Spitfire flight plan altered
It was setting up for Jack Nesbitt and Ethan Belchetz to be cornerstones as big time returning forwards for the Spitfires come the ’26-27 Ontario Hockey League season — until two National Collegiate Athletic Association schools came calling. And as that has happened, so too has the Windsor flight plan been altered.
Both former Spitfire first rounders, Nesbitt has a 2007 birth date and Belchetz was born in 2008. But all of that OHL eligibility with Windsor is instead going to the University of Michigan and Michigan State University. At any rate, enough about Nesbitt and Belchetz.
And onto the current condition of the Spitfires and as general manager Billy Bowler relayed, “We won’t dwell (on Nesbitt and Belchetz leaving) I can assure you that. We are back to putting a competitive team on the ice.”
Winners of four of the last five OHL West Division titles, the Spitfires may not be as strong in ’26-27. But they do have quality and quantity roster depth at all positions, thanks to Bowler and the way he superbly manages the Windsor hockey department with due diligence.
Key Returnees. Goalie Michael Newlove, defensemen Conor Walton and Andrew Robinson, defenseman/forward Anthony Cristoforo, forwards Ethan Garden, Beksultan Makysh, Caden Harvey, Johnny McLaughlin and — to some extent — Cole Dubowsky and Shawn Costello. Watch out for McLaughlin, who was the Spitfires first round priority selections draft pick in 2025 to be a huge crowd favourite and big time point getter in ’26-27.
Ready To Be Regulars. All have seen some duty with the Spitfires since being drafted in 2024 and all are primed for regular roles in ’26-27 as players with 2008 birth dates who have developed with the nearby LaSalle Vipers of the Greater Ontario Hockey League the past two seasons. They are forward Max Brocklehurst, defenseman Grady Spicer and goalie Jake Windbiel. Brocklehurst is a potential 30 goal scorer, Spicer has the size and strength to be a force on the back end and the towering Windmill could form a better than average 1-2 net tandem with aforementioned returnee Michael Newlove.
New Kids On The Block. Forwards Ian Inskip (second round pick from the 2025 OHL priority selections draft), Ty Bergeron (third round pick from 2025 priority selections draft), Michal Svrcek (first round pick from 2025 import draft), Hamza Havusic (first round pick from 2025 supplemental draft), Lauchlan Whelan (first round pick from 2026 priority selections draft), defensemen Jesse Dubryn (fourth round pick from 2025 priority selections draft) and Drake Gram (eighth round pick from 2024 priority selections draft.) Look for Bergeron, a good size,former standout with the Detroit HoneyBaked AAA program and Svrcek, a National Hockey League draft pick of the Detroit Red Wings, to both make immediate impacts with the Spitfires as OHL rookies in ’26-27.
Waiting In The Wings. A pair of late round picks from the 2025 priority selections draft played at the junior A level in ’25-26 and just may play in the OHL with the Spitfires at some point. They are defenseman Luke St. John (13th round) and forward Ty Dubreuil (14th round.) St. John played very well for the LaSalle Vipers of the Greater Ontario Hockey League last season while Dubreuil was on a good development path with the powerhouse champion Sudbury Cubs of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League before injuries ended his season.
Keep An Eye On. Without a second or third round pick at this year’s 2026 OHL priority selections draft, the Spitfires were able to get hulking defenseman Jake LaMontagne in the fourth round. Because of his size at 6 foot 4, 190 pounds and the immense progression that he showed with OHL Cup champion Detroit HoneyBaked as the ’25-26 season went on, LaMontagne’s development as a top blue line prospect for the Spitfires will get underway in ’26-27. A desirable landing spot for LaMontagne would be in nearby LaSalle with the Vipers of the GOHL.
