Are the Windsor Spitfires Ready to Soar in the Ontario Hockey League 2021-22 Season?
The first list for the upcoming season, released on September 30, the Spitfires were one of three teams from the OHL listed. The WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings held the top spot overall and the Kingston Frontenacs, whose lineup includes Shane Wright, the top prospect for the 2022 NHL Entry Draft who is back for a second and final season in Kingston, were ranked fourth and were followed immediately by the Barrie Colts at number five.
Both the Frontenacs and the Colts play in the OHL’s Eastern Conference while the Spitfires, at number eight, were the only team to be ranked from the OHL’s Western Conference.
The Spitfires, who will be playing under the guidance of rookie head coach Marc Savard, appear to have few gaping holes in their lineup but veteran general manager Bill Bowler will no doubt try to upgrade the team over the course of the 2021-2022 OHL season.
This season’s Windsor Spitfires will be a mix of both veteran and rookie talent. Returning players up front include Wyatt Johnson, the first round pick of the Dallas Stars in the 2021-2022 NHL Entry Draft and Will Cuylle, the third round pick of the New York Rangers in the same NHL player lottery. Jean-Luc Foudy, who is eligible to return for his third season in Windsor, is still with the American Hockey League farm team of the Colorado Avalanche and his being sent back to Windsor at some point during the 2021-22 season is certainly a possibility. The group of talented forwards has been expanded to include Ethan Miedema, the Spits top pick, fourth overall, in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection.
The defensive corps is likely to be anchored by overagers Grayson Ladd and Louka Henault, who is still being evaluated by the American Hockey League’s San Diego Gulls and veterans Dylan Robinson and Michael Renwick, who was acquired in a trade with the NHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs this past summer. New to the Spits on the blueline this season are Nicholas DeAngelis and Bronson Ride, who were both second round picks in last summer’s OHL Priority Selection.
Xavier Medina returns for his third season and will be the Spitfires’ go-to guy in net. His backup is Kyle Downey, yet another second round pick of the team last summer.