’08 lads of the OHL Spitfires
It already has the distinct makings of being an epic draft haul for the Windsor Spitfires. For starters, the Spitfires were the only team among the 20 members of the Ontario Hockey League to dress the maximum-per- game-allowed four 2008 birth year rookies from the 2024 priority selections draft for all 68 matches of the ’24-25 regular season.
And as a legitimate up and coming young team, Windsor went above and beyond the usage of the maximum four ’08 birth year players per game during the ’24-25 season. As a matter of fact — mainly due to injuries and lineup adjustments — no less than four other ’08 birth players from the ’24 OHL priority selections draft saw game action for the Spitfires at some point during the regular season and through the playoffs as well.
That sidebar of information via us here at Hockey News Windsor is not only a credit to the men who drafted them, namely Windsor general manager Billy Bowler and former scouting director Frank Evola (who was recently named as the new general manager of the Niagara IceDogs), but to Spitfires head coach Greg Walters. It was Walters and his coaching staff who utilized, trusted and developed the group of ’08 birth year players throughout the full ’24-25 season. And what is even more astounding and impressive is that the rookie group of the youngest players in the league was able to mix with and assist the Spitfires to 96 points and a third place overall finish in ’24-25 — after Windsor had placed a distant 19th in ’23-24 with a meagre 44 points.
The four ’08 mainstays during the ’24-25 regular season were forwards Ethan Belchetz (56 games, 17 goals, 21 assists, 38 points) and Ethan Garden (55 games, 6 goals, 8 assists, 14 points), defenseman Carter Hicks (52 games, 3 goals, 11 assists, 14 points) and forward J.C. Lemieux (46 games, 9 goals, 10 assists, 19 points.)
As for the other four with ’08 birth dates, defenseman Andrew Robinson got into four regular season games before dressing for all 12 of Windsor’s playoff contests; forward Max Brocklehurst appeared in five playoff matches after suiting up for a single regular season game; defenseman Grady Spicer made his OHL debut in the second round of playoffs by playing in six games against the Kitchener Rangers; goalie Jake Windbiel made a single regular season start for the Spitfires, which was a road victory over the Soo Greyhounds.
The above mentioned haul from the ’24 OHL priority selections draft saw the Spitfires get Belchetz with the first overall pick in the first round followed by Lemieux and Hicks in the second round, Brocklehurst and Robinson in the third round, Spicer in the fourth round, Windbiel in the seventh round and Garden in the ninth round.
To be sure, the varying levels of valuable experience that all of the elite eight gained as ’08 birth year rookies in ’24-25 not only better prepares them for ’25-26 and seasons ahead but gives the Spitfires a fresh foundation that is probably as good — if not better — than any team in the OHL.
Along with potential overages (2005 birth dates) in goalie Joey Costanzo and defenseman Wyatt Kennedy, 2006 birth year standouts such as forwards Liam Greentree, Ilya Protas, A.J. Spellacy and Cole Davis, ’06 birth year defensemen Anthony Cristoforo, Conor Walton and Carson Woodall and 2007 birth year forward Jack Nesbitt, it is little wonder that Windsor is being rightfully projected as a top OHL contender for ’25-26.
Notably, the London Knights are fresh from a fantastic three year run that included back to back to back Western Conference playoff titles and two OHL championships — capped off by the 2025 Memorial Cup crown. And while replicating such a run would be an improbable feat for any other OHL team, it is the Spitfires of Windsor who are are in an advantageous pole position ahead of the ’25-26 season.