The 2024 OHL Priority Selection

The 2024 OHL Priority Selection presented by Real Canadian Superstore airs live for free on OHL Live this coming Friday April 12th, with Rounds 1-3 beginning at 7:00pm. The opening night of the Priority Selection will be produced by YourTV and will be carried across the province on OHL Action Pak. Check local listings for additional broadcast details.

Tune in to coverage of Rounds 4-15 on Saturday, April 13th starting at 9:00am, live for free on OHL Live.

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Windsor Spitfires vs Sarnia Sting February 1 2024 Game Recap

The Windsor Spitfires and Sarnia Sting clash in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) was not just another game in the schedule. It was an event that ended in a 4-2 loss for the Spitfires.

The Spitfires, despite their struggles in the early season, remained resilient in their pursuit of the eighth seed in the OHL’s Western Conference. Their encounter with their divisional opponents, the Sting, was another opportunity to edge closer to a playoff spot.

The Spitfires began on a positive note, demonstrating defense strategies that enabled them to maintain a tie after the first period. However, as the game progressed, their performance took a hit.

The Sting, prepared for a dogfight, dominated the second frame. They capitalized on the Spitfires’ defensive lapses, making their mark with three goals and outshooting the Spitfires 14-4. The home team seemed defenseless against the onslaught, and the scoreline read 3-1 after the second period.

The Spitfires’ veteran defenceman, Anthony Cristoforo, reflected on the game, attributing the loss to mental lapses. He stated that the team’s mistakes were essentially self-inflicted, thus making the defeat harder to digest.

The Spitfires have been working relentlessly on improving their power play and penalty kill, but the efforts have not yet translated into the desired results.

The game against the Sting marked the 11th instance in their last 12 games where the Spitfires conceded at least four goals, highlighting their recurring defensive issues. The defensive lapses, coupled with some unfortunate goals conceded by goaltender Max Donoso, underscore the need for the team to augment their defense.

The Spitfires now find themselves in a challenging position, trailing by nine points for the eighth seed and seven points for the ninth seed with only 22 games remaining. Their journey towards securing a playoff spot will require consistent high-level performances.

As the Spitfires continue their quest for a playoff spot, this match serves as a reminder of the hurdles they need to overcome and the improvements they need to make.

Photos: Tim Jarrold – In Play! magazine

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Spitfire Spotlight – An Exclusive Interview with Pasquale Zito

Windsor Spitfires General Manager Bill Bowler was busy re-shaping the team leading up to the Ontario Hockey League trade deadline on January 10, 2024 making nine separate trades which, for the most part, saw the Spits sending out many of their older players in return for future draft choices.

Bowler also sent out the team’s three overage (last season) players in separate trades while acquiring three new overage players in three other trades. These moves, in particular, were made with the intention of keeping the Spitfires in the play-off hunt this season while replenishing the team’s supply of future draft picks for seasons to come. One of the overagers brought in was centre Pasquale Zito, who was acquired from the North Bay Battalion on January 8 in exchange for a 15th round draft pick and two conditional draft choices.

Zito had yet to play a game during the 2023-2024 OHL season and was sitting at home in Nepean (Ottawa) pondering his life choices when the trade occurred. The transaction marked the start of Zito’s second tenure with the Spitfires, with whom he played two seasons before being traded to the Niagara IceDogs in June of 2022 in exchange for draft choices. Zito split the 2022-2023 OHL season between the IceDogs and the Brampton Battalion, who acquired him in exchange for a player and five draft choices in December of 2022.

Zito spoke with In Play Magazine after making his 2023-2024 OHL season debut with the Spitfires in an 11-7 win over the Sudbury Wolves on January 13. Zito started the start of his second stint with the Spitfires by notching two goals and adding three assists against the Wolves.

In Play! Magazine – Where were you when you found out that you had been traded back to the Spitfires?

Pasquale Zito – I was at home, sitting on the couch when I received a phone call telling me about the trade.

In Play! Magazine – Talk about your time at home to start this season. What was going through your mind?

Pasquale Zito – I just wanted to take some personal away from the game and re-evaluate what I wanted to do with my life. I finally talked to (North Bay Battalion general manager) Adam Dennis about playing again and he mentioned that he had talked to Bill Bowler about a possible trade with the Spitfires. Billy started the talks with North Bay and I immediately thought that it would be fun to come back to Windsor and help the Spitfires with a play-off run this season. If I was going to play another season in the OHL, it was going to be for Billy and in Windsor.

In Play! Magazine – What were you doing and how did you keep in shape during your time at home and away from hockey?

Pasquale Zito – I was working in construction and learning the building trades.

In Play! Magazine – Talk about your first game against Sudbury to start your second go-around with the Spitfires.

Pasquale Zito – I had butterflies in my stomach during the warm-up but they started to go away when I stepped on the ice for my first shift. And they were completely gone right after I scored my first goal of the game. The boys were so happy for me and the crowd reaction was amazing!

Not long into the first period it was like I had never been away. Stepping back out on the ice is like riding a bike – you never forget how.

In Play! Magazine – Who were your linemates against Sudbury?

Pasquale Zito – I started with AJ Spellacy and Valentin Zhugin but after Ryan Abraham was kicked out of the game (a match penalty for slew-footing) were were constantly inserting players on different lines. It was especially tough because we had already started the game with a short lineup.

In Play! Magazine – Did (interim head coach) Casey Torres and Bill Bowler tell you what they expected from you in terms of your role on the team for the remainder of the season?

Pasquale Zito – They told me that they wanted me to help out with our younger players as much and in as much ways that I can. They also want me to lead offensively while not forgetting about my defensive responsibilities. I’m here to help with our play-off push and to go as far as possible once we do make the play-offs.

In Play! Magazine – Describe your style of play.

Pasquale Zito – I think that I am a two-way, two hundred foot player who works hard and contributes at both ends of the ice and I’m also an energetic player.

In Play! Magazine – What areas of your game do you have to work on?

Pasquale Zito – Any player can work on anything to improve their game, whether that is skating or shooting or taking face-offs and of course that applies to me too.

You should never be content with your own game as you are always looking to improve.

Photos: Tim Cornett

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Windsor Spitfires vs Saginaw Spirit January 10 2024 Game Recap

In the world of hockey, each game is a unique tale, a story that unfolds on the ice. This is no less true for the recent clash between the Windsor Spitfires and the Saginaw Spirit. Let’s take a deep dive.

The clock was ticking down to the trade deadline. The Spitfires, a team known for their tenacity and resilience, played host at the WFCU Centre to the Saginaw Spirit, a team with a reputation for aggression and skill,

As the first period unfolded, the Spirit dominated the play. They were the first to score, breaking the deadlock 11 minutes into the game. The Spitfires’ response came much later, with their first shot recorded only 12:44 into the period.

Four minutes after their first shot, the Spitfires leveled the score with Morneau’s impressive solo effort. This was his 4th goal of the season, a top shelf backhand shot that left the Spirit’s goalie floundering.

However, less than two minutes later, the Spirit retaliated with a shorthanded goal, edging ahead with a 2-1 lead.

Despite being down, the Spitfires were not out. They showed why they are lauded for their resilience, with Abraham swatting in his 14th goal of the year after some solid work in the lower zones. The Spirit, however, had the last laugh of the period, scoring with just 27 seconds left. The first period ended 3-2 in favor of the Spirit. The shots were 11-7, with the Spirit leading.

The second period was a demonstration of the Spirit’s dominance. They scored four unanswered goals, taking control of the game with a commanding 7-2 lead. The Spitfires seemed to struggle, with the shot count ending 21-14 in favor of the Spirit.

The third period saw the Spirit continue their scoring spree, adding four more goals to their tally. Cristoforo, however, managed to score his 3rd goal of the season for the Spitfires, making the final score 11-3 in favor of the Spirit.

In conclusion, the game was a fierce battle between two talented teams. Despite the lopsided score, the Spitfires showed moments of brilliance. They will be looking to learn from this experience and come back stronger in their next game. The Spirit, on the other hand, will be riding high on this victory and will look to continue their dominant form in their upcoming matches.

Photos: Tim Jarrold – In Play! magazine

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