It has been a long summer, but the Windsor Spitfires are ready for some fresh ice. The 2025-26 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) season is here and the organization would like to take the next step.
Following back-to-back West Division titles in 2022 and 2023, the club fell on the bottom of the OHL classification in 2023-24 and finished the second last general. Last season they came back nicely by winning the West division and finishing second in the Western Conference. After losing a game 7 Overtime Heartbreaker at the Kitchener Rangers in the second round, they would like to do business again. With different veterans who return, and a coaching staff who has proven to get the best out of them, this is a team that would like to push their limits and bring a competition title. The regular season of the Spitfires starts on September 19, so let’s dive into the different parts of the team.
Reload the send units
The first order of the business community is to look at which of the forward units went from last season’s schedule and who the new faces are. They include:
Out (with new team):
New (with the last team):
- Max Brocklehurst -2024 OHL Draft Derderonde Pick-Lasalle Vipers Jr. B
- Johnny McLaughlin -2025 OHL Draft first round Pick-Lambton Jr. Sting u16 aaa
- Ian Inskip -2025 OHL Draft Second Round Pick-Mississauga Reps U16 AAA
- Caden Harvey -2025 OHL Draft Fifth-Round Pick-Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 4 pm
- Bek culture Macysh -2025 Canadian Hockey League (CHL) Import design Second round Pick-Kazachstan (via Boston Hockey Academy)
- Cole Dubowsky – Trade with Barrie Colts
Want to reload the forward units. The club lost attacking veterans in Abraham (29 goals), Morneau (32 goals) and probably Protas, who only had 124 points in 61 games. He is eligible for the farming system of the capitals, so he will probably play pro.
However, they still have a lot of firepower. It starts with the prospect of Los Angeles Kings Liam GreenTree, as soon as he returns from their NHL campsite. The 19-year-old captain had 49 goals last season and 119 points in 64 games and is ready for a monster finish of his OHL career. He is accompanied by Aj Spellacy (Chicago Blackhawks), Jack Nesbitt (Philadelphia Flyers) and Cole Davis, who have the speed and physicality to create havoc.
They will also be looking for large breakout seasons of Top 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Ethan BelchetzTogether with JC Lemieux and Ethan Garden, all 17 years old. They are not only ready for attack, but the club also believes in their leadership power. Belchetz and Garden both were alternative “A” s during the preseason. During a media session on Tuesday, head coach Greg Walters said they are great people and deserved the nods.
“With the nine boys away (to NHL camps), it is more about them as people and what we think of them,” he said. “They are 17 (years old) but they do everything in the right way. They are extremely hard -working people and great people. We thought they deserved them.”
Related: Windsor Spitfires: 4 Breakout candidates for 2025-26
The team also has Rookies McLaughlin, Makysh and Harvey, who get the chance to show their creativity, plus Brocklehurst and Inskip, who will probably also see time with Junior B. They are all known for their attacking creativity and with this kind of experienced help they are in good hands. Will the outbreak and adjustments be sufficient to make up the veteran losses? It is a council game.
This group is a solid mix of veterans and newcomers. With NHL camps that overlap the start of the OHL season, it can take a little before the group meets completely, but they will still be entertaining.
Veteran defense seems to build on success
In defense, most players from last season are back on the Roster. Let’s look.
Out (with new team):
New (with the last team):
- Jonathan Brown – Free agent via Shattuck-St. Mary’s 6 pm Prep
- Grady Spicer -2024 OHL Draft Fourth-Round Pick-Brockville Braves (Central Canada Hockey League)
The team lost Eichler, Mathurin and Wineegard, but there are many veterans who return. They will probably have overager (20-year-old) Wyatt Kennedy to lead the indictment as soon as he returns from the camp of Detroit Red Wings. He is accompanied by veterans Anthony Cristoforo, Carter Hicks, Carson Woodall, Conor Walton and Andrew Robinson, who are a respected mix of attack, defense, toughness and experience.
They also have the physical 6-foot-3, 181-pound Rookie Spicer, which will float between Junior B and the OHL. Finally there is the newly signed Brown, an 18-year-old free agent of Shattuck-St. Mary’s 6 pm Prep in Minnesota. Walters said the young person fit well.
“He is a student of the game,” he said. “(He) works incredibly hard, is difficult, has great feet and the puck moves very well. We are really enthusiastic about where he can get.”
Last season, thanks to Walters and his Staff, the defense reduced their goals against almost in half of 2023-24, from 360 in 68 games to only 223. Just like the forward group, it will take time before they meet. However, as soon as the dust covers, this has the inputs of a group that plays the game in the right way. If they can build on last season, they can surprise critics.
Cricked depth can be favorable
There is nothing simple about the goal congregation, at least early. However, that is not necessarily a bad thing for the Spitfires.
The club came out of the camp four players who were all worth a place. It starts with the 20-year-old veteran Joey Costanzo. After a .892 savings percentage and 2.94 goals against the average last season, he is probably here for an overage season when he was he returns from the camp of the flyers. He is accompanied by last season’s backup, 19-year-old Carter Froggett, plus the 18-year-old Rookie Michael Newlove (2024 OHL Under-18 Concept First General Pick), who showed very well in the camp.
Froggett and Newlove come in the opening evening and fight it out for the backup area. Walters said that having so much depth is a good thing.
“That is a credit for (general manager) account (bowler),” he said. “We have depth here in all positions. It will be a fight here, if and when Joey returns, we will make that decision.”
Having two young people who are contrary in the season creates uncertainty, but also optimism, because neither is deteriorating. Although they probably want to have it arranged as quickly as possible, it is not a bad situation for the Spitfires to be in.
Walters and staff return to the bank
After having gone several head coaches and assistant coaches from 2022-23 to 2023-24, the Spitfires may have found their long-term solution.
After the coaching carousel, in July 2024, Bowler applied former Owen Sound Attack Head coach Greg Walters Hoping to solidify everything. They already had Casey Torres and Kris Newbury as assistants of the 2023-24 season, and the two turned out to be invaluable for the organization. However, when they added Walters, who was known for tough love, but had a strong connection in the dressing room, nobody knew what to expect.
Fortunately the results were almost immediately, both on the ice and in the room. Walters, Torres and Newbury led the OHL’s Kelder team to the West Division title within a season. They are a defense-first staff that allows creativity in the attacking zone. The staff treats players like their own children, and it is a bond that the organization needed.
This season the trio is back and would like to show that last season there was no coincidence. The players bought the systems and Walters said it is a matter of creating good relationships.
“It’s about building relationships and keep making them stronger,” he said. “When the children there know that the coaching staff gives them more than people than players, you can push them in a good way and ensure that you get the best out of it.”
From various question marks to stability is crucial for the coaching staff and his players. If the Spitfires have found their key to success, it is good for this season and then.
Seasonal predictions – Conference Crown?
The second round exit of last season is fresh in the spirit of the team. They were a shot away from the Western Conference Championship Series, and nobody forgot that. On paper, if they get everyone back from NHL camps, they have the schedule to build last season and go on a long play -off run. With several veterans who will probably go to the pros in 2026-27, it would be a suitable department.
During the preseason, the club won three of their four games, but the results did not matter much. With nine players in NHL camps, Walters used the time to inform the rest of the team of their systems. He said it was a situation that he did not take lightly.
“That’s the biggest thing,” said Walters. “We had nine boys in NHL camps and gave the first-year boys a little more opportunities to play in situations and to learn how we do things here. We feel that we have become better every day, what we want to do.”
They also get some national recognition. On Tuesday, September 16, the CHL will have their first top 10 list and the Spitfires is in fifth place in general. Walters said that it is an honor for the players, but they must ensure that they keep the work ethics of last season and pay attention to detail, so “we don’t fall in love with ourselves.”
If they get the schedule, they have the coaches and a willing GM to make the season a memorable. This club has experienced chaos, came out stronger and now wants to reward the city, their fans and each other by going as far as possible in the play -offs. The regular season starts on Friday against the Sarnia Sting. The home opener in the WFCU center is only 24 hours later on Saturday against the London Knights.
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