Windsor Spitfires vs Guelph Storm March 28 2026 – Playoffs Round 1, Game 2 Review

The Windsor Spitfires delivered a complete team performance on Saturday, defeating the Guelph Storm 4-1 before 5,170 fans at the WFCU Centre. The victory gives Windsor a commanding 2-0 lead in their first-round OHL playoff series.

Greentree Shines with Rare Shorthanded Empty-Netter

Captain Liam Greentree earned first-star honors with a two-goal performance, including a remarkable shorthanded empty-net goal at 19:03 of the third period—one of hockey’s rarest feats. His first goal came on the power play at 7:51 of the second period, assisted by Jack Nesbitt and Carson Woodall, giving Windsor a 2-1 lead.

Second Period Power Play Surge

The Spitfires took control in the second period with two power-play goals. After Greentree’s marker, Jack Nesbitt (second star) added another at 16:05, assisted by Anthony Cristoforo and Jakub Fibigr, extending the lead to 3-1. Windsor’s special teams excellence proved decisive, converting on key opportunities while shutting down Guelph’s attack.

Game Flow and Key Moments

AJ Spellacy (third star) opened the scoring with a shorthanded goal at 12:27 of the first period while Nathan Villeneuve served penalties from a fight with Guelph’s Ethan Miedema. Carter Stevens tied the game 1-1 for Guelph at 19:00 of the opening frame, but that would be the Storm’s only goal.

Goaltender Joey Costanzo was sharp throughout, making 28 saves to earn the win. The veteran netminder, who finished his regular season with 107 career victories—fourth in OHL history—continues his stellar playoff performance.

Injury Concern

Rookie forward Beksultan Makysh suffered a concerning injury in the third period after hitting a rut in the ice near the Windsor blue line. Head coach Greg Walters had no immediate update on Makysh’s status.

Playoff Positioning

The second-seeded Spitfires, who won their fourth West Division title in five seasons with a 44-15-6-3 record (97 points), hold a 2-0 advantage in the best-of-seven series. Windsor needs two more victories to advance to the second round. The series shifts to Guelph for Game 3 on Tuesday, March 31 at 6:30 p.m., followed by Game 4 on Thursday, April 2. If necessary, Game 5 returns to Windsor on Saturday, April 4.

Coach Greg Walters praised his team’s effort: “We were great, both ends of the rink. Had a ton of zone time there. Special teams battle. It’s been great for us.”

Photos: Nick Meloche – In Play! magazine

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Windsor Spitfires vs. Saginaw Spirit December 31, 2025: Review

The Windsor Spitfires closed out 2025 in spectacular fashion, delivering a commanding 6-0 victory over the Saginaw Spirit at the WFCU Centre on Wednesday, December 31, 2025. The shutout performance extended Windsor’s winning streak to three games, showcasing their dominance in the Ontario Hockey League’s Western Division.

Game Highlights and Key Moments

The Spitfires established control early, putting pressure on a struggling Saginaw squad that entered the contest with a 12-17-3-4 record. Windsor’s offensive firepower was on full display as they systematically dismantled the Spirit’s defense throughout all three periods.

Windsor’s special teams proved particularly effective, capitalizing on power play opportunities while maintaining defensive discipline. The home team’s forechecking strategy effectively neutralized Saginaw’s transition game, forcing turnovers that quickly transformed into scoring chances.

Standout Performances

Goaltender Joey Costanzo delivered a flawless performance between the pipes for Windsor, earning a shutout against the visiting Spirit. His positioning, rebound control, and ability to track the puck through traffic frustrated Saginaw’s forwards throughout the evening. This shutout marks another impressive milestone in what has been a stellar season for the netminder.

Windsor’s offensive attack featured contributions from multiple lines, demonstrating the team’s depth and balanced scoring approach. The Spitfires’ defensive corps also excelled, limiting Saginaw’s quality scoring chances and supporting Costanzo’s shutout bid with timely shot-blocking and effective zone clearances.

Pre-Game and Post-Game Events

The New Year’s Eve contest attracted a spirited sold-out crowd at the WFCU Centre, with fans eager to celebrate the final hours of 2025 while supporting their team.

Of special note, veteran OHL official Ryan Hutchison officiated his final league game in Windsor, marking the end of a distinguished career in the Ontario Hockey League. Players, coaches, and fans acknowledged Hutchison’s contributions to the game during a pre-game ceremony.

OHL Standings Impact

With this victory, the Windsor Spitfires improved their season record to 24-8-3-1, strengthening their position near the top of the OHL’s Western Division. The win solidifies Windsor as a legitimate championship contender heading into the second half of the 2025-26 season.

Conversely, the loss dropped Saginaw to 12-18-3-4, continuing their challenging campaign and further complicating their playoff aspirations. The Spirit will need to regroup quickly as the calendar turns to 2026 if they hope to climb the standings in the competitive Western Division.

Looking Ahead

The Spitfires won’t have much time to savor their victory, as they return to action on Friday night with a road game against the Niagara IceDogs. Windsor will look to extend their winning streak to four games and maintain momentum as they begin the new calendar year.

Saginaw, meanwhile, will aim to bounce back from this disappointing performance and find consistency in their game. The Spirit entered the Windsor contest following a 5-1 home victory over the Sarnia Sting on December 30, demonstrating their potential when executing effectively.

Final Thoughts

The Windsor Spitfires’ comprehensive victory on New Year’s Eve showcased a team firing on all cylinders as they prepare for the crucial second half of the OHL season. With strong goaltending, balanced scoring, and disciplined defensive play, Windsor presented a complete performance that should inspire confidence among their supporters heading into 2026.

For Spitfires fans, this dominant win provided the perfect conclusion to the calendar year and signals promising possibilities for the remainder of the 2025-26 campaign. As the playoff race intensifies in the coming months, performances like this will be crucial for Windsor’s championship aspirations.

Photos: Nick Meloche – In Play! magazine

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Windsor Spitfires vs. Owen Sound Attack: Game Review November 26, 2025

Final Score: Windsor Spitfires 3, Owen Sound Attack 1

The Windsor Spitfires secured an impressive 3-1 victory against the Owen Sound Attack in a defensive showdown on Wednesday night at the WFCU Centre. The game featured outstanding goaltending performances on both sides as the two division leaders battled for supremacy in front of 5,001 fans.

Game Flow and Highlights

The Attack struck first in the opening period when rookie Jackman capitalized on a blocked shot to score his third goal of the season. Owen Sound outshot Windsor 10-9 in the first frame, taking a 1-0 lead into intermission.

Windsor equalized late in the second period with a crucial special teams play. Cole Davis notched his 11th goal of the season, scoring unassisted while shorthanded with just over a minute remaining in the period. This marked the Spitfires’ seventh shorthanded goal of the season, showing their prowess on the penalty kill.

The third period began with 4-on-4 action following some late second-period animosity. Just 17 seconds in, AJ Spellacy gave Windsor the lead with a beautiful backhand finish after racing down the wing for his seventh goal of the campaign. Anthony Cristoforo sealed the win with an empty-net goal in the final minutes.

Standout Performances

Joey Costanzo was the game’s brightest star for Windsor, outdueling one of the top goaltenders in Canada according to Spitfires’ head coach Greg Walters. Costanzo, who leads the OHL with an impressive 1.86 goals-against average, made several critical saves among his 25 total stops to preserve the victory. His record improved to 13-3-1-0 on the season.

For Owen Sound, goaltender George also performed admirably despite the loss, making 23 saves on 25 shots. His record fell to 9-7-0-2 for the season.

Cole Davis played a crucial role in the win, scoring the tying goal shorthanded and later assisting on Spellacy’s game-winner. His leadership was particularly important with the Spitfires missing key offensive players.

Key Moments and Turning Points

The shorthanded goal by Davis late in the second period completely shifted momentum in Windsor’s favor after Owen Sound had controlled much of the early action. This special teams success proved pivotal in changing the game’s trajectory.

Spellacy’s go-ahead goal just 17 seconds into the third period stunned the Attack and energized the home crowd. The quick strike immediately following intermission demonstrated Windsor’s ability to capitalize on critical moments.

Perhaps most impressive was Windsor’s defensive effort against Owen Sound’s potent offense. The Attack entered the game with the Western Conference’s top-scoring offense but were held under two goals for the first time this season—a testament to Windsor’s defensive structure and Costanzo’s goaltending.

Team Context and Implications

The victory was particularly impressive considering Windsor was missing two key offensive players. Ethan Belchetz was representing the CHL against the United States in an NHL prospects event in Alberta, while Jack Nesbitt was serving the second game of a three-game suspension for a match penalty received in Saginaw the previous Saturday.

The win reinforced Windsor’s position atop their division, while dealing a blow to Owen Sound’s standing as Midwest Division leaders. Both teams entered the contest leading their respective divisions, making this a potential playoff preview between two OHL powerhouses.

Windsor’s ability to shut down Owen Sound’s offense—which had scored at least two goals in every game this season prior to this matchup—demonstrates their championship potential and balanced approach to the game.

The Spitfires will look to build on this momentum with upcoming road games in Guelph on Friday and a rematch against Owen Sound on Saturday, setting up an intriguing weekend of OHL action following this impressive victory.

Photos: Nick Meloche – In Play! magazine

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