SAGINAW, Michigan – The host team always has something to prove at the Memorial Cup, especially if they didn’t win their league - which is typically the case. 

And the Saginaw Spirit used the extra week off to their benefit. They came out guns blazing, and while their lead looked shaky at times, they eventually held on to win the first game of the tournament. 

Full credit to the Moose Jaw Warriors for battling back in the second period, after they were thoroughly dismantled for the first 38 minutes of the game by Saginaw’s daunting forecheck and overwhelming cycle game. 

Three quick Warrior goals in the final two minutes put pressure on the Spirit’s lead heading into the final frame, and had they not had a goal disallowed in the third for offsides, this game could have ended very differently.