TROY PASSINGHAM: SPITFIRES POW

He’s come up big time and time again for the Spits.

But you’d be hard-pressed to find a pair of games in which Troy Passingham has played better than in back-to-back road wins over Peterborough and Oshawa this weekend.

And for his efforts, he’s been named the Spitfires Player of the Week, by the coaching staff, for the week ending Sunday December 5th.

‘Passer’ made 36 saves, many of them spectacular with the game scorless through the first 30 minutes, in an eventual 7-1 win over the Petes on Saturday night. Called upon again on Sunday, with Jack Campbell nursing a bruised knee, Passingham turned in another great effort, stopping 26 shots in a 6-3 win over the Generals.

On both occassions, Passingham kept the Spits in the game, before they exploded for five goals in the third period of each win.

“I felt really comfortable all week in practice,” the 20-year-old goaltender told windsorspitfires.com. “I felt good in my preparation on both nights and was focused during the games.”

Many of his 62 stops over the weekend were eye-popping, highlight reel material.

“I guess they were a lot of being in the right position. I made the easy saves. And then, a few of the bigger ones, again a combination of being in the right spot a lot…and a little luck always helps.”

Passingham has been rock-solid for the Spitfires this season: with a record of 8-2-0-1, a goals against average of 2.94 and an outstanding .905 save percentage.

He and Jack Campbell combine to form arguably the OHL’s best one-two punch in goal. And Passingham credits his partner for much of his success.

“We’re roommates on the road. He’s a great guy, a great player and a great friend. He’s done well at every level he’s played at. We feed off each other. We watch each other play, share the success and the mistakes. He’s really helped make me a better person and a better player.”

Passingham’s numbers rank him 12th out of the 29 goalies who have suited up for an OHL team this season.