Newlove is net gain for Spitfires
Head coach Greg Walters has tapped holdover puck stopper Michael Newlove as the Spitfires starting goalie ahead of the looming ’26-27 Ontario Hockey League season — one that begins with a home and home set against the London Knights later this week.
Newlove, who has a 2007 birth date, had a record of 12-4-2 with a 2.76 GAA and .886 save percentage as the Spitfires rookie backup to since graduated workhorse Joey Costanzo during the ’25-26 regular season. Newlove did not see a single minute of action during Windsor’s three round playoff run.
As Newlove navigates into the starter’s role, 2008 birth year rookie Jake Windbiel will be his backup.
Both Newlove and Windbiel looked good in a recent four game set of exhibition games in which Windsor won three. The Spitfires split a pair of games with the Soo Greyhounds and swept a pair from the Flint Firebirds.
Previously, Windbiel posted a regular season record of 19-12-2 with a 3.49 GAA and .899 save percentage for the LaSalle Vipers of the Greater Ontario Hockey League in ’25-26. LaSalle is Windsor’s top affiliate team.
Then, come the first round of the playoffs, Windbiel was a standout as the no. 7 seed Vipers gave the no. 2 seed Elmira Sugar Kings a scare before dropping the best of seven series four games two. Windbiel went the distance for LaSalle in the series with a 2-4-0 record, 2.98 GAA and a sparkling .919 save percentage.
Action photo of Michael Newlove by Bob Davies
