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SPORTS 21 | Stouffville Sun-Tribune | Thursday, October 15, 2015 Thanksgiving points feast has Spirit hungry for more LAST WEEK: Friday: Stouffville Spirit 2 vs. Wellington Dukes 0. Saturday: Wellington Dukes 3 vs. Spirit 2 (overtime). Monday: Spirit 3 vs. Newmarket Hurricanes 2. Spirit record: 3-8-1-2-9. Last place North Division, Ontario Junior Hockey League COMING UP: Friday: at Whitby Fury, 7:40 p.m. Saturday: Trenton Golden Hawks vs. Spirit at Stouffville Arena, 7:30 p.m. The Stouffville Spirit celebrated Thanksgiving weekend with more than just a big dinner. Taking to the ice for three contests during the long weekend, the Spirit appeared to have shaken off their early season doldrums after skating off with two victories and one overtime loss. That enabled them to procure five out of a possible six points as they hope to inch their way out of the North cellar. The Spirit began things off by winning for the first time ever at the Wellington Community Centre with a 2-0 blanking of the host Wellington Dukes Friday. Rookie Jack Varga's goal with 92 seconds remaining in the second period proved to be the game-winning tally. Aaron Taylor stopped 24 shots for his first shutout of the season. The same two clubs met at the Stouffville Arena the following night and battled their way into overtime, before the visiting Dukes skated off with a 3-2 win. The Spirit, however, procured one point in the process. Spirt captain Spencer Roberts and Kyle Thomas scored. With the arch-rival Newmarket Hurricanes at the Stouffville Arena Thanksgiving Monday, James Mense-Dietrich and Roberts delivered unanswered goals in the third period to propel the Spirit to a 3-2 win. Trailing 2-0 in the second period, the Spirit cut the deficit on a goal from recently acquired Ryan DaSilva. INSIDER: The Spirit made a couple of roster moves prior to Friday's game. They released veteran defenceman Greg Allen, then filled that void when they acquired DaSilva from the Orangeville Flyers for cash. The 17-year-old Newmarket resident, who is in his second season in the OJHL, made his debut in Wellington Friday. A pair of Spirit graduates played an instrumental role in helping the Clarkson University Golden Knights hockey team win their season opening game over Rochester Institute of Technology 6-0 in Potsdam, N.Y. Friday. Stouffville resident and Clarkson captain Paul Geiger scored a second-period power play goal and forward Christian Powers lit the red light to start the third period. Geiger, 23, and Powers, 24, are in their senior year. Senior Drake Caggiula, 21, had two assists as fourth ranked University of North Dakota's won the Ice Breaker Tournament in Portland, Me. All three were on the Spirit's Ontario Junior Hockey League championship club in 2011-12. Former Spirit defenceman Brennan Serville will start this season with the Manitoba Moose of the AHL. A University of Michigan graduate, Serville, 22, was a third round pick of the Winnipeg Jets in the 2011 NHL draft. Serville played with the Spirit from 2009-11. GENERALLY SPEAKING: Roberts is optimistic the weekend will reverse the fortunes of a team that was winless in its first 10 contests. "That's a big weekend," said Roberts, the nephew of ex-NHLer Gary Roberts. "This will be a turning point for us. It gives us confidence. The attitude is great in the room. Now, the guys are having fun." "To get five out of six points we certainly can't complain," said Taylor. As for defeating Wellington for the first time in their rink, Taylor said he did not know about that accomplishment entering the game. "The last time we played there they beat us late in the game on a fluky goal," he said. "But to win in Wellington for the first time was a stat I did not know about until afterwards." Taylor pointed to their road game against the Cobourg Cougars last week when they skated off with their first win of the season in a 3-2 decision. "When we got our first win the guys calmed down and got the monkey off their back and we talked about what we did right and what we can still improve on," he said. In acquiring DaSilva, Kenny Burrows, Spirit co-owner and general manager, said he was a player they were monitoring over the last couple of years and pounced on the opportunity to acquire him. Reinforcing Burrows' assessment was feedback he received from Varga and defenceman Kyle Linney, who played with DaSilva during STAFF PHOTO/NICK IWANYSHYN their days with the York Simcoe Express. "He's a young kid and when he's done in this league he will be a top end defenceman," Burrows predicted. "He's a kid that should play at the next level." Allen, who played last season with the Spirit and attended Oshawa Generals' Ontario Hockey League training camp this fall, told Burrows he was going to quit hockey. ­ Michael Hayakawa Spirit captain Spencer Roberts prepares to score against Wellington goalie Olivier Lafreniere Saturday. Dr. Kevin Brown & Associates presents their Smiles for Life e gift gif to the Markham Stouffville fville Hospital Foundation F E SAVATE! D My Dental Home 3rd ANNUAL THE CAREGIVERSHOW.CA REGISTER ONLINE TODAY! R OU HY T C A E G RE TAR KET! R A M Friday May 6, 2016 · Hours 10am - 5pm Ontario Science Centre - Toronto Sponsor or Exhibitor information, please contact RONIT WHITE at rwhite@metroland.com or 416-774-2247 BROUGHT TO YOU BY: & LEARN. CONNECT. REJUVENATE. L to R: Allan Bell, Dr. David Lee & Dr. Kevin Brown Dr. Kevin Brown and Dr. David Lee of My Dental Home ­ Dr. Kevin Brown & Associates present Allan Bell, Director, Community Relations & Corporate Partnerships, Markham Stouffville Hospital Foundation with this year's Smiles for Life gift of $4,375. Smiles for Life is a North American wide group of dentists that raise funds for children's charities through a teeth whitening program. In the past ten years, over $50,000 has been raised through My Dental Home's campaign to benefit Markham Stouffville Hospital including its Centre for Childbirth & Children. Providing Quality Products & Services for all your game room needs for over 34 years! Lights up to 70% off ~ In Our Community ~ Stouffville - 905-640-0011