established of hosting a regular-season game outdoors at the onset of the new year to celebrate the origin and traditions of hockey.  This season in Philadelphia, both the 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® between the Flyers and New York Rangers and the alumni game two days prior attracted sellout crowds.  More than 100,000 fans visited Spectator Plaza, the official outdoor hockey festival adjacent to the ballpark.

Further details on the 2013 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic, including the official event logo, ticketing information and uniform design for each team, will be released in the coming months.  Fans can visit www.NHL.com/winterclassic and www.Detroitredwings.com/2013winterclassic for the latest news.

- From NHL news release

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)

This week, I’ll break down all 20 OHL clubs division by division and unveil my predictions for the 2011-12 season. Today, let’s look at the Western Conference’s West Division (listed in alphabetical order):

Plymouth Whalers

Coach/GM: Michael Vellucci

2008-09 finish: 36-26-2-4, 3^rd division, 6^th conference

Playoff finish: Lost to Owen Sound 4-0 in conference semifinals

Key players: G Scott Wedgewood (28-18-1-1 record, 2.99 goals-against average, .908 save percentage, 2 shutouts; New Jersey prospect), RW Stefan Noesen (33-44-77; Ottawa prospect), C Mitchell Heard (20-30-50; Toronto prospect), D Beau Schmitz (7-23-30; Carolina prospect), C Rickard Rakell (20-25-45; Anaheim prospect)

Key losses: C Robbie Czarnik (33-44-77), LW Tyler Brown (25-34-59), RW James Livingston (22-27-49), LW Jamie Devane (18-20-38; signed with Toronto)

Outlook: Noesen blossomed into a big-time player in his second season. Now he leads a club that returns quality players at every position, including Wedgewood in net, Schmitz on defense and Heard up front.

Saginaw Spirit

Coach/GM: Todd Watson

2008-09 finish: 40-22-4-2, 1^st division, 2^nd conference

Playoff finish: Lost to Windsor 4-2 in conference semifinals

Key players: LW Josh Shalla (47-25-72; Nashville prospect), RW Jordan Szwarz (27-39-66; signed with Phoenix), C Vincent Trocheck (26-36-62; Florida prospect), LW Brandon Saad (27-28-55), C John McFarland (25-13-38; signed with Florida)

Key losses: C Ivan Telegin (20-41-61; traded to Barrie; signed with Winnipeg), C Mathew Sisca (12-30-42)

Outlook: The Spirit’s once-promising season ended in the second round against the rival Spitfires. Yet they still have enough talent to make a deep playoff run, as long as Tadeas Galansky plays well in net.

Sarnia Sting

Coach/GM: Jacques Beaulieu

2008-09 finish: 25-36-5-2, 4^th division, 0^th conference

Playoff finish: Did not qualify

Key players: RW Nail Yakupov (49-52-101), C Alex Galchenyuk (31-52-83), G Brandon Maxwell (23-15-4-2, 3.22, .903, 1 SO with Kitchener), C Taylor Carnevale (35-35-70 with Barrie/Windsor; Los Angeles prospect), RW Brett Ritchie (21-20-41; Dallas prospect)

Key losses: LW Kale Kerbashian (37-51-88), LW Tyler Peters (21-40-61), D Joe Rogalski (7-25-32; traded to Sault Ste. Marie)

Outlook: Yakupov and Galchenyuk were the most notable rookie tandem in the league last season. But the Sting added a few key pieces in Carnevale and Maxwell through offseason trades.

Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds

Coach/GM: Mike Stapleton/Kyle Dubas

2008-09 finish: 24-36-5-3, 5^th division, 10^th conference

Playoff finish: Did not qualify

Key players: C Nick Cousins (29-39-68; Philadelphia prospect), RW Andrew Fritsch (27-35-62 with Owen Sound; Phoenix prospect), LW David Broll (13-21-34 with Erie/Sault Ste. Marie; signed with Toronto), D Joe Rogalski (7-25-32 with Sarnia; Pittsburgh prospect), RW Carson Dubchak (18-22-40)

Key losses: C Daniel Catenacci (26-45-71; traded to Owen Sound), LW Vern Cooper (25-35-60), G Chris Perugini (17-21-4-1, 3.96, .885, 1 SO; has left the club, according to The Sault Star)

Outlook: Stapleton, the Otters’ former associate/assistant coach, rejoins the Greyhounds after a season as an assistant coach with the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch. He will continue the rebuilding process.

Windsor Spitfires

Coach/GM: Bob Boughner/Warren Rychel

2008-09 finish: 39-23-3-3, 2^nd division, 4^th conference

Playoff finish: Lost to Owen Sound 4-1 in conference finals

Key players: C Alexander Khokhlachev (34-42-76; Boston prospect), LW Tom Kuhnhackl (39-29-68; signed with Pittsburgh), G Jack Campbell (24-14-2-2, 3.80, .884; signed with Dallas), D Nick Ebert (11-30-41), D Adrian Robertson (5-21-26)

Key losses: D Ryan Ellis (24-77-101; signed with Nashville), RW Zack Kassian (26-51-77; signed with Buffalo), C Taylor Carnevale (35-35-70; traded to Sarnia), RW Kenny Ryan (21-37-58; signed with Toronto), C Stephen Johnston (21-29-50)

Outlook: Ellis and Kassian, key members of the Spitfires’ consecutive league and Memorial Cup title teams from 2008-10. Now they have passed the torch to Khokhlachev, Kuhnhackl and company.

- Victor Fernandes

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League conducted its Board of Governors Annual Meeting in Niagara August 10-12 at which time Ottawa 67’s Owner and Governor Jeff Hunt succeeded Erie Otters Governor and General Manager Sherry Bassin as OHL Chairman of the Board. In addition, Saginaw Spirit Managing Partner, President and Governor Craig Goslin was elected to the league’s Executive Council as Member at Large.
Also included on the agenda were matters pertaining to social media and player safety with recommendations on these two areas to be brought forward to the General Managers meeting next Thursday, August 25, 2011.

- From OHL news release

The Erie Otters’ Ramis Sadikov is among six finalists for the OHL’s goaltender of the year award, which will be announced Thursday.
Here are the finalists:

Ramis Sadikov, Erie Otters
JP Anderson, Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors
Mark Visentin, Niagara IceDogs
Petr Mrazek, Ottawa 67’s
Scott Wedgewood, Plymouth Whalers
Mavric Parks, Saginaw Spirit

Ontario Hockey League playoff previews

Conference quarterfinals (best-of-seven series)

Western Conference

No. 1 Owen Sound Attack vs. No. 8 London Knights

Season records: Owen Sound 46-17-1-4, London 34-29-4-1

Season series: Tied 3-3

Players to watch

Owen Sound – C Joey Hishon (37 goals, 50 assists, 87 points), LW Garrett Wilson (40-46-86), LW Andrew Fritsch (28-35-63), RW Bobby Mignardi (30-31-61), D Jesse Blacker (10-44-54)

London – RW Jared Knight (25-45-70), C Vladislav Namestnikov (30-38-68), G Michael Houser (30-19-4-1 record, 3.32 goals-against average, .904 save percentage, 1 shutout), RW Seth Griffith (22-40-62), D Scott Harrington (6-16-22)

Outlook: The Attack have the players in place to make a deep playoff run. They also have home-ice advantage over all conference opponents. But will that be enough to win the West?

Prediction: Owen Sound in 5 games

Series schedule

Game 1 – Friday at Owen Sound, 7:30 p.m.

Game 2 – Saturday at London, 7 p.m.

Game 3 – Tuesday at Owen Sound, 7 p.m.

Game 4 – March 31 at London, 7 p.m.

Game 5 – April 2 at Owen Sound, 7:30 p.m.*

Game 6 – April 3 at London, 4 p.m.*

Game 7 – April 5 at Owen Sound, 7 p.m.*

* If necessary

No. 2 Saginaw Spirit vs. No. 7 Guelph Storm

Season records: Saginaw 40-22-4-2, Guelph 34-27-4-3

Season series: Tied 2-2

Players to watch

Saginaw – LW Josh Shalla (47-25-72), RW Jordan Szwarz (27-39-66), C Vincent Trocheck (26-36-62), C Ivan Telegin (20-41-61), D Ryan O’Connor (9-32-41)

Guelph – RW Taylor Beck (42-53-95), C Michael Latta (34-55-89), C Peter Holland (37-51-88), LW Daniel Erlich (20-44-64), RW Richard Panik (27-29-56)

Outlook: If the Storm were more than a three-player team (Beck, Holland and Latta), they would be a tempting upset pick. But the Spirit are a deeper team. And in a seven-game series, that means a lot.

Prediction: Saginaw in 6 games

Series schedule

Game 1 – Friday at Saginaw, 7:11 p.m.

Game 2 – Sunday at Guelph, 2 p.m.

Game 3 – Monday at Saginaw, 7:11 p.m.

Game 4 – March 31 at Guelph, 7 p.m.

Game 5 – April 2 at Saginaw, 7:11 p.m.*

Game 6 – April 3 at Guelph, 7 p.m.*

Game 7 – April 5 at Saginaw, 7:11 p.m.*

* If necessary

No. 3 Kitchener Rangers vs. No. 6 Plymouth Whalers

Season records: Kitchener 38-21-4-5, Plymouth 36-26-2-4

Season series: Kitchener won 3-1

Players to watch

Kitchener – RW Jason Akeson (24-84-108), D Ryan Murphy (26-53-79), RW Gabriel Landeskog (36-30-66), LW Matthew Tipoff (25-35-60), D Jamie Doornbosch (19-29-48)

Plymouth – RW Stefan Noesen (34-43-77), C Robbie Czarnik (33-44-77), G Scott Wedgewood (28-18-1-1, 2.99, .908, 2 SO), LW Tyler Brown (25-32-57), D Beau Schmitz (7-24-31)

Outlook: The Rangers enter the playoffs on a seven-game losing streak. But with Murphy back on the blue line and an offense led by Akeson and Landeskog, Kitchener will rebound against the Whalers.

Prediction: Kitchener in 6 games

Series schedule

Game 1 – Friday at Kitchener, 7:30 p.m.

Game 2 – Saturday at Plymouth, 7:05 p.m.

Game 3 – Monday at Kitchener, 7 p.m.

Game 4 – Wednesday at Plymouth, 7:05 p.m.

Game 5 – April 1 at Kitchener, 7:30 p.m.*

Game 6 – April 2 at Plymouth, 7:05 p.m.*

Game 7 – April 4 at Kitchener, 7 p.m.*

* If necessary

No. 4 Windsor Spitfires vs. No. 5 Erie Otters

Season records: Windsor 39-23-3-3, Erie 40-26-1-1

Season series: Tied 2-2

Players to watch

Windsor – D Ryan Ellis (24-76-100), RW Zack Kassian (26-51-77), C Alexander Khokhlachev (34-42-76), C Taylor Carnevale (35-35-70), LW Tom Kuhnhackl (39-29-68)

Erie – LW Greg McKegg (49-43-92), RW Brett Thompson (44-40-84), C Phil Varone (34-48-82), RW Shawn Szydlowski (41-37-78), G Ramis Sadikov (36-17-1-1, 2.88, .912, 2 SO)

Outlook: The Otters have the most talented – and most dangerous – team in the West. The two-time defending champion Spitfires stand in their way. But that won’t be enough to stop the Otters.

Prediction: Erie in 6 games

Series schedule

Game 1 – Today at Windsor, 7:05 p.m.

Game 2 – Saturday at Erie, 7 p.m.

Game 3 – Monday at Windsor, 7:05 p.m.

Game 4 – Wednesday at Erie, 7 p.m.

Game 5 – April 1 at Windsor, 7:05 p.m.*

Game 6 – April 3 at Erie, 4:30 p.m.*

Game 7 – April 5 at Windsor, 7:05 p.m.*

* If necessary

Read the rest of this entry »

What: Erie Otters (39-26-1-1) at Saginaw Spirit (40-21-3-2)

When: Friday, 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 (47 goals, 43 assists, 90 points), C Brett Thompson (44-38-82), C Phil Varone (32-47-79), RW Shawn Szydlowski (41-37-77), RW Anthony Luciani (29-47-76)

Saginaw – LW Josh Shalla (46-24-70), RW Jordan Szwarz (27-39-66), C Vincent Trocheck (25-35-60), Ivan Telegin (19-40-59), LW Brandon Saad (27-28-55)

Fast facts

Erie – The Otters enter their regular-season finale on a seven-game winning streak – their longest since the middle of the 2008-09 season. … The Otters need a win to become the third team in franchise history to reach 40 wins. The Otters won 45 games in 2000-01 and 41 in 2001-02. … They lost the first three meetings with the Spirit this season, but the teams last met on Dec. 29. … McKegg needs three goals to join Cory Pecker (53 in 2001-02) as the only players in franchise history to reach 50. With a career-high, 14-game point streak (nine goals, 24 points), McKegg has joined Pecker (99 in 2001-02), Rob Hisey (96 in 2003-04) and Zack Torquato (93 in 2009-10) as the only Otters to reach 90 points in a season. … Luciani needs one goal to reach 30 for the second straight season. He would be the fifth Otter to reach that mark this season, which would be the most in the OHL. … The Otters have set a new franchise record with 277 goals, surpassing the 271 scored in 1998-99. … They are second in the league in goals, behind only Mississauga St. Michael’s (281).

Saginaw – The Spirit clinched the West Division title and No. 2 seed in the Western Conference playoffs with a 5-0 win at Windsor on Thursday. … They rank in the league’s bottom half in goals scored (237), but are fourth in goals against (198). … They have rebounded from a stretch of six losses in eight games with two straight wins. … Shalla ranks fifth in the league in goals. … G Mavric Parks ranks among the top seven in wins (27), goals-against average (2.94) and save percentage (.914).

Up next: OHL playoffs – first round vs. Windsor (dates and times TBD)

– Victor Fernandes

OTTAWA, Ontario – The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) and the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) announced today that two junior hockey players were each assessed an eight-game suspension for anti-doping rule violations.

The violations resulted from urine samples collected during in-competition doping control in November 2010 which revealed the presence of methylhexaneamine, a prohibited stimulant.

Under the rules of the CHL Anti-Doping Policy, Plymouth Whalers’ player Alexander Aleardi and Saginaw Spirit player Ryan O’Connor were each assessed an eight-game suspension for a first violation for using a prohibited substance.

“These players and the teams concerned were extremely cooperative throughout the process. We are completely satisfied that the players used a supplement which they had purchased over the counter at a local retail outlet and had no knowledge that it contained a stimulant,” said CHL President David Branch.

Methylhexaneamine is banned in-competition by the World Anti-Doping Agency’s Prohibited List, which is recognized by the CHL. In Canada, methylhexaneamine is not an ingredient in medications licensed by Health Canada but can be found in supplements.

“Athletes who choose to use supplements must be very careful about the source and purpose of their products,” said Paul Melia, President and CEO of the CCES. “Under CHL anti-doping rules, athletes are strictly liable for any substance found in their doping control sample, regardless of how it got there.”

“The Ontario Hockey League is committed to the ongoing education of all of our players relative to drug-free sport, and looks forward to continuing to work with the CCES to support the health and welfare of all players,” stated Mr. Branch.

The CCES is an independent, national, non-profit organization. Our mission, to foster ethical sport for all Canadians, is carried out through research, promotion, education, detection and deterrence, as well as through programs and partnerships with other organizations.

- From CHL news release