Crew from Soo in Windsor
There is a somewhat significant Sault Ste. Marie side to the Windsor minor hockey scene among the 2010 and 2011 birth year age groups.
It begins with the Under 16 AAA level Windsor Jr. Spitfires of the Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario who are coached by Sault Ste. Marie product Matt Zuccato.
Zuccato brings a wealth of experience, passion and mentorship to the U16 AAA Jr. Spitfires as a returning head coach for the ’25–26 season. With over 14 years of coaching experience and with a high performance coaching certification, Zuccato has been a cornerstone in developing young talent in the Jr. Spitfires program over a considerable time period.
One of Zuccato’s 2010 birth year forwards who has signed with the U16 Jr. Spitfires ahead of the ’25-26 season is Carter Trudell. Trudell is the son of Brett Trudell and Ashley (Rathwell) Trudell.
The elder Trudell skated for five seasons in the Ontario Hockey League as a high end forward after being a second round pick by the Soo Greyhounds at the 2000 OHL priority selections draft. Trudell played two full seasons and part of a third with the Greyhounds before being traded to the Guelph Storm, with which he was eventually part of an OHL championship team.
It was in Sault Ste. Marie that Trudell met his future wife, the aforementioned Ashley Rathwell. Ashley was no slouch as an athlete herself as an outstanding high school volleyball and basketball player at Mount St. Joseph College.
Besides Carter as a 2010 birth year forward, Brett and Ashley also have a 2011 birth year son who will be playing for the Under 15 AAA level Jr. Spitfires in ’25-26. He is defenseman Connor Trudell.
Meanwhile, three youngsters from Sault Ste. Marie will be leaving home to play at the rep hockey level in Windsor come the ’25-26 season. They are 2010 birth year forward Eli Chapman, 2010 birth year defenseman Mateo Muto and 2011 birth year goalie Owen Whitehead.
Rather than play at the under 16 AAA level in the Sault in ’25-26, Chapman and Muto have both opted to enrol at BioSteel Sports Academy in Windsor where they will suit up for its prep team.
As for Whitehead — who helped to backstop the Under 14 AA level Soo Jr. Greyhounds to the Northern Ontario Hockey Association championship in ’24-25 — the young goalie has signed with the Under 15 top rep level Tecumseh Eagles of the Ontario Minor Hockey Association for the ’25-26 season. Whitehead will also be the affiliate goalie for the Under 15 AAA Jr. Spitfires of the Alliance Hockey loop.