Goaltender Matteo Gennaro of the Stouffville Spirit loses his mask as Jacob Roach of the Brantford 99ers shoots the puck during the Spirit’s 3-1 win at the Wayne Gretzky Centre in Brantford Sunday. (Photo by Michelle Malvaso / OJHL Images)

Thursday’s snowstorm that blanketed much of the GTA created a home-and-home series for the Spirit and the Brantford 99ers.

Treacherous road conditions cancelled all games in the Ontario Junior Hockey League Thursday, including Stouffivlle’s home date with Collingwood, and a contest in Lindsay Friday.

The Spirit, who won their last game, 3-1 in Brantford Sunday, host the same 99ers Saturday night at the Stouffville Arena.

Just past the halfway mark of the season, the Spirit is 11-16-1-4, in a playoff spot and in a battle with the Markham Royals for seventh place in the North-West Conference.

Stouffville has possibly the youngest roster in the 21-team OJHL, with no final-year (2002-born) players, nine 2005’s and six 2004’s.

“We’re a young team and we started off like any young team would,” assistant captain Nathan Twohey, one of five 2003-born players, said after practice Friday. “But I think we’re growing every game, which is good to see.”

“(Like last year), hitting walls at times and then after Christmas we really took off and I’m expecting to do the same thing this year.

THE STATS

Matteo Gennaro earned the win in his Spirit debut last Sunday, making 34 saves in Brantford. He was acquired from Hearst of the NOJHL Dec. 1.

Goal scorers were Michael Di Santo, Carson Eagles and Odaro Ewere.

Ewere leads the Spirit with 42 points. Peter Kioussis is tops in goals with 16. Rookie Ryan Harvey leads all defencemen with 22 points.

THE SKED

Saturday, Dec. 17. Brantford 99ers at Stouffville,7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 22. Aurora Tigers at Stouffville, 7:30 p.m.

Holiday break

Friday, Jan. 6. Stouffville at Collingwood. 7 p.m. 

NOTEBOOK

The Spirit is teaming up with the Ontario SPCA York Region Animal Centre in Whitchurch-Stouffville. The Spirit game on Sunday, Jan. 15, will be dedicated to the Woodbine Avenue centre. OSPCA officials will be in the lobby of the Stouffville Arena to speak to fans about their work that day.

Spirit This Week is sponsored by Farmer Jack’s in Stouffville and Sharon