Stouffville Spirit players celebrate Ryan Russell’s game-winning goal in Minden last Saturday. Stouffville won 2-1 over the Haliburton County Huskies in overtime. (Andy Corneau / OJHL Images)

‘The push for the playoffs’ is for real in Spiritville.

Stouffville’s entry in the Ontario Junior Hockey League won two of three games during the past week to solidify its hold on a postseason berth.

There isn’t an X next to the Spirit in the OJHL standings but they're getting closer to clinching a playoff spot.

The Spirit (17-24-1-6) is in the eighth and final playoff slot in the North-West Conference, nine points up on the Oakville Blades. They each have six games remaining.

The Aurora Tigers are in seventh place, two points better than the Spirit who have two games in hand. Aurora holds the tie-breaker, should the teams finish in a tie.

The OJHL regular season ends March 5, with first-round, best-of-seven playoff series scheduled for March 8-21.

THE SCORES

Spirit 2, Haliburton Huskies 1.

Ryan Russell’s goal at 3:28 of overtime made for a happy bus ride home from Minden last Saturday.

"All I remember is Ryan Harvey making an incredible move by bringing the puck across the neutral zone, splitting the defence, taking a shot, and hitting the post,” Russell told The OJHL’s Ron Valentine. “The puck flew out to our captain Odaro (Ewere), who shot, and the rebound came directly to my stick with the net open, allowing me to score. 

“We're hoping that this huge win over a strong team gives us some momentum going into the last stretch of the regular season and into the playoffs."

Zach Benayon sent the game to OT with a goal at 16:55 of the third period.

Ayden Bulmer earned the win for the Spirit who were outshot 44-33.

Lindsay Muskies 4, Spirit 2

The Spirit gave up a shorthanded goal and an empty-netter during the third period in Lindsay Wednesday.

Peter Kioussis and Jeremy Hirsh scored in the second period to tie the game up.

Bulmer was injured early. Matteo Gennaro faced 53 shots in relief.

Spirit 7, Brantford 1

Gennaro let in the first goal of the game then slammed the door on the hometown 99ers in Brantford Thursday.

Riley Pope scored the tying goal and eventual game winner and was named player of the game at the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre.

Zack Corte also scored twice. Ewere, Carson Eagles and Alex Whitney added singles. Dylan Hendrick picked up three assists for the Spirit who outshot Brantford 53-28.

THE SKED

The Spirit plays its next three games at home then finishes the schedule with three on the road:

Feb. 18, Burlington at Stouffville, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 20, Pickering at Stouffville, 2:30 p.m.

Feb. 23, Milton at Stouffville, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 24, Stouffville at Markham, 7:30 p.m.

March 1, Stouffville at Georgetown, 7:30 p.m.

March 3, Stouffville at Pickering, 7:30 p.m.

NOTEBOOK

Get-well wishes to Spirit athletic therapist Tiffany Phan-Chu who was struck by a puck during Thursday’s game in Brantford.

Forward Cam Kosurko left the game early after one of his skate blades detached.

Youth hockey players wearing their team jerseys will be admitted free to the Spirit’s final three regular season games.

FAMILY DAY FESTIVITIES

A pile of prizes will be given away during Monday’s matinee.

So will two bicycles – to the grand champions of Chuck-A-Puck. All game night winners from the 2022-23 season are invited to take part in the finals at Monday’s game. (Please check in at the admission desk.)

The girls and boys bikes were donated by town councillor Richard Bartley, Spirit alum Chad Burrows of Century 21, Todd Williamson of Williamson GM Uxbridge and Stouffville Canadian Tire.

Kids are invited to colour Spirit posters in the Stouffville Arena lobby beginning at 1:30 p.m., courtesy of the Lions Club of Stouffville. The service club, which has  been serving the community since 1937, is collecting food for the Whitchurch-Stouffville Food Bank at Monday’s game.

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