Spitfires crease competition
As it currently stands, the Spitfires will have four signed goalies vying for roster spots when training camp opens ahead of the ’25-26 Ontario Hockey League season.
Notably, the foursome comprises four separate birth years. Presumptive overage starter Joey Costanzo was born in 2005 while last season’s primary backup Carter Froggett has a 2006 birth date. The two others — both of whom made cameo appearances with Windsor during the ’24-25 OHL season — are Michael Newlove, who was born in 2007 and Jake Windbiel, who has a 2008 birth date.
When asked by Hockey News Windsor how he envisioned the crease competition playing out ahead of the ’25-26 season, Spitfires general manager Billy Bowler responded with: “I can’t answer that now. It’s only the summer. We’ll see how it all plays out. That’s the best answer I can give you.”
Costanzo was a work horse for the Spitfires in ’24-25. He posted regular season numbers that included a high performance record of 34-10-3 with a 2.94 goals against average and .892 save percentage. Costanzo then played in all 12 of Windsor’s playoff matches and continued his impressive work with a record of 7-3-2 to go with a sparkling 2.29 goals against average and .911 save percentage.
Over to Froggett as the rookie backup, he had a record of 8-7-1 to go with a 3.52 goals against average and .880 save percentage.
As for the other two, Newlove had a record of 2-0-0 with a 2.89 goals against average and .904 save percentage while Windbiel won his only start — a road victory over the Soo Greyhounds.
Not to be lost in the shuffle is 2008 birth year goalie Cam Ingram, who was taken by the Spitfires in the 13th round of the 2024 OHL priority selections draft. Ingram is coming off of an impressive development season with the Halton Hurricanes Under 18 program.