Firebirds and Spitfires
One has had an Ontario Hockey League presence since 1975. The other set up shop in the OHL 40 years later, in 2015. They are the long settled Spitfires of Windsor and the fledgling Firebirds of Flint — and the rivalry is growing.
The competition and contention between the Spitfires and Firebirds intensified over the second stanza of the 2023-2024 season when both teams were in pursuit of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Flint eventually took the eighth position, beating out both Windsor and the Sarnia Sting to make it into the playoffs. Then, well prepared by head coach Paul Flache and his staff, the Firebirds gave the ensuing OHL champion London Knights a really tough go in the first round.
Despite being fierce foes, the Spitfires and Firebirds have not been shy to make significant transactions with each other. Case in point came at the 2024 trade deadline when Windsor shipped two overage players in forward Oliver Peer and defenseman Roberto Mancini to Flint for second round and third round draft picks. In that one, Flint was dealing from strength with an excess of draft picks while Windsor was out to restock its depleted draft cupboard.
At any rate, taking a glance ahead to the 2024-2025 season, both the Spitfires and Firebirds have been constructed and positioned to move up in the standings — as in the middle rung of the 10-team Western Conference.
EX SPITFIRE ON FIREBIRDS BENCH
This is another touch to the Windsor-Flint rivalry.
Saverio Posa recently signed up for a third season as an assistant coach under Firebirds head coach Paul Flache.
The 31-year old Posa was a defenseman on the 2010 OHL and Memorial Cup champion Spitfires. He later played for the University of Windsor Lancers.