Saginaw Spirit

Saginaw Spirit
The Ontario Hockey League is a part of the Canadian Hockey League federation and allows for different tier ice hockey teams to participate in their seasons and championships. The Saginaw Spirit ice hockey team hailing from Saginaw, Michigan, United States of America is no exception to the rule..

History
The Saginaw Spirit has a very unique history regarding its orientation and entry into the ice hockey arena. Dick Garber, owner of several local automobile dealerships decided to venture into a new financial market and purchased the North Bay Centennials. After purchasing the team moved the team to Saginaw and renamed the team the Saginaw Sprits. The transfer and name all occurred within the 2001-2002 season.
Though the team was recently purchased out by a local automobile dealership owner a few years back, the team can trace its roots back to St. Catharines, Ontario where it played from 1943-1976, as the Falcons, Teepees and Black Hawks. 1954 and 1960 were great years for the franchise since they were successful in not only qualifying but winning the Memorial Cup championship. The team later on changed their name to Niagara Fall Flyers and then to the North Bay Centennials during 1982 and remained this name till 2002.

One of the reasons for Dick to move the franchise to a small place in Michigan was to capture the attention and hearts of die hard ice hockey fans in the mid-Michigan state town. The transfer of assists was the right move and eventually paid off. The team has increased their fan club and has recorded full seating capacity at games. The Spirit has one of the highest attendance rates in the Ontario Hockey League.Soon after their inception as the Saginaw Spirits, the team played in the Guelph Storm but lost in the first round. This was all happening on March 2nd, 2006 three seasons after rebuilding the entire team and their prowess.

One of the most intriguing aspects of the Saginaw Spirit ice hockey team is their mascot. The team is led by Steagle Colbeagle the Eagle, the mascot of the Spirit, who was named after Stephen Colbert. They sent Stephen a # 1 jersey, making him an official member of the team. The presence of the Eagle has been exceptionally motivating and allows for the users to acknowledge the powers of their team and move forward in a flying manner. The Eagle maintains a high level of respect and is the centripetal force of attraction and commitment from the players. The entire team plays for the pride and glory of the eagle. They are the only American team in the Ontario Hockey League, and frequently pummel the godless Canadians into submission, with the full support of Jesus. Saginaw is short for shock and awe, which the Spirit spread everywhere on ice.

The eagle has penetrated its love within the hearts of millions of fans. Despite its popularity, it still has some rivalry. The most competitive arch-enemy against the eagle is the bear. The bear is the mascot for the Own Sound Attack ice hockey team. They are the Spirit's archenemy. If they could, the godless killing machines would kidnap Steagle Colbeagle the Eagle and shred the poor little guy limb from limb with their death claws and razor sharp teeth. The battle between the Owen Sound Attack and the Saginaw Spirit is truly a battle of good vs. evil. Good must prevail. This battle has been ongoing and has raised the stakes both for the players and the financial success of such rivalry.

Uniforms and logos
The team carries with them multiple jerseys catering to different occasions. Saginaw has a jersey that depicts an American bald eagle with the colors of the Stars and Stripes along its neck, on the words Saginaw Spirit.. The American national team has a very similar jersey as well. The home jerseys are white backgrounds with navy blue sleeves and red trim. The away jerseys are navy blue backgrounds with red sleeves and white trim.

Mascots
There has been an interest in changing the mascot for the 2006-07 seasons. The recommendation from Stephen Colbert is to have a similar mascot but this time the American bold eagle. The team held a vote on their website to name a new secondary mascot for the 2006?07 seasons. The mascot was named Steagle Colbeagle the Eagle after Stephen Colbert. Stephen Colbert also hosts a show called The Colbert Report. And uses this medium to articulate as well as humor the audiences with a variety of sketches related to different teams and their mascots.