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12 Stouffville Sun-Tribune | Thursday, January 21, 2016 | SPORTS Spirit falls out of playoff spot with winless weekend bright spot for the Spirit came in the opening period when Stefan Palatsidis scored to send both clubs into the first intermission in a 1-1 tie. Travelling to Trenton for the first of their two games in the league's North-East Conference Showcase to face the Whitby Fury the following day, the Spirit offence continued to sputter as they generated just one goal by Ryan DaSilva in a 5-1 loss. Less than 24 hours later, the Spirit faced the Kingston Voyageurs in their second Showcase game and appeared headed to procure at least one point. But Kingston's Ian Harris scored with under four minutes remaining to give the Voyageurs a 3-2 win and extend Stouffville's losing skid to three games. Sam Hu scored a pair of power-play goals for Stouffville. INSIDER: Christopher Brill-Morgan continues to lead the Spirit in scoring with 42 points (17 goals, 25 assists), while Nathan Hudgin is second with 41 (18 goals, 23 assists) and DaSilva third 36 points (10 goals, 26 assists). GENERALLY SPEAKING: "It definitely wasn't a good weekend, we had three losses in three very winnable games," said Spirit captain Spencer Roberts. The entire team has to shoulder the blame, he said. That was evident during Friday's road game against Lindsay, who are in last place in the North Division, and carried over the following day against Whitby during the first of their two North-East Conference Showcase games in Trenton. "I guess you can say we were looking forward to the Showcase games. But that's no excuse," Roberts said. "Against Lindsay we might have taken them for granted seeing where they were in the standings. Sometimes it's hard to get through those games. Those are teams we should be beating. I don't think we were prepared and there was no effort." In looking ahead to their next contest when they host the Markham Royals, a team that's also been in a bit of a slump, Roberts said it will be imperative that the team put the past behind them and forge on. "We can't think of the past. We've got to move forward and try to keep things simple when we play," he said. ­ Michael Hayakawa LAST WEEK: Friday: Lindsay Muskies 4 vs. Stouffville Spirit 1. Saturday: Whitby Fury 5 vs. Spirit 1. Sunday: Kingston Voyageurs 3 vs. Spirit 2. Spirit record: 17-211-2-37. Fourth place North Division, Ontario Junior Hockey League. COMING UP: Saturday: vs. Markham Royals at Stouffville Arena, 7:30 p.m. Just when the Stouffville Spirit thought they might have things figured out entering the stretch run of their regular season, they took a couple of steps backwards after losing three games in as many days last weekend, leaving them four points out of the final playoff spot in the North-East Conference. A foreboding sign of things to come began Friday when the Spirit suffered a 4-1 road loss against the last-place Lindsay Muskies. The lone WINTER SpEcIal 5 weeks $ of classes Martial arts teaches: Confidence, Self Control, Self Discipline, Respect & how to "Stick-To-It"! SeLf FREE uniform! CONfideNCe! Plus CALL NOW! 905-591- 4STK (4785) 88 30 Innovator Dr., Unit 10 · info@s-t-k.ca · www.s-t-k.ca WHITCHURCH-STOUFFVILLE SOCCER CLUB 2016 OUTDOOR SOCCER SEASON On-Line Registration Opens Starting Jan 28th http://stouffvillesoccer.org/how-to-online-registration/ Register on-line and drop by SoccerCity to make payment: Cash or Cheque INFORMATION EVENTS SATURDAY JANUARY 30th SATURDAY FEBRUARY 6th 10am--2pm WHEN SOCCERCITY 45 INNOVATOR AVE 2ND FLOOR WHERE THE STOUFFVILLE ULTIMATE CLUB IS BACK THIS WINTER! Games take place each Sunday from 7pm ­ 9pm (tax in!) per player FOR THOSE BORN 2012 OR EARLIER HOUSE LEAGUE U4-U18 MEN & WOMEN AGES 19 & UP WHO $130 PLAYERS OF ALL SKILL LEVELS WELCOME Birth certificate or health card required for new players born 1998-2012. Visit www.stouffvillesoccer.org starting Jan 28th for program details and volunteer opportunities. WHITCHURCH-STOUFFVILLE SOCCER CLUB 45 Innovator Ave Box 1427 Stouffville, Ontario Phone: 905-640-1800 Fax: 905-640-7275 E-mail: admin@stouffvillesoccer.org Web: www.stouffvillesoccer.org Sponsorship opportunities available! For information contact Erich Baumhard erich.baumhard@townofws.ca or 905-640-1910 ext. 2921