The Windsor Spitfires have wrapped up their 2024-25 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) preseason. It was a busy month, one which introduced on-ice optimism, off-ice leisure, and loads of powerful choices nonetheless to return from administration.
Coming into camp and the preseason, the membership regarded a lot completely different than once they completed the 2023-24 marketing campaign. There was important roster turnover from graduations to trades and draft choose signings, and new head coach Greg Walters is attempting to instill his methods on the workforce. No one actually knew what to anticipate from their 5 preseason video games however followers obtained greater than they bargained for. Listed here are 5 takeaways from a busy month.
Belchetz Exhibits Early Promise
When the Spitfires completed second final within the OHL final March, there was a silver lining as they might participate within the OHL Draft Lottery. Everybody wished a shot on the high choose in April’s draft and, because of some good luck, the membership gained it. Enter ahead Ethan Belchetz.
The 6-foot-5, 225-pound Oakville native was a beast for the Oakville Rangers U16 AAA workforce final season with 46 targets in 34 video games and one other 5 targets and 11 factors in seven OHL Cup video games. It’s onerous to move up the event’s Most Beneficial Participant when he’s handed to you on a platter. Common supervisor Invoice Bowler took the swing and didn’t miss.
You by no means need to put expectations on a rookie, no matter whether or not they’re choose one or choose 200. Nevertheless, Belchetz has proven the workforce and the followers that what they’ve seen on YouTube is actuality. He’s a clean skater who doesn’t attempt to overdo something on the ice. He retains it easy, performs aggressive, and can capitalize earlier than you notice you’ve misplaced the puck. In 5 preseason video games, he had six targets and 9 factors, second within the league solely to Brantford Bulldogs’ veteran Jake O’Brien (10 factors).
Associated: Windsor Spitfires Identify Ethan Belchetz High Decide in 2024 OHL Draft
It’s onerous to get an ideal gauge on how a participant will carry out simply by his preseason stats. Quite a lot of groups have gamers away at NHL camps and it’s going to take time to get strains adjusted. Nevertheless, if September was any indication of what the remainder of the season, and his profession, will maintain, Belchetz goes to place folks within the seats.
No Straightforward Crease Solutions
In most seasons, you’ve gotten a clear-cut beginning goaltender with one or two battling it out for the backup spot. This season has been a lot completely different, although. That’s presenting an issue for Bowler as there are not any simple solutions.
After a stable sophomore 2022-23 season that included a 3.03 goals-against common (GAA) and .901 save share (SV%), veteran Joey Costanzo struggled final season with a 5.09 GAA and .855 SV% in 40 video games. A part of that was due to a really inexperienced defence however a part of that was on him, too. Sadly, that is a part of the rationale for the sophisticated crease.
The Spitfires have two rookies who made it via camp – Carter Froggett, 18, and Jake Windbiel, 16. Froggett was a sixth-round choose in 2022 and has been biding his time in Junior B. Windbiel was a seventh-round choose in April’s draft and is taken into account to have NHL potential. The 2, together with Costanzo, all have a reputable shot of constructing the roster.
Throughout camp, Froggett and Costanzo had a .872 SV% and a .875 SV%, respectively, although Froggett had a 3.00 GAA whereas Costanzo was at 4.80 GAA in simply 20 extra minutes. Windbiel performed half as a lot because the others (50 minutes) and had a formidable 2.38 GAA and .926 SV%. He’s solely 16, although, and handing him the starter’s function is extremely unlikely.
What does Bowler do right here? There’s no easy reply and it might be the hardest goaltending determination the workforce has had since Michael DiPietro pressured their hand as a rookie in 2015-16.
The 2008 Group Exhibiting Smoother Transition to OHL
Each season, a recent group of draft picks laces up the skates and hits the ice for his or her first coaching camp and preseason. It’s typically an opportunity to get a have a look at them earlier than sending most off to the Junior B ranks. This season, the 2008-born (2024 Draft) is one other group that’s not making life simple for Bowler.
Belchetz apart, this group got here into camp keen to point out that, not solely did they belong, however deserved a roster spot. Windbiel, together with forwards Max Brocklehurst, J.C. Lemieux, and Ethan Backyard, plus defenceman Carter Hicks, have made the transition to the OHL appear simpler than it possible is.
Brocklehurst is simply 5-foot-9, 155-pounds however was very fast and threw the physique round with no care. He added three assists in 5 video games. Backyard’s simply 5-foot-8, 166-pounds however led the 2008 group with a aim and 5 factors in 5 video games. His pace obtained the group’s consideration and his willingness to get entangled didn’t go unnoticed. Lemieux had a pair of targets, together with one within the preseason finale. Hicks turned a mainstay on defence, taking part in a easy however efficient recreation and completed with two assists and a plus-5 score in 5 video games.
Not everybody could make the Spitfires instantly. Some should spend time in Junior B and get known as up periodically all through the season. The truth that all of them contributed within the preseason reveals the transition to the OHL might be smoother than anticipated.
Impartial Venues Carry Video games to the Followers
The Spitfires usually play all of their residence video games on the WFCU Centre which is on the jap finish of the Metropolis of Windsor. That features preseason, too. This season, although, they modified it up and introduced the sport to the followers.
After over 10 years of getting preseason video games on the WFCU Centre, they introduced two video games to the neighborhood. On Thurs., Sept. 19, the workforce confronted off in opposition to the Flint Firebirds on the Vollmer Complicated in LaSalle, which is a neighborhood of about 32,000 folks simply southwest of Windsor. The sector holds about 1,000 folks and is residence to the Spitfires’ Junior B affiliate, the Vipers. It was a incredible venue for the sport. Followers lined up earlier than the doorways opened and there was a gentle stream main as much as recreation time. They have been in for a deal with, too, as the house facet held off the guests for a 5-3 win.
A few crowd pictures from Windsor/Flint on Thursday evening in Lasalle. #OHL #Spitfires pic.twitter.com/Na8yrxPbht
— Dave Jewell (@DaveJewellOHL) September 22, 2024
On Saturday, the Spitfires headed to Lakeshore, a neighborhood of about 40,000 that’s half-hour east of the WFCU Centre, to face the Niagara IceDogs. It was held on the Atlas Tube Recreation Centre, which additionally holds about 1,000 folks. Followers packed the venue to see the Spitfires come out with one other 5-3 win.
Dwelling video games exterior of the WFCU Centre have been uncommon. Throughout the 2000s, the Spitfires often performed preseason video games at South Windsor Area. Nevertheless, once they moved to the WFCU Centre, that turned the focus. Now, bringing the sport to the followers is a stable strategy to promote the sport and thank followers for his or her loyalty. Hopefully, they’ll be capable to do extra of those sooner or later.
Endurance Is Nonetheless Paramount
When the ultimate horn sounded to finish preseason, the membership was a formidable 5-0. It’s their greatest preseason document since a minimum of 2013. They got here collectively, regardless of quite a few veterans away at NHL coaching camps, and gave the followers a small style of what may occur this season. Nevertheless, the important thing phrase there may be “may.”
Let’s not neglect – regardless of profitable back-to-back Western Convention common season titles from 2021-23, they nonetheless completed final within the convention in 2023-24. It was a tough season and, as nice as it could be to see them climb proper again into the higher echelon of the league, that is nonetheless a course of. Endurance goes to be required, a minimum of for the primary half of the season. Walters will implement methods, discover strains that work, and it’s going to take time for all the pieces to click on. They’re going to have nice, high-scoring, rock-solid defensive nights, together with video games that you just slouch down in your seat and hope for the ultimate buzzer. That’s a part of junior hockey.
This was an entertaining camp and preseason with loads of highlights and causes to be optimistic. That’s a great factor. Simply don’t neglect the persistence once you come to the rink. The membership opens the whole OHL common season on Wed., Sept. 25 once they hit the street to face the Memorial Cup champion Saginaw Spirit.
