Posted on by John Humphrey
Kitchener Rangers at Windsor Spitfires. Photo: Tim Jarrold - In Play! magazine
Kitchener Rangers at Windsor Spitfires. March 11, 2023. WFCU Centre. Photo: Tim Jarrold - In play! magazine.
15
Mar

Windsor Spitfires Start Another Winning Streak

A pair of hat tricks helped carry the Windsor Spitfires to a pair of victories over the weekend.

Following a rare Thursday night off, let alone a Thursday night with no home game at the WFCU Centre, Windsor travelled to Guelph to take on the Storm at the Sleeman Centre on Friday, March 10.

Alex Christopoulos scored three goals while Joey Costanzo made 25 saves as Windsor defeated Guelph 7-4.Oliver Peer, Matthew Maggio, Shane Wright and Jacob Maillet all added single markers for the Spitfires.

The offensive outburst by Christopoulos gave him 44 goals on the season while Maillet, who was acquired from the Storm in exchange for two draft picks on December 7, 2021, also had three assists for a four-point game.

Max Namestnikov scored twice for the Storm while Valentin Zhugin and Jett Luchanko both scored once. Guelph starting netminder Patrick Leaver allowed four goals on 11 shots before being replaced 12 minutes into the game by Brayden Gillespie who made 10 stops in a relief effort.

One night later, it was Wright’s turn to score a hat-trick while leading the Spitfires to a 6-3 win over the Kitchener Rangers at the WFCU Centre. Jacob Holmes, Maggio and Oliver Peer all scored once while Matt Onuska made 34 saves to pick up the win in net.

Defenceman Rodwin Dionicio chipped in offensively with three assists while Maggio, whose third period goal was his 49th of the season, also had three helpers.

Matthew Sop paced the Rangers with a pair of goals while Filip Mešár, the first round draft choice, 26th overall, by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2022 National Hockey League Entry Draft, scored once. Marcus Vandenberg made 30 stops for the visitors.

The pair of wins elevated the Spitfires into first place tie atop the OHL’s Western Conference standings. The Spitfires and London Knights both have 86 points while having played 63 games

Windsor returns to action on Wednesday, March 15 when they host the Storm at the WFCU Centre before taking on the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds for a pair of games at the Essar Centre on Friday, March 17 and Sunday, March 19 respectively.

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John Humphrey

John Humphrey loves to write about any hockey team or player with particular interest in the OHL. He brings you a no holds barred view of the OHL and Windsor Spitfires. John Humphrey is a Windsor-born, raised and educated freelance writer whose career has spanned three decades. In addition to being a contributing writer for OHL Classics, a book published by the Ontario Hockey League, he has contributed to such publications as Hockey Weekly, The OHL News and The Hockey News. He also continues to serve as as a stringer for the Canadian Press, covering the OHL and the Windsor Spitfires.