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.
Notably, the Spitfires totalled 21 goals in the three games despite having forwards A.J. Spellacy (Chicago Blackhawks) and Ilya Protas (Washington Capitals) away at National Hockey League camps. Which makes Windsor’s record of 2-0-1 through the first three games of the season both encouraging and impressive.
The balance of the Spitfires among older and younger players has been evident in the three game sample to date.
2008 birth year forward Ethan Belchetz, who Windsor made the first overall pick at the 2024 OHL priority selections draft, leads the Spitfires in scoring with four goals, four assists, eight points. Up next are 2006 birth year defenseman Anthony Cristoforo with one goal, six assists, seven points and another 2008 birth year rookie forward, J.C. Lemieux, with three goals, two assists, five points.
Then it is veteran forwards Noah Morneau and Owen Outwater each with two goals, three assists, five points and Ryan Abraham, Liam Greentree, Cole Davis and Jack Nesbitt all with two goals, two assists, four points. Overages Morneau and Abraham both have 2004 birth dates, Outwater was born in 2005, Greentree and Davis were both born in 2006 and Nesbitt has a 2005 birth date.
No less than 17 Spitfire skaters have at least one point in the three games to date.
Meanwhile, between the pipes, 2005 birth year goalie Joey Costanzo has looked good so far with a 2-0-0 record to go with a 2.98 goals against average and .913 save percentage.
It says here that, led by general manager Billy Bowler and his handpicked new head coach Greg Walters, the Spitfires are a good team in the making. Walters has been an OHL head coach for four seasons — two with the Oshawa Generals and two more with the Owen Sound Attack — and has never had a losing record with teams that mostly overachieved.
Next up for the Spitfires are a pair of games this week. Windsor is home to the Soo Greyhounds — who have lost two games on home ice to begin the season while incurring the verbal wrath of cranky head coach John Dean — on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. at the WFCU Centre. The Spitfires then get on the bus for a 7:00 Saturday night road match against the Brantford Bulldogs.
AM 800 CKLW is the home for Spitfires radio broadcasts with Steve Bell giving ‘er hell with the play by play yell.