Spitfires soar over Soo
Joey Costanzo made 27 stops and several skaters had two point sessions as the surging Spitfires swiped the visiting Soo Greyhounds 5-0 on Thursday. The win boosted Windsor’s record to 3-0-1 while the Soo has dropped three straight games to start the ’24-25 Ontario Hockey League season.
Spits show symmetry
With five of a possible six points through their first three outings of the ’24-25 Ontario Hockey League season the Spitfires are fuelled up for a flight that might take them from the basement to the top floor of the Western Conference.
Windbiel to the Vipers
The Spitfires have assigned 2008 birth year goalie Jake Windbiel to the LaSalle Vipers of the Greater Ontario Jr. Hockey League. …[read more]
’08 skaters spark Spits
A 12-2 shellacking by the Spitfires of the visiting Kitchener Rangers on Saturday showcased four of Windsor’s 2008 birth year freshmen from the 2024 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft who all figured in on the score sheet.
Here come the Spitfires
The Spitfires take a two game road record of 1-0-1 into their Ontario Hockey League regular season home opener tonight. Opening face-off is slated for 7:05 p.m. at the WFCU Center as Windsor plays host to the Kitchener Rangers.
Spits silence the Spirit
No Liam Greentree. No A.J. Spellacy. No Ilya Protas. Minus three 18 year old forwards who are still away at National Hockey League main camps, the Spitfires nonetheless scored a 5-4 overtime victory over the Saginaw Spirit in the ’24-25 Ontario Hockey League regular season opener on Wednesday.
Billy the Kid turns 50
Spitfires legend Billy Bowler is celebrating his 50th birthday today. Now the general manager of the Spitfires, Bowler went from being a 13th round draft pick to the leading scorer in Windsor’s Ontario Hockey League history.
Windsor lad in the Sault
Free agent pick up Erik Muxlow has the makings of being a noteworthy addition to the present and future of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. A 5 foot 11, 183 pound forward with a 2007 birth date who hails from the Windsor area, Muxlow more than earned an Ontario Hockey League roster spot with the Greyhounds for the ’24-25 season following an eye opening spring development camp and subsequent fall training camp and exhibition games performance.
Spitfires finish up at 5-0
The Spitfires capped a perfect Ontario Hockey League pre season on Saturday with a 5-3 decision over the visiting Niagara Ice Dogs.
Points for Mount Brydges
Two losses. But two points. Mount Brydges Bulldogs began their ’24-25 Provincial Jr. Hockey League regular season this weekend with respective 4-3 shootout losses to the Petrolia Flyers and North Middlesex Stars. …[read more]
Froggett is in fine form
Third time just may be a charm. Goalie Carter Froggett has stood tall for the Spitfires in his third pre season since being Windsor’s sixth round pick at the 2022 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft.
One more tuneup for Spits
The Spitfires will wind up their Ontario Hockey League exhibition slate on Saturday with a 7:05 p.m. match against the visiting Niagara Ice Dogs at the Atlas Tube Centre in Lakeshore.
Winegard wires the winner
A pair of unheralded performers propelled the Spitfires to another exhibition game air lift on Tuesday. Defenseman Tanner Winegard scored the winning goal in what was a 10 round shootout. And rookie goalie Carter Froggett stopped eight of ten shots in the shootout as the Spitfires scored a 7-6 road victory over the Sarnia Sting.
Two straight for the Vipers
Wins at home and on the road have the LaSalle Vipers off to a 2-0 start to begin the ’24-25 Greater Ontario Jr. Hockey League season.
Bell sounds for the Spitfires
A decades long radio marathon will continue for the Spitfires when the first puck drops on the ’24-25 Ontario Hockey League season. …[read more]
Why we like the Spitfires
Buckle up. General manager and chief pilot Billy Bowler has the Spitfires fuelled up and ready for a takeoff that could very well take them on a high flight to the top of the Ontario Hockey League’s Western Conference this coming season. …[read more]
4 OHL teams of intrigue
Opening face-off to the ’24-25 Ontario Hockey League regular season is set for September 25 when the reigning Memorial Cup champion Saginaw Spirit plays host to the Windsor Spitfires. …[read more]
Spits await roster shuffle
Two games into a five match exhibition slate the Spitfires still have a slew of skaters to settle on ahead of their Ontario Hockey League regular season opener in a couple of weeks. …[read more]
Sweet start for Spitfires
Exhibition games matter. They may not count in the regular season standings. But they define beginnings and they can set a pace. Whatever the case, the Spitfires came out on top of their Ontario Hockey League exhibition schedule debut. …[read more]
Spitfires pre-season roster
We have the names and numbers of the players who are currently with the Spitfires. Windsor begins its Ontario Hockey League exhibition schedule at home on Friday night at 7:05 at the WFCU Centre. It will be the first of five pre-season matches for new head coach Greg Walters and the Spitfires. …[read more]
Spitfires set for exhibition
Subsequent to the reassignment of 21 players following their recent intra-squad match the Spitfires will play the first of five Ontario Hockey League exhibition games this Friday. …[read more]
Spits have 4 goalies inked
The Spitfires have seemingly solidified their crease situation for the present and the future with four goalies — all born in different years — now signed to Ontario Hockey League packages. …[read more]
Two 15th round Spitfires
The Spitfires are proving that the 15th and final round of a given Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft can pay dividends. The latest 15th rounder to sign with Windsor is 6 foot 1, 180 pound forward Nathan Gaymes. …[read more]
Spits are high on nutrition
Kyla Seguin has joined the Windsor Spitfires in a newly created position as nutritionist for the Ontario Hockey League team. …[read more]
Worst to first for Spitfires?
Back in the ’89-90 season, the Soo Greyhounds missed the Ontario Hockey League playoffs with a record of 18-42-6. A year later, in ’90-91, they rebounded with a 42-21-3 record en route to winning the OHL championship. Windsor Spitfires missed the OHL playoffs in ’23-24 with a record of 18-42-8. Can the Spitfires of ’24-25 perform a turnaround similar to the Greyhounds of ’90-91? …[read more]
Four from the OHL West
August is leaning towards September. Up first are training camps. Then exhibition games. Followed by a schedule of names, games, checkers and chess; not to mention all of the intrigue and anxiety that goes with debatably being the best development league on the hockey planet. …[read more]
Camp calls for Spitfires
Three days of training camp followed by an Ontario Hockey League exhibition slate awaits the Windsor Spitfires. Seven goalies, 15 defensemen and 29 forwards are expected at the three day main camp, which is scheduled for Thursday August 29, Friday August 30 and Saturday August 31 at the WFCU Centre. …[read more]
Spits draft class of ’24
As always, time will tell. But with six players with 2008 birth dates already signed, the Spitfires haul from the 2024 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft just might end up providing at least as good of a return as Windsor’s yield from 2022. …[read more]
LaSalle lad has goals
In talking about new opportunity, it is no secret that veteran Ontario Hockey League defenseman Andrew Gibson wants to make the most of it as early as this fall. …[read more]
Spits draft class of ’22
It has turned out to be a pretty good return for the Spitfires to date. That is, five players from Windsor’s priority selections draft class of 2022 have already established themselves as bona fide Ontario Hockey League performers. …[read more]
State of the Spitfire ‘D’
As it stands now with the start of training camp about two weeks away the Spitfires have six defensemen with at least a full season of Ontario Hockey League experience on their roster. …[read more]
LaSalle via Lakeshore
Anthony Iaquinta is moving up from head coach of the reigning champion Lakeshore Canadiens of the Provincial Jr. C Hockey League to the LaSalle Vipers of the Greater Ontario Jr. Hockey League as their new bench boss. …[read more]
Spits set with overages
It was just last month over lunch at the Loose Goose Resto Pub and Lounge in downtown Windsor that Spitfires general manager Billy Bowler told me that one of his priorities was to have the team’s three overage players in place in advance of the start of the ’24-25 Ontario Hockey League season. Mission now accomplished. …[read more]
Spits ready for takeoff
A season of turbulence is on the exit ramp. Jet smooth skyways are part of the flight plan for the Spitfires ahead of the looming Ontario Hockey League season. …[read more]
Spitfires add overage D
Overage defenseman Tnias Mathurin is headed to the Spitfires by way of an Ontario Hockey League trade with the North Bay Battalion. The deal involves a number of future draft picks. …[read more]
Flugins flies off to Flint
Canadian Hockey League import draft pick Karlis Flugins has been signed by the Flint Firebirds of the Ontario Hockey League ahead of the looming ’24-25 season.
Spits have a Max factor
It is not easy for a fresh faced rookie to make an impact in the Ontario Hockey League. The biggest adjustment for most is going up against players who are as much as three and four years older. Having said that, one 2008 birth year skater — and born in December no less — worth keeping track of come the ’24-25 season is Spitfires forward Max Brocklehurst.
Costanzo and Froggett
As the Spitfires zoom in on the start of a training camp that is about three weeks away it is Joey Costanzo and Carter Froggett who are the presumptive front runners in what is a crowded crease of Windsor goalies.
Abraham and Morneau
They are bookends from the Spitfires priority selections draft class of 2020. One was a first round pick, 14th overall. The other went 294th overall in the 15th and final round. And Spitfires general manager Billy Bowler has confirmed to Hockey News Windsor that both Ryan Abraham and Noah Morneau will return as overage forwards for the ’24-25 Ontario Hockey League season.
Spitfires staff summation
The start of training camp is a mere month away. Meanwhile, it has been a whirly bird of an off season for the Spitfires including the hiring of a new head coach, a strength and conditioning coach, and a goalie coach who will form a tested tandem with the director of goaltending.
Spitfires net contention
Tick, tick, tick. The clock is ticking. As general manager Billy Bowler has built the Spitfires to rebound in ’24-25 after missing the Ontario Hockey League playoffs in ’23-24 there is competition brewing for Windsor’s goalie positions.
Leamington via NOJHL
Forward Brendan Cooke has been acquired by the Leamington Flyers of the Ontario Jr. Hockey League from the Blind River Beavers of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League in a cash exchange.
Good guy Bobby Jones
If they say that only the good die young, well, in this case that is certainly true. Hailing from Haviland Bay, Ontario — he was proud to refer to it as his home — Bobby Jones has passed away at the young age of 54 after being diagnosed a few years back with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS.)
Winegard winding up
As the Spitfires seek to soar up the steps in the Western Conference of the Ontario Hockey League in ’24-25 they will have a slew of seasoned defenders to look up to including 6 foot 6 plus minus leader Tanner Winegard.
Berry in Mt. Brydges
This is a plum of a goalie with considerable high level junior hockey experience. He is Aiden Berry, who has opted to sign with the Mount Brydges Bulldogs of the Provincial Jr. Hockey League ahead of the ’24-25 season. …[read more]
Sidebars & snippets
It was just a tad under two months ago that the host Saginaw Spirit scored a razor thin win over the Ontario Hockey League champion London Knights in what was an all OHL showdown for the 2024 Memorial Cup crown. But the restless hands of time are already ticking towards a new season and the projections and prognosis that go with it.
Seven ’07s to surveil
Our Hockey News Windsor choice list of seven select 2007 birth year skaters from the Western Conference of the Ontario Hockey League includes Spitfires forward Jack Nesbitt. In all, the skilled seven are projected to be impact players in ’24-25 after showing particular potential and promise as OHL rookies in ’23-24.
U.S.A. calls on A.J.
Spitfires forward A.J. Spellacy has been invited to attend Team USA’s upcoming World Junior Summer Showcase. The event is part of the process to select the Team USA roster for the next IIHF World Junior Championships.
Spits sign more size
The Spitfires have added another major building block ahead of the ’24-25 Ontario Hockey League season with the signing of import forward Ilya Protas.
Spits at HC camps
Four players who figure to be prominent performers for the present and future of the Spitfires have been invited to separate Hockey Canada summer camps.
OHL is in the offing
Hot fun in the summertime will soon turn to ice. For example, It doesn’t matter if you are up north in Sault Ste. Marie, in the mid to lower Michigan regions of Flint and Saginaw, or in the southwestern Ontario areas of London and Windsor, first pucks will drop on Ontario Hockey League training camps in late August.
Spitfire off to Carleton
Graduating Spitfires defenseman Connor Toms is utilizing his Ontario Hockey League education package to begin his university schooling and playing career this fall.
Select your Spits seat
Spitfire fans can select their own full or mini season ticket plan for the ’24-25 Ontario Hockey League campaign in person on July 16 and 17 at the WFCU Centre.
LaSalle to the Sault
Defenseman Gage Evans has been acquired by his hometown Sault Ste. Marie Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League via trade with the LaSalle Vipers of the Greater Ontario Jr. Hockey League. …[read more]
Rob Maggio revisited
A familiar face has joined the credible coaching staff of the Spitfires. Well known Windsor resident Rob Maggio is on board with the Ontario Hockey League team as its newly hired strength and conditioning coach.
OHL pick to Chatham
Forward Ian Lachance, who led the Timmins Majors and the Great North Under 18 Hockey League in scoring in 2023-2024 before becoming an Ontario Hockey League draft pick of the Saginaw Spirit, has signed with the Chatham Maroons of the Greater Ontario Jr. Hockey League, Hockey News Windsor has confirmed. …[read more]
Net gain for Spitfires
Is there an Ontario Hockey League team with a better set of goalie gurus than the Spitfires? Well, it might be tough to top the Windsor instructor tandem of Bill Dark and newcomer Stan Matwijiw.
Team Canada coaches
Ontario Hockey League coaches Dave Cameron of the Ottawa 67’s and Chris Lazary of the Memorial Cup champion Saginaw Spirit will lead Team Canada at the 2025 World Jr. Hockey Championships that are slated for Ottawa.
Spitfires get big import
Belarusian forward Ilya Protas was plucked by the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League with the third overall pick of the 2024 Canadian Hockey League import draft.
Walters and Bowler
Greg Walters, who has a winning record as an Ontario Hockey League head coach with both the Oshawa Generals and Owen Sound Attack, has a new gig. …[read more]
Coach add on in Lucan
Liam McCarthy has joined the staff of the Lucan Irish of the Provincial Jr. Hockey League as its goalie coach, Hockey News Windsor has confirmed. …[read more]
Flint of the NHL Draft
Flint Firebirds of the Ontario Hockey League have continued their franchise streak of having at least one player drafted at the annual National Hockey League selections process. …[read more]
Spits of the NHL Draft
A pair of good size Spitfires have become 2024 National Hockey League draft picks. Liam Greentree went in the first round to the Los Angeles Kings and fellow forward AJ Spellacy was picked by the Chicago Blackhawks in the third round. …[read more]
Greentree to LA Kings
Spitfires forward Liam Greentree was one of nine Ontario Hockey League skaters to be selected in the first round of Friday’s National Hockey League draft. …[read more]
A way too early outlook
Perhaps I am just bored. Or, missing hockey season. Whatever the reason, I feel compelled to give my way too early predictions as to how the Western Conference of the Ontario Hockey League might play out in ’24-25. …[read more]
Paul Maurice and Stanley
I have been rooting for Paul Maurice ever since the 1984 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft when the Windsor Spitfires took the lanky defenseman in the third round from the Sault Ste. Marie Legion midgets. …[read more]
W3 on the Windsor D
Walton. Winegard. Woodall. Three defensemen, each with a full season of Ontario Hockey League experience in Windsor. A troika of defenders who are projected for continued progress as part of the plan for the Spitfires in 2024-2025.
Woodall winds down
Bryan Pearse of Rising Athletes Advisory made Hockey News Windsor aware of a fearless feat performed by Spitfires defenseman Carson Woodall on the weekend. …[read more]
On the bench in Lucan
Two holdovers and two fresh faces are among the coaches that the Lucan Irish of the Provincial Jr. Hockey League have confirmed ahead of the 2024-2025 season.
Saginaw moves a goalie
Memorial Cup champion Saginaw Spirit has sent 2004 birth year goalie Nolan Lalonde to the Kingston Frontenacs in a summer breeze of an Ontario Hockey League trade. …[read more]
One night in Windsor
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Of the hundreds of folks who have read my recently authored book, Tales Of An Old Hockey Writer, the majority who have commented on it to me have relayed that their favourite chapter is the one titled One Night In Windsor. Following is a reprint of Chapter Four, complete with adult content.) …[read more]
Spitfire slate for ’24-25
Thursday will continue to be the primary home date for the Spitfires come the 2024-2025 Ontario Hockey League season. In all, 13 of Windsor’s 34 home games for the ’24-25 OHL season will be played on a Thursday. Following is the Spitfires full home and away schedule for the ’24-25 season. …[read more]
Flint has games, tickets
Flint Firebirds of the Ontario Hockey League have unveiled their 2024-2025 regular season schedule and season ticket information at the same time. …[read more]
MC Smitty and the Spits
The 1990-1991 season was one of substantial rebound for the Windsor Spitfires. After missing the Ontario Hockey League playoffs in 1989-1990 with a record of 17-41-8, head coach Brad (Motor City Smitty) Smith and the Spitfires ascended the Emms Division ladder in ’90-91 with a 28 point improvement from a record of 33-29-4. …[read more]