Windsor Spitfires vs. Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds December 18, 2025 Game Review

The Windsor Spitfires closed out the first half of their Ontario Hockey League season with a commanding 6-2 victory over the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds on Thursday night at the WFCU Centre, highlighted by Anthony Cristoforo’s hat trick and Joey Costanzo’s record-breaking performance in goal.

Final Score: Windsor Spitfires 6, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 2

Game Flow

First Period: Windsor 1, Sault Ste. Marie 0
Second Period: Windsor 1, Sault Ste. Marie 1
Third Period: Windsor 4, Sault Ste. Marie 1

Game Highlights

First Period

The Spitfires got the scoring started late in the opening period when Jack Nesbitt found space behind the Greyhound defense and beat Sault goaltender Landon Miller with a backhand high to the glove side at the 17:41 mark.

Second Period

The Greyhounds managed to tie the game in the second period when rookie forward Quinn McKenzie scored on a rebound at 11:24 after his initial deflection of Callum Croskery’s point shot was stopped by Costanzo.

Windsor quickly recaptured the lead when defenseman Andrew Robinson fired a shot from the left point that beat Miller glove side at 14:49, giving the Spitfires a 2-1 advantage heading into the final frame.

Third Period

The Spitfires pulled away in the third period, starting with Anthony Cristoforo’s wraparound goal at 8:47 to extend Windsor’s lead to 3-1. Cristoforo, typically a defenseman but playing wing on Windsor’s top line for this game, struck again at 11:10 when he pounced on a rebound from Nesbitt’s initial shot to make it 4-1.

The Greyhounds showed some life with Miller pulled for an extra attacker, as Colin Fitzgerald scored on a rebound at 15:15 to cut the deficit to 4-2. The goal came after Costanzo initially stopped Jordan Charron’s shot from the right faceoff circle.

However, Cristoforo completed his hat trick with an empty net goal with 2:11 remaining, and Cole Davis added another empty-netter 43 seconds later to seal the 6-2 victory for Windsor.

Standout Performances

Anthony Cristoforo (Windsor Spitfires)

The star of the night was undoubtedly Anthony Cristoforo, who finished with three goals and an assist for a four-point performance. Normally a defenseman, Cristoforo was moved to wing on the top line for this game and responded with his first OHL hat trick.

Joey Costanzo (Windsor Spitfires)

Costanzo made 27 saves for the Spitfires and made history by becoming Windsor’s all-time leader in goaltender wins. Costanzo surpassed Michael DiPietro’s record, reaching 87 career wins with the Spitfires in just 154 games. DiPietro, who backstopped Windsor to a Memorial Cup title in 2017, had 86 wins in 157 games during his time with the club.

After the game, Costanzo described the contest as “a bit of a chess match,” adding, “We stuck with our game plan. It was a good win for us.”

Other Notable Performances

Jack Nesbitt (Windsor): 1 goal, 1 assist
Caden Harvey (Windsor): 2 assists
Quinn McKenzie (Sault Ste. Marie): 1 goal
Colin Fitzgerald (Sault Ste. Marie): 1 goal

Coaching Perspectives

Greyhounds head coach John Dean acknowledged that fatigue appeared to be a factor for his team, particularly in the third period:

“We looked dead,” Dean said. “We looked like we played 60 minutes last night and that’s what happens when you let things slide a bit in the third there. Our big boys had to play a lot of minutes last night and we definitely looked a little on the gassed side. (Windsor) plays a very difficult brand. When they’re up, it’s a tough team.”

Despite the loss, Dean remained positive about his team’s recent performance, noting they had won six of their last seven games entering the Christmas break.

OHL Standings Impact

This victory was significant for the Spitfires’ positioning in the OHL standings:

The win improved Windsor’s record to 22-8-3-1, putting them tied for first place in the Western Conference with the Flint Firebirds (who have a game in hand).
The Greyhounds fell to 21-11-1-1, placing them fourth in the OHL’s Western Conference and third in the West Division.
Windsor and Flint are now tied atop the West Division, with the Greyhounds trailing by four points.

Historical Significance

Joey Costanzo’s record-breaking performance adds a special note to this game in Spitfires history. Michael DiPietro, the previous record holder, expressed his support for Costanzo following the game:

“He’s a great kid,” DiPietro said. “He works extremely hard and I’m happy for him and the team’s success they’ve been having this season. Wishing him and the team nothing but success the rest of the season.”

Looking Ahead

This game marked the midway point of the 68-game schedule for the Spitfires. Both teams now head into the Christmas break:

The Greyhounds will return to action on December 28 at home against the Saginaw Spirit.
The Spitfires will face the Flint Firebirds on December 28 in a crucial matchup between the Western Conference’s top teams.

Game Statistics

Scoring Summary

First Period:

Windsor, Nesbitt 10 (Cristoforo) 17:41

Second Period:
2. Sault Ste. Marie, McKenzie 12 (Croskery, Martin) 11:24
3. Windsor, Robinson 2 (Harvey, Lemieux) 14:49

Third Period:
4. Windsor, Cristoforo 8 (unassisted) 8:47
5. Windsor, Cristoforo 9 (Nesbitt) 11:10
6. Sault Ste. Marie, Fitzgerald (Charron) 15:15
7. Windsor, Cristoforo 10 (empty net) 17:49
8. Windsor, Davis (empty net) 18:32