Spitfires are set in the net
Windsor Spitfires have seemingly solidified the goalie position for the foreseeable future with four puck stoppers in four separate age categories under Ontario Hockey League contract and a fifth under team control.
On the current Windsor roster are 2005 birth year veteran Joey Costanzo and 2006 birth year rookie understudy Carter Froggett. Costanzo has arguably been the best goalie in the OHL well into the ’24-25 season and leads all twine tenders with 21 wins while Froggett provided adequate backup through the first half of the schedule.
Developing on the farm are Michael Newlove with the Georgetown Raiders of the Ontario Jr. Hockey League and Jake Windbiel with the LaSalle Vipers of the Greater Ontario Jr. Hockey League. Newlove has a 2007 birth date and Windbiel was born in 2008.
With Froggett on the injury list, Windbiel recently made his OHL debut with the Spitfires and looked good.
The 6 foot 4 rookie did not crack in a pressure cooker road baptism at Sault Ste. Marie. Windbiel held the Spitfires in the game through 35 minutes before a 2-1 Windsor deficit turned into a goal scoring frenzy over the final 25 minutes of the match.
Windsor left the Soo with a frantic 10-6 victory over the Greyhounds with Windbiel making 32 saves for the Spitfires including three breakaway stops. It ranked as a notable OHL debut for Windbiel in front of a hostile crowd of more than 4,500 fans at GFL Memorial Gardens.
Also in the Spitfires crease picture is Cam Ingram, a 2024 OHL priority selections draft pick who is currently with the Halton Hurricanes of the Ontario Minor Hockey Association. Ingram, who has a 2008 birth date, hails from the Sault Ste. Marie area farm town of Echo Bay.
Windsor pays considerable attention to the goalie position with two reputable individuals on staff. Memorial Cup champion Bill Dark is the Spitfires director of goaltending in charge of scouting and development while Stan Matwijiw is the team’s highly regarded goalie coach.
Jake Windbiel holds the fort for the Spitfires in his OHL debut victory over the Soo Greyhounds. (photo by Bob Davies)