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Windsor Spitfires
Windsor Spitfires
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The Windsor Spitfires are a Canadian junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). The team is based in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1971, the franchise was promoted to the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League for the 1975–76 season.[3] An unrelated Windsor Spitfires team, founded in 1946, moved to become the Hamilton Tiger Cubs in 1953, and later became the Erie Otters in 1996.[3]

Key Information

History

[edit]

The original Spitfires in the Ontario Hockey Association played from 1945 to 1953.[3] The name Spitfires was chosen to honour the 417 Combat Support Squadron, a Royal Canadian Air Force squadron nicknamed "City of Windsor" established during World War II in England (today based at CFB Cold Lake in Alberta), and used the Supermarine Spitfire fighter aircraft.[4] During this period the Spitfires reached the league finals twice, and featured four future Hockey Hall of Fame players. Prior to 1945, local junior hockey was divided up into the six-team Windsor Junior Hockey League. The Spitfires folded in 1953 as hockey interests in Windsor chose to focus their attention on the OHA Senior A Hockey League, which resulted in the founding of the Windsor Bulldogs. Eventually five former Spitfires laced up with the Bulldogs and one, Bobby Brown, won an Allan Cup with the team (1963). The Bulldogs folded in 1964 after one season in the International Hockey League.

Tier II Junior A

[edit]

The modern Windsor Spitfires started as a Tier II Junior A team that played in the Southern Ontario Junior A Hockey League from 1971 to 1975. The Spitfires first game as a franchise was in Guelph, Ontario, against the Guelph CMC's on October 1, 1971. The Spitfires lost the game 11–3, with Laurie Gregan scoring the first two goals in team history in the first period. Fifteen-year-old goaltender Larry Verlinde played the entire first game in team history, making 37 saves in the loss.[5] The home game and first victory in team history occurred on October 7, 1971, at the Windsor Arena against the Chatham Maroons, winning 4–2 on the back of future NHL goaltender Eddie Mio who made 49 saves. Dean Sheremeta scored the winning goal.[6]

The Spitfires finished their first season with a record of 21 wins, 32 losses, and 3 ties. Finishing sixth place out of eight teams, the Spitfires drew local rival Chatham Maroons in a best-of-seven league quarter-final. The Maroons, who finished third with 33 wins, 17 losses, and 6 ties, were favoured to win.[7] The Spitfires' first playoff game took place on February 23, 1972, in Chatham, Ontario, for a 3–2 win over the Maroons to take a one-game lead in the series. Goaltender Bryan Rose made 35 saves in the winning effort, while the Spits' first playoff goal and later winning goals were scored by Wolf Hiesl, both in the second period.[8] The Spitfires lost the next four games to the Maroons to end their season.[9]

The 1972–73 season, the Spitfires second season, finished with their first winning record – 30 wins, 21 losses, and 9 ties. Finishing third in a league of seven teams, the Spitfires drew the fourth place Niagara Falls Flyers (28–25–7) in the league quarter-final. The Spits dropped game one 6–4 in Niagara Falls, while in game two the Spits tied the series with a 6–4 win of their own at home. Back in Niagara, the Flyers shellacked the Spitfires 7–2 to take the series lead again. The fourth game was a disaster for the Spitfires, at home they blew a third period deadlock to lose 7–5 and fall behind in the series 3-games-to-1. In game five, the Spitfires needed to make a change. Future IHLer Tony Piroski and partner Jean Pominville had uninspired starts in games three and four and were replaced by third-string goalie, and future NHLer, Rick Heinz. Heinz had spent the season in Junior B with the Spitfires' farm team Windsor Royals and was new to the pressure of Junior A playoff hockey. The gamble paid off, as an inspired Spitfire squad won the game 9-4 while Heinz capped of a 24-save night for the victory.[10] In game six, coach Jerry Serviss returned to his starting goalie, Tony Piroski, in net on the road. Piroski rewarded his coach's confidence with a 5–4, 33-save victory - evening the series at 3 games each. Mark Smith scored the eventual game winner for the Spitfires.[11] Game seven saw the two teams return for a final showdown at the Windsor Arena. The Spitfires would take the game 6–3 in front of a capacity crowd of 5,189 fans.[12] The victory, winning in seven games, was the Spitfires' first ever playoff series victory. Waiting for them, rested for the semi-final, was the first place Guelph Biltmore Mad Hatters (39–13–8). The Biltmores, defending National Champions, made short work of the Spitfires sweeping them in four games.[13]

Slater Koekkoek (December 2013)

The 1973–74 season would prove to be the defining moment of the Spitfires stint in Tier II Junior A. Headed by new head coach and general manager Wayne Maxner, the Spitfires won the Southern Ontario Junior A regular season title with a record of 39 wins, 15 losses, and 8 ties. Their record would put them four points ahead of the second place Welland Sabres and automatically give them a berth into the league playoff semi-finals. Scott Miller would win the SOJHL scoring title with 73 goals and 125 points over the course of the season.[14] The Spitfires semi-final opponent was their cross-river rival Detroit Jr. Red Wings. The Red Wings had finished the season in fifth out of eight teams (31–25–6). The semi-final opened up at the Windsor Arena with a 7–1 win for the Spitfires. They were at the Detroit Olympia for game two, another romp for Windsor as they won 8–0. Back in Windsor, the Spitfires won game three 9–2. At the Olympia for game four, the Red Wings attempted to stage some resistance, but the Spitfires were too much, winning 7–5. The four-game sweep of the Red Wings allowed Windsor to rest up for the winner of the Chatham Maroons and Welland Sabres, a series just starting.[15] On March 16, 1974, the Spitfires engaged long time foe Chatham Maroons at the Windsor Arena in the first game of the SOJHL Final. The Maroons fell in that first game 6–1, but rebounded the next night in Chatham with a 5–2 victory of their own. On March 18, goalie Dennis Thorpe's 40 save performance and third period game winner by Gary Armstrong gave the Spitfires a 2–1 home victory and a lead in the series.[16] The Spitfires took game four in Chatham with a 6–4 win. The next night, March 21, the Spitfires defeated the Maroons in Windsor 4–3 to clinch the SOJHL playoff championship. Gary Armstrong would score yet another winning goal in the series. Before a crowd of 5,117 fans, team captain Hugh Mitchell hoisted the Jack Oakes Memorial Trophy to celebrate their playoff victory.[17] The Spitfires were now in the hunt for the 1974 Centennial Cup, the National Championship of Tier II Junior A hockey. The first team in their way, in the Dudley Hewitt Cup Eastern Canada playdowns was the Wexford Raiders of the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League. Also on the line was the Ontario Hockey Association Junior A championship, the Buckland Cup. The Spitfires took game one in Rexdale with a 4–2 victory. Back in Windsor the next night, the Spitfires seemed to have the series in control with a 5–2 win. The Raiders had other things in mind, winning at home in game three 6–2 and then taking it to Windsor in their own arena 4–1 to tie the series. Back in Rexdale, the Raiders crushed the Spitfires with an 8–2 victory. With their back against the wall, the Spits had to win at home to force game seven. A 7–5 victory for the Spitfires turned this into a series for the ages. On April 6, 1974, the Spitfires season came to an end, as the Wexford Raiders took a 6–3 victory at home to advance to the next round of national playdowns.[18] Scott Miller would be named the team's most valuable player.[14]

The Windsor Spitfires applied for expansion to the OMJHL (later known as the OHL) during their 1974 playoff run, but were rejected due to the "unacceptability of Windsor Arena as a major A facility." Their farm team, the Windsor Royals Junior B team of the Great Lakes Junior Hockey League put in a rival bid but were also rejected due to lack of an acceptable arena.[19]

In 1974–75, Jim Butcher coached the Spits to a second straight regular season title with a record of 40 wins, 15 losses, and 5 ties, 11 points ahead of the second place Welland Sabres (30–16–14). John Tavella won the league scoring title with 54 goals and 117 points and goaltender Floyd St. Cyr led the league with the fewest goals against.[20] The Spitfires' first opponent in the playoff semi-final was the last place Detroit Jr. Red Wings (15–38–9). At home, the Spits took game one 11–2. Back at the Detroit Olympia, the Spits won 8–2. Again in Windsor, the Spits took game three 10–1. The Spits had the chance to clinch in game four, but the Red Wings refused to let their season end in front of their Detroit faithful winning 5–3. Game five, in Windsor, Ian Campbell would score a late third period tally to break a 2–2 deadlock and send the Spitfires to the league finals. The fourth place Guelph Bilmores (23–31–6) stood in the way of the Spitfires. The Biltmores had upset the second place Welland Sabres in the league quarter-final in five games and the third place Chatham Maroons 8-points-to-6 (3 wins, 2 losses, 2 ties) and were looking to shock the Spitfires too. The Biltmores had caused trouble for the Spitfires all season as their head-to-head record was 5 wins each and 2 ties in 12 matches.[21] After a week layoff, the Spitfires were up against a hot opponent and were missing scoring champion John Tavella to a three-games suspension for butt-ending against Detroit. The Spits dropped the first game, at home, 6–5 after giving up a late 2-on-1 odd-man rush late in the third period. The next night, in Guelph, the Spitfires led 6–1 in the first and 8–4 in the second to blow the lead in the third and finish with a 9–9 overtime tie. The Spitfires tied up the series in game three with a 4–2 win in Windsor. In Guelph for game four, the Spitfires blew a first period 3–0 lead to lose 6–4. Game five saw the Spitfires tie the series at five points a piece with an 8–4 win at home. Guelph again gained the advantage in game six with a 6–4 win at home. In a last gasp for air, the Spitfires fought to win a 6–4 decision in Windsor to tie the series at 7 points each and force a final eighth game - winner take all. The eighth game proved to be the Spitfires' last game of Tier II Junior A, as they traveled to Guelph and blew a 3–0 lead to lose the game (6–5) and the series (9-points-to-7) to end their four-year trek in the Southern Ontario Junior A Hockey League.[22]

The Spitfires were granted entry into the OMJHL (later known as the OHL) as an expansion franchise for the 1975–76 OMJHL season in February 1975. The league's board of governors unanimously accepted the Spitfires despite their arena's surface being smaller than Major Junior A standards. The Spitfires' had pumped $200,000 into the arena over the past two years, so the league overlooked the surface size despite taking issue with it in their 1974 rejection of the Spitfires' expansion bid.[23]

Major Junior

[edit]

On September 25, 1975, Major Junior hockey returned to the Windsor Arena for the first time in twenty-two years. In front of 4,335 fans, the Windsor Spitfires hosted the Oshawa Generals. The game would be an eye-opener for the Spitfires, as they were defeated 10–1 by the Generals. Wayne Mills started in net for the Spits, but would be later relieved by back-up Bob Parent when the Generals made it 7–0 at 11:29 of the second period. The two goaltenders combined for 30 saves, as the Spits were outshot 40–23. Rolly Hedges scored the first Major Junior goal in team history at 18:48 of the second period.[24]

On October 2, 1975, the Spitfires would tally their first ever Major Junior win. At home, the Spits were hosting the Sudbury Wolves. Despite being outshot 60–34, the Spitfires overcame a six-goal deficit to defeat the Wolves 11–10. After trailing 7–1 only 2:49 into the second period, the Spitfires were able to chip the lead down to 9–7 by the second intermission. Charlie Skjodt scored to make it 9–9 to complete the comeback, just to have the Wolves score with 6:33 to go in the game to make it 10–9. Charles Bosnyak, a member of the 1974–75 Tier II Spitfires, scored 32 seconds later to make it 10–10 and captain Mark Perras scored with 43 seconds remaining to win the Spits' first ever Major Junior game. Bob Parent would make 50 saves to cap off the historic victory.[25]

The "Spits" as they are commonly known, won their first Emms division title in 1980 and reached the OHL finals, but lost to the Peterborough Petes. Ernie Godden set an all-time OHL record in 1980–81 scoring 87 goals. In 1984 Peter Karmanos, the founder and CEO of Compuware, bought the team and renamed them the Windsor Compuware Spitfires.

In the 1987–88 season, the culmination of a well-executed four-year plan saw the Compuware Spitfires win 35 of their last 36 games, become the first team to go undefeated in the OHL playoffs, and sweep the Peterborough Petes in the OHL Championship finals to win the J. Ross Robertson Cup. During the season, the Compuware Spitfires were dominant, with a record of 54-0 when leading after two periods. Having earned the right to represent the OHL in the 1988 Memorial Cup hosted in Chicoutimi, Quebec, the Compuware Spitfires advanced to the Championship game, where their string of success ended, losing to the Medicine Hat Tigers.

Karmanos sold the team to local construction magnate Steve Riolo after the 1988–89 season, and the team reverted the Windsor Spitfires name and adopted their modern logo.

Conflict, renewal, tragedy

[edit]
Memorial display
Renaud's memorial display at the WFCU Centre
Andrew Engelage looks on, wearing Spitfires throwback jersey (November 2008).

On October 18, 2005, Head Coach Moe Mantha was handed a 40-game suspension and later terminated without pay, for a hazing incident that occurred aboard a bus after a pre-season game versus the London Knights. An altercation involving players Steve Downie and Akim Aliu, in which Aliu lost four teeth, led to public exposure of the compulsive hazing within the Spitfires organization. Downie was traded to the Peterborough Petes, and Aliu was traded to the Sudbury Wolves.

On April 6, 2006, the Ontario Hockey League Board of Governors announced the approval of a new ownership group for the Windsor Spitfires, composed of Bob Boughner, Warren Rychel and Peter Dobrich. All three men had history in Windsor with OHL hockey, and the group had expressed hope to move the team into a new arena. Boughner assumed the roles of President, CEO and head coach of the Spitfires, Rychel was named director of player development, and Dobrich the new business manager.

On February 18, 2008, team captain and Calgary Flames prospect[26] Mickey Renaud died of an undetected heart condition[27] in his Tecumseh, Ontario, home. General Manager Warren Rychel referred to Renaud's death as "the biggest tragedy in Spitfire history".[28] His number was retired by both the Spitfires[29] and the Tecumseh Chiefs Junior B franchise[30] that he played on before graduating to Major Junior. Mayor Eddie Francis named a road leading to the WFCU Centre in Renaud's honour, Mickey Renaud Way.[29] At the 2009 OHL All-Star Game at the WFCU Centre in Windsor, OHL Commissioner David Branch announced that the Mickey Renaud Captain's Trophy would be awarded to the "team captain that best exemplifies leadership on and off the ice as well as hard work, passion and dedication to the game of hockey and their community" in honour of Renaud.[31]

2008–09 season

[edit]

The Windsor Spitfires finished the 2008–09 season with 57 wins, 10 losses, and 1 shootout loss.[32] This marked their best season in franchise history. With the first overall record in the Ontario Hockey League the Spitfires were awarded the Hamilton Spectator Trophy.[32] The Spitfires also played their final games in the Windsor Arena.[33] The Spits were undefeated at home in the Old Barn during the 2008–09 season. Mid-season they moved to the WFCU Centre.[33] The Spitfires and their new arena played host to the 2009 All-Star Game.[34] On May 12, Goalie Andrew Engelage broke the OHL record for most wins by a goaltender in a single season with 46 with a 5–1 win over the Plymouth Whalers.[35]

In the first round of the playoffs, the Spitfires walked all over the Owen Sound Attack, taking the series in four games.[36] In the next round, the Spits found the Plymouth Whalers to be a more formidable opponent. After trading off-road wins, then trading off home wins, the Spits took Games 5 and 6 to clinch the series.[37] In the Western Conference final, the Spits played their nemesis the London Knights. Led by John Tavares, the Knights were a tough opponent. Every game in the series went to overtime, but the Spitfires were victorious and won the series 4-games-to-1 to earn a berth to the OHL Final and take the Wayne Gretzky Trophy as Conference champions.[38] The OHL Final began with a 10–1 victory for the Spitfires over the Eastern Conference's Brampton Battalion led by stars Cody Hodgson and Matt Duchene. The series became much tighter from there as the Spits took Game 2 5–3. The Battalion fought back in Game 3, winning 4–2. Game 4 belonged to the Spitfires as they took a 4–1 win and a 3–1 series lead. Game 5 was a tight affair, as the Spitfires took a 1–0 lead midway through the second period on the power play. Brampton tied the game up late in the third period to force overtime. At 2:09 of the first overtime period, Taylor Hall scored on the power play to win the Spitfires their second J. Ross Robertson Cup as league champions and a berth into the 2009 Memorial Cup.[39] The victory was the Spitfires' first league title since the 1987–88 OHL season and marked their second time playing for the Memorial Cup.[40] On May 9, Mayor of Windsor Eddie Francis awarded the team with the Key to the City in honour of their achievement.[41]

At the 2009 Memorial Cup, the Spitfires dropped their first two games in Rimouski 3–2 in overtime to the Drummondville Voltigeurs and 5–4 to the Rimouski Océanic.[42] In a do-or-die game, the Spitfires won the final game of the round robin 2–1 over the Kelowna Rockets to gain entry to the tie-breaker game.[43] In the tie-breaker, Windsor defeated the hometown Océanic 6-4 powered by a third period natural hat-trick by Dale Mitchell.[44] The tournament semi-final was between the Spitfires and the Voltigeurs. The Spitfires blew an early 2–0 lead, but won 3–2 in overtime from a goal by Adam Henrique[45] to become the second team ever to play in the Memorial Cup final after playing in the tie-breaker game.[46] In the final, the Spitfires again played the Rockets. The Spitfires scored on their first three shots and cruised to a 4–1 win to take their first ever Memorial Cup championship. Their victory marked the first time a team started with two losses in the Memorial Cup round robin and came back to win the championship.[47] The feat also marks the first time that a team has survived the Memorial Cup tie-breaker game to win the championship.[48] The Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy was awarded to Taylor Hall as Memorial Cup playoffs most valuable player. Both Ryan Ellis and Hall were elected to the tournament's All-Star Team.[49] Throughout the Memorial Cup tournament, the Spitfires hung Mickey Renaud's jersey on their bench and the championship was won in Renaud's memory.[49]

In the aftermath of the championship, the team was met at the Windsor Airport by a large contingent of local fans and was addressed by Mayor Eddie Francis.[50] It was announced that the road to the new WFCU Centre would be renamed Memorial Cup Drive in honour of the victory.[51]

2009–10 season

[edit]

The Spitfires came back in 2009–10 with a second straight 50-plus win season, finishing with a record of 50 wins, 12 losses, 1 overtime loss, and 5 shootout losses. Their record was good enough to earn the top seed in the Western Conference, but not good enough to clinch their second straight Hamilton Spectator Trophy, won by the Barrie Colts (57-9-0-2). For being the top team in their division, the Spitfires were awarded their second straight Bumbacco Trophy. Taylor Hall tied Tyler Seguin of the Plymouth Whalers for the league's scoring lead, and both were awarded the Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy as scoring co-champions. The Spitfires also played host to the CHL Top Prospects Game.

The Spitfires sent six players to the 2010 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. Defenceman Ryan Ellis and forwards Taylor Hall, Adam Henrique, and Greg Nemisz played for silver medalist Canada, defenceman Cam Fowler played for gold medalist United States, and forward Richard Panik played for Slovakia. At the end of the tournament, the Spitfires acquired defenceman Marc Cantin, forward Stephen Johnston and German goaltender Philipp Grubauer from the Belleville Bulls in exchange for forwards Panik and Austen Brassard, defenceman Paul Bezzo, goaltender Steve Gleeson and a seventh-round pick in the 2012 OHL Priority Selection.

In the first round of the OHL playoffs, the Spitfires swept the Erie Otters in four games. They then swept the Plymouth Whalers in four games to win their Conference Semi-Final. In the other semi-final, the Kitchener Rangers upset the favoured London Knights in seven games. In the Conference Finals against Kitchener, Windsor initially struggled, losing the first three games of the series. However, the Spitfires went on to become the third team in Ontario Hockey League history to come back from a three-game deficit to win a playoff series, beating Rangers in each of the next four games to win the conference championship and the Wayne Gretzky Trophy. Notably, the Spitfires had recovered from a 3–0 deficit to win a playoff series once before, in a 2004–05 Conference Quarterfinal series against the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. In the league final, the Spitfires made quick work of a highly touted Barrie Colts squad, sweeping them in four games to win their second straight J. Ross Robertson Cup. Adam Henrique won the Wayne Gretzky 99 Award as the playoffs' most valuable player.

In May, the Spitfires traveled to Brandon, Manitoba, for the 2010 Memorial Cup. The Spitfires trampled the host Brandon Wheat Kings 9–3 in their first game of the tournament and, in their second game, scored a convincing 6–2 win over the Western Hockey League champion Calgary Hitmen. With their victory over the Hitmen, the Spitfires clinched a berth in the Memorial Cup final. They did not need to defeat the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's Moncton Wildcats in their third and final round-robin game, but did so anyway, winning 4–3 in overtime. The tournament final saw the Spitfires play the host Wheat Kings for a second time. The Spitfires posted a convincing win once again, defeating the Wheat Kings 9–1 to clinch their second straight Memorial Cup. Their victory marked their twelfth straight win since going down 0–3 to Kitchener in the OHL's Western Conference Final, and they finished the playoffs with 20 wins against just 3 losses. Taylor Hall won his second straight Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy as Memorial Cup most valuable player, making him the first repeat winner in the trophy's history.

2010–11 season

[edit]

After two straight Memorial Cups, the Summer of 2010 saw leading scorer Taylor Hall go first overall in the 2010 NHL entry draft to the Edmonton Oilers and Coach Bob Boughner accepted an assistant coaching job with the National Hockey League's Columbus Blue Jackets. The Spitfires have engaged in a massive overhaul involving many trades.

During the exhibition season, the Spitfires hosted the Czech Under-20 National Team. The Spitfires came back to win the game 5–4. Spitfires finished the exhibition schedule with 4 wins 1 loss and 1 tie.

After another successful season the Spits finished 4th in the Western Conference to advance to the playoffs. The Spitfires reached the Conference Final for the third consecutive year. Following two hard fought battles the Spits were eliminated from the playoffs for the first time in three years by the Owen Sound Attack. The Attack went on to win the OHL Championship.

2011–12 season

[edit]

After one season with the Columbus Blue Jackets as assistant coach, Bob Boughner returned to the Spitfires as head coach, with Bob Jones remaining on the staff as his assistant.

On August 10, 2012, the Spitfires were fined an unprecedented $400,000 CAD by the Ontario Hockey League and forfeited five first round OHL Priority Draft picks in 2013, 2014, and 2016 and second round picks in 2015 and 2017 for unspecified recruitment violations.[52] The Spitfires claimed innocence to the recruitment violations and plan to appeal the decision.[53]

2013–14 season

[edit]

On December 29, 2013, the Spitfires and the Saginaw Spirit played the first ever outdoor game in Ontario Hockey League history. The game was played at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan. The Spitfires won the game 6–5 in front of a short-lived Canadian Hockey League record of 25,749 spectators, surpassed later that night by the London Knights and Plymouth Whalers at the same venue.[54]

2014–15 season

[edit]

On June 28, 2015, Spitfires owner and head coach Bob Boughner accepted another assistant coaching job with the NHL's San Jose Sharks. A couple of days later, former Oilers assistant coach Rocky Thompson was hired as the Spitfires new head coach, with Trevor Letowski accepting the assistant coaching job after former assistant coach Bob Jones was hired by the Oshawa Generals as head coach. Boughner's new job seemed to be very successful, as he and former Spitfire Peter DeBoer lead the team to the 2016 Stanley Cup Finals, losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

2016–17 season

[edit]
The Spitfires hosting the Sarnia Sting in 2023

Windsor was selected as the host city for the 99th Memorial Cup championship, who won the right to host the tournament over undisclosed competition.[55] In defeating the Seattle Thunderbirds by 7–1 in a round-robin game on May 21, 2017, the Windsor Spitfires tied a Memorial Cup record for the fastest 3 goals scored by a team in a single period (38 game seconds), matching the record set by the WHL's New Westminster Bruins in the 1978 tournament.[56] The tournament ended with the Windsor Spitfires winning their third Memorial Cup, defeating the Erie Otters 4–3 in the championship final.

On December 4, 2016, the Saginaw Spirit hosted the Spitfires in front of a crowd of over 3,100 people in the closing of Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. The Spitfires got the best of the Spirit in a 3–2 overtime win, with a hat trick performance by defenceman Sean Day.[57]

Championships

[edit]
Spitfires salute fans in Windsor Arena as Oshawa Generals look on (November 2008)

The Windsor Compuware Spitfires won the Hamilton Spectator Trophy, the J. Ross Robertson Cup, and were the top-ranked junior team in Canada during the 1987–88 season.

Coaches

[edit]
  • 1971–72 – Jerry Serviss and George Aitken
  • 1972–73 – Jerry Serviss
  • 1973–74 – Wayne Maxner
  • 1974–75 – Dick Duff and Jim Butcher
  • 1975–76 – Doug Johnston and Wayne Maxner
  • 1976–1980 – Wayne Maxner
  • 1980–81 – Ron Harris and Ron Carroll
  • 1981–82 – Marcel Pronovost
  • 1982–83 – Marcel Pronovost, Doug Imrie, John Becanic
  • 1983–84 – Bob Boucher, Terry McConnell, Wayne Maxner
  • 1984–85 – Mark Craig
  • 1985–86 – Tom Webster
  • 1986–87 – Tom Webster, Jim Rutherford, Tony McDonald
  • 1987–1989 – Tom Webster
  • 1989–91 – Brad Smith
  • 1991–92 – Brad Smith, Wayne Maxner, Dave Prpich
  • 1992–93 – Wayne Maxner, Kevin McIntosh
  • 1993–94 – Shane Parker
  • 1994–95 – Mike Kelly
  • 1995–96 – Mike Kelly and Paul Gillis
  • 1996–97 – Paul Gillis
  • 1997–98 – Vern Stenlund, Dave Prpich, Tony Curtale
  • 1998–99 – Tony Curtale and Dave Prpich
  • 1999–2002 – Tom Webster
  • 2002–03 – Tom Webster and Mike Kelly
  • 2003–04 – Steve Smith and Mike Kelly
  • 2004–05 – Mike Kelly
  • 2005–06 – Moe Mantha Jr., Bill Bowler, and D.J. Smith (interim co-coaches)
  • 2006–2010 – Bob Boughner
  • 2010–11 – Bob Jones
  • 2011–2015 – Bob Boughner
  • 2015–2017 – Rocky Thompson
  • 2017–2021 – Trevor Letowski[58]
  • 2021–2023 – Marc Savard[59]
  • July 24, 2023 – November 20, 2023 – Jerrod Smith
  • November 20, 2023–present – Casey Torres (interim)[60]

Players

[edit]

Over 100 alumni of the OHA and OHL Junior A Spitfires have graduated to play in the National Hockey League. Four of those alumni have been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame: Glenn Hall, Marcel Pronovost, Terry Sawchuk, and Al Arbour as coach.

Source:[61]

Award winners

[edit]
Season Player(s) Award Recognition
1973–74 Scott Miller SOJHL Leading Scorer Award Top points scorer
1974–75 John Tavella SOJHL Leading Scorer Award Top points scorer
Floyd St. Cyr SOJHL Top Goaltender Award Most outstanding goaltender
1980–81 Ernie Godden Red Tilson Trophy Most outstanding player (MVP)
1987–88 Darrin Shannon Max Kaminsky Trophy Most outstanding defenceman
Bobby Smith Trophy Scholastic Player of the Year
CHL Scholastic Player of the Year Player who best combines success on ice and in school
1990–91 Cory Stillman Emms Family Award Top first-year player (Rookie of the Year)
1991–92 Todd Warriner CHL Top Draft Prospect Award Top eligible prospect for the NHL Entry Draft
1994–95 Bill Bowler Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy Best overage player
1996–97 Peter Sarno Emms Family Award Top first-year player (Rookie of the Year)
1997–98 Peter Sarno Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy Top point scorer
2000–01 Jason Spezza CHL Top Draft Prospect Award Top eligible prospect for the NHL Entry Draft
2002–03 Kyle Wellwood William Hanley Trophy Most sportsmanlike player
CHL Sportsman of the Year Most sportsmanlike player
2007–08 Taylor Hall Emms Family Award Top first-year player (Rookie of the Year)
CHL Rookie of the Year CHL Rookie of the Year
Ryan Ellis Bobby Smith Trophy Scholastic Player of the Year
Bob Boughner Matt Leyden Trophy Coach of the Year
Brian Kilrea Coach of the Year Award CHL Coach of the Year
2008–09 Ryan Ellis Max Kaminsky Trophy Most outstanding defenceman
Taylor Hall Wayne Gretzky 99 Award MVP of OHL playoffs
Bob Boughner Matt Leyden Trophy Coach of the Year
Brian Kilrea Coach of the Year Award CHL Coach of the Year
Warren Rychel OHL Executive of the Year Top executive in OHL
2009
Memorial
Cup		 Taylor Hall Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy Most Valuable player at the Memorial Cup
Ryan Ellis,
Taylor Hall		 Memorial Cup All-Star Team Best players by position at the Memorial Cup tournament
2009–10 Taylor Hall Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy Top point scorer (tie)
Derek Lanoue Roger Neilson Memorial Award Top academic post-secondary school player
Adam Henrique Wayne Gretzky 99 Award MVP of OHL playoffs
2010
Memorial
Cup		 Taylor Hall Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy Most Valuable player at the Memorial Cup
Ed Chynoweth Trophy Top scorer in the Memorial Cup
Cam Fowler,
Taylor Hall		 Memorial Cup All-Star Team Best players by position at the Memorial Cup tournament
2010–11 Derek Lanoue Roger Neilson Memorial Award Top academic post-secondary school player
Ryan Ellis Max Kaminsky Trophy Most outstanding defenceman
Red Tilson Trophy Most outstanding player (MVP)
Mickey Renaud Captain's Trophy Most valuable team captain
2015–16 Michael DiPietro F. W. "Dinty" Moore Trophy First-year goaltender with best GAA
Mikhail Sergachev Max Kaminsky Trophy Most outstanding defenceman
2017
Memorial
Cup		 Michael DiPietro Hap Emms Memorial Trophy Most outstanding goaltender at the Memorial Cup
Michael DiPietro,
Mikhail Sergachev,
Gabriel Vilardi		 Memorial Cup All-Star Team Best players by position at the Memorial Cup tournament
2017-18 Michael DiPietro OHL Goaltender of the Year Best goaltender in the league
2021–22 Wyatt Johnston Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy Top point scorer
William Hanley Trophy Most sportsmanlike player
Red Tilson Trophy Most outstanding player (MVP)
2022–23 Matthew Maggio Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy Top point scorer
Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy Top scoring right winger
Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy Best overage player
Red Tilson Trophy Most outstanding player (MVP)
2024–25 Liam Greentree Mickey Renaud Captain's Trophy Most valuable team captain
Ilya Protas William Hanley Trophy Most sportsmanlike player

NHL alumni

[edit]
SOJHL Spitfires (1971–1975)
Modern Spitfires (1975–present)

Season-by-season results

[edit]

Regular season

[edit]
  • (1975–84, 1989–present) Windsor Spitfires
  • (1984–89) Windsor Compuware Spitfires

Legend: OTL = Overtime loss, SL = Shootout loss

Season Games Won Lost Tied OTL SL Points Pct % Goals
for		 Goals
against		 Standing
1971–72 56 21 32 3 - - 45 0.402 220 266 6th SOJAHL
1972–73 60 30 21 9 - - 69 0.575 286 273 3rd SOJAHL
1973–74 62 39 15 8 - - 86 0.694 379 242 1st SOJAHL
1974–75 60 40 15 5 - - 85 0.708 320 207 1st SOJAHL
1975–76 66 12 50 4 - - 28 0.212 251 470 6th Emms
1976–77 66 21 37 8 - - 50 0.379 294 386 5th Emms
1977–78 68 36 24 8 - - 80 0.588 338 289 2nd Emms
1978–79 68 32 35 1 - - 65 0.478 323 322 3rd Emms
1979–80 68 36 31 1 - - 73 0.537 323 344 1st Emms
1980–81 68 33 33 2 - - 68 0.500 322 337 2nd Emms
1981–82 68 22 42 4 - - 48 0.353 269 343 6th Emms
1982–83 70 19 50 1 - - 39 0.279 289 394 6th Emms
1983–84 70 22 46 2 - - 46 0.329 280 379 6th Emms
1984–85 66 28 35 3 - - 59 0.447 267 301 5th Emms
1985–86 66 34 26 6 - - 74 0.561 280 259 3rd Emms
1986–87 66 36 25 5 - - 77 0.583 287 249 3rd Emms
1987–88 66 50 14 2 - - 102 0.773 396 215 1st Emms
1988–89 66 25 37 4 - - 54 0.409 272 321 5th Emms
1989–90 66 17 41 8 - - 42 0.318 233 341 8th Emms
1990–91 66 33 29 4 - - 70 0.530 307 279 4th Emms
1991–92 66 25 33 8 - - 58 0.439 272 316 5th Emms
1992–93 66 19 42 5 - - 43 0.326 240 343 8th Emms
1993–94 66 25 36 5 - - 55 0.417 253 298 7th Emms
1994–95 66 41 22 3 - - 85 0.644 303 232 2nd Western
1995–96 66 21 41 4 - - 46 0.348 256 312 4th Western
1996–97 66 29 29 8 - - 66 0.500 303 285 3rd Western
1997–98 66 19 42 5 - - 43 0.326 261 340 6th Western
1998–99 68 23 39 6 - - 52 0.382 203 294 5th West
1999–2000 68 35 30 2 1 - 73 0.529 213 231 4th West
2000–01 68 34 22 8 4 - 80 0.559 257 221 2nd West
2001–02 68 33 24 6 5 - 77 0.529 253 229 3rd West
2002–03 68 37 25 5 1 - 80 0.581 259 221 3rd West
2003–04 68 27 30 3 8 - 65 0.419 201 219 3rd West
2004–05 68 26 29 6 7 - 65 0.478 223 253 3rd West
2005–06 68 32 29 - 3 4 71 0.522 247 253 3rd West
2006–07 68 18 43 - 2 5 43 0.316 209 311 5th West
2007–08 68 41 15 - 7 5 94 0.691 279 205 2nd West
2008–09 68 57 10 - 0 1 115 0.846 311 171 1st West
2009–10 68 50 12 - 1 5 106 0.779 331 203 1st West
2010–11 68 39 23 - 3 3 84 0.618 280 247 2nd West
2011–12 68 29 32 - 5 2 65 0.478 213 258 4th West
2012–13 68 26 33 - 3 6 61 0.449 212 278 5th West
2013–14 68 37 28 - 3 0 77 0.566 249 235 2nd West
2014–15 68 24 40 - 2 2 52 0.382 223 305 5th West
2015–16 68 40 21 - 6 1 87 0.640 253 200 2nd West
2016–17 68 41 19 - 5 3 90 0.662 232 185 2nd West
2017–18 68 32 30 - 4 2 70 0.515 214 224 3rd West
2018–19 68 25 33 - 5 5 60 0.441 216 257 4th West
2019–20 62 34 20 - 8 0 76 0.613 256 233 3rd West
2020–21 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0.000 0 0 Season cancelled
2021–22 68 44 17 - 4 3 95 0.699 305 248 1st West
2022–23 68 44 18 - 4 2 94 0.691 320 265 1st West
2023–24 68 18 42 - 5 3 44 0.324 247 360 5th West
2024–25 68 45 17 - 4 2 96 0.706 309 223 1st West

Playoffs

[edit]
  • 1971–72 Lost to Chatham Maroons 4 games to 1 in quarterfinal.
  • 1972–73 Defeated Niagara Falls Flyers 4 games to 3 in quarterfinal.
    Lost to Guelph CMC's 4 games to 0 in semifinal.
  • 1973–74 Defeated Detroit Jr. Red Wings 4 games to 0 in semifinal.
    Defeated Chatham Maroons 4 games to 1 in final. SOJHL CHAMPIONS
    Lost to Wexford Raiders 4 games to 3 in Eastern Centennial Cup quarterfinal.
  • 1974–75 Defeated Detroit Jr. Red Wings 4 games to 1 in semifinal.
    Lost to Guelph CMC's 4 games to 3 with 1 tie in final.
  • 1975–76 Out of playoffs.
  • 1976–77 Defeated Kitchener Rangers 3 games to 0 in first round.
    Lost to St. Catharines Fincups 4 games to 2 in quarterfinals.
  • 1977–78 Lost to Hamilton Fincups 9 points to 3 in quarterfinals.
  • 1978–79 Lost to London Knights in a 9 games series in quarterfinals. Series protested and both teams moved on.
    Eliminated in semifinal round-robin vs. Niagara Falls Flyers and London Knights.
  • 1979–80 Defeated Niagara Falls Flyers 4 games to 1 in quarterfinals.
    Defeated Brantford Alexanders 4 games to 3 in semifinals.
    Lost to Peterborough Petes 4 games to 0 in finals.
  • 1980–81 Defeated Brantford Alexanders 8 points to 4 in division semifinals.
    Lost to Kitchener Rangers 9 points to 1 in division finals.
  • 1981–82 Defeated Niagara Falls Flyers 6 points to 4 in first round.
    Lost to Kitchener Rangers 8 points to 0 in quarterfinals.
  • 1982–83 Lost to North Bay Centennials 6 points to 0 in first round.
  • 1983–84 Lost to S.S. Marie Greyhounds 6 points to 0 in first round.
  • 1984–85 Lost to London Knights 8 points to 0 in first round.
  • 1985–86 Defeated Kitchener Rangers 8 points to 2 in first round.
    Finished quarterfinal round robin vs Guelph Platers and North Bay Centennials in second place (4 points).
    Lost to Guelph Platers 8 points to 4 in semifinals.
  • 1986–87 Defeated S.S. Marie Greyhounds 4 games to 0 in first round.
    Defeated Hamilton Steelhawks 4 games to 0 in quarterfinals.
    Lost to North Bay Centennials 4 games to 2 in semifinals.
  • 1987–88 Defeated Kitchener Rangers 4 games to 0 in first round.
    Earned bye through quarterfinals. 1st place in Emms division.
    Defeated Hamilton Steelhawks 4 games to 0 in semifinals.
    Defeated Peterborough Petes 4 games to 0 in finals. OHL CHAMPIONS
    Finished Memorial Cup round-robin in first place, earned berth in finals.
    Lost to Medicine Hat Tigers 7–6 in championship game.
  • 1988–89 Lost to Niagara Falls Thunder 4 games to 0 in first round.
  • 1989–90 Out of playoffs.
  • 1990–91 Defeated London Knights 4 games to 3 in first round.
    Lost to Niagara Falls Thunder 4 games to 0 in quarterfinals.
  • 1991–92 Lost to Kitchener Rangers 4 games to 3 in first round.
  • 1992–93 Out of playoffs.
  • 1993–94 Lost to S.S. Marie Greyhounds 4 games to 0 in division quarterfinals.
  • 1994–95 Defeated Sarnia Sting 4 games to 0 in division quarterfinals.
    Lost to Sudbury Wolves 4 games to 2 in quarterfinals.
  • 1995–96 Lost to Detroit Whalers 4 games to 3 in division quarterfinals.
  • 1996–97 Lost to Sarnia Sting 4 games to 1 in division quarterfinals.
  • 1997–98 Out of playoffs.
  • 1998–99 Defeated Kitchener Rangers 2–1 in 8th place tiebreaker.
    Lost to Plymouth Whalers 4 games to 0 in conference quarterfinals.
  • 1999–2000 Defeated Sarnia Sting 4 games to 3 in conference quarterfinals.
    Lost to Plymouth Whalers 4 games to 1 in conference semifinals.
  • 2000–01 Defeated Owen Sound Attack 4 games to 1 in conference quarterfinals.
    Lost to Plymouth Whalers 4 games to 0 in conference semifinals.
  • 2001–02 Defeated S.S. Marie Greyhounds 4 games to 2 in conference quarterfinals.
    Defeated Guelph Storm 4 games to 1 in conference semifinals.
    Lost to Erie Otters 4 games to 1 in conference finals.
  • 2002–03 Lost to London Knights 4 games to 3 in conference quarterfinals.
  • 2003–04 Lost to London Knights 4 games to 0 in conference quarterfinals.
  • 2004–05 Defeated S.S. Marie Greyhounds 4 games to 3 in conference quarterfinals.
    Lost to London Knights 4 games to 0 in conference semifinals.
  • 2005–06 Lost to Plymouth Whalers 4 games to 3 in conference quarterfinals.
  • 2006–07 Out of playoffs.
  • 2007–08 Lost to Sarnia Sting 4 games to 1 in conference quarterfinals.
  • 2008–09 Defeated Owen Sound Attack 4 games to 0 in conference quarterfinals.
    Defeated Plymouth Whalers 4 games to 2 in conference semifinals.
    Defeated London Knights 4 games to 1 in conference finals.
    Defeated Brampton Battalion 4 games to 1 in finals. OHL CHAMPIONS
    Finished Memorial Cup round-robin in fourth place
    Defeated Rimouski Océanic 6–4 in tiebreaker.
    Defeated Drummondville Voltigeurs 3–2 (OT) in semifinal.
    Defeated the Kelowna Rockets 4–1 in the Memorial Cup final. MEMORIAL CUP CHAMPIONS
  • 2009–10 Defeated Erie Otters 4 games to 0 in conference quarterfinals.
    Defeated Plymouth Whalers 4 games to 0 in conference semifinals.
    Defeated Kitchener Rangers 4 games to 3 in conference finals.
    Defeated Barrie Colts 4 games to 0 in finals. OHL CHAMPIONS
    Finished Memorial Cup round-robin in first place.
    Defeated Brandon Wheat Kings 9–1 in the Memorial Cup final. MEMORIAL CUP CHAMPIONS
  • 2010–11 Defeated Erie Otters 4 games to 3 in conference quarterfinals.
    Defeated Saginaw Spirit 4 games to 2 in conference semifinals.
    Lost to Owen Sound Attack 4 games to 1 in conference finals.
  • 2011–12 Lost to London Knights 4 games to 0 in conference quarterfinals.
  • 2012–13 Out of playoffs.
  • 2013–14 Lost to London Knights 4 games to 0 in conference quarterfinals.
  • 2014–15 Out of playoffs.
  • 2015–16 Lost to Kitchener Rangers 4 games to 1 in conference quarterfinals.
  • 2016–17 Lost to London Knights 4 games to 3 in conference quarterfinals.
    Gain entrance to 2017 Memorial Cup as host team.
    Finished Memorial Cup round-robin in first place.
    Defeated Erie Otters 4–3 in Memorial Cup final. MEMORIAL CUP CHAMPIONS
  • 2017–18 Lost to Sarnia Sting 4 games to 2 in conference quarterfinals.
  • 2018–19 Lost to London Knights 4 games to 0 in conference quarterfinals.
  • 2019–20 Cancelled.
  • 2020–21 Cancelled.
  • 2021–22 Defeated Sarnia Sting 4 games to 2 in conference quarterfinals.
    Defeated Kitchener Rangers 4 games to 1 in conference semifinals.
    Defeated Flint Firebirds 4 games to 3 in conference finals.
    Lost to Hamilton Bulldogs 4 games to 3 in finals.
  • 2022–23 Lost to Kitchener Rangers 4 games to 0 in conference quarterfinals.
  • 2023–24 Out of playoffs.
  • 2024–25 Defeated S.S. Marie Greyhounds 4 games to 1 in conference quarterfinals.
    Lost to Kitchener Rangers 4 games to 3 in conference semifinals.

Uniforms and logos

[edit]

The new logo features an aggressive, stylized World War II Spitfire fighter plane set against clouds on a red, white and blue shield with the word "Spitfires" emblazoned prominently in the forefront. The logo preserves the team's primary colours of red and blue, but uses richer, more vibrant hues and adds silver and yellow as secondary colours.

The Spitfires worked with the Ontario Hockey League and Reebok – official supplier of uniforms to the OHL – in finalizing the new uniform. The new jerseys sport shoulder patches featuring the vintage Spitfire plane encircled by a gold laurel wreath and containing the number 18 to commemorate former Spitfires captain Mickey Renaud. Both the primary logo and shoulder patch designs were collaborations by Marcello Fontana and Shane Potvin, both senior art directors at Hargreaves Stewart.[62]

The Windsor Spitfires use white jerseys on the road until Christmas and at home in the new year and the red jerseys at home until Christmas and on the road in the new year. The Spitfires briefly used a third jersey featuring a white, red and green colour scheme and an alternate logo featuring an airplane flying in front of the Ambassador Bridge. When the team was also known as the Compuware Spitfires the team's colours were brown and orange, with a logo featuring a Spitfire airplane. The original Spitfires logo featured a maple leaf.

Arena

[edit]

The Spitfires play their home games at the WFCU Centre, an arena located on the east end of Windsor. The WFCU Centre played host to its first Spitfires game on December 11, 2008, against the Belleville Bulls.[63] The Spitfires lost the game 4–0, which also broke a string of 12 home wins the Spitfires had amassed so far that season.

The Spitfires previously played at Windsor Arena, built in 1924 in downtown Windsor, Ontario. The arena was originally known as the "Border Cities Arena" and was once home to the Detroit Red Wings of the NHL prior to 1927. The Windsor Arena, nicknamed "The Barn," was the oldest operating facility in the Canadian Hockey League. It hosted the OHL All-Star game in 1978, and the Memorial Cup in 1981. On December 4, 2008, the Windsor Spitfires played their last game at "The Barn" against the Guelph Storm, winning 2–1.[64][65]

Broadcasters

[edit]

CKLW is the current flagship radio station of the Spitfires. It had been a longtime broadcaster of the Spitfires, but dropped the team in the 2002–03 season. After two seasons without a radio broadcaster at all, CKUE-FM picked up the Spitfires for the 2004-2005 and 2005–2006 seasons, before the team returned to CKLW beginning in the 2006–07 season. Games on CKLW are commentated by Mike Miller and Steve Bell, former on-air CKLW sports anchor.[66]

On television, Spitfires games are broadcast by YourTV Windsor, a community channel carried on Cogeco's cable system in Windsor. Domenic Papa previously hosted and provided colour commentary for Spitfires games, alongside Bill Kelso on play-by-play and Brian Trenholm with analysis. However, in August 2012, TVCogeco announced that the long-time crew would be replaced for the 2012–13 season.[67] The move to fire the Spitfires' long-time broadcast team was met with backlash and protests from Spitfires fans and other members of Windsor's sports community.[68] The current team consists of host Angelo Aversa, CKSY-FM morning show and former London Knights studio host Chris McLeod on play-by-play, and former Soo Greyhounds coach Nick Warriner on colour.[66]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Windsor Spitfires

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The Windsor Spitfires are a Canadian major team based in , competing in the (OHL) as a member of the Western Conference within the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). The franchise, which plays its home games at the , traces its modern origins to 1971 when it began operations in the Tier II Junior A Hockey League before joining the OHL for the 1975–76 season; an earlier iteration of the team existed from 1946 to 1953 in the . Renowned for their success in the late 2000s and 2010s, the Spitfires have captured three national championships—in 2009, 2010 (back-to-back wins, a rare feat in CHL history), and 2017—along with three OHL championships (1988, 2009, 2010), establishing them as one of the league's most decorated programs. The team's name honors the Spitfire aircraft and the 417th Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force, which was based in Windsor during and nicknamed the "City of Windsor" unit. Over the decades, the Spitfires have developed numerous players who advanced to the National Hockey League (NHL), including Hall of Famers like (player with the original team who later won four Stanley Cups as coach of the ) and modern stars such as (2009–10 captain and 2010 NHL first overall pick), , and . Their 2008–09 season stands as a franchise pinnacle, with a record 57 wins and the first of consecutive OHL and titles under general manager Warren Rychel and coach , highlighted by a dominant playoff run that included overcoming early deficits. The victory, hosted in Windsor, capped another storied playoff with a 4–3 final win over the , featuring standout performances from goaltender . Beyond on-ice success, the Spitfires are integral to Windsor's sports culture, drawing strong community support at the 6,500-seat (formerly Windsor Arena until 2008) and developing numerous players who have advanced to the National Hockey League (NHL), benefiting from proximity to teams like the . Recent seasons have seen continued competitiveness, including a strong start to the 2024–25 campaign, with forward earning the OHL's Red Tilson Trophy as Most Outstanding Player in 2021–22 and the Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy as top scorer, underscoring the franchise's ongoing talent pipeline to professional hockey.

History

Tier II Junior A Era (1971–1975)

The Windsor Spitfires were founded in 1971 as a Tier II Junior A hockey team and joined the Junior Hockey League (SOJHL), where they competed for four seasons. The franchise revived the Spitfires name after a 17-year absence from junior hockey in Windsor, with home games hosted at the historic Windsor Arena. This period marked the team's re-establishment as a competitive local club, drawing on community interest in the sport amid Windsor's proximity to Detroit's professional hockey scene. The Spitfires quickly built a strong foundation in the SOJHL, posting consistent regular-season performances and reaching the league playoffs each year. Their pinnacle came in the 1973–74 season, when they finished first in the standings with a record of 39 wins, 15 losses, and 8 ties, outscoring opponents 379–242 (86 points). In the postseason, the team advanced through the semifinals before defeating rivals the Chatham Maroons 4 games to 1 in the SOJHL finals to claim the league championship. Key contributors included future NHL defenceman Frank Bathe, who anchored the blue line during the successful run, alongside forwards like Jean Pominville and Gary Armstrong. This title highlighted the team's emerging talent pool and set the stage for further ambition. Despite on-ice progress, the Spitfires navigated operational hurdles typical of Tier II Junior A programs, including limited resources for and player development compared to major junior leagues. Community support in Windsor was enthusiastic but inconsistent, with attendance fluctuating due to competition from nearby professional teams and the status constraining sponsorship opportunities. These factors restricted the franchise's ability to retain top prospects long-term, as elite players often eyed pathways to higher tiers. By 1975, seeking greater competitive exposure and talent development potential, the Spitfires transitioned from the SOJHL to join the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League (OMJHL) as an for the 1975–76 season. This move, backed by a group of local businessmen as initial owners, elevated the franchise from Tier II to major junior status and positioned it for broader regional rivalry.

Early OHL Years (1975–1987)

The Windsor Spitfires entered the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League (OMJHL, later rebranded as the OHL) as an expansion franchise for the 1975–76 season, marking the team's promotion from Tier II Junior A hockey and its establishment as a full-time tenant at the historic Windsor Arena. Building on foundational experience from their Tier II era, the Spitfires aimed to compete in major junior while fostering local talent in . The inaugural campaign proved challenging, with the team posting a record of 12 wins, 50 losses, and 4 ties for 28 points, finishing last in the Emms Division and missing the playoffs amid a league-high 470 goals against. Coached initially by Doug Johnston and Wayne Maxner, the squad featured emerging players like defenseman , who began his junior career with the club and would later become a prominent NHL coach. Under Maxner's continued leadership starting in 1976–77, the Spitfires showed early signs of growth, improving to 21 wins, 37 losses, and 8 ties for 50 points and advancing to the second round of the playoffs, where they fell to the Hamilton Fincups. The team selected forward first overall in the 1976 OHL Priority Selection, signaling an intent to build through the draft, though Fox would later transfer. Subsequent seasons reflected inconsistency, with strong regular-season finishes like 36–24–8 (80 points) in 1977–78 and a run to the OMJHL finals in 1979–80 (36–31–1, 73 points), where they lost to the despite contributions from forwards Brad Smith and Blair Barnes. However, defensive struggles persisted, leading to early playoff exits in other years, such as a first-round loss in 1982–83 (19–50–1, 39 points). Notable players from this period included rugged defenseman Behn Wilson, drafted by the in 1977, and goaltender Roland Melanson, who honed his skills before an NHL career. Coaching transitions, including stints by (1981–82) and Jacques Faubert (early 1980s), aimed to stabilize the roster amid frequent lineup changes. The mid-1980s brought further evolution, highlighted by forward Ernie Godden's OHL-record 87 goals in 1980–81 (33–33–2 record, 68 points overall for the team), though playoff success remained elusive with a third-round defeat that year. Ownership changes in 1984 saw Peter Karmanos purchase the franchise, renaming it the Windsor Compuware Spitfires and injecting resources for development; this coincided with a 28–35–3 record (59 points) in 1984–85 under Mark Craig, securing a playoff spot but ending in a first-round loss. By 1986–87, under Tom Webster, the team achieved 36 wins, 25 losses, and 5 ties (77 points), reaching the third round and demonstrating competitive momentum with players like contributing offensively. These years laid the groundwork for future contention through draft picks such as forward Sylvain Couturier (1986) and a focus on player progression, despite ongoing challenges in consistency and depth.

First Championship and Rebuilding (1988–2007)

The Windsor Compuware Spitfires achieved their first and only Ontario Hockey League (OHL) championship during the 1987–88 season, capping a remarkable turnaround under owner Peter Karmanos. The team posted a dominant regular-season record of 50 wins, 14 losses, and 2 ties in 66 games, accumulating 102 points and outscoring opponents 396–215. This performance included a franchise-record 396 goals scored, led by forwards Kelly Cain (133 points), Mike Wolak (114 points), and David Haas (105 points), with contributions from NHL prospect Adam Graves, who recorded 60 points in 37 games before and after a brief NHL stint with the Detroit Red Wings. In the playoffs, the Spitfires went undefeated through the first two rounds before defeating the Hamilton Steelhawks 4–1 in the J. Ross Robertson Cup finals, securing their inaugural OHL title and advancing to the Memorial Cup, where they finished as runners-up. Key players like Graves and defenseman Paul Hampton anchored the roster, providing scoring depth and defensive stability en route to the championship. Following the 1988 triumph, the franchise entered a prolonged period of instability marked by roster turnover, financial strains, and inconsistent performance. Karmanos sold the team to local construction magnate Steve Riolo after the 1988–89 season, reverting the name to Windsor Spitfires amid efforts to stabilize operations. The saw ownership disputes and economic pressures in Windsor, exacerbated by the team's mid-tier results and aging Windsor Arena facilities, which limited revenue potential. Rebuilding efforts under coaches like (1990–1993), who guided the team to playoff appearances but no deep runs, focused on developing young talent amid frequent player graduations to professional leagues. The early 2000s highlighted the franchise's struggles, with a in the 1999–2000 season when the Spitfires finished last in the OHL with a 10–52–6 record, earning just 26 points and missing the playoffs entirely. Under subsequent coaches such as Tony Curtale and Mike Kelly, the team emphasized youth development and roster reconstruction, though results remained modest with occasional first-round exits. Financial woes intensified by the mid-, prompting Riolo to explore options, including a potential move to , due to Windsor's declining auto industry and low franchise valuation. The relocation threat was averted in February 2006 when a local ownership group led by former NHL players and Warren Rychel, along with Peter Dobrich, purchased the team for an undisclosed sum, committing to keep it in Windsor. This buyout stabilized the franchise amid ongoing challenges, including upgrades to the Windsor Arena, such as exterior stucco additions and the installation of seats from the defunct London Gardens in 2002 to boost capacity slightly. A pivotal renewal milestone came with the construction of the , approved in 2006 and breaking ground on January 21, 2007, at a total cost of approximately $72 million. Funding included $4 million from a provincial grant, city debt financing, $1.62 million in from Windsor Family Credit Union, and community contributions through and sponsorships totaling over $1.1 million. The arena opened in December 2008, providing a modern 6,500-seat home that enhanced fan experience and operational viability, setting the stage for future success.

Back-to-Back Memorial Cup Dynasty (2008–2010)

The 2008–2010 period marked the pinnacle of success for the Windsor Spitfires, as the team achieved consecutive Ontario Hockey League (OHL) championships and back-to-back Mastercard Memorial Cup titles, becoming only the eighth team in Canadian Hockey League (CHL) history to accomplish the latter feat. This era was overshadowed early by tragedy: on February 18, 2008, during the 2007–08 season, team captain Mickey Renaud, aged 19, collapsed at home and died from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a rare heart condition. The loss devastated the team and community, prompting widespread grief and tributes; in response, the Spitfires rallied with an 8–0–2 finish to the regular season and advanced in the playoffs, honoring Renaud's memory. His legacy endures through the OHL's Mickey Renaud Captain's Trophy, awarded annually to the league's most outstanding captain since 2009. The dynasty was built on the foundation of a stable ownership group led by , who acquired a majority stake in the franchise in alongside partners Warren Rychel and Peter Dobrich, providing the financial and operational stability needed after years of rebuilding. Under Boughner's dual role as owner and head coach, the Spitfires transitioned to the newly opened in December 2008, which helped elevate the team's profile and fan engagement in Windsor. The 2008–09 season saw the Spitfires post a franchise-record 57 wins, 10 losses, 0 overtime losses, and 1 shootout loss in 68 games, earning 115 points and the Wayne Gretzky Trophy as Western Conference regular-season champions. In the playoffs, Windsor swept the Owen Sound Attack 4–0 in the conference quarterfinals, defeated the London Knights 4–2 in the semifinals, and clinched the OHL championship with a 4–1 series victory over the Brampton Battalion, highlighted by Taylor Hall's overtime goal in Game 5. As hosts of the 2009 Memorial Cup at the WFCU Centre, the Spitfires went 3–1 in round-robin play before edging the Rimouski Oceanic 7–6 in double overtime in the semifinal; they then dominated the final with a 4–1 win over the Kelowna Rockets, scoring three goals on their first three shots to secure the national title. Hall was named the tournament's most valuable player (MVP) and Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy winner, while defenceman Ryan Ellis and forward Adam Henrique emerged as key contributors, underscoring the team's depth and talent. Repeating as champions in 2009–10, the Spitfires finished with a 50–12–1–5 record in 68 games, accumulating 106 points and again claiming the Western Conference crown. The playoff run included a 4–0 quarterfinal sweep of the , a 4–1 semifinal triumph over the , and a hard-fought 4–2 OHL final win against the St. Michael's Majors, with Hall again starring with 18 playoff points. At the 2010 in , Windsor remained undefeated at 4–0, defeating the 6–2 in the semifinal before routing the host 9–1 in the final to capture their second straight . This back-to-back success, the first for any OHL team since the 1980s, was propelled by returning stars like Hall and , along with emerging talents such as Justin Shugg, and solidified Boughner's coaching legacy with consecutive Matt Leyden Trophy awards as OHL Coach of the Year. The dynasty era significantly enhanced the franchise's valuation and community impact, with the move to the 6,241-seat coinciding with sold-out crowds and attendance averaging near capacity during the successful seasons, reflecting a surge in local support from over 4,000 fans per game in prior years to peaks exceeding 5,500 for key matchups. This period not only established the Spitfires as a junior hockey powerhouse but also produced multiple NHL draft picks, including Hall (first overall by in 2010), boosting the team's long-term reputation and economic contributions to Windsor.

Renewal, and 2017 Success (2011–2019)

Following the back-to-back victories in 2009 and 2010, the Windsor Spitfires entered a period of transition marked by internal challenges and league sanctions. In August 2012, the imposed the largest fine in its history on the Spitfires, totaling $400,000, for violations of player benefit and recruitment rules, along with the forfeiture of three first-round draft picks (2013, 2014, 2016) and two second-round picks (2015, 2017). This penalty, stemming from improper inducements to prospects, severely hampered the team's ability to restock its roster, contributing to inconsistent performance and mid-decade struggles with winning percentages hovering around .500 or below in several seasons, including 29-32-5-2 in 2011–12, 26-33-3-6 in 2012–13, and a dismal 24-40-2-2 in 2014–15. The sanctions exacerbated roster turnover and morale issues, but general manager Warren Rychel initiated a methodical rebuild through strategic trades and player development, acquiring high-upside talents like forward and defenceman . Head coach , who had led the dynasty era, stepped down in July 2015 to join the NHL's as an assistant, with Rocky Thompson taking over behind the bench. Under Thompson's guidance, the Spitfires showed steady improvement, posting 40-21-6-1 in 2015–16 before peaking in 2016–17 with a 41-19-5-3 regular-season mark and 90 points, securing second place in the Western Conference. In the 2017 playoffs, Windsor advanced to the OHL finals but fell to the in five games, denying them an OHL championship appearance since their back-to-back wins in 2009 and 2010. However, as hosts of the at the , the Spitfires capitalized on home advantage in the round-robin format involving the four CHL champions: themselves (OHL host), (OHL), (QMJHL), and (WHL). Windsor topped the round-robin with a 2-1 record, including a dominant 7-1 victory over on May 21. They then defeated Saint John 3-2 in the semifinal before claiming the championship with a 4-3 win over in the final on May 28, snapping a 4-3 deficit on Aaron Luchuk's third-period game-winner. Key contributors included towering , who anchored the blue line with physical play and four assists in the , and , who posted a .934 save percentage across five games to earn all-star honors.

Modern Era and Recent Challenges (2020–present)

The Modern Era of the Windsor Spitfires has been marked by the profound impacts of the and subsequent efforts to rebuild competitive strength amid coaching transitions and roster turnover. The 2020–21 season was entirely cancelled by the due to escalating cases and provincial restrictions, resulting in no games played across the league for the first time in its history. In response, the Spitfires shifted focus to player development through virtual training programs, off-ice conditioning, and individualized skill sessions, aligning with broader initiatives to maintain athlete progress during the shutdown. The team rebounded strongly in the 2021–22 season, compiling a 44–17–4–3 record and securing first place in the West Division with 95 points. Despite the regular-season success under , the Spitfires experienced an early playoff exit in the conference finals, falling to the in seven games. The following 2022–23 campaign saw another solid performance with a 44–18–4–2 mark and 94 points, again topping the West, but the postseason brought disappointment as they were swept 4–0 by the in the first round. Challenges intensified in 2023–24, when the Spitfires posted a franchise-low 18–42–5–3 record (44 points), finishing last in the West Division and missing the for the first time since 2007. This downturn coincided with significant coaching instability: Jerrod Smith, appointed in July 2023, was relieved of duties in November after a 3–13–1–1 start, with assistant Casey Torres stepping in as interim for the remainder of the season. A resurgence began in 2024–25 under new head coach Greg Walters, appointed in July 2024 following his reinstatement from an OHL suspension. The Spitfires achieved a 45–17–0–6 record (96 points), reclaiming first in the West and earning a playoff berth; they advanced to the conference finals before elimination. Building on this momentum, the 2025–26 season has started strongly, with the team leading the West Division at 15–4–2–1 through 22 games as of November 19, 2025. Key contributors include import draft selections like forward Beksultan Makysh, chosen 114th overall in the 2025 and signed to a scholarship and development agreement, who has emerged as a dynamic presence.

Franchise Operations

Arena and Facilities

The Windsor Spitfires played their home games at the historic Windsor Arena, known as "The Barn," from the team's inception in 1971 until 2008. Built in 1924, this indoor arena had a capacity of approximately 4,400 spectators and served as a central venue for junior hockey in the region during the team's early years in Tier II Junior A and the (OHL). The team's current home is the (formerly Windsor Family Credit Union Centre), a multi-purpose facility that opened on December 11, 2008, replacing the aging Windsor Arena. With a of 6,500 for hockey games, the arena features a regulation NHL-sized ice surface measuring 200 feet by 85 feet, 31 luxury private suites, and additional premium club seating to enhance spectator experience. The venue also hosts a variety of non-hockey community events, including concerts, trade shows, and local sports programs, which help subsidize operational costs for the Spitfires and the City of Windsor, the facility's owner. In 2015, the WFCU Centre underwent significant upgrades, including the installation of broadcast-quality LED lighting across its main bowl and community rinks, reducing energy consumption by an estimated 102,000 kWh annually while improving visibility for televised games. Situated in east-end , just across the from , the benefits from its proximity to the , drawing substantial cross-border attendance from Detroit-area fans who frequently travel for Spitfires games due to the short distance and shared regional hockey interest. The City of Windsor's ownership facilitated the arena's development as part of a broader revitalization effort to support local sports and entertainment.

Ownership, Management, and Staff

The Windsor Spitfires' current is held by a led by John Savage, Stephen Savage, and Brian Schwab, principals of the Cypher Systems Group, who assumed a majority stake in 2019 after a restructured agreement that halted a proposed sale to external interests and ensured the franchise's continued presence in Windsor. This group first entered as minority owners in 2013, acquiring a 30 percent share from prior co-owner Peter Dobrich to bolster financial stability. The foundational acquisition occurred in 2006, when local investors , Warren Rychel, and Dobrich purchased the team from Steve Riolo for $6 million, directly addressing relocation threats amid Windsor's economic downturn from auto industry closures and securing the club's long-term viability in the community. General manager Bill Bowler has led hockey operations since July 2019, following a tenure in the front office since 2015 and building on his experience as a former Spitfires player from 1991 to 1995; he oversees player drafts, trades, and development strategies that prioritize competitive balance within the (OHL). His predecessor, Warren Rychel, served as general manager from 2006 to 2019, during which he managed over 500 regular-season wins and key acquisitions that contributed to three appearances. The front office structure emphasizes specialized roles in player evaluation and community integration, with Director of Player Personnel Mark Seidel appointed in June 2025 to head scouting operations and focus on regional talent pipelines; Seidel brings over three decades of independent scouting experience across North American leagues. Recent enhancements include Brian McLaughlin's promotion to Director of Player Development in August 2025, overseeing scouting while prioritizing local hires to strengthen ties with Windsor's youth hockey ecosystem. The scouting staff, comprising around a dozen full-time and part-time members, operates with an emphasis on Windsor-area recruitment to foster homegrown development. Financially, the Spitfires sustain operations through robust community partnerships, including sponsorships with local businesses that provide visibility at the and support youth programs. The Windsor Spitfires Foundation, established to enhance community impact, operates on pillars of family support, education, and health, having raised and donated over $343,000 to local initiatives via events like the annual Community Tour. As an OHL member, the club maintains affiliation agreements, notably with the LaSalle Vipers of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL), facilitating player pathways and shared development resources.

Coaching History

The Windsor Spitfires entered the Major Junior Hockey League (OMJHL, later OHL) as an expansion franchise in 1975, with Doug Johnston and Wayne Maxner sharing head coaching duties during the inaugural 1975–76 season, a transitional period marked by a 12–50–4 record as the team adapted to the higher level of junior A competition. Johnston and Maxner's leadership focused on building foundational skills and integrating local talent, laying the groundwork for the franchise's growth despite early struggles. Subsequent early coaches, including Ron Harris and Ron Carroll in 1980–81, emphasized defensive structure amid ongoing development, helping the team achieve incremental improvements in standings. In the mid-1980s, Tom Webster took over as in 1985 during the team's ownership era, serving until 1989 and returning for a second stint from 1999 to 2003. Webster's tenure was pivotal, as his emphasis on disciplined play and player development culminated in the Spitfires' first championship in 1987–88, defeating the in the finals after a remarkable turnaround from a mid-pack regular season. His strategies prioritized balanced lineups and special teams efficiency, fostering a culture of resilience that propelled the team to the semifinals that year. The franchise experienced varied coaching transitions in the 1990s and early 2000s under figures like Brad Wilson and Mike Kelly, who guided rebuilds amid ownership changes, but it was Bob Boughner's arrival in 2006–07 that ignited a dynasty. Boughner, a Windsor native and co-owner, coached two stints (2006–10 and 2011–15), amassing a 282–119–39 record across both periods and earning OHL Coach of the Year honors in 2008 and 2009. His philosophy centered on team unity and aggressive offensive play, connecting players through shared accountability, which led to consecutive victories in 2009 and 2010—the franchise's first national titles—following OHL championships in those seasons. Boughner's impact extended to player development, producing NHL talents while maintaining high playoff success rates. The 2010s saw significant coaching turnover, with five head coaches navigating a post-dynasty rebuild: Bob Jones (2010–11), Boughner's return (2011–15), Rocky Thompson (2015–17), Trevor Letowski (2017–21), and (2021–23). Jones served as interim head coach in 2010–11 after Boughner's brief NHL departure, focusing on stability during a transitional year that reached the OHL finals. Thompson's tenure emphasized fast-paced transitions and special teams, culminating in the win as hosts despite a mid-season coaching adjustment. Letowski, promoted from associate coach under Thompson, prioritized skill development and culture reset amid inconsistent results, later advancing to an NHL assistant role with the . Savard continued a development-oriented approach before departing for NHL opportunities. This era's frequent changes reflected management's strategy to inject fresh perspectives during rebuilds. Assistant coach promotions have been a hallmark of the Spitfires' coaching pipeline, with figures like Jerrod Smith rising from long-term assistant roles to head coach in 2023–24, emphasizing continuity in player evaluation and on-ice tactics. In July 2024, Greg was appointed following a six-month OHL suspension, bringing 13 years of league experience from roles with the and . Under Walters, the Spitfires showed marked improvement in the 2024–25 season, finishing the regular season with a 45–17–4–2 record (96 points) to claim first place in the Western Conference, highlighted by strong offensive output and defensive structure.
CoachTenureNotable Impact
Doug Johnston & Wayne Maxner1975–76Oversaw OHL entry; focused on foundational adaptation.
Ron Harris & Ron Carroll1980–81Emphasized defense in early growth phase.
Tom Webster1985–89, 1999–2003Led first OHL title (1988); balanced play style.
2006–10, 2011–15Back-to-back Memorial Cups (2009–10); team unity focus.
Bob Jones2010–11Interim stability; OHL finals appearance.
Rocky Thompson2015–17 win; transition game emphasis.
Trevor Letowski2017–21Development culture; promoted to NHL.
2021–23Skill-building amid rebuild.
Jerrod Smith2023–24Internal promotion; tactical continuity.
Greg Walters2024–present2024–25 Western Conference regular season title; structured improvements.

Achievements

OHL Championships and Playoff Success

The Windsor Spitfires have achieved notable success in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) playoffs, capturing the J. Ross Robertson Cup three times and reaching the finals on five occasions overall. Their playoff triumphs highlight periods of dominance, particularly in the late 1980s and late 2000s, where strong team cohesion and standout performances propelled them through grueling series. These accomplishments underscore the franchise's ability to compete at the highest level within the league, often overcoming tough divisional rivals en route to championship contention. The Spitfires' first OHL championship came in the 1987–88 season, marking a historic undefeated playoff run. After sweeping the Hamilton Steelhawks 4–0 in the quarterfinals and the Niagara Falls Thunder 4–0 in the division finals, they advanced to the league finals against the . Windsor completed a perfect postseason by sweeping the Petes 4–0, going 12–0 overall and outscoring opponents 71–25 across all rounds. This victory secured their inaugural and established franchise records for wins, goals scored, and fewest goals allowed in a playoff year. Two decades later, the Spitfires returned to championship form with back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010, forming the core of a mini-dynasty. In 2009, they defeated the 4–1 in the finals, clinching the series with a 2–1 victory in Game 5 on May 8, where scored the game-winning goal at 2:09 of the first extra frame. Hall led the playoffs with 15 goals and 33 points, while the team posted a 16–4 record en route to the title. The following year, Windsor swept the 4–0 in the finals, capping a 16–3 playoff campaign highlighted by a 6–2 win in Game 4 on May 4, 2010. Hall again starred with 18 playoff points, including two goals and an assist in the clincher, as the Spitfires outscored the Colts 20–11 in the series. These consecutive victories were the first for any OHL team since the and demonstrated the roster's depth under head coach . Beyond their championships, the Spitfires have made several deep playoff runs, including a 1980 finals appearance where they fell to the , and a competitive 2021–22 campaign. That season, Windsor captured the Midwest Division title with a 41–16–7 regular-season record before sweeping the 4–0 in the first round and defeating the 4–3 in the conference semifinals to win the Trophy as Western Conference champions. They advanced to the OHL finals but lost 4–3 to the in a hard-fought seven-game series, ending with a 12–7 playoff mark. In 2024–25, the Spitfires won the Bumbacco Trophy as Western Division champions with a 45–17–4–2 regular-season record (96 points), defeating the 4–1 in the first round before falling in the conference semifinals. These efforts reflect the team's resilience in a competitive Western Conference. The Spitfires have qualified for the postseason in 39 of 50 seasons since joining in 1975, reaching the finals five times (1980, 1988, 2009, 2010, 2022) and winning three. This track record positions Windsor among the OHL's more successful franchises in playoff contention, with their provincial triumphs often extending to national opportunities.

Memorial Cup Victories

The Windsor Spitfires have won the three times, in 2009, 2010, and 2017, establishing them as one of the most successful franchises in (CHL) history. The , awarded annually since 1919, crowns the national junior hockey champion through a featuring the champions of the CHL's three major leagues—the (OHL), (WHL), and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)—plus a host team, competing in a round-robin format followed by semifinal and final games. These victories highlight the Spitfires' dominance during a golden era, including the only back-to-back championships since 1993, achieved by the . In 2009, the Spitfires captured their first title at the tournament hosted by the in , , from May 15 to 24. As OHL champions, Windsor entered with a 57-10-0-1 regular-season record and advanced through the round-robin with a 2-1 mark, including a 4-3 overtime win over the host Oceanic and a 2-1 victory against the WHL champion . In the semifinal, the Spitfires defeated the Oceanic 5-3, setting up a rematch with in the final on May 24. Windsor dominated early, scoring on their first three shots to build a 3-0 lead, and held on for a 4-1 victory, with goals from Dale Mitchell, Ryan Ellis, , and Justin Mercier. Forward was named tournament MVP, earning the Memorial Trophy after recording five points (1 goal, 4 assists) in five games, while also being selected to the all-star team. The 2010 tournament, hosted by the Brandon Wheat Kings in Brandon, Manitoba, from May 14 to 23, saw the Spitfires achieve a historic repeat as defending champions. Windsor posted a perfect 3-0 round-robin record, outscoring opponents 20-9, including a 9-3 rout of the host Wheat Kings on opening night—highlighted by three goals from Justin Shalla and two each from Hall and Dale Mitchell—and a 6-2 win over the WHL champion Calgary Hitmen. As the top seed, the Spitfires received a bye to the final after the Wheat Kings upset the Hitmen 5-4 in overtime during the semifinal. On May 23, Windsor shut out Brandon 2-0 behind goaltender Mark Visentin's 25 saves, with goals from Ryan Ellis and Adam Henrique sealing the 2-0 victory and making the Spitfires the eighth team to win consecutive Memorial Cups. Ellis's defensive contributions were pivotal throughout, as he anchored the blue line with plus-11 rating in the round-robin and scored the game's first goal in the final; Hall again earned MVP honors with eight points (four goals, four assists) in four games, becoming the first repeat winner of the Stafford Smythe Trophy. Windsor hosted the 2017 at the from May 19 to 28, marking the franchise's first time as host and culminating in their third national title. Despite a first-round OHL playoff exit—the first for any Memorial Cup winner—the Spitfires went 2-1 in the round-robin, highlighted by a 7-1 thrashing of the WHL champion on May 21, where they tied a tournament record by scoring three goals in 38 seconds. Windsor finished atop the standings on tiebreaker over the and advanced directly to the final after the Otters defeated 5-3 in the semifinal. In the May 28 championship game before a sellout crowd of 6,078, the Spitfires staged a comeback from a 2-0 deficit, with Logan scoring the tying goal at 10:43 of the second period on a point shot through traffic, followed by Aaron Luchuk's game-winner at 5:07 of the third and an empty-netter from Patrick Bates to secure a 4-3 victory. Stanley's goal was his first since January and sparked the rally, underscoring his key role on the back end; the win made Windsor the first host team to claim the since the 2011 and only the second OHL club to win as host since 2005.

Individual Player Awards

Players from the Windsor Spitfires have earned numerous individual awards in the (OHL) and (CHL), recognizing excellence in rookie performance, overall play, and tournament contributions. These honors highlight the franchise's development of top talent during their junior careers. In the OHL, Spitfires players have claimed the Emms Family Award for Rookie of the Year on several occasions, including in 1990–91, in 2007–08 for his 35 goals and 93 points in 66 games, and in 2011–12. The Red Tilson Trophy, awarded to the league's most outstanding player, has gone to in 2010–11 after leading the OHL with 97 points from the blue line, in 2021–22 with 46 goals and 55 assists, and Matthew Maggio in 2022–23 as the league's top scorer with 111 points. The Max Kaminsky Trophy for top defenseman was won by in 2015–16 and in 2010–11, the latter also earning the Mickey Renaud Captain's Trophy that year for leadership. Additional OHL honors include the William Hanley Trophy for most sportsmanlike player, awarded to in 2021–22, and the Mickey Renaud Captain's Trophy to Liam Greentree in 2024–25 for exemplifying great leadership. At the CHL level, Spitfires players have excelled in tournaments, securing the Trophy as tournament MVP. won it in both 2009, with 5 points (1 goal, 4 assists) in 5 games to lead Windsor to the title, and 2010, becoming the first repeat winner since 1989 with nine points in four games. The Ed Chynoweth Trophy for top tournament scorer went to in 2010 with nine points and to in 2017 with 13 points in five games during Windsor's third championship. Spitfires players have also been frequently selected to OHL Teams, with at least 15 honorees on the First Team since 1988, including Chris Tierney in 2013 and recent additions like Liam Greentree on the First Team in 2024–25 after a 119-point season. Protas earned Second Team honors in 2024–25 as a prospect. Coverage of post-2019 awards remains ongoing, with nominees like top prospects in 2024 continuing to emerge.
AwardRecipient(s)YearKey Achievement
Emms Family Award1990–91OHL Rookie of the Year
Emms Family Award2007–0893 points in 66 GP
Emms Family Award2011–12OHL Rookie of the Year
Red Tilson Trophy2010–1197 points, league MVP
Red Tilson Trophy2021–22101 points, league MVP
Red Tilson TrophyMatthew Maggio2022–23111 points, league MVP
Max Kaminsky Trophy2010–11Top OHL defenseman
Max Kaminsky Trophy2015–16Top OHL defenseman
Stafford Smythe Trophy2009 & 2010 MVP (repeat winner)
Ed Chynoweth Trophy20109 points in 4 GP
Ed Chynoweth Trophy201713 points in 5 GP
OHL First All-Star TeamChris Tierney2013Selected as top forward
OHL First All-Star TeamLiam Greentree2024–25119 points

Players

NHL Alumni

The Windsor Spitfires have produced numerous players who have gone on to successful careers in the National Hockey League (NHL), with 47 alumni who have played in the NHL accumulating a combined 19,614 regular-season games as of 2025. These players have contributed to multiple championships and earned individual honors, highlighting the franchise's role in developing elite talent within the (OHL). Among the most prominent alumni is , selected first overall by the in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft after captaining the Spitfires to back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010. Hall has played over 900 NHL games across teams including , , , Buffalo, , and , amassing 747 points and winning the as league MVP in 2018 during his tenure with the Devils. Another standout is , the first overall pick by the in 1994, who enjoyed a 19-year NHL career with 1,128 games and 500 points, including a with the in 2011 (though he did not play in the finals due to injury). Adam Graves, drafted 22nd overall by the in 1986 following two seasons with the Spitfires, became a key contributor to the , winning two s (1990 with the and 1994 with the ), along with an Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 1997, and scoring 33 goals in the 1994 playoffs. Ryan Ellis exemplifies the Spitfires' defensive pipeline, selected 11th overall by the in 2009 after leading Windsor to OHL championships in 2009 and 2010. Over 500 NHL games primarily with and , Ellis recorded 275 points and helped the Predators reach the 2017 Final. Jason Spezza, a second overall pick by the in 2001, played 1,248 NHL games across , , , and , totaling 995 points and serving as a two-time . Other notable contributors include , a sixth overall selection in 1992 who won Stanley Cups with in 2004 and Carolina in 2006, and , ninth overall in 2008, who amassed 580 points in over 1,000 games with the . The Spitfires' draft success underscores their talent development, with 19 first-round NHL selections since 1988, including multiple top-10 picks like Jovanovski (1st, 1994), Hall (1st, 2010), and (9th, 2016 by Montreal). This includes undrafted free agents and international developments, such as Logan Brown (11th overall, 2016 by ) and (11th, 2017 by ), both of whom debuted in the NHL shortly after their junior stints. Recent alumni like , a 23rd overall pick by Dallas in 2021, have quickly emerged as NHL contributors, scoring 20 goals in his rookie season of 2022-23 and helping the reach the 2024 Western Conference Final. These players' junior achievements, such as OHL scoring titles and playoff MVP awards, often foreshadowed their professional success.

Notable Current and Recent Players

In recent seasons, the Windsor Spitfires have featured several standout young players who have contributed significantly to the team's offensive output and leadership. During the 2024–25 OHL season, forward Ilya Protas emerged as a dominant force, leading the team with 50 goals and 124 points in 61 games, earning him a spot on the OHL Second All-Star Team. In the ongoing 2025–26 campaign, defenseman Carson Woodall has taken the scoring lead for the Spitfires with 30 points in 22 games (as of November 2025), positioning him among the top point producers league-wide early in the season. Fellow forward Ethan Belchetz, a highly touted 2026 NHL Draft prospect born in 2008, has been a key contributor in his sophomore year, recording 16 goals and 27 points in 21 games (as of November 2025) while showcasing his speed and playmaking ability. The Spitfires have also bolstered their roster through strategic draft selections, including imports and priority picks. Beksultan Makysh, a forward from selected 114th overall in the 2025 , signed an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement with Windsor and has made an immediate impact in his rookie season, tallying 7 goals and 16 points in 22 games (as of November 2025). His dynamic skill set, highlighted by a two-goal performance in a September 2025 preseason game, has helped solidify the team's forward depth. Leadership has been a hallmark of the Spitfires' recent success, with captains setting the tone both on and off the ice. Matthew Maggio served as team captain during the 2022–23 season, guiding the Spitfires to a West Division title while posting 54 goals and earning OHL MVP honors as an overage forward and prospect. For the 2025–26 season, forward Liam Greentree holds the captaincy, building on his previous year's performance of 119 points and the Mickey Renaud Captain's Trophy award for outstanding leadership. The Spitfires' development pipeline emphasizes OHL Scholarship players poised for transitions to NCAA programs or professional hockey. Similarly, import Makysh's scholarship agreement underscores Windsor's focus on long-term growth for international talents aiming for higher levels. These players draw inspiration from the franchise's storied NHL alumni, fueling their aspirations for pro careers.

Season-by-Season Results

Regular Season Records

The Windsor Spitfires entered the (OHL) for the 1975–76 season, competing in a 66-game schedule typical of the era, with points awarded as 2 for a win and 1 for a tie. Over the decades, the league expanded games to 68 per team, introduced and losses in 2005 (awarding 2 points for wins, 1 for / losses, and 0 for losses), and realigned divisions, moving the Spitfires from the Emms Division (1975–1994) to the West Division starting in 1994–95. These changes influenced performance metrics, with the team achieving notable highs in goal differential during peak years and struggling in expansion-era seasons.
SeasonGPRecordPtsGF–GAFinish
1975–766612–50–428251–4706th Emms
1976–776621–37–850294–3865th Emms
1977–786836–24–880338–2892nd Emms
1978–796832–35–165323–3223rd Emms
1979–806836–31–173323–3441st Emms
1980–816833–33–268322–3372nd Emms
1981–826822–42–448269–3436th Emms
1982–837019–50–139289–3946th Emms
1983–847022–46–246280–3796th Emms
1984–856628–35–359267–3015th Emms
1985–866634–26–674280–2593rd Emms
1986–876636–25–577287–2493rd Emms
1987–886650–14–2102396–2151st Emms
1988–896625–37–454272–3215th Emms
1989–906617–41–842233–3418th Emms
1990–916633–29–470307–2794th Emms
1991–926625–33–858272–3165th Emms
1992–936619–42–543240–3438th Emms
1993–946625–36–555253–2987th Emms
1994–956641–22–385303–2322nd West
1995–966621–41–446256–3124th West
1996–976629–29–866303–2853rd West
1997–986619–39–5–346261–3406th West
1998–996823–33–6–658203–2945th West
1999–006835–30–2–173213–2314th West
2000–016834–22–8–480257–2212nd West
2001–026833–24–6–577253–2293rd West
2002–036837–25–5–180259–2213rd West
2003–046827–30–3–865201–2193rd West
2004–056826–29–6–765223–2533rd West
2005–066832–29–0–3–471247–2533rd West
2006–076818–43–0–2–543209–3115th West
2007–086841–15–0–7–594279–2052nd West
2008–096857–10–0–0–1115311–1711st West
2009–106850–12–0–1–5106331–2031st West
2010–116839–23–0–3–384280–2472nd West
2011–126829–32–0–5–265213–2584th West
2012–136826–33–0–3–661212–2785th West
2013–146837–28–0–3–077249–2352nd West
2014–156824–40–0–2–252223–3055th West
2015–166840–21–0–6–187253–2002nd West
2016–176841–19–0–5–390232–1851st West
2017–186832–30–0–4–270214–2244th West
2018–196825–33–0–5–560216–2575th West
2019–206234–20–0–8–076256–2332nd West
2020–21—No season (COVID-19 cancellation)———
2021–226844–17–0–4–395305–2481st West
2022–236844–18–0–4–294320–2651st West
2023–246818–42–0–5–344247–3605th West
2024–256845–17–4–296309–2231st West
The Spitfires' most successful regular season came in 2008–09, when they recorded 57 wins, 115 points, and the league's best goals-against total of 171, securing first place in the West Division and setting a franchise mark for victories. Conversely, their inaugural 1975–76 campaign marked the lowest point total at 28, with a league-worst 470 goals allowed, finishing last in the Emms Division amid adjustment to major junior competition. The 2020–21 season was canceled due to the , resulting in no games played. As of November 19, 2025, in the ongoing 2025–26 season, the Spitfires hold a partial record of 22 , 15–4–3–0, 33 Pts, with 88 goals for and 59 against, leading the West Division.

Playoff Results

The Windsor Spitfires' playoff performances in the (OHL) have featured periods of dominance, including three titles and three championships, alongside several deep runs and notable upsets. Since joining the OHL in 1975, the team has qualified for the postseason 35 times through the 2024-25 season, showcasing resilience in high-stakes series while experiencing inconsistencies in recent years. Key playoff outcomes are summarized in the following table for championship seasons and select recent appearances:
SeasonRounds ReachedOpponents/Results
1987-88Won OHL ChampionshipDefeated 4–0 (quarterfinals), Hamilton Steelhawks 4–0 (semifinals), 4–0 (finals); finalist (lost 6–7 to in final).
2008-09Won OHL ChampionshipDefeated 4–0 (conference quarterfinals), 4–1 (conference finals), 4–1 (OHL finals, 23–10 goals for/against); champion (defeated 4–1 in final).
2009-10Won OHL ChampionshipDefeated 4–0 (conference quarterfinals), 4–0 (conference semifinals), Mississauga St. Michael's Majors 4–2 (conference finals), 4–0 (OHL finals); champion (defeated 9–1 in final).
2016-17Lost OHL FinalsDefeated 4–0 (conference quarterfinals), 4–1 (conference semifinals), lost to 2–4 (OHL finals); champion as host (defeated 4–3 in final).
2021-22Lost OHL FinalsDefeated 4–2 (conference quarterfinals), 4–1 (conference semifinals), lost to 3–4 (OHL finals).
2024-25Conference QuarterfinalsDefeated 4–1 (division semifinals), lost to 3–4 (conference quarterfinals, including a Game 7 overtime loss).
The 1987-88 season stands out as one of the most dominant playoff runs in OHL history, with the Spitfires going undefeated at 12–0 across three series sweeps, outscoring opponents 62–27 en route to their first league title under coach Tom Webster. This perfect postseason propelled them to the , where they finished as runners-up after a 7–6 loss to the in the final. In contrast, the 2016-17 campaign highlighted the team's ability to rebound from adversity; after dropping the OHL finals in six games to the (a series marked by intense cross-border rivalry), Windsor, as Memorial Cup hosts, stunned the same opponent with a 4–3 victory in the championship game, securing their third national title behind goaltender Michael DiPietro's standout performance. Over their OHL tenure, the Spitfires have reached the conference finals eight times, establishing themselves as a perennial contender in the Western Conference despite fluctuating regular-season finishes. They have played more than 300 postseason games, achieving a win percentage of approximately 45%, with their back-to-back championships in 2009 and 2010 representing the franchise's pinnacle of sustained excellence. The 2025-26 season remains in the early regular-season phase as of November 2025, with yet to begin.

Uniforms and Logos

The Windsor Spitfires' visual identity has evolved since the team's inception in 1975. The original from 1975 to 1980 featured the word "Spitfires" in red script with "Windsor" arched above in blue. This was updated in 1980 to place the script on a white background, lasting until 1990. In 1990, the team adopted a primary depicting a navy blue Spitfire airplane on a red circular background, which remained in use until 2008. In November 2008, the Spitfires unveiled a redesigned primary logo, the first major change since 1990. It features an aggressive, stylized Spitfire fighter plane flying against a backdrop of clouds, set within a red, white, and blue shield. The word "Spitfires" is arched above the shield in red, and "Windsor" is arched below in blue. The redesign preserved the primary colors of red and blue but introduced richer, more vibrant hues, with silver and yellow as secondary accents. This logo has been in use since the 2008–09 season. The team's colors are , , , yellow, silver, light gray, and dark gray. The Spitfires wear home jerseys and away jerseys, both featuring the primary logo on the front. The jerseys include blue and white stripes on the sleeves and waist, with player numbers and names in blue. Special event and alternate jerseys have been introduced for theme nights, such as the 2024 St. Clair College night jersey with green and gold accents. As of the 2024–25 season, the jerseys feature a logo with Subaru Windsor on the shoulders. No major uniform redesigns have occurred since 2008.

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