Slow start costs Owen Sound against skilled Saginaw team

A pair of USHL transplants helped the Saginaw Spirit outpace the Owen Sound Attack on Saturday afternoon.

Egor Barabanov and Nikita Klepov each scored a pair of goals as the Spirit topped the Attack 7-5 inside the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre.

With back-to-back losses, Owen Sound is now 4-2-0-0 on the year, while Saginaw improved to 2-1-2-1.

There’s no panic in the Owen Sound Attack room, but those inside say the team has some things to clean up.

“We’re fine. It’s a 68-game season and two losses aren’t going to hurt us too much,” said Braedyn Rogers after the game.

Both Rogers and assistant coach Reagan O’Grady mentioned that slow starts are something the team needs to nip in the bud.

“Starting on time is the biggest thing,” O’Grady said. “You can’t spot teams in this leagu