Spits await roster shuffle
Two games into a five match exhibition slate the Spitfires still have a slew of skaters to settle on ahead of their Ontario Hockey League regular season opener in a couple of weeks.
The current roster includes seven skaters who have tickets to National Hockey League training camps — forwards Liam Greentree and Cole Davis with the Los Angeles Kings, forward A.J. Spellacy and defenseman Tnias Mathurin with the Chicago Blackhawks, forward Ilya Protas with the Washington Capitals, defender Conor Walton with the Columbus Blue Jackets, and blue liner Anthony Cristoforo with the Ottawa Senators.
Windsor has had a perfect start to the pre season with two decisive victories, a 6-3 doubling of the Sarnia Sting and a 7-2 drubbing of the Flint Firebirds.
The three remaining exhibition games for the Spitfires are on September 17, 19 and 21. Until then, general manager Billy Bowler and new head coach Greg Walters will continue to appraise and assess players who are attempting to secure roster positions.
Veteran Joey Costanzo and signed draft pick from 2022 Carter Froggett are the presumptive goalies who will start the regular season for Windsor. Froggett was in fine form with a 27 save performance in the exhibition win over Flint.
With six seasoned OHL defensemen on the roster — besides aforementioned overage Tnias Mathurin and his 2004 birth date, there are Tanner Winegard and Josef Eichler who were both born in 2005, as well as a troika with 2006 birth dates, namely Anthony Cristoforo, Conor Walton and Carson Woodall — there are signed prospects who are in contention for one or two other open spots. Among the contenders is Carter Hicks, a second round pick from this year’s OHL priority selections draft.
And with so many veteran top liners of worth and value, Bowler and Walters will determine which of the younger group of 2008 birth year forwards — in addition to 2024 first overall priority selections draft pick Ethan Belchitz — who will break camp with the Spitfires.
At any rate, Bowler, as the GM, likes the franchise depth that he and his scouting staff have built up over the past few years.
“I have no problem with having lots of capable OHL players still in camp,” said Bowler. “We know we have to shorten the roster. There’s still a lot going on and we just have to wait and see what happens.”
BELL KNELL: With a smooth delivery and the pipes still humming at age 66, the venerable Steve Bell will again be the Spitfires play by play voice on radio station AM 800 CKLW for all home and away regular season and playoff games in ’24-25. Few in the business can call a game as well as the bright and breezy Bell … Windsor begins the regular season on Sept. 25 at Saginaw against the reigning Memorial Cup champion Spirit … First home game for the Spitfires is on Sept. 28 against the Kitchener Rangers.