The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

BY MICHAEL HAYAKAWA nlhay¢akawa@yrmg.mm The word quit is not a pan of Daryl Thomson's vocabulary. In fact. he disdaifis it with a passion and refuses to think of it. Especially when it was suggested to the Stouffviile resident he should stop playing competitive hockey after incur- ring two separate knee injuries. Theufirst of which took place two sea- sons ago when. as a member of the hem ton Golden Hawks. Thomson (ook a knee on knee hit and broke his right femur. Dealt to the Stouffville Sbirit part way through last season where he returned to active duty. Thomson was looking for- ward to building on a year in which he amassed seven goals and eight assists in 31 games. But in preparing for this season. the 19-year-old forward broke his right knee cap during a preseason game and was out indefiniter While doctors informed him it wouldn't be at least until lanuary when he could be back in action. Thomson's perseverance enabled him to join his Spirit teammates on the ice a little sooner than anticipated when they played host to his former Golden Hawks' club at the Stoufiville Arena just prior to the Christ- mas holiday break. “SHEER: Friday. StoufMlie Spint 3 vs. Lindsay Huskies 0. Spint recon: 12 wins. one ovenime win. one shootout win. one wartime ioss. two shootout iosses, 17 losses. 31 points. Founh place in North Division. Ontario Junior Hockey League comm UP: Today. vs. Pickering Pantheis at Stouflvilie Alena. 7:30 pm. Sundafi vs. Buffan Jr. Sabms at StoufMiie Arena. 2:30 pm. M m: Good paan can take adubawwaysfotmsmuflvmeSpiflt. the] hope Daniel Manneiia‘s pedonmnoe mmmmmmstm oontastsisasimofgoodminpdoanmo toad in pursunofeaminga berth in the “When i broke my femur l was told I wouldn't play again.” Thomson said. “I Acquired panwaythmum hstseason inauadewimmceomtomnRaiders. Mannella mowed his fist shutout this season afteran every shomsmcted athimina3~0madwinwermuwsay MmkiesFfldayFumeSpmmewinwas Mrseoondlnasmmdaysandmovod mmminfourpolnnwlmmmepmos InhandofmonaMHuMcanosm mwmmunmommsnndmgs andmoflMIplayoflspotinmeNonh-Em ThoSmewhldeonltsontyOJHLuuein 2012. missedtheplayomfofmeflmumo mmflnmorylastmn. Hot goaltender has Spirit talking OIHL playoffs again No’quit’in Daryl Thomson’s game Two serious'knee injuries can’t’keep Stouffville native down After a scoreless opening period that saw the Muskies direct 18 shots on Mannella. the Spirit's penalty-killing unit generated the game's first pal on an unassisted mariner by Michael Morgan alter they had just killed on the first ottwo minor penalties. For the Spirit. Morgan's pal marlted the third straight pme in which they'Ve scored while playing shorthanded. With the linal out- come still in doubt late in the third period. the Spirit added an insurance marlrer with just under four minutes to play in regulation time on a goal by recently acquired Andres Koptstals. Graham Pickard. another recent acquisition by the Spirit. rounded out the scorinzintoanernptynetvihehtheMuslr- ies pulled net minder Branden Francey in favour of an extra attacker. melon: With the league's trade deadline tomorrow. the Spirit haven't made any noise. But head coach Jeri Perrin hinted the club could malre some roster moves. (See yorkregioncom for our story and updates) Spirit gaduate Darren Archibald was recalled by the Vancouver Canucls trom their American Hockey League affiliate in Utica Tuesday He played for the Canucls in their 5-4 shootout loss to the Plttsburgh Penmlns that night He appeared in elm names earlier this season. FormerStoufiiIlIle resident Milne Galati won't be behind the Pickering bench said to myself ‘that wouldn‘t happen'. I battled through that and proved people wrong. . "And when I broke my knee cap I said to myself ‘wow. what's going on’. It went through my mind and I wondered if the hockey gods were on my side or not?- PNeryone said I wouldn't come back. "But I’m back. And I'm not giving up." ' .To get back on the ice for a game. Thomson said it was a moment he was waited patiently for. yet was anxious to do. 'Ib that he was quick to praise his trainers in assisting him through the pro- cess of making a full recovery. “It's a great feeling.” he said. “It's been a long time. It was definitely frustrating to be sitting out for as long as I had to when I heard my kneecap was broken. But the trainers that I had pushed me hard. My goal was to get back in the lineup early.” While Thomson felt 'good about his return. so too are the Spirit. as his pres. ence in their lineup provided a bit of a spark after earning a hard-earned point during their 4-3 shootout loss to the Golden Hawks With Thomson employed on a line with 'Iyson Bruce and lustin Wain. the trio helped the Spirit overcome a two-goal deficit that began just past the midway point in the second period when Bruce ‘NOT GIVING UP' tonightThe head coach of the resurgent Panthers received two and seven-name suspensions from the OJHL after picking upan abuseofofilciai matchpenaityand misconduct following his team's 7-4 loss to Buftalo in Pickering Friday Buffalo scored the final six pals of the same. The Spirit penalty killing units rank 13th in the leame's latest statistics with an 81.82 per cent efficiency rating. They are also tied for second with the Pickering Panthers in shorthanded paislerwitheightandare lust one behind the Whitby Fury. in power play rankings. the Spirit sport an 18.62 per cent efficiency rating that’s 15th overall. Theyareaisotiedwiththeauflaloiunlor Sabres in second place in shorthanded pals aainst with just two. On the collegiate scene. former Spirit for. ward Matt Neel scored a goal in Rensselaer Poiytechnlcei institutes 6-2 loss to the University of Minnesota in the third place game at the Mariucci Classic in Minneepd lis Saturday Playing apinst Ferris State in first round action one day earlier, the junior forwardhadanessistina62lossNeaIis RPl‘s third-leading scorer with eimt pale and 12 assists in 20 games. StoufMile resident and former Spirit for- ward Chris Porter scored a goal in Ameri- can international College‘s 4â€"3 overtime win overtheAlrForceAcodemy anest lit the red light to get them back to within a goal and set the stage for their game- tying marker in the third period to force overtime. “Considering I hadn't played in three months I thought we clicked pmtty well." Thomson said of their forward unit. “We were getting some stuff done on the ice and we got a goal. That was encourag- Putting the past behind him. Thom- son said his focus is now on trying to make whatever contribution he can to help the Spirit move up the North Divi- sion standings and make a push for the postseason. “We watched this club from the start of the season and i've seen a big improve. ment with our roster." he said. “1110 new guys that we picked up (lack O'Hara. Andres Kopstals and Graham Pickard) are good guys in the dressing room and they fit in well. The team is now starting to click and we've got plenty of time left to make ‘a run f0; a playoff spot: 7 Keeping his fingers crossed that he can avoid any further physical setbacks. Thomson is also setting his sights on try- ing to parlay is on-ice skills into a collo- giate scholars, ip south of the border. Mth one mdre yea: of tier two It. A eli- gibility remaining. Thomson feels he can attain that goal and isn't about to give up "That's 'the goal now. healthy." he said. Springfield. Mas. Friday. Porter is in his sophomore year at NC. Former Spirit for- ward Drake Caggiula had one assist in the University of North Dakota's 4-3 win over Simon Fraser University in the Great North- west Showcase in Burnaby. B.C. Saturday. Currentiy in his sophomore )ear. Caggiuia istiedtorsecondinteam scoringwithfive goats and six assists in 18 tilts. 0n the Canadian coliegiate scene. former Spirit torward Tyier vonEngeibrechten netted a pal in the University otbronto Varsity Blues' 3-1 road toss to Lakehead University in Thunder Bay Friday. GENERALLY SPEAKING: Perrin acknowt edged Manneita‘s work between the pipes was the key ingedient in their win over 'Mannella played great and definitely was medlflerencelntheaamethashlsbest game all year.‘ he sald. Just as important. Fenln was quick to add. was the work ol their penalty-killing unlt that accounted tor the pmeâ€"wlnning manner as they were attempting to fend all a Mman disadvantage which they ultimately dld. 'We found a way to wln.‘ he sald. ln explalnlng their success in scoring a shorthanded pal In each at thelr last three films. Perrln attrlbuted ltto thelr awes- to stay SUN TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO Daryl Thomson has suffered leg injuries in the past two years and been told he wouldn‘t play again. ‘They‘ve just been doing a good job of causing tumovers and capitalizing on those situations? he pointed out With two home games upcoming starting against the Pickering Panthers tonight and the Buffalo Junior Sabres Sunday. Perrin acknowledged these are tilts they must take amantage of. ‘But they will be tough games." he said. 'Hopetully we can get some points out of these games? In three prior meetings against the Panthers this season. the Spirit have won one while losing the other two games. To beat the Panthers. Perrin said it will be critical for their forwards to create some havoc in front of their net. Citing the Panthers are also a strong transn- tion team. Perrin warned his club must limit their turnovers. In facing Buffalo. a team which they defeat ed earlier this season. Perrin said the key- will be it they can outhustle them. 'Buflalo is a good team and when we played them earlier their goalie didn‘t play too well. but we skated with them. They have a good skill set. we just have to out work them." he said. - Michael Hayakm