- Since their shut-out performance against the Pickering Panthers on December 19, the Stouffville Spirit have gone just 1-4-1 in their last six games.
- The slump has caused them to drop in Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) East Conference points, adding to their workload as they strive to regain playoff contention over the remainder of the season.
- The team is currently on a game break with a two-week down-period between their last matchup and an upcoming home contest against Leamington on January 20.
- “Despite not getting the results we wanted the last couple of weeks, we remain together and focused on growth and improvement,” Spirit coach TJ Hill told Bullet Point News.
- Coach Hill sees the break as an excellent opportunity to rest, reset, and recover from what has been a busy early-winter schedule.
- “We have a lot of time to heal, practice, and learn from the last couple of weeks, and we intend to use that time as best we can to make ourselves better,” Hill explained. “We are excited about the opportunity we have to put our best foot forward down the stretch and finish the season strong.”
- The 17-15-3 Spirit squad remains in the ninth spot within the OJHL East Conference; however, they are now down three wins and six points from the eighth-place Lindsay Muskies.
- The regular season ends on March 8, and that eighth-place standing is the final East Conference playoff berth.
- Residents can come out to the Stouffville Arena at 7:30 p.m. on January 20 to support the team as they continue their hunt for a postseason opportunity.
Photo by Paul Mauceri, courtesy of OJHL Images
