The Windsor Spitfires have once again showcased their dominance by clinching the OHL’s West Division title for the fourth time in five years. Their 5-3 victory over the Sault Ste.
Marie Greyhounds on the final day of the regular season sealed the deal. The Spitfires join the London Knights as the only teams to achieve this feat over the same period.
Spitfires' captain Liam Greentree, who has been a pivotal part of three of these victorious campaigns, reflected on the achievement. “This speaks volumes about our team and coaching staff,” Greentree said.
“Being with Windsor for four years, I truly appreciate what we’ve accomplished. From management to coaches, it’s been an incredible journey.”
The path to the title was anything but smooth for the Spitfires. With several veteran players sidelined for nearly a month, the team embraced the challenge, finishing the regular season with an impressive 8-1-1-1 record, securing 18 out of a possible 22 points.
“We’ve got a resilient squad,” Greentree noted. “Despite the injuries, we’ve pushed through, and I can’t wait for the playoffs.”
The Spitfires are set to face the seventh-seeded Guelph Storm in the Western Conference quarter-finals. The best-of-seven series kicks off Thursday at the WFCU Centre, with Game 2 following on Saturday in Windsor.
“Having home-ice advantage is crucial in the playoffs,” Greentree emphasized. “Every edge counts.”
Sunday’s game was a must-win for both teams. The Spitfires needed just one point to secure the division and the second seed in the Western Conference, while the Greyhounds were fighting for their own playoff positioning.
“We challenged the team to be focused from the start,” said head coach Greg Walters, as his team limited the Greyhounds to just 18 shots. “It was one of our most complete games.”
Key contributions from both veterans and young players have been vital for Windsor. Greentree opened the scoring, and Jack Nesbitt added a power-play goal to give the Spitfires an early 2-0 lead.
“Our top players have stepped up, especially with so many out,” Walters noted. “The younger guys are learning from them every day, and it shows in their development.”
The game turned into a back-and-forth battle with the Greyhounds equalizing twice. However, Nesbitt’s hat-trick performance, all on the power play, including a crucial go-ahead goal, sealed the victory.
“Tearing it up before the playoffs is exactly what I wanted,” said Nesbitt, who has been on a scoring tear with seven goals in his last four games.
Anthony Cristoforo added an empty-netter, capping a four-point night. Greentree also finished strong with four points, tallying 11 goals and 20 points over the last 11 games.
“We faced adversity and came out on top,” Walters said proudly. “I couldn’t be more proud of these guys.”
Game Summary
Sunday Result
Spitfires 5, Greyhounds 3
Scoring Breakdown:
- First Period: Windsor: Greentree (4:40), Nesbitt (10:04, PP) Sault Ste. Marie: J.
Martin (14:42, PP)
- Second Period: Sault Ste.
Marie: Hayes (10:35)
- Windsor: Nesbitt (18:34, PP)
- Third Period: Windsor: Nesbitt (Hat-trick, PP), Cristoforo (EN)
The Spitfires have demonstrated resilience and skill, setting the stage for an exciting playoff run.