Windsor Arena retentions
To me, they will always be the “good, old” Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League. Man, so many games and players watched at Windsor Arena, the iconic old barn located at the corner of McDougall and Wyandotte streets in the downtown core.
Windsor Arena first welcomed the Spitfires as an OHL franchise in 1975 before a forced good-bye in 2008.
Actually, Windsor Arena was born long before the Spitfires became members of the OHL in 1975. As in, Windsor Arena was built way back in 1924. And the Spitfires were a power house Tier 2 junior team for a number of years before moving up to the OHL in 1975.
Nicknamed ‘The Barn’ or ‘The Madhouse on McDougall’, Windsor Arena could officially house about 4,400 spectators, including standing room. However, during the early days of the OHL Spitfires under popular head coach and general manager Wayne Maxner, it was not uncommon for more than 5,000 fans to pack the cramped but cozy Windsor Arena. (Apparently the fire marshals were looking the other way.)
Adding to uniqueness of Windsor Arena were the narrow concourses and low ceilings that led to the dressing rooms and concession areas. Then there was the smaller ice surface, which was an asymmetrical 195 feet by 80 feet as opposed to the standard 200 X 85. If utilized properly by the Spitfire coaches, Windsor Arena could be a major advantage for the home team.
But nothing lasts forever and as the years went by and other OHL centres were getting new state of the art facilities to play in, it became apparent that Windsor Arena’s venerable and legendary status as home to the Spitfires was about to come to an end.
Thus, it really came as no surprise that in 2006 — which was a few years before it opened — the WFCU Centre, located in the city’s east side off of Lauzon Road, was approved by the Windsor city council. The decision to move on from Windsor Arena as the home of the OHL Spitfires as the main tenant was attributed to the constrained seating and tiny concourses of the old downtown barn.
For the record, the Spitfires’ final game at Windsor Arena was played on December 4, 2008. Windsor beat the Guelph Storm by a 2-1 score, giving the Spitfires a perfect 12-0 record to begin the 2008-2009 OHL season.
At any rate, this column is about Windsor Arena housing the OHL Spitfires back in what yours truly and many others refer to as the “good, old days.”
Concourses and cubby holes. When walking into Windsor Arena from the McDougall Ave. side entrance, you were greeted by the smell of hot dogs, French fries and popcorn. The concourses were small, not the wide open spaces that are seen in newer arenas. And, like me, If you were taller, chances are that you headed to a favourite bar for a few post game beers with a bit of a neck or back pain from trying to navigate the low ceilings. But it was all part of the Windsor Arena experience. Of particular note, the concession stands were created through little cubby holes in the walls, scattered around the concourse of the old barn.
Watching the games. The Spitfires of my early hey days were known for tough guys, aka goons, pre-game brawls and rowdy fans who were not for the faint of heart. It was like every word inside the old barn was amplified and no matter where you were seated, the play felt like it was happening all around you. It was like there was no escape. And In the north end, there were a few rows high above the visiting goaltender, with only a metallic rail and some aging mesh separating the rowdies from the goalie, who often could be seen looking over his shoulder.
Pre game food. Easily the best corned beef sandwich I have ever eaten in my life was at Malic’s Delicatessen on Wyandotte St. near the old Windsor Arena. I had my first corned beef sandwich at Malic’s when I was just a kid and I probably had hundreds more over the next 50 years, until it closed. Other great places to eat were the Tunnel Barbecue and Spago. And Spago, to this day, still serves up great Italian food, including its flagship location on Erie St.
Pre game brawls. I will never forget, it was both the 1975-1976 and 1976-1977 seasons. Wayne Maxner was coaching the Spitfires and Muzz MacPherson was coaching the Soo Greyhounds. Both teams had their share of what then were fondly referred to as goons. And both Maxner and MacPherson were known to brag that they had the toughest team in the OHL. Spitfire tough guys included Joey Gallant, Peter Luksa, John Barrett and team scoring leader Brad Smith. Greyhound enforcers were Tim Coulis, Mike Rusin, Tony Horvath, Bill Roach, Tim Rose and Brian Gustafson. (Ironically, the 5-foot-8, 160 pound Gustafson would later be traded from the Greyhounds to the Spitfires, where he earned the nickname ‘Mini Goon.’) At any rate, back to the pre-game brawls, on two separate occasions — one each season — I happened to be at Windsor Arena to watch the Spitfires and Greyhounds do battle. Both times, MacPherson as the Hounds coach, sought me out before the game and said, with a wink: “Whatever you do, don’t miss the fucken’ warmup.” On the second occasion, I happened to bump into a Windsor police officer who was called to the rink after the pre-game brawl had subsided. He asked me if I saw anything. “I didn’t see anything, man,” came my lying reply.
Ah, Windsor Arena. A place like no other.