Windsor Spitfires 2023-24 Season Thread (Part One)

[OHLTG]

Windsor getting plenty of praise from the Soo broadcasters.

 

[TheGremlin]

This team still really needs defensive help. If not for strong play of goaltending this would have been an ugly weekend. You can’t expect to give up 85 shots in 2 games and win.

 

[spits]

Windsor getting plenty of praise from the Soo broadcasters.

Credit to the team, definitely play hard, not the players fault, but man that's hard to watch, getting doubled in shots in most games now as they going with basically the trap system. I think it's more on the SOO being a bit overrated than the Spitfires playing good.

Ok so after 15 games, the Spitfires are on pace to win about 16-18 games as it stands. After trading some veterans, will this team even win 15 games? This really sucks for the season ticket holders such as myself. I know season tickets increased a bit this year but good luck keeping them. The squad should not be this bad even after going all in last year. People will be studying what Bowler did last year for years to come as a guide as "what not to do". At least they opportunity is there to bring in some elite talent in the offseason and be a lot better next year.

 

[Teflon]

We need a front office and coach!!

 

[windsor7]

We need a front office and coach!!

For starters..

 

[HockeyPops]

Card already burned on Jodoin. If a player was on an A card last year they can't be on a B card this year.

 

[ohloutsider]

Sell, Sell, Sell!

 

[OHLTG]

I'll start with this - I'm proud of their effort up north. Say what you want about "play through it" or "next man up", but you lose that many regulars and it's going to be a challenge. They didn't quit, they earned the respect of the home side, and there are positives to show for it.

Michelone and Costanzo have done just about everything they can to show they're "back to normal", if you will. I'm still not sold on Michelone as the long-term solution for back-up but he's increasing his value if nothing else.

Lavigne/Hjelholt looked reasonable in limited action. It gets them some OHL time and gives the rest of the D a break when needed.

In both games, they were right there until the last 10 min or so. Frankly, that's better than I expected coming into Saturday. There's still plenty of learning to do at both ends of the rink and they're going to be frustrated coming home. However, the effort was there and they can't hang their heads about that.

Hopefully we get some good news on the injuries this week.

 

[Cherrydon]

Goaltending yesterday and today outstanding. Costanzo and Michelone major stars this weekend. Still too much for our talent level. Early people blamed goalies but that is not the reason. We don't have the offense or defense to hang in. Sell now and sell quickly before our limited trade value players drop further or get injured. Serious issues when Tom's is basically let go and we think he could help save our team. Foolishness at its best. Nothing personal to him, we can't expect him to save the Titanic. Can we even properly judge coaching staff with such a low talent/low will by select underachievers? Really feel like an ice fan this season. Where to start ? Sure team limited and short tried but at the end of the day. Blanks in the points standings. When you have a #1 star goalie and a #2 star goalie back to back games with zero points, the ladder to climb is out of reach as is. The call-ups did well considering the situation. Hats off to their efforts

 

[OHLTG]

Serious issues when Tom's is basically let go and we think he could help save our team.

To be fair, not everyone traded or let go by another club is a bad player. Sometimes, it just doesn't work out.

 

[punch1943]

It will be a long trip home for the SPITS. They. Certainly gave it their best considering they played short handed in both games. They nearly came away with a split. It’s a long season but they proved they could play with the big boys. Next up they play London….a big test for sure but the Knights will expect a tough game from them. Hopefully we get some experienced players back in the lineup shortly.

 

[hockeylegend11]

To be fair, not everyone traded or let go by another club is a bad player. Sometimes, it just doesn't work out.

Agreed perfect examples look at what Christopoulis and Maillet have done here since arriving,calling both steal deals,Costanzo too for a 4th rounder acquired last year.

 

[Fischhaber]

This is rough for Windsor. Rebuilding is one thing, but having all these injuries and going with a defense consisting of mostly rookies is a recipe for very few wins. No Grentree, Dionico, Woodall for a while, yikes.

The team is clearly playing more of a defensive mindset these last five or so games but its basically all defending with the hopes of some odd man rushes to score a few goals. That is not Spitfires hockey, these games have little entertainment value. Again, this team will struggle to win 20 games. Could get a lot better quickly next year but the rest of this season is basically an unwatchable team.

Well to be honest this SOO squad is nothing special at all. Playing a totally depleted Spitfires team with 4 rookie d-men and missing its top 2 scorers and they can barely beat us. The SOO is going to completely deplete their draft cupboard if they want to be a real contender.

Who do you consider the favourite in this division? I had Saginaw going into the year, but the Hounds have double the amount of points so far. I don't think Sarnia or Flint are serious threats, but maybe I'm wrong.

Any division winner is a 'real contender' though.

 

[windsor7]

To be fair, not everyone traded or let go by another club is a bad player. Sometimes, it just doesn't work out.

Especially when out coached..

 

[Cherrydon]

To be fair, not everyone traded or let go by another club is a bad player. Sometimes, it just doesn't work out.

I never suggested he is bad player at all, my point was he was traded to us as a player wanting a new venue. I just said he wasn't going to save the team nor should he be expected to. We need changes even as rebuilding club. The veteran players we started with this year other than Christopoulis are not setting the example the young players need to follow.

 

[windsor7]

I never suggested he is bad player at all, my point was he was traded to us as a player wanting a new venue. I just said he wasn't going to save the team nor should he be expected to. We need changes even as rebuilding club. The veteran players we started with this year other than Christopoulis are not setting the example the young players need to follow.

Starts at the top..

 

[hockeylegend11]

It will be a long trip home for the SPITS. They. Certainly gave it their best considering they played short handed in both games. They nearly came away with a split. It’s a long season but they proved they could play with the big boys. Next up they play London….a big test for sure but the Knights will expect a tough game from them. Hopefully we get some experienced players back in the lineup shortly.

Solid post I do agree with all of what you wrote,no doubt missing 6 players compared to the opposition who had none,makes a difference, 4 last night,then losing Abraham for the night midway thru to make it 5,guys gave it their all,excellent goaltending performances,from both Costanzo and Michelone, Spits are now 3-3-1 in their last 7 games,they were 3-1-1 in the previous 5 before this weekend ,alot better then 1-7 to start the season.
Most metrics have improved since 1-7 start.
What impressed me this past weekend and Thursdays game was that starting with Kitchener Thursday,Kitchener was #1 in the league in goals for,against Windsor scored only 1 5 on5,and then scored 2 on the PP.
Windsor wins that one 4-3 inspite of 3 players missing including Greentree, then this past weekend 2 games against the Soo on the road where they had scored the 2nd most goals in the league, and excluding empty netters (2) today only 6 goals allowed total,5 of them 5 on 5,with today missing 6 regulars I say kudos to the group as a whole,didn't toss in the towel and worked till the end
When the Spits were 1-7 to start the year they averaged only 2.75 goals for per game,while allowing 6.16 against,the last 7 games,going 3-3-1 they averaged 3.86 for and 3.42 against,and that's including 7 against in one of those games but only 17 in the other 6.
With the leagues youngest defense and least experienced I will take it.
Special teams a work in progress, though with Christopoulis missing the 1st 9 contests,and now Greentree, Dionicio and Woodall,toss in Abraham the PP has struggled.
They currently sit 14th on the PP and 17th on the PK.
Last year they finished 3rd on the PP and 14th on the Pk.
So far team has used 28 different players,2G,10D,15F,that's alot this early in the season.
Of that 28,7 are rookie D, 5 are rookie forwards.
As for this coming week I will do that in another post once I hear some clarity of when players will return from injury,suspension,U17,etc.

 

[OHLTG]

I never suggested he is bad player at all, my point was he was traded to us as a player wanting a new venue. I just said he wasn't going to save the team nor should he be expected to. We need changes even as rebuilding club. The veteran players we started with this year other than Christopoulis are not setting the example the young players need to follow.

This - "Serious issues when Tom's is basically let go and we think he could help save our team" - doesn't imply you think he's a good player or even decent player.

Toms isn't going to save this club but he provides the experience that few of our guys have (100+ OHL games) and, thanks to injuries, some valuable depth. I don't expect him to be some major talent but do the little things to help right the ship.

If there was a "yeah, but..." weekend so far, it was this one. They got two points but it might have been their overall best effort and I'm looking at that as "okay, let's keep this going." London is going to be a beast on Thursday and Saginaw is right there with them.

 

[Cherrydon]

Tom's is a 5-7 slot D on most teams. That doesn't mean he's a bad player, he delivers in that role. Just not going to change the deficiencies. Bowler should have dealt Dionicio before the season started and kept Sobolev. A veteran defensive physical defenseman. The picks returning for Dionicio would have been better for a rebuild club considering they will likely deal him anyways. That would given Cristoforo the spotlight to develop as their top offensive D. Just my opinion. Nothing personal. Weekend improvement? The goalies played awesome keeping it respectable or it would have been 2 blowouts. Badly outshot. Good effort with a short bench yes, ran out of steam 45 minutes in. 60 minute hockey has been and still is an issue all year. Still too many passengers. The call ups have been fine.

 

[spits]

Who do you consider the favourite in this division? I had Saginaw going into the year, but the Hounds have double the amount of points so far. I don't think Sarnia or Flint are serious threats, but maybe I'm wrong.

Any division winner is a 'real contender' though.

I think Saginaw and SOO are 50/50 when it comes to the division winner. Saginaw has a lot more assets to trade to improve the roster. My comment was just based on these last two games. The Spits are bad, and I mean bad, could be worse than the 2006 team. I was expecting us to get blown out of the building in these games, especially considering the depleted lineup, but they were surprisingly close games until late in the 3rd period.

I have nothing against the SOO, I would actually rather see them win the division instead of Saginaw. I also think the SOO is a good junior hockey city that was more deserving of hosting the Mem Cup instead of Saginaw. They got it because of Misa and the fact the CHL views it as a good opportunity to grow the game in the U.S. although Saginaw's attendance is subpar.

 

[spits]

Tom's is a 5-7 slot D on most teams. That doesn't mean he's a bad player, he delivers in that role. Just not going to change the deficiencies. Bowler should have dealt Dionicio before the season started and kept Sobolev. A veteran defensive physical defenseman. The picks returning for Dionicio would have been better for a rebuild club considering they will likely deal him anyways. That would given Cristoforo the spotlight to develop as their top offensive D. Just my opinion. Nothing personal. Weekend improvement? The goalies played awesome keeping it respectable or it would have been 2 blowouts. Badly outshot. Good effort with a short bench yes, ran out of steam 45 minutes in. 60 minute hockey has been and still is an issue all year. Still too many passengers. The call ups have been fine.

I see people are happy the players competed but agree with you, there really wasn't any improvement, they simply parked the bus with all five guys back and faced a barrage of shots in both games, had barely any puck possession, and had all kinds of difficulty clearing the puck out of the zone. That's no way to play hockey and develop players.

If I were Bowler I would look to complete the sell off ASAP before more injuries occur. This team for some reason, is always decimated with injuries. We saw it last year and didn't take long for it to be a problem this year.

 

[RayzorIsDull]

We can be happy with the effort but not the results. These can be mutually exclusive. With many players out of the lineup it means there are additional opportunities. Look no further than Colton Smith 4g 1a in 15 games. Only 2 points in his last 10. He's a vet and he should be providing more. Hardly saw him at all in these 3 games.

 

[windsor7]

We can be happy with the effort but not the results. These can be mutually exclusive. With many players out of the lineup it means there are additional opportunities. Look no further than Colton Smith 4g 1a in 15 games. Only 2 points in his last 10. He's a vet and he should be providing more. Hardly saw him at all in these 3 games.

Bowler had any plan at all, Smith would of been traded by now. But guess his phone is broken...

 

[ohloutsider]

We have some high end picks ( by other teams) playing 3rd and 4th line minutes on the worst team in the league.

We have an injury devastated defensive core.

Team seems to have no systems in their own end. Coaching?

Our Oa's are floating around waiting to traded.

1 of our better forwards can't shake the injury bug.

And we are wondering why this team is in last place? Self explanatory I think.

Now there are bright spots. Goaltending seems to be settling in.
The young D core shows promise just needs to gain experience.
The 06 group looks solid. Getting Greentree and Woodall back will help.

The writing is on the wall. They will likely trade themselves into a younger team and we will see lots of growing pains. As a fan I will be patient knowing this team has a bright future, just not this year.

 

[Gouin Street]

Was able to watch both games vs the Soo. Both your goalies were fantastic. Unbelievable saves to keep the Spits in the game. I think both goalies combined for about 80 saves. And they both got a nice round of applause when they were announced game stars each game.