Spirit Rivals

[bpfox]

spiritfan8 and I are have a little debate on the NOOF as to who is Saginaw's biggest rival. Since this is an opinion poll with no right or wrong answer feel free to vote and explain if you wish. I say it's Plymouth and it's based more on a feeling than anything else. They are the team I hate to lose to and the team I most want to beat. So what do you all think?

[donjohnson]

I think it's obviously Plymouth...they are the "other" American team (Erie doesn't count because it's further away). We compete with them for the "recruiting," or drafting as the OHL calls it, of talented American players that are going to play OHL. Also, Fletcher and Sestito added to this rivalry and the fact that we've struggled so much against them adds to the rivalry as well. Sarnia/Windsor are both second but not a close second IMO.

[eric8199]

Definitely Plymouth is our biggest rival. My second choice would be Sault Ste. Marie, just due to the fact that we've played them twice in the playoff, but that's not a big rivalry. The only team that you really feel the hate in the building when they come to town is Plymouth.

[spiritfan8]

I bow to popular opinion. Although I still say if we can't give them decent games and beat them at least a third of the time, it's not a good rivalry. It would be interesting to hear who Plymouth thinks is their biggest rival--I'm betting they think Windsor.
I dislike Plymouth for any number of reasons, and I have no problem with them being a rival. In fact, I'm in trouble w/ my son the b-ball coach; I missed his two best games this season "because the Spirit play Plymouth." But to me, playoffs build the best rivalries. I'm sticking with the Soo. "IMO ONLY!" Their fans are about 100 times better too--there are a lot more Soo fans that show up at the Dow for game than Plymouth fans!! (Of course, a lot more OSHAWA fans show up than Plymouth fans. They just don't support their team real well.....)

[donjohnson]

You are right spiritfan8 about Plymouth's rivals...just because we showed up overnight, doesn't make us their rivals...they played Windsor/Sarnia for a lot longer than they've played us. I'll give two examples:

1) RedWings / Columbus BlueJackets...the NHL (and their scheduling shows it) thinks they should be our new rival even though we're an original 6 and a game against Chicago is huge. We are probably the BlueJackets' rival because they really don't have one. The only thing that can add a new rival is bad blood, hence Colorado (as well as both teams were good).

2) UofM/MSU - Michigan State would list UofM as their #1 football rival while UofM would probably go 1) OSU 2) ND 3) MSU. It might mean more to a michigan fan to beat MSU but I think to a player, the fact that MSU doesn't factor in the standings as much makes the other two games bigger.

I would also agree with you that we are the Soo's new rival because of a) the proximity b) the division c) the playoffs and d) history. If you look at all those things, you'll see that (besides Sudbury) we are the shortest drive for them, we're in the division, we've met in the playoffs, and North Bay is also relatively close to the Soo...all of those factors contribute to the rivalry. Personally, i'll take the Plymouth rivalry, that's a long way up there

[darrenpangfan]

The aspect that I find extremely interesting is that the current Spirit Head Coach Todd Watson came from Plymouth, a team many fans consider Saginaw's chief rival. I think that being able to get Plymouth's assistant coach to come to Saginaw was a great move considering that he was considered the heir apparent and most likely have gotten the head coaching job this season after Plymouth's head coach stepped down.

One question I throw out to everyone is this: Does anyone believe that Plymouth is hurt either short-term or long-term because Todd Watson came to Saginaw to be the head coach instead of waiting to possibly become Plymouth's next head coach?

[spiritfan8]

The Watson thing had slipped my mind, dpf--that WAS a nice little touch of spice!!

I've been very impressed with Watson this year--he won't win it, but he should get a few votes for Coach of the Year (although Boughner of Windsor will probably win, and he is well deserving--especially if he can keep the players' heads in the game the rest of the way after the Reynaud tragedy). Plymouth has actually done better than I expected this season, so short term, no, I don't think it hurts them. Long term?? It doesn't help that Stefan was ejected from two games in a week, and is currently sitting out an 8 games suspension from the Kingston debaucle. Jury's still out.

[spiritfan8]

dj, I think you touched on part of my reasoning--the Soo does indeed take us seriously, and they consider us a pretty big rival. Plymouth may or may not. The best rivalries are when both teams feel it's their biggest rival in town--and you gave some excellent examples, none better than Avs-Wings.

[aj0512]

My personal thoughts would have to be Plymouth, and to me it's frustrating in the sense that they historically have dominated us it seems like over the past 6 years. I'll never forget the race for the division title in the 05-06 season which culminated on the final night of the regular season. Even though we lost, that game was probably the best hockey game I've ever been to in my life, whether minor league, college, or pro. In my opinion, that was the funnest year we've had in our brief history. All the excitement knowing we were finally going to the playoffs, and the last 2 months of the season was a lot of fun. It all ended too quickly and we probably deserved a better fate than what we got, but that's the way things go I guess.

My second choice is Sault Ste. Marie. I think the fact we play them 8 times per year helps build the rivalry more than it has been with Sarnia or Windsor. Plus our playoff series last year, which in my opinion I will still say we were the better team and Kyle Gajewski saved their you know what God knows how many times, only adds to the rivalry. I hope we can play them again in the playoffs again this year, or maybe Windsor. I also love the Soo fans...very passionate and the ones I've met are very nice folks. I've noticed they're probably the only group of fans on the NOOF who actually take Saginaw seriously, where as other teams (most notably, the whiny London fans) just say their team played poorly.

All in my opinion of course. Good topic.

[donjohnson]

aj0512 said:

I'll never forget the race for the division title in the 05-06 season which culminated on the final night of the regular season. Even though we lost, that game was probably the best hockey game I've ever been to in my life, whether minor league, college, or pro.

That right there is why they are OUR rival...that was a great point, that game was packed and was a thriller...it set the tone for future Saginaw vs. Plymouth games. Great Point!

[spiritfan8]

(quote)Even though we lost, that game was probably the best hockey game I've ever been to in my life, whether minor league, college, or pro. In my opinion, that was the funnest year we've had in our brief history. (quote)

No argument at all on that game--it was terrific. But nothing has come close to it since.
I also agree about that year being the most fun. Yes, we had a better record last year, and that was fun. But too many other things leached a lot of the joy out of last year's season, and I'm not even counting losing in the first round. Two years ago, we planned our entire lives around the last week of the season in order to be at every game. It was a great time, and I'll never forget what fun it was!!

[SaginawGensFan]

I also went with Plymouth, but would throw the Soo in there as a not so distant 2nd, for many of the above mentioned reasons.