Mike Hayakawa

Pre-season contests do not mean a thing in terms of the league standings.

But for the Stouffville Spirit, their first two Provincial Jr. A Hockey League exhibition games last weekend served a purpose.

They produced back-to-back victories over the Markham Waxers, 9-8 in overtime Friday at Angus Glen Community Centre and a 4-3 shootout win at the Stouffville Arena Saturday.

Mark Joslin, Spirit general manager/associate coach and Dave D’Ammizio, Spirit head coach said these contests help them to evaluate what players will be part of their roster when the puck is dropped to start the regular season two weeks from tonight.

“What we want to see from the players in the pre-season is their work ethic, commitment and what hockey sense they have,” Joslin said.

host Aurora tonight

“These games give us an idea of which rookies have looked good and those who are competing for spots on our team,” D’Ammizio said. “Right now, I’m happy with this team. It’s a great, hard-working group. We have lots of kids looking to prove themselves.”

While the Spirit still have two pre-season games remaining, including tonight when they host the Aurora Tigers at 7:30 p.m. and back in Aurora Friday, the Spirit brain trust likes what it has witnessed so far.

The Spirit battled back from being down four goals Friday and a pair Saturday. Ian Chapman scored the winner Friday  and Chad Johnston Saturday.

“Our guys battled and never stopped. That was important to me,” Joslin said.

Brothers Justin Hulshof, who played last season with the Uxbridge Bruins Jr. C club, and Kurtis Hulshof, a member of the Stouffville Clippers midget A team last year, have been impressive.

“We call them our twin towers because they’re both big kids physically,” Joslin said of the local tandem. “So far, they’ve contributed at both ends of the rink. They’ve created offensive chances and finished. They’ve been excellent in killing penalties and in defensive situations. They’ve brought their stuff to the table.”

Others who have been impressive to date include centre Matt Neil, a 1991-born who played last season in Sweden, and forward Massimo Lammacchia, a Maple resident who played last year with the Toronto Marlies AAA midgets.

Along the blueline, Joslin and D’Ammizio have been satisfied with the play of Chapman, a six-foot, five-inch Batavia, N.Y., native who came to the Spirit from the Wheatfield Jr. B Blades of the Golden Horseshoe League.

In goal, Joe Moore, a Canton, Mich., product, has looked good after coming to the club during the off-season in a cash deal with the Vaughan Vipers.

Nine players are attending Ontario Hockey League camps this week. They include: forwards Darren Archibald (Barrie Colts), Chris Chiste (Barrie Colts), Neil (London Knights), Jason Hayden (Owen Sound Attack), Evan Bruno (Oshawa Generals), Brett Vickers (Sarnia Sting) and goalies Wes Annis (Kingston Frontenacs), Mike D’angelo (Barrie) and George Grammenopoulos (London).

Don Maloney returns

The Spirit received good news for its depleted forward lines when Don Maloney announced his intention to return to the club.

Acquired by the Spirit late last season, the Rye, N.Y. native is the son of the Phoenix Coyotes general manager of the same name.

In last Friday’s game, Neil and Justin Hulshof each scored twice for the Spirit, who dressed an all-rookie roster. Kurtis Hulshof, Lammachia, Johnston and Jacob Mooney added singles.

Scoring Saturday were: Mooney, Kurtis Hulshof and Bruno in regulation time. Justin Hulshof scored the Spirit’s first shootout goal.

The Spirit has announced Perry Silverman has resigned as assistant general manager, citing family and personal reasons accepted last month.

Go to stouffvillespirit.com for more information on the Spirit.