Saginaw Spirit’s Hunter Haight guides team to victory in Game 5 against London Knights

In a thrilling game at Budweiser Gardens on May 3, Strathroy, Ont.’s Hunter Haight led the Saginaw Spirit to a 4-2 victory over the London Knights with a hat trick. Rodwin Dionicio also played a crucial role with four assists for the Spirit.

Haight opened the scoring in the first period with a wrist shot, giving Saginaw a 1-0 lead. The Spirit extended their lead in the second period with a power play goal by Josh Bloom. Although London managed to cut the lead in half, Haight’s second goal of the game restored Saginaw’s two-goal advantage.

The Knights fought back, with Max McCue and Easton Cowan scoring to bring London within one goal. Cowan, who had a goal and an assist, was named the game’s third star. However, Haight completed his hat trick in the third period with a power play blast, securing the win for the Spirit.

The game was marred by penalty calls in the final minutes, with Kaleb Lawrence of the Knights receiving a major penalty and a game misconduct. Landon Sim of London was also ejected earlier in the game.

Saginaw outshot London 35-28 and capitalized on their power play opportunities, going 2-for-8. The Knights, on the other hand, were 1-for-3 on the power play.

Easton Cowan of the Knights was recently awarded the Red Tilson Trophy as the OHL’s Most Outstanding Player. The Knights and Spirit will face off again in Game 6 of the Western Conference Championship series on Sunday, May 5, at the Dow Event Center in Saginaw, Michigan.