SPITFIRE SPOTLIGHT WITH NATHAN VILLENEUVE
Looking to add a veteran leader or two who could provide a deft scoring touch along with a proven face-off skills, Windsor Spitfires general manager Bill Bowler orchestrated two trades leading up to the January 9 Ontario Hockey League trade deadline. The first deal saw veteran forwards Nathan Villenueve and Alex Pharand come over from the Sudbury Wolves in a transaction completed on Jan. 5 in exchange for young sophomore forward JC Lemieux and eight future draft picks.
At the time of the trade, Villenueve, who was Sudbury’s first round pick, third overall, in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection, was leading the Wolves in scoring this season with 16 goals and 28 assists in 28 games. The second round pick, 63rd overall, in the 2024 National Hockey League by the Seattle Krakken, Villeneuve has notched four goals and added one assist in five games since joining the Spitfires.
He spoke with John Humphrey, In Play Magazine’s OHL Editor, before the Spits left for a brief two-game road trip that resulted in wins over both the Erie Otters and Brampton Steelheads.
In Play! Magazine: “Did you ask for a trade out of Sudbury this season?”
Nathan Villeneuve: “We got off to a slow start with the Wolves this season and while I did not come right out and ask for a trade, I did let the general manager (Justin Papineau) know that I wanted to play for a championship. I didn’t ask to be moved, but I did drop a lot of hints about it.”
In Play! Magazione: “What was your reaction when you found out that you were heading to Windsor?”
Nathan Villeneuve: “I was and am very excited because I know that the Spitfires are a great organization and it’s run like an NHL team and the rink (WFCU Centre) is first- rate. I knew (Liam) Greentree before the trade and coming here to play with him is such a great opportunity. I played with Connor Walton up in Sudbury before too.”
In Play! Magazine: “One of your linemates in Sudbury, Alex Pharand, was also included in your trade to the Spitfires. How do you feel about that?”
Nathan Villeneuve: “Alex has always been a great teammate and I am excited that we will still be teammates on the Spitfires. He was traded before in the OHL so he has been a great mentor in helping me join a new team in a new community. We’ve been here for couple of weeks now and we’re settling in really well.”
In Play! Magazine: “With Sudbury being in the OHL’s Eastern Conference and Windsor being in the Western Conference, you would have played the Spitfires only twice a season for the four seasons that you’ve been in the OHL. Do you have any memories from playing against the Spitfires and at the WFCU Centre?”
Nathan Villeneuve: “I scored in the game down here last season and it’s always great to help your team out on the road. And every time we played in Windsor, we had to walk past the Spits gym and because the door was always open and it was kind of hard not to be jealous of the facilities here.”
Editor’s note: Not only did Villenueve also add an assist in the Wolves’ 6-2 loss in Windsor during the 2024-2025 season but he scored a goal and added three assists enroute to being named the game’s first star in a 9-3 route of the Spitfires in Sudbury last season.
In Play! Magazine: “For someone who wasn’t seen you play often before, can you describe your style of play and is there anything in your game that you have to work on?”
Nathan Villenueve: “I think there is always going to be room to improve in all areas of your game in order to advance to plying at the next level. But as junior hockey player right now, I think that I am a physical player who has a high compete level.
“I like to get under the skin of the other team as as much as possible, but also not too much. I also love to shoot and score and set up my linemates and teammates to make plays.”
In Play! Magazine: “The Spitfires brought you to Windsor to be one of the team leaders and go-to guys. Does that put more pressure on you to perform than if you had been brought in to be a depth guy?”
Nathan Villeneuve: “I talked to (head coach Greg Walters) Wally and the team had a great record when I got here. I’m here to make an impact, but I’m not the only guy who can do that. There is so much depth throughout the roster and I’m going to help this team in any way that I can.
“All four of our lines can score and all four of our lines can shut down the other teams’ best players.”
In Play! Magazine: “Who have been your linemates since coming to Windsor?”
Nathan Villenueve: “I started out playing with (Liam) Greetree and (AJ) Spellacy and then I was moved to play between Spellacy and (Cole) Davis. Everyone is so talented that I think they can play with just about anyone on the team.”
In Play! Magazine: “In your first game with the Spitfires, you scored your first goal on a penalty shot at the WFCU Centre. Describe that experience.”
Nathan Villeneuve: “(Liam) Greentree gave me a great pass to send me in on a breakaway and I had my feet taken out from under me so I was awarded the penalty shot.
“I have been pretty-much making the same play in Sudbury and now in Windsor. I like to go in wide and cut in front of the net and if the goalie bites, I’ll throw a back-hander over his pads. It’s always worked for me, so I really haven’t changed it much over the seasons.”
In Play! Magazine: “Is it easier to take a penalty shot during a game now since the shootout is also part of the game?”
Nathan Villeneuve: “I think it is. Not only are shootouts sometimes happening after games, but teams usually practice them during team practices. I was a shootout shooter in Sudbury last season and again this season but last season I wasn’t one of the first shooters because the Wolves had guys like Quintin Musty and David Goyette in the past.
In Play! Magazine: “You’ve been drafted by the Seattle Krakken and you’ve already signed with them too. Talk about that experience.”
Nathan Villenueve: “I’ve been to two development camps and two main camps and the experiences have been awesome because the Seattle organization is so well-run. I’m hoping to make the jump (to the NHL) next season.”
In Play! Magazine: “Do you have anything special coming up on February 6?”
Nathan Villeneuve: “That’s when we play up in Sudbury. I’ve known about that date and game since the trade and of course I am really looking forward to it. I don’t have all my plans finalized yet but my family will be going to the game (traveling from Ottawa) and I hope to go out to dinner with my billets from Sudbury after the game. I just hope that it’s a good game and that we win and I score too.”