Roster readied for Sept. 9 home opener
Stouffville Spirit training camp continues this week at the Stouffville Arena – where the season begins Sept. 9. - Jim Mason
Only a few final tweaks to the roster remain.
The Stouffville Spirit opens its 2017-18 Ontario Junior Hockey League schedule at the Stouffville Arena Saturday, Sept. 9.
Game time is 7:30 p.m. The Whitby Fury will provide the opposition.
General manager Kenny Burrows, head coach Jeff Perrin and the rest of the Spirit hockey staff were busy this week, preparing to make the final adjustments to the lineup.
The Spirit completes their preseason schedule with a trip to Lindsay to play the hometown Muskies Tuesday night.
The Spirit went 28-20-3-3 last year, finishing two points out of first place in the OJHL North Division.
In the playoffs, they knocked off the Markham Royals in the first round before being eliminated by the eventual Dudley Hewitt Cup champion Trenton Golden Hawks.
The Spirit home schedule this year is dominated by Saturday night games again this season. There are four Thursday night games.
Three holiday matinees are included: Thanksgiving (Oct. 9), New Year's Eve (Oct. 31) and Family Day (Feb. 19).
The Spirit plays five straight road games in September, including a pair at the OJHL showcase in Buffalo (Sept. 19 and 21), and seven away from home in a row in December.
Eleven of the team's final 12 games will be played at the Stouffville Arena, including the Family Day finale with the Newmarket Hurricanes.
WhiStle Radio (102.9FM and whistleradio.ca) in Stouffville plans to broadcast every Spirit game this season.
