Photo by Tom Turrill/MiHockey

Saginaw Spirit announce that Chris Osgood has joined ownership team

Photo by Tom Turrill/MiHockey
Photo by Tom Turrill/MiHockey

 

By @MichaelCaples –

The Saginaw Spirit have announced an addition to their ownership team.

Odds are, you’ve heard of him.

Saginaw officially announced today that longtime Red Wings’ goaltender Chris Osgood has joined the ownership team.

“My first order of business will be to get to know the coaching staff, the management, of course the players,” Osgood said at his introductory press conference. “This has been a dream of mine to be involved with the CHL and junior hockey. When I was scouting with the Red Wings, I spent quite a bit of time with Craig up in the bird’s nest watching the Spirit and watching other teams, and I would be walking around the rink and what I noticed is that the fan base and the people of Saginaw – they’re passionate about hockey. We have to start winning some more games than we have in the past, and get the community more excited about hockey than they already are.”

The announcement comes five days after longtime Detroit Red Wings executive Jimmy Devellano joined the Spirit ownership group, as well. The two Hockeytown names join owner and governor Dick Garber, managing partner and president Craig Goslin, and new ownership addition Brandon Bordeaux as the group operating the OHL franchise in Saginaw. Bordeaux is the CEO of Caravan Facilities Management.

“We truly believe, with who we brought in for our team with Jimmy Devellano, we can bring this to the next level,” Osgood said. “I’ve spent a lot of time at The Joe obviously, and talked to a lot of people, and I’m getting tired of hearing about London and Windsor. I want to go in there and beat those guys and have a great season and make the playoffs and win some series and do well here”

Drafted by Detroit in the 1991 NHL Draft (54th overall), Osgood ended up spending 14 of his 17 NHL seasons with the Red Wings. Osgood served as back-up to Mike Vernon in the Red Wings’ 1997 Stanley Cup championship – playing in 47 games as the Wings ended a four decade-plus Cup drought.

The next season, Osgood was the linchpin between the pipes for the Wings’ second consecutive Stanley Cup title.

He suited up for the New York Islanders and St. Louis Blues from 2001-05, but returned to Hockeytown for the 2005-06 season, and played a pivotal role in Detroit’s 2008 Stanley Cup championship.

Osgood currently serves as a Fox Sports Detroit analyst for Red Wings games, as well.

Other announcements from today’s press conference in Saginaw include the fact that the team is investing $1 million in a new scoreboard and audio system – “…the finest scoreboard in the league,” per owner Dick Garber – as well as upcoming reveal of a new mascot for the OHL franchise.