Russian on the Spitfires wing
First it was 2007 birth year skater Michal Svrcek who committed to the Spitfires ahead of the ’26-27 Ontario Hockey League season as an incoming forward via the Canadian Hockey League import draft. Then came 2009 birth year winger Bogdan Yakushevsky — a Russian speedster who can play on the left or right side — who is signed, sealed and delivered to Windsor for an OHL season that begins in a mere month.
With so many productive forwards having moved on from the Spitfires either to the pro ranks or the National Collegiate Athletic Association, Yakushevsky is one of the newer players who can light it up in Windsor this coming season.
To be sure, Spitfires general manager Billy Bowler — who is not one to waste words — has plenty good to say about the 6 foot 1, 180 pound wing man.
“He is a highly rated offensive player who brings a lot to the table,” said Bowler of Yakushevsky. “Bogdan will be coming in as a younger player, so it will take time. But we think there is going to be a lot of opportunities. With his potential and his ceiling, we are hoping for big things out of Bogdan. He is a guy who can contribute on the scoresheet, he can contribute in the defensive zone, on the power play, the penalty kill and be a guy you can win with in the playoffs. He is such a well rounded player … and he works so hard every game.”
Playing for Moskva in the Russian Under 17 Division to start the ’25-26 season, Yakushevsky had 21 goals, 24 assists, 45 points in 27 games. He then moved up to the Russian pro level with CSKA Moscow and had three goals, three assists, six points in 24 games.
“He is an elite performer with a ton of energy,” summed up Bowler in his assessment of Yakushevsky. “He has got the motor … he is a tenacious, high energy player.”
