Spitfire Spotlight with Luke McNamara
Twenty-year-old centre Luke McNamara was brought in at the Ontario Hockey League trade deadline to provide a veteran presence and leadership both on and off the ice for the Windsor Spitfires. He was acquired from the Kingston Frontenacs on January 8 in exchange for a package of four draft picks, including second, fifth and seventh round selections in 2025 and a third rounder in 2026.
McNamara, who stands six-foot-three and weighs 182 pounds, is currently in his fifth OHL season after being selected in the first round, 15th overall, of the 2021 OHL Priority Selection by the Saginaw Spirit. Although the Mississauga, Ontario native has not been drafted by a National Hockey League team, he attended the rookie training camps of the New York Rangers and Calgary Flames in 2023 and 2024 respectively.
In Play! Magazine: “Were you expecting to be traded by the Kingston Frontenacs this season?”
Luke McNamara: “I really did not know if I was going to be traded by the Frontenacs. I had a good season with them last season, but things had gotten a bit stagnant for me this season in Kingston. When they decided to trade me I was very happy that they were trying to send me to a winning hockey team.”
In Play! Magazine: “When you found out that the team you had been traded to was the Windsor Spitfires, what was your reaction?”
Luke McNamara: “I was – and am – stoked. I knew that they have a great fan base and it’s also an historic organization with a long list of achievements. I knew that Bill (Spits general manager Bowler) was looking to bring in an 05 birthdate player to add to the mix of the great roster that they already had here and I’m thrilled that he decided that I was that player. Bill is such an amazing general manager and he really looks after the players here.”
In Play! Magazine: “Did you know any of your new Spitfire teammates before you came here?
Luke McNamara: “I knew Joey Costanzo because we played together in the GTHL (Greater Toronto Hockey League) with the Toronto Titan before we came to the OHL.
“And while I did not know him personally before, I knew who Liam Greentree was because of what he has already accomplished in the OHL and because he also played in the GTHL. I didn’t many of the guys personally but I knew a lot of their names and faces. Everyone has been so welcoming since I arrived.”
In Play! Magazine: “You played two full seasons in the OHL before you were traded to the Frontenacs. Do you have any memories of playing against the Spitfires or at the WFCU Centre when you were with the Spirit?”
Luke McNamara: “While I always thought that this was a great rink with an amazing atmosphere – one of the best in the OHL – I never liked coming in here as a visiting players because the fans are so loud and they were cheering against you. A lot of the games went back and firth between the Spirit and the Spits when I was in Saginaw but Windsor won more of the games. The Spits had guys like Wyatt Johnson and Will Cuylle when I played with the Spirit and we were near the bottom of the league standings because we had a young team in Saginaw.
“Coming into the WFCU Centre to play is a lot more fun for me these days. And I am very happy that it is now my home rink”
In Play! Magazine: “What type of player are you and what are the strengths of your game?
Luke McNamara: “I’ve been working on my consistency all season and I think that I’m a two-way player who plays a 200-foot game.
“I have been hitting the weight room since I came to Windsor and I want to add another 10 pounds of muscle as I think that will help me when I drive to the net and have to battle the other teams’ defenders.
“I’m a versatile player and I love to play physically on the forecheck.”
In Play! Magazine: “The Spitfires have a good team this season and there is great potential for the club to be even better next season. Are you interested in returning for an overage season in 2025-2026?”
Luke McNamara: “It’s too early to make a final decision on that but coming back next season is definitely something that I would consider doing. I’m enjoying my time here and would love to come back and help the team try and win a championship.
“The recent CHL/NCAA rule change (allowing Canadian Hockey League players to play university (NCAA) hockey in the United States) has gotten me thinking about maybe going to university one day to play hockey. But that is something that I would be better off doing after playing one more season in the OHL, hopefully in Windsor with the Spitfires.”