Spitfire Spotlight with George Kotsopolous: Part 2
In the second and final installment (Part 1 here) of Spitfire Spotlight with George Kotsopolous, the now 66-year-old former centre recalls more more memories from his time with the Spitfires (1976-1979) and his playing career and life after leaving Windsor.
In Play! Magazine: There were three legendary Windsor Spitfire characters or icons when you played in Windsor. What are some of your memories of head coach and general manager Wayne Maxner, trainer Wally Tatomir and radio broadcaster Dave Quinn?
George Kotsopolous: Max was a great coach to play for, especially because he liked to play tough, physical hockey. That was a style of play that worked well for us at the Windsor Arena too and the fans loved it that we played that way. I didn’t always get along with him, but you always knew where you stood with Max. The fact that he wasn’t shy to swing a deal or two to make the team better. That always kept us motivated to play our hardest at all times. I was very sorry to hear that he passed away a couple of years ago
Wally was our team trainer because we didn’t have athletic therapists back then. So he had to do a lot of things for the team not only during the games but behind the scenes. Wally would be at the Barn hours before practices and games because he had to get the uniforms cleaned and the dressing room looked after too. Wally had a great personality and boy, was he tough – you didn’t mess with Wally!
A few seasons after I left Windsor, Wally was the trainer for Team Canada. That’s when they had that brawl against the Russians at the World Junior Hockey Championships (1985 in Piestany, Czechoslavakia). Somebody thought it would be a good idea to turn the lights out at the rink to get things under control LOL
Apparently Wally got into it with a Russian coach or trainer when the lights were out and Wally was throwing punches with both hands. He turned the Russian’s lights out! LOL
Wally has also passed and I am also very sorry to hear about that.
I didn’t get to hear Quinner (Dave Quinn) call any games on the radio. I was always playing but he was a great guy with a great sense of humour. He would sit up near the front of the team bus and tell hilarious stories that could have all the boys laughing. He would do that when we were at the rink and on the road too.
And he’s gone too – wow – how brutal is that?
In Play! Magazine: During your time with the Spitfires, you also played parts of two seasons in the International Hockey League (IHL) How did that happen?
George Kotsopolous: After my second season with the Spitfires Max told me during my player exit interview that Musgekon of the ‘I’ need a few players. I called them and played three play-off games with the Mohawks
And I went back to Muskegon to start the 1978-79 season the following fall. But things had changed and it was not a good situation, so I called Max and asked him if I could come back for an overage season with the Spits and it worked out.
In Play! Magazine: You played your last game with the Spitfires in the spring of 1979, where did you play after that?
George Kotsopolous: After my time with the Spitfires, I went to the training camp of the Hartford Whalers of the NHL in the fall of 1979. Gordie Howe was still playing with the Whalers (1979-1980 was Mr. Hockey’s last season in the NHL). There were cameras everywhere in the rink – I had never seen so many cameras in my life! I signed a three-way deal with the Whalers. After being sent down to their American Hockey League team, the Springfield Indians and before ending up back in the ‘I’ with the Saginaw Gears. I played parts of two seasons with Saginaw but played four seasons with the Fort Wayne Komets of the IHL.
In Play! Magazine: What have you been doing since you retired from playing hockey?
George Kotsopolous: I met my wife, Tina, in Fort Wayne. We’ve been married for 34 years and we’ve stayed here. Over the years, I have owned and operated three different sports bars in Fort Wayne before I opened up Jungle George’s. It’s a bounce house and arcade with games for the entire family. We also have a great menu! We’re like Chuck E. Cheese but we’re better!
In Play! Magazine: Do you still follow your old junior hockey team – the Windsor Spitfires?
George Kotsopolous: Of course I do. I check out the league standings on my phone or on my laptop to see how they are doing. I was so happy and excited for the fans when they won those three Memorial Cups. Because they – and the city of Windsor – sure deserve it.
In Play! Magazine: Any message for Spits fans in 2025?
George Kotsopolous: I had the most fun of my playing career while playing in front of Spitfire fans. They were the most enthusiastic and loyal fans ever! I have driven through the city of my way back to Fort Wayne from visiting Toronto but haven’t been to the new rink yet. I’m hoping to get to a game this season.
If I ever do move back to Canada, it is not going to be Toronto, it will be back in Windsor. I had the best times ever there!
