The London Knights and Kitchener Rangers are two OHL organizations that are regarded as having the most “pull” in player recruitment. However, there is another team in the Western Conference that is putting its name into that ring: the Saginaw Spirit.
Saginaw has recently been able to pull high-end junior players from other leagues to wear their uniform. Examples: former USNTDP forward Kristian Epperson, who was a dynamic forward for them last season. San Jose Sharks top prospect Igor Chernyshov. Although he was only around for a quarter of the season last year, his 55 points in 23 games gave the Spirit fans lots of excitement down the stretch. Lastly, for the upcoming season, the organization was able to secure a couple of talented forwards from the USHL: Egor Barabanov and Nikita Klepov.
Now, another USHL forward is leaving America’s top junior league to play in the OHL, and his bloodlines run deep in Slovak hockey.
Miroslav Satan Jr. has signed a Standard Player Agreement with the Saginaw Spirit. The organization secured his rights via the league entry waivers back on Aug. 21. He had spent the 2024-25 season playing in the USHL for the Sioux Falls Stampede and Omaha Lancers. Satan Jr. struggled in his first season playing in a different country — played his minor hockey in Slovakia — recording only four points (3 goals, 1 assist) in 45 games. He did get the opportunity to play at the 2025 IIHF Men’s World Junior Championship for his country and should be a shoo-in to return to the 2026 event later this year.
We have signed Miroslav Šatan, to an OHL Standard Player Agreement.
— Saginaw Spirit (@SpiritHockey) August 27, 2025
DETAILS: https://t.co/8NUTg0OOVHpic.twitter.com/cUoDdIIBuy
The new 6-foot-7 Spirit forward towers over his father, who had an incredible playing career both in the NHL and internationally. His dad is none other than Miroslav Satan, the current President of the Slovak Ice Hockey Federation.
Satan was inducted into the IIHF Hockey Hall of Fame in 2019, following an international career which saw him win gold at the World Championship and MVP in 2002, two WC silver medals, and one WC bronze. Additionally, he was named to the World Championship’s All-Star Team twice (2000 and 2002), after finishing the tournament as its leading scorer. Satan is Slovakia’s all-time leader in games played, goals, assists, and points at the World Championship.
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The great Slovak forward won the Stanley Cup as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009. Satan is one of the greatest stories of a player who went late in the NHL draft. He was picked 111th overall in the fifth round in 1993 by the Edmonton Oilers. He played in the NHL for 14 seasons, stringing together 735 points (363 goals, 372 assists) in 1,050 games.
His son, just like his dad, was a late pick, selected near the end of the 2024 NHL Draft, 212th overall by the Washington Capitals. Washington saw one of their prospects leave the USHL for the OHL last season, Ilya Protas, who was a dominant presence on a nightly basis for the Windsor Spitfires.
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Saginaw plays its first pre-season game on Friday, Aug. 29, against the Oshawa Generals. Fans may get the chance to see their new towering forward, who will be wearing the #43 for the upcoming season.
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