Sapurji: Spooner's new diet includes more scoring

When we last left Peterborough Petes forward Ryan Spooner he was preparing for last year's playoff series with the Brampton Battalion and making Kraft Dinner.

Our discussion turned to his pre-game meal and his favourite dish -- chicken strips.

I caught up with Spooner yesterday after practice at the Top Prospects game where he let me know he's almost gone cold turkey on the breaded poultry.

"It's not the healthiest choice," said Spooner. "I still have them once in a while, but they're not the best things for you."

In case you're wondering -- and I know you're wondering -- his new pre-game meal of choice is rice with broccoli and one of those "chickens from the grocery store, one of those whole ones."

It's unclear what Spooner had for his pre-game dinner before scoring the short-handed winner to help Team Cherry beat Team Orr 4-3 at the Top Prospects Game in Windsor, but he admitted to a good helping of nerves before the game last night.

"I guess you've just got to push (the nerves) off to the side and treat it like any other game in your league," said Spooner. "Just try to go out there and play your style of game because that's what got guys this far."

Spooner leads the Petes in scoring with 19 goals and 35 assists for 54 points in 46 games. Still, he's a kid more apt to dish the credit off to his linemates, instead of talking about himself.

"I'm playing with some great players like Matt Puempel, he's a rookie, and he's having a really good year," said the centre. "And my right-winger (Pat) Daley, he's an overager and he's helped me out this year. Our line's been playing really, really well so hopefully we can keep that going for the last 20 games of the season."

The Petes (23-20-1-2) host the Owen Sound Attack tonight.

As always - questions, comments, compliments, complaints, threats etc: sunaya19@hotmail.com or on Twitter @loosepucks