Abraham and Morneau
They are bookends from the Spitfires priority selections draft class of 2020. One was a first round pick, 14th overall. The other went 294th overall in the 15th and final round. And Spitfires general manager Billy Bowler has confirmed to Hockey News Windsor that both Ryan Abraham and Noah Morneau will return as overage forwards for the ’24-25 Ontario Hockey League season.
The 5 foot 8, 170 pound Abraham was second on the Spitfire scoring slate in ’23-24 with 31 goals, 35 assists, 66 points in 64 games. Hailing from the Detroit suburb of Livonia, the former first round pick has played in 182 career games — regular season and playoffs included — for Windsor and has totalled 162 points while becoming an all around dependable player.
As for the 6 foot, 170 pound Morneau who is a local product, he has exceeded any and all expectations for a player taken in the 15th round of the 2020 OHL draft from the Under 16 Windsor Jr. Spitfires of the Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario.
After spending the ’21-22 season with the LaSalle Vipers of the Greater Ontario Jr. Hockey League — the Spitfires’ affiliate team — and clicking for 16 goals, 29 assists, 45 points in 39 games, Morneau has since taken his game to the OHL level and a player worthy of a coveted overage spot.
Following a ’22-23 rookie season in the OHL in which he netted seven goals, 18 assists, 25 points in 65 games, Morneau upped those numbers to 13-21-34 in ’23-24. Already known for his defensive skills, Morneau was also one of the Spitfires better offensive producers over the final quarter of the ’23-24 campaign.
Bowler, as the Spitfires GM, told Hockey News Windsor that Morneau “exemplifies what it is to be a Spitfire. Not only is he a great kid but he is a great ambassador for our program and for his hometown of Windsor.”
With the commitments of Abraham and Morneau as overages for the ’24-25 season, the Spitfires still have room for one more 2004 birth year player. Bowler indicated that, at some point, he will look outside the organization to acquire a third overager.
