- After posting a 4-1-1 record since our coverage in late January, the Stouffville Spirit have overtaken the Lindsay Muskies and reached eighth place in the OJHL Eastern Conference.
- This eighth spot represents the Conference’s final playoff berth, with only ten games remaining in the 2023-2024 regular season.
- After a tough overtime loss against the St. Michaels Buzzers yesterday, Stouffville will need to keep fighting to stay in contention.
- The first game of this crucial stretch will take place at home against the Eastern Conference’s top-ranked Trenton Golden Hawks tomorrow night.
- The puck will drop at 7:30 p.m. in what promises to be an exciting contest at the Stouffville Arena.
“We have worked hard to put ourselves in the position we are in,” Spirit Coach TJ Hill told Bullet Point News. “There is a lot of work left to do as we have a number of games against very good hockey teams, and we’re focused on what we can control: our effort, preparation, and commitment to the process of getting better every day.”
The Spirit are currently two points up on the Lindsay Muskies and two points down on the Haliburton County Huskies. This brings the potential for added security with continued success, but also the threat of a determined challenger eager to take back their place if things go awry.
Haliburton will play two games this weekend, and Lindsay goes the distance with three, meaning a much different playoff picture could emerge by Sunday night.
Community support can go a long way with narrow margins underlying a team facing their final regular season games, and that starts with tomorrow’s home matchup against Trenton. Funds will be raised for the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ Stouffville shelter, and local favourite Kendall Lily will perform the national anthem. Lily will also put on a pregame concert in the Stouffville Arena lobby from 6:50 to 7:25 p.m.
*Cover photo taken by Tim Bates, courtesy of OJHL Images
