Bowler resets the Spitfires
It has been anything but a summer vacation away from hockey for Spitfires general manager Billy Bowler. Not that he is complaining, but Bowler has had little time to spare over the past few months as evidenced by the efficient manner in which he has reset the roster of the Ontario Hockey League team that he masterfully manages.
It was not long into the off season when Bowler (in photo at left) and the Spitfires were informed that 2008 birth year forward Ethan Belchetz — the first overall pick at the 2024 OHL priority selections draft — was leaving Windsor to play at the National Collegiate Athletic Association for the Michigan State Spartans despite having two years of junior eligibility remaining. That startling announcement came shortly after the Spitfires first round pick from the 2023 OHL priority selections draft, 2007 birth year forward Jack Nesbitt, made it known that he was leaving Windsor for the NCAA and the Michigan Wolverines with a year of eligibility remaining.
And just like that, two Spitfire stars — who besides being OHL first round picks are also National Hockey League first rounders — were no longer part of the picture in Windsor.
As Bowler — without a hint of animosity or resentment towards Belchetz and Nesbitt — told me at the time: “You plan hockey teams and think you have key players slotted in but then things happen. You just have to get over it, deal with it and move on.”
So, instead of pouting — and with the realization that besides having to replace a good number of high-end graduating players from Windsor’s three-round playoff run of this past spring plus Belchetz and Nesbitt — Bowler went to work.
The results of the summer remake in Windsor have been, in a word, impressive.
In all, Bowler has signed no less than 10 incoming players for the Spitfires as the restless hands of time tick towards the start of the ’26-27 OHL regular season — which for Windsor begins in less than two months with a September 18-19 home and home set with the London Knights.
Here is a look at how the Spitfires are shaping up for the ’26-27 OHL season.,
Summer Spree Of Signings. Forwards Bogdan Yakushevsky (first round pick from 2026 Canadian Hockey League import draft), Lauchlan Whelan (first round pick from 2026 OHL priority selections draft), Ty Bergeron (third round pick from 2025 priority selections draft, in photo at left), Michal Svrcek (first round pick from 2025 import draft), Hamza Havusic (first round pick from 2025 supplemental draft) and defensemen Jesse Debruyn (fourth round pick from 2025 priority selections draft), Sam Wathier (fifth round pick from 2024 priority selections draft), Drake Gram (eighth round pick from 2024 priority selections draft), Jake LaMontagne (fourth round pick from 2026 priority selections draft) and Jack O’Dell (free agent.)
Key Returnees. Goalie Michael Newlove, defensemen Conor Walton, Jonathan Brown and Andrew Robinson, defenseman/forward Anthony Cristoforo, forwards Ethan Garden, Beksultan Makysh, Caden Harvey, Johnny McLaughlin and — to some extent — Cole Dubowsky and Shawn Costello.
Ready To Be Regulars. All have seen some duty with the Spitfires since being drafted in 2024 and all are primed for regular roles in ’26-27 as players with 2008 birth dates who have developed with the nearby LaSalle Vipers of the Greater Ontario Hockey League the past two seasons. They are forward Max Brocklehurst, defenseman Grady Spicer and goalie Jake Windbiel.
Winning Ways In Windsor. The Spitfires have won four West Division titles in the last five years and despite what they have lost player-wise since the end of the ’25-26 season, the work done by Billy Bowler as the GM puts Windsor in a good position for the ’26-27 campaign. “It’s part of the job and (all of the extra off season work) has been fun,” Bowler said. “You are always trying to build and have a plan, but sometimes plans change. This team will find a way. There will be someone else to take the top-line minutes, someone else on the power play and I don’t see us having any problems scoring. It’s new players and new opportunities. We’re comfortable with what we’ll ice.”
