Spitfire cargo depth
As the offensive and defensive skilfulness and select star players of the Spitfires stands out there is also the depth in the Windsor lineup that makes it a team to be reckoned with in the Ontario Hockey League.
The impact players on the Spitfires are notable. Three of note are forwards Liam Greentree and Ilya Protas and defenseman Anthony Cristoforo. Others of particular distinction are forwards Jack Nesbitt, Noah Morneau, Ryan Abraham, Cole Davis, AJ. Spellacy, rookie sensation Ethan Belchetz, defensemen Tnias Mathurin and Conor Walton and goalie Joey Costanzo.
Then there are those all important depth players who provide valuable minutes in varying role situations. Recycled forward Luke McNamara is one. A pair of 2008 birth year rookies, forward J.C. Lemieux and defenseman Carter Hicks. are two more.
In fact, every other player on the current Spitfires roster is a pretty fair contributor in their own way.
It is a team that has been really well put together by general manager Billy Bowler. It is a team well coached by the very able Greg Walters, who brought four straight prior winning seasons as an OHL bench boss — two with the Oshawa Generals and two with the Owen Sound Attack — to Windsor this season.
It is a good team to watch. And a team of particular intrigue.
WINDSOR HAS SPIRIT
The Spitfires are home to the Saginaw Spirit tonight in a 7:05 opening face-off at the WFCU Center. With a record of 34-11-3, Windsor holds a 19 point lead on second place Saginaw atop the West Division of the OHL. The Spitfires are the no. 2 seed in the Western Conference trailing only the London Knights.
Tonight’s game features three of the top four scorers in the entire OHL. Saginaw’s Michael Misa leads the league score sheet with 40 goals, 48 assists, 88 points. Windsor captain Liam Greentree is third with 33 goals, 47 assists, 80 points while Spitfire import Ilya Protas is fourth with 34 goals, 43 assists 77 points.