Tough test for U16 Jr. Spits
A daunting task awaits the Under 16 Windsor Jr. Spitfires in the first round of playoffs in the Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario.
Not only are the sixth place U16 Spitfires up against the third seed Brantford 99ers in the best of five, first round series but Windsor is likely to be minus two of its top five point-getters.
Gavin Diemer, who had 11 goals, eight assists, 19 points for the U16 Spitfires — who finished the regular season with a record of 12-14-4 — is definitely out for the series against the 99ers. Brantford finished 15 points ahead of Windsor with a record of 20-7-3.
Meanwhile, another Windsor forward, Alex West, is doubtful for the series. West had seven goals, 15 assists, 22 points to finish fourth on the U16 Spits scoring chart, just ahead of Diemer.
Roman Shtefan topped the U16 Spits points parade with 29 goals, 24 assists, 53 points followed by Cooper Disher with 14-23-37 numbers and Carter Trudell with 17-19-36 totals.
U16 Spitfires head coach Matt Zuccato (in photo above) acknowledged that his team has a tough test ahead of it.
“We are In tough with West and Diemer out. West will try to play but it is not looking good,” Zuccato relayed to Hockey News Windsor. “We are going to need our goalies (Holten McPhedran and Ethan Doo) to stand tall and we will need to play good defensive hockey and try to capitalize on the opportunities that we create.”
OPENING GAMES. The best of five series begins this Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at Central Park Athletics in Windsor. Game 2 is set for Sunday at 7:30 p.m. in Brantford.