Winegard wires the winner
A pair of unheralded performers propelled the Spitfires to another exhibition game air lift on Tuesday. Defenseman Tanner Winegard scored the winning goal in what was a 10 round shootout. And rookie goalie Carter Froggett stopped eight of ten shots in the shootout as the Spitfires scored a 7-6 road victory over the Sarnia Sting.
Windsor’s win came on a dandy deke and soft touch backhand by Winegard, a 6 foot 6, 225 pound Sarnia native who had the best plus minus of any Spitfire blue liner in ’23-24 but did not score a goal in 53 games in what was his Ontario Hockey League rookie season.
As for Froggett, he came off the bench in relief of starter Joey Costanzo to begin the third period and allowed only a power play goal on six shots before thwarting Sarnia shooters eight times in the 10 round shootout to backstop the Spitfires to what was a come from behind victory.
The win was the third in as many exhibition outings for Windsor, which still has two more pre season tilts on the card before its ’24-25 OHL regular season opener on September 25 at Saginaw against the reigning Memorial Cup champion Spirit.
The Spitfires will wind up the exhibition schedule this week with two home games in nearby communities. The Spits will play host to the Flint Firebirds at the Vollmer Complex in LaSalle on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. before taking on the Niagara IceDogs on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. at the Atlas Tube Centre in Lakeshore.
First home game for the Spitfires is on Saturday, Sept. 28 against the Kitchener Rangers in a 7:05 p.m. start at the WFCU Centre.