Paul Gagne was a good one
He was playing juvenile hockey in his small, remote northeastern Ontario home town of Iroquois Falls when the head coach and general manager of the Windsor Spitfires happened to take note of his skills. And Wayne Maxner thought so much of Paul Gagne that the Spitfires coach and GM took the 5 foot 10, 180 pound forward with the ninth overall pick in the first round of the 1978 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft. …[read more]
Weekend wanderings
Tecumseh Eagles of the Under 15 rep level Bluewater Hockey League and Mount Brydges Bulldogs of the Provincial Jr. Hockey League both had a perfect weekend. Meanwhile, the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League wrapped up a three game road swing with a pair of narrow losses. …[read more]
Old days of Windsor Arena
To be sure, there will always be the “good old” Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League. Man, so many games and players watched at venerable Windsor Arena, the iconic old barn located at the corner of McDougall and Wyandotte streets in the downtown core.
What will the Spitfires do?
Will he or won’t he? Does Spitfires general manager Billy Bowler make a major move ahead of the looming January 10 Ontario Hockey League trade deadline or does he stay the course with what he has? …[read more]
First star … Ty Dubreuil
Spitfires draft pick Ty Dubreuil had a game winning outing for the Sudbury Cubs of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League on Saturday night. …[read more]
Spits take down Knights
A road victory in one of the toughest places to play in the Ontario Hockey League was the 20th of the ’25-26 season for the Spitfires. …[read more]
Weekend wanderings
A selection of recent game activity relative to various teams in the Ontario Hockey League, Greater Ontario Hockey League, Ontario Jr. Hockey League and Provincial Jr. Hockey League: …[read more]
Flashback: ’76-77 Spitfires
Fans of the Spitfires did not have to wait long for Windsor’s first playoff spot as fledgling members of the Ontario Hockey League. While, for example, it took the Soo Greyhounds four years after their ’72-73 OHL debut to make it to the playoffs, the Spitfires did it in just their second season.
Spitfires go on the Attack
The first place Spitfires put the toppings on $1 hot dog night before 5,000 plus fans at the WFCU Center this evening. …[read more]
Spits, Firebirds, Bulldogs
Driving in the fast lane with nine successive victories, the Flint Firebirds have moved to within two points of the pace setting Windsor Spitfires in the Western Conference of the Ontario Hockey League. Meanwhile, the Brantford Bulldogs of the Eastern Conference — with the best record among the 20 teams of the OHL — have added yet another impact player. …[read more]
Spitfires win their 16th
Slump? What slump? The Spitfires shrugged off a mini tailspin on Friday with a tidy 4-1 home ice win over the Saginaw Spirit. …[read more]
Wednesday wanderings
Here and there around the rinks of Windsor and Essex County with a slight detour over to the Strathroy-Caradoc community of Mount Brydges. …[read more]
St. John signs in LaSalle
From affiliate player to a full time spot on the roster. Homegrown defenseman Luke St. John, a 2025 Ontario Hockey League draft pick of the Windsor Spitfires, has officially signed with the LaSalle Vipers of the Greater Ontario Hockey League. …[read more]
15 wins for OHL Spitfires
J.C. Lemieux hit for the hat trick, captain Liam Greentree tallied twice, Jack Nesbitt notched a goal and four assists and the Spitfires doubled up the visiting Brampton Steelheads 6-3 on Saturday. …[read more]
Third shutout for Costanzo
Windsor Spitfires elevated their record to 14-3-2 atop the Western Conference of the Ontario Hockey League on Thursday with a 3-0 whitewash of the visiting Kingston Frontenacs. …[read more]
Of Bulldogs and Spitfires
They are the best of the Ontario Hockey League as of now. Brantford Bulldogs and Windsor Spitfires are 1-2 in the overall standings of the 20-team OHL. …[read more]
St. John putting up points
Homegrown defenseman Luke St. John, a 2025 Ontario Hockey League draft pick of the Windsor Spitfires, has gone on the offensive for both the Under 18 Jr. Spitfires of the Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario and the LaSalle Vipers of the Greater Ontario Hockey League thus far into the ’25-26 regular season. …[read more]
Davis delivers for Spitfires
Veteran forward Cole Davis scored late in the third period — his seventh of the season — to force overtime and then tallied the only goal in the shootout as the Spitfires rallied for a 4-3 overtime win over the visiting Owen Sound Attack on Friday.
Spitfires slam door on ’67’s
Homegrown defenseman Carson Woodall scored the only two goals of the game and rookie goalie Michael Newlove notched his first career Ontario Hockey League shutout as the Spitfires blanked the Ottawa 67’s 2-0 on Thursday before close to 4,600 fans at the WFCU Center. …[read more]
Outwater out of Windsor
The Spitfires have room for a third overage player, should they choose to add one. Hockey News Windsor has confirmed that overage forward Owen Outwater has cleared Ontario Hockey League waivers. …[read more]
Spitfires … Vipers … et al
Here and there in Windsor and Essex County with various teams in the Ontario Hockey League, Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario, Bluewater Hockey League and the Greater Ontario Hockey League.
Seventeen for Canada U17
Seventeen players from the Ontario Hockey League are among the 44 from across the Canadian Hockey League who will represent two Team Canada squads at the upcoming 2025 Under 17 World Challenge. The event will take place in Truro, Nova Scotia from November 2-8.
Spits salvage single point
A loss is easier to accept when it at least results in something. As in a point. The Spitfires overcame a 3-1 third period deficit to score a pair of power play goals to force overtime before falling to the visiting Oshawa Generals 4-3 in the extra frame.
Spitfires on the defensive
It was a night for the Windsor defense up in Sault Ste. Marie. Ace defender Anthony Cristoforo tallied twice, Carter Hicks scored once and fellow blue liner Carson Woodall dished out two more assists as the Spitfires skated to a 4-1 Saturday night win over the Soo Greyhounds.
Spitfires survive the Storm
Ethan Belchetz scored in overtime to propel the Spitfires to a 3-2 overtime win over the Guelph Storm tonight before close to 5,600 fans at the WFCU Centre.
Welsh…Geleynse…Vaccari
Windsor Spitfires have promoted from within to hire their new video coach. The Spitfires have also added a new equipment manager. Meanwhile, a veteran goalie has his first Ontario Hockey League shutout in three years.
Early season impressions
Three or so weeks into the ’25-26 Ontario Hockey League regular season have led to a writer’s collection of noteworthy scribbles.
Spitfires nip the Bulldogs
Presumptive favourites to potentially face off for the Ontario Hockey League championship next spring, the Windsor Spitfires and Brantford Bulldogs met up today in the Telephone City.
Bowler has depth to deal
He has set his team up rather well, in so many ways. As sharp and smart as they come, Spitfires general manager Billy Bowler has put Windsor in a position of not only strength but depth.
Six straight for Spitfires
And the wins just keep on coming. Windsor Spitfires made it six successive triumphs to begin the ’25-26 Ontario Hockey League season tonight with a 6-0 drubbing of the Niagara IceDogs.
OHL Spitfires are five alive
They have been minus a trio of seasoned forwards away at National Hockey League training camps for the first five games of the ’25-26 Ontario Hockey League regular season. Still, the Spitfires of Windsor have a perfect 5-0-0 record minus Liam Greentree (first round, Los Angeles Kings), Jack Nesbitt (first round, Philadelphia Flyers) and A.J. Spellacy (third round, Chicago Blackhawks.)
Spits whitewash Sudbury
The soaring Spitfires gained more altitude on Thursday. Windsor won its third straight game to begin the ’25-26 Ontario Hockey League season, a 4-0 blanking of the visiting Sudbury Wolves before close to 4,200 fans at the WFCU Center.
What a Knight for Spitfires
It is only two games. But the Windsor Spitfires are off to a 2-0 start to an Ontario Hockey League season for the first time since 2019. Before a Saturday night home audience of more than 6,400, the Spitfires skated past the reigning Memorial Cup champion London Knights by a 4-1 score.
Spits sling Sting to start
Missing six regulars away at National Hockey League training camps did not stop the Windsor Spitfires from overpowering the Sarnia Sting by an 8-1 margin to begin the ’25-26 Ontario Hockey League regular season.
So, here we go in the ‘O’
For those who have any sort of play or say or way or pay or hey relative to the 20 teams of the Ontario Hockey League, the OHL is seemingly set up for a ’25-26 season of hope and nope.
Western world of the OHL
A year ago, the top four teams — leading to home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs — among the 10 members of the Western Conference of the Ontario Hockey League were the London Knights, Kitchener Rangers, Windsor Spitfires and Saginaw Spirit. London, Kitchener and Windsor are all expected to retain their upper floor status in ’25-26 — and it says here that the Soo Greyhounds will move up to edge out Saginaw et al as the fourth seed.
Spits deal for Dubowsky
Seeking some grit and grind at the forward position, the Windsor Spitfires have secured northern Ontario product Cole Dubowsky from the Barrie Colts for a future 11th round draft pick.
Spits ship trio to LaSalle
They are worthy of playing in the Ontario Hockey League. But given that the Windsor Spitfires are an OHL team deep in talent, goalie Jake Windbiel, defenseman Grady Spicer and forward Ian Inskip have been shipped to the LaSalle Vipers of the Greater Ontario Jr. Hockey League to begin the ’25-26 season.
Three in the Spitfires net
Windsor Spitfires currently have two signed goalies vying for the backup spot behind holdover overage Joey Costanzo half way through their four-game Ontario Hockey League exhibition schedule ahead of the ’25-26 regular season.
GWG for Spitfires draft pick
Spitfires draft pick Ty Dubreuil made a decisive impression in his first ever Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League game as a 2009 birth year forward.
Depth defines the Spitfires
Windsor Spitfires have serious depth at the goalie, defense and forward positions as they prepare for another run at contention ahead of the ’25-26 Ontario Hockey League season.
Spitfires late round lookers
The Spitfires staged a recent three day training camp at Windsor’s WFCU Centre. And among the youngsters who stood out to this observer were a pair of late round picks from the 2025 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft.
Spitfires Blue-White game
Windsor Spitfires will put a cap on their three day Ontario Hockey League training camp today with the annual Blue White game. The intra squad match is slated for 4 p.m.
Spitfires’ camp schedule
Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League have finalized their looming training camp schedule, which is slated for Thursday to Saturday of this week at the WFCU Centre.
NHL eyes on Spitfire guys
Windsor Spitfires’ top three picks from last year’s 2024 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft are most likely up there on the watch list of most National Hockey League scouts ahead of next year’s 2026 NHL draft.
Hounds v. Spitfires rivalry
Both teams have their share of intense rivalries within the Ontario Hockey League. Foes of fibrous friction of both the Soo Greyhounds and Windsor Spitfires include the London Knights, Saginaw Spirit, Flint Firebirds and Sarnia Sting. But the rivalry between the Greyhounds and Spitfires has its own snarky side to it.
This may be the Spitfires ‘D’
They are eight deep at the defense position. Just over six weeks from the start of the ’25-26 Ontario Hockey League regular season, the Windsor Spitfires are set up rather nicely on the back end.
Spitfires pick to the NOJHL
He is smart and skilled with blazing speed and prime potential. And Ty Dubreuil will be one of the youngest players in the Northern Jr. Hockey League come the looming ’25-26 season. Dubreuil, who was a 14th round pick by the Windsor Spitfires at the 2025 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft, has signed with the reigning NOJHL champion Sudbury Cubs, Hockey News Windsor has confirmed.
Gage Evans back in LaSalle
Sault Ste. Marie product Gage Evans has been reacquired by the LaSalle Vipers of the Greater Ontario Jr. Hockey League from the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
Love the athletic therapist
Jennifer Love is returning home to Windsor as the Spitfires new athletic therapist. Part of Love’s experience in the fitness and human performance industry includes a similar Ontario Hockey League role with the Sarnia Sting.
Spitfires pre-season slate
Four games — including a pair of home matches in nearby towns — are on the exhibition schedule for the Spitfires ahead of the ’25-26 Ontario Hockey League regular season.
Four OHL teams to regard
Okay, it is summer time and the living is easy. But for those with any sort of relationship with the Ontario Hockey League, we remind you that the restless hands of time are ticking towards the start of another season. So whether your OHL connect is up north in Sault Ste. Marie, into the southwestern Ontario region of Windsor, in the mid Michigan area of Flint, or where the Bulldogs bark in Brantford, we have words of (some) wisdom to write ahead of the ’25-26 season on four teams to watch.
Spitfires ink Ian Insksip
Windsor Spitfires have signed their second round pick from the 2025 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft.
Johnny be good for Spits
The Spitfires have officially signed their first round pick from the 2025 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft to a standard scholarship and development agreement. Forward Johnny McLaughlin, who missed most of the ’24-25 season with a knee injury, is fully recovered from surgery.
Spits 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.
Import draft: 3 OHL teams
The three round, 2025 Canadian Hockey League import draft is in the books. And following is a Hockey News Windsor focus on three Ontario Hockey League teams — alphabetically, the Brantford Bulldogs, Flint Firebirds and Windsor Spitfires — and what they were able to come away with from the recent CHL import draft.
Spits snag seasoned scout
Mark Seidel has been scouting hockey players since he was 20 years old. And the veteran bird dog — he will turn 55 years of age on August 25 — is bringing his scouting savvy and well known work ethic to the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League.
St. John signs with U18 Spits
Barring a move up to an area junior B or junior C team local product Luke St. John is poised to play the ’25-26 season with the Windsor Jr. Spitfires of the Under 18 level of the Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario.
’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.
Spitfires sign sizeable Spicer
Good size, up and coming defenseman Grady Spicer has officially signed an Ontario Hockey League pact with the Windsor Spitfires.
‘Great signing’ for Spitfires
He was bypassed entirely at the 2024 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft due to a verbal commitment to Penn State University. But after being taken by the Windsor Spitfires in the fifth round of the 2025 draft, 2008 birth year forward Caden Harvey has signed with the OHL team ahead of the ’25-26 season.
Frank Evola is off to Niagara
Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League are losing their trusted director of scouting to the rival Niagara IceDogs. Hockey News Windsor has learned that Frank Evola, who has been with the Spitfires since 2017, is headed to Niagara as its new general manager.
Spitfires overage prospects
The trade route is a possibility. As is the Spitfires staying in house to utilize their three overage players (2005 birth dates) for the ’25-26 Ontario Hockey League season.
Spits draft pick a track star
Skilled skater Ty Dubreuil, who the Windsor Spitfires snagged in the 14th round of the 2025 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft, displayed his blazing speed and all around athleticism at the recent Northern Ontario Secondary Schools Association track and field meet.
Local options for Spits pick
Windsor product Luke St. John will most likely get to stay home — or close to it — for a ’25-26 season of development.
Locals at Spitfires camp
Windsor area products Luke St. John and Jordan Maine will be two defensemen from among 16 players — seven blue liners, seven forwards and two goalies — who will take part in the Spitfires annual Ontario Hockey League orientation camp this weekend.
Late round long shots
There is a premise among those who have a real feel for the game that it does not matter what round a player is picked in a particular Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft. Zeroing in on just two prime examples of late round OHL draft picks from the past few years who have advanced to regular duty and beyond are 2007 birth year defenseman Rylan Fellinger of the Flint Firebirds and 2004 birth year forward Noah Morneau of the Windsor Spitfires.
Spits ousted in Game 7
It does not get any closer than overtime of a Game 7 playoff match. A major turnaround season for the Windsor Spitfires came to a conclusion with a Game 7 overtime loss to the Kitchener Rangers in the second round of the Ontario Hockey League playoffs.
Spitfires going to Game 7
One game will decide the best of seven Ontario Hockey League Western Conference semi final between the Windsor Spitfires and Kitchener Rangers.
Injury riddled Spitfires
The injury bug continues to ravage the Spitfires as no less than nine players — seven of them veterans — were sidelined for Game 5 of Windsor’s second round Ontario Hockey League playoff series with the Kitchener Rangers. …[read more]
Liam lights up Kitchener
Never before in the 50 year Ontario Hockey League history of the Windsor Spitfires had a player scored five goals in a playoff game. Never that is, until superstar forward Liam Greentree did so in Game 3 of this year’s second round Western Conference playoff series. …[read more]
Scouting Luke St. John
Frank Evola, who is the scouting director for the Windsor Spitfires, had ample opportunity to assess homegrown defenseman Luke St. John ahead of the 2025 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft. …[read more]
Hidden gem of the north
Ty Dubreuil was one of a mere five players from the Northern Ontario Hockey Association to be picked at the 2025 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft. …[read more]
Jr. Spits are OHL picks
Three players from the Windsor Jr. Spitfires of the Under 16 level Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario were picked at the 2025 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft. …[read more]