Windsor Spitfires Prepare for Battle for First Place in OHL’s West Division
Make no mistake about it – the Windsor Spitfires are flying high. The team is currently riding a four game winning streak as they prepare for a showdown with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds at the WFCU Centre this Thursday night.
With a win over the Greyhounds (14-9-1-0), the Spitfires (12-8-2-2) would leapfrog over the first place ‘Hounds and into top spot in the Ontario Hockey League’s West Division standings.
Following a 7-5 victory in Sarnia over the Sting on December 3, the Spitfires returned home five days later to host the Owen Sound Attack in a rare Wednesday night game in Windsor. The game marked the return of Xavier Medina between the pipes from a leg injury that had sidelined the veteran netminder for nine games.
In his absence the Spitfires rotated rookie netminders Matthew Tovell and Kyle Downey. Tovell had actually been recalled from the LaSalle Vipers, the Spitfires junior b affiliate and top farm team to fill Medina;s roster spot while the 16-year-old Downey was a second round draft choice of the Spitfires in the 2021 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection.
When Medina returned to the Windsor lineup Tovell was immediately returned to LaSalle and the veteran netminder, who is from Detroit, made his presence immediately known with a stellar 35-save performance in a 4-1 win over the Attack. Daniel D’Amico, Christopher O’Flaherty, Pasquale Zito and Kyle McDonald all scored for the Spitfires with only Cedric Guindon, whose first period goal opened the scoring, replying for the Attack.
O’Flaherty’s second period marker eventually proved to be the game-winner and it was the second goal of the season for the rookie left-winger from Chicago. McDonald’s 15th goal of the season was into an empty net and was assisted by Jacob Maillett, who was making his Spitfire debut after being acquired earlier in the week from the Guelph Storm. Tecumseh native Nick Chenard, in his second season with the Attack, made 29 saves for the visitors.
Two nights later the Spitfires traveled up the 401 to take on the long-time arch-rival London Knights and the Windsor emerged with a convincing 4-1 win over the perennial powerhouse from the Forest City. Kyle McDonald, Alex Christopoulos, Wyatt Johnston and Matthew Maggio all scored for Windsor with only former Spitfire Cody Morgan replying for the Knights.
Christopoulos’ second period goal was his second of the season and his first in a Spits uniform after being acquired from the North Bay Battalion a week earlier. Medina made 21 saves while picking up the win in goal while Owen Flores made 16 saves before being pulled early in the second period. Mathias Onuska made 22aves in a relief effort.
On December 11, it was the Annual Teddy Bear Toss game at the WFCU Centre. After spotting the Kitchener Rangers a 1-0 lead on a goal by Cameron Mercer midway through the second period , the Spitfires struck for two goals within 31 seconds just under three minutes into the third play and the outstanding play of Medina made that slim lead hold up as the Spitfires extended their win streak to a season-high four games. Medina made 31 saves enroute to being named the game’s first star. Pavel Cajan made 32 stops at the other end while being named the game’s third star. Johnston, who had the game-winner, was the contest’s second star.
Legendary Spitfire coach Wayne Maxner will be honoured in a pre-game ceremony before the Spitfires battle the Hounds on Thursday night. Following a game against the Saginaw Spirit at the Dow Event Centre the following evening, the team will scatter for an 11-day holiday break before returning to action on December 28 against the Rangers at the Memorial Auditorium in Kitchener.