Saginaw players under investigation

State police are investigating a criminal complaint involving five members of the Saginaw Spirit.

According to a report in the Saginaw News, five players were suspended two games for "breaking team rules." They have since rejoined the team and will continue to play pending the outcome of the investigation.

According to detectives, Tittabawassee Township police were called to a home last Thursday night. At least one of the players lives at the house in question.

From there, Tittabawassee Township police turned the investigation over to the Michigan State police.

Detectives are conducting interviews in the criminal complaint. At this point, the case centers around a 15-year-old girl who was at the house with the players.

The Spirit organization isn't saying much about the case.

"It's come to the attention of the Saginaw Spirit hockey club that there is an investigation involving one or more members of the Saginaw Spirit hockey team. We're taking this matter very seriously. We're still gathering information on the Spirit side of things. But it is our policy, in an incident like this, or any similar incident, that we fully cooperate with any investigation," said the team's director of marketing Cameron Knowles.

The status of some players for Thursday's game in Peterborough is unknown.

"There will be more discipline coming, but I can't say what because I don't know what the outcome of the criminal investigation will be," Spirit coach-GM Bob Mancini told the newspaper. "I am extremely disappointed (in the players)."

Defensemen Scott Fletcher and Matt Corrente and forwards Ryan McDonough, Zack Torquato and Chris Chappell didn't play last weekend.