SAGINAW, MI -- The Saginaw Spirit took one more step toward becoming Detroit Red Wings North, announcing Tuesday that former Red Wings goaltender Chris Osgood had agreed to become a part owner of the Ontario Hockey League team.

Osgood's announcement came less than a week after the Spirit ownership group added Detroit Red Wings senior vice president Jimmy Devellano.

"They didn't really have to convince me to join ... it was more me convincing them to let me in," Osgood said. "It's been a dream of mine to be an owner in the CHL.

Former Detroit Red Wing goalie Chris Osgood joined Red Wings senior vice-president Jimmy Devellano as part of the Saginaw Spirit ownership group.

"I spent a lot of time here in the past three years, scouting players for the Red Wings. I can see the potential. I also spend a lot of time at the Joe (Louis Arena), and I'm tired of walking around there hearing people talk about teams in London and Windsor.

"I want to hear about the Spirit."

Osgood, 43, retired after the 2011 season. He has worked as a color analyst for Fox Sports Detroit and as a goaltenders coach and scout for the Red Wings.

Dick Garber remains the primary owner and governor of the Spirit, with Craig Goslin the president and managing partner. Devellano is a partner and alternate governor, with Osgood and Brandon Bordeaux as partners.

Bordeaux, a former Saginaw Nouvel hockey player, also joined the ownership group Tuesday. Bordeaux, who lives in Saginaw, owns Caravan Facilities Management.

"We think our franchise gets a whole lot better today," Garber said. "We have done so many things with this franchise in 14 years, but the one thing we have not done is close the loop to a championship hockey club."

Osgood said his immediate job is to listen, teach and build relationships with the coaches and players.

"I talked to (Red Wings general manager) Ken Holland about Chris, and he told me that he sees the game as well as anybody," Goslin said. "More than anything, Chris is a consultant to the culture we want here.

"He's seen it. He's experienced it."

Osgood played in the Western Hockey League, one of three junior hockey leagues in the Canadian Hockey League, which also includes the OHL and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

He played for the Medicine Hat Tigers for three years, but was traded twice in 1992, his final year in junior hockey. He also played for the Brandon Wheat Kings and the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL.

The Red Wings drafted Osgood with the 54th pick in the 1991 NHL Draft and played his first season with the Red Wings in 1993.

He won 401 games in the NHL over 17 seasons, winning three Stanley Cups with the Red Wings. Osgood is also eighth in playoff wins and fourth in playoff shutouts.

The Spirit begin the season with an exhibition game at 7:05 p.m. Saturday against Sault Ste. Marie at The Dow Event Center.