Spirit standout Mitchell Smith scores goal in hockey’s return to Saginaw

After 588 days, the Saginaw Spirit returned to action Saturday, dropping a 4-2 decision in the 2021-22 season-opener. Before the game, the Spirit unveiled their 2020 West Division championship banner.

SAGINAW, MI – More than 5,000 fans helped the Saginaw Spirit usher in the 2021-22 season, celebrating a return to Saginaw hockey for the first time in 588 days.

Saginaw Heritage graduate Mitchell Smith also celebrated, doing his part for the Spirit with a first-period goal that gave Saginaw a 2-0 lead. The Erie Otters, however, scored the next four goals to claim a 4-2 win Saturday in front of 5,278 fans at The Dow Event Center.

For Smith, it was a bittersweet moment, celebrating the return of hockey to his hometown and scoring a goal in his first game back.

But Smith, 19, returned to the Spirit after accepting an invitation to the Colorado Avalanche training camp, competing for a contract or roster spot in the Colorado organization.

“It was a great time, a great learning experience,” Smith said. “I love coming back to Saginaw. I love getting a chance to play here again, but it’s a little bittersweet because you want to play at the highest level.

“But I learned so much there, a lot of little things that they teach that helps you improve your game. You also learn how to carry yourself, how to act as an NHL player.”

The Ontario Hockey League canceled its 2020-21 season because of COVID, giving Smith was given the opportunity to play baseball his senior season for Heritage High School. But it also might have cost him a spot in the NHL Draft.

“People say that I shouldn’t be disappointed or that it’s understandable that I didn’t get drafted because I didn’t play last year,” Smith said. “That might be true, but it was still disappointing. All I can do is keep working, keep getting better every day and be ready for the next opportunity.”

Roberto Mancini, who also was a potential draft pick who went undrafted, scored the first goal of the 2021-22 season off an assist from Nick Wong. Smith followed with his goal at the 17:56 mark of the first period off assists from PJ Forgione and Calem Mangone.

“We came out pretty hot, maybe too hot,” Smith said. “Maybe we started to coast a little because it was easy. Maybe I was guilty of that too.”

Erie scored two goals in the second period less than five minutes apart when Colby Saganiuk and Noah Sedore beat Triston Lennox to tie the game. The Otters, who had already played two games, got the game-winner less than two minutes into the third period on a goal by Elias Cohen. Brendan Sellan added an empty-net goal with :54.3 left in the game.

The teams return to The Dow Event Center for the Spirit’s second game of the season at 5:30 p.m. Sunday.

“We’ll be ready and do a better job Sunday,” Smith said. “Every game is a chance to improve, a chance to get better.

“It’s a goal, something you learn. I was in Colorado’s camp for three weeks, and I’m grateful to the coaches for treating me like one of their players, coaching me and helping me improve.”

Smith also learned from a training camp teammate, former Penn State goaltender Payton Jones.

“We hung out, and it was interesting comparing careers because we took different routes,” Smith said. “He’s 25, and I’m 19. We talked about his career, my career, how we ended up where we are and our futures.”

Colorado sent Jones to its minor-league affiliate, the Utah Grizzlies, while Smith, who was in the Colorado camp as a non-roster invitee, returned to Saginaw.

“I’m happy to be here, happy to be part of this,” Smith said. “But I’ve learned never to be content with your game.”

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Saginaw Spirit fans, ice, players get fresh start after loss of 2020-21 season

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