Spirit Forward Jimmy Lodge to Represent USA at International Tournament

A solid performance at the recent USA Hockey Youth Select 17 Player Development Camp has paved the way for Saginaw Spirit forward Jimmy Lodge to represent his home country on the ice later this summer. Lodge, entering his sophomore OHL season with the Spirit, recorded three goals and added four assists in six games at the event in Rochester N.Y. which was good enough for a tie for second place in camp scoring. Lodge’s seven points tied him for his team’s lead in points, and he will now represent Team USA at this year’s Under 18 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament which will be staged in August in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

This past season with Saginaw, the Downingtown, PA native led all Spirit first year players in scoring with eight goals and four assists, and his four game winning goals were among the most by a rookie player in the OHL. Along with Lodge, Saginaw native and Erie Otters goaltender Devin Williams also participated in the camp.

Since the inception of the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, Team USA has won the Gold Medal once, and has medaled on nine other occasions. Saginaw Spirit General Manager Jim Paliafito says it’s a great honor to be selected for this prestigious event, and hopes the experience will be a lift for Lodge heading into his second OHL season. “Jimmy is a very skilled young player with a high hockey I.Q. and he is a player we hope makes a considerable contribution offensively this season.”

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