Saginaw Spirit Outlast Brampton Steelheads in Overtime Thriller

Brampton, ON  — The Saginaw Spirit edged out the Brampton Steelheads in a tightly contested Ontario Hockey League matchup, securing a 3-2 overtime victory at the CAA Centre on Saturday. The game concluded just five seconds into the extra period, as Kristian Epperson netted the decisive goal, assisted by Michael Misa.

The Spirit’s win marked a solid performance, especially from Epperson, who played a pivotal role in all three of Saginaw’s goals, earning him the first star of the game. Epperson opened the scoring at 11:46 of the first period, with Misa providing the assist. Brampton’s Porter Martone responded late in the first, leveling the score at 1-1 with his goal at 19:35, assisted by Carson Rehkopf and Finn Harding.

Picked up a point!#UnitedInBlue pic.twitter.com/EB14z35sEF

— Brampton Steelheads (@OHLSteelheads) October 19, 2024

The back-and-forth action continued into the second period. Martone struck again for Brampton at 3:06, giving the home team a brief 2-1 lead. However, Misa and Epperson connected for a shorthanded goal at 9:04, tying the game once more. Both teams battled fiercely throughout the third period, but neither could find the net, forcing the contest into overtime.

Saginaw goalie Andrew Oke was crucial in keeping the Steelheads at bay, stopping 29 of 31 shots to earn the win. Brampton’s Jacob Gibbons made 18 saves in a valiant effort, but it wasn’t enough to secure the victory.

The Steelheads struggled to capitalize on their power play opportunities, going 0 for 3 with the man advantage, while the Spirit failed to score on their two chances. Brampton and Saginaw players spent a combined 22 minutes in the penalty box, with the game’s intensity reflected in multiple roughing penalties for both teams.

Porter Martone and Finn Harding earned the second and third stars of the game, respectively, for Brampton. Despite the loss, their performances were standout moments for the Steelheads. The game drew an attendance of 1,595 fans, who witnessed an exciting clash that kept the outcome in doubt until the very last moment.

The Steelheads will look to bounce back in their next game, while the Spirit aim to build on this hard-fought win as they continue their road trip.