Windsor Spitfires 2024-25 Season Thread, Part I

[Teflon]

How many players do the Vipers have room for? Was he sent there? Think might get a pretty good number of them in LA.

 

[hockeylegend11]

Hjelholt was sent to the King Rebellion a new franchise in the OJHL,located in King County.
LaSalle will probably have room for dman Michael Lavigne and a couple of others ie Brocklehurst and Stewart.

 

[ohloutsider]

I have my personal opinion on who stays and who is sent to the sidelines but I guess I need to be patient and see who Bowler and the coaches decide.
Depth looks real strong this year. Most of them are the 08 group. Not sure how you work that one out, lol. I wonder if they keep Beltchz up?
Can't wait to see this roll out Wednesday!

 

[hockeylegend11]

May not see any real surprises till the other 3 players still at NHL camps speaking of Greentree, Protas and Spellacy, though we could see Spellacy by next Friday vs Sarnia.
As for Belchetz leading rookie scorer during the exhibition season with 6G,3A in 5 games,needs to pick it up lol,3 shorties,I-PPG,1-PPA included in that mix plus he was a +4.
Roster is down to 28 by my count,which includes 3 at NHL camps and Woodall injured.
Of the other 24 I see Lavigne, Windbiel, Stewart,Brocklehurst as the most vulnerable to be assigned though Winegard could be in that group too.
Don't get me wrong I like Brocklehurst and Windbiel it's about numbers more then anything nice problem to have in a way.

 

[hockeylegend11]

With the Spits exhibition season over,if you has told me Spits would go 5-0 for the session but not only that but lead the league in goals for, 30 in 5,a 6.00 goals for average per game I wouldn't believe it especially when u consider that Windsor did not get a goal from the following, the entire time, Greentree played 2 games had 2 assists,Abraham played 4 games had 5 assists,Spellacy played 1 game had 1 assist, goal,Christoforo and Woodall 2 leading goal scorers from the D, last year had 1 assist each in 2 games played.
To me that's impressive, and oh I forgot,Protas played 1 game had 3 goals,and Davis played 1 game too and scored 1 goal.
Imagine if all hands were on deck.
Belchetz led the team in goal scoring with 6 in 5 GP,Morneau had 6 as well except in 4 games played,Nesbitt had 3G in 4,Martin had 3 in 5,should note Morneau had 8 points in 4 games,rookie Ethan Garden had 5 points in 5 games with 1G,Brocklehurst had 3 assists in 5 games,Lemieux had 2 goals in 4 games and Hicks another 16 year old had 2 assists in 5 games played.
Of the 27 skaters that played excluding goalies only 3 didn't register a point.
Stewart,Morgan and Lavigne were the ones.
Aside the from the torrid scoring Spits allowed 17 goals in the 5 games a 3.40 average but only 8 were at even strength, I will take that any day.
Areas to cleanup would be the PK ,77.7% and the PP at 19.2%.
I feel a full lineup every night will clean that up those.
numbers moving forward hopefully 5 % better in each category.
Now in comparison last year Spits finished 1-4 in exhibition scoring only 16 goals but allowing 25,PP numbers were 18.2 and PK was 68.2
In the 22 pre season Savard's last year Spits were 4-2,scored 32 goals and allowed 22 goals in 6 games,PP was 18.5 and PK was 81.5.
Finally in 2021,Savard's 1st year Spits were 2-4 in exhibition, scored 20 and allowed goals 31,PP was 17.9% and PK was 78.6

 

[thespitslurker]

The Spits did very well this preseason. Players like Abraham, Nesbitt, Morneau and especially Belchetz are making me very excited for this year our offense is gonna be good. The D and goaltending will hopefully be a lot more confident so hopefully that helps them improve. As for final cuts it'll probably be Lavigne, Brocklehurst, Stewart and maybe Lemieux and Hicks. If I had to project lineups it might be something like this (but honestly u could jumble the top 9 because its that stacked):

Davis-Abraham-Greentree
Belchetz-Spellacy-Protas
Nesbitt-Morneau-Outwater
Garden-Martin-Gaymes
Greenwell

Mathurin-Cristoforo
Woodall-Walton
Manzo-Eichler
Winegard

Costanzo-Froggett-Windbiel

 

[OHLTG]

Hjelholt was sent to the King Rebellion a new franchise in the OJHL,located in King County.
LaSalle will probably have room for dman Michael Lavigne and a couple of others ie Brocklehurst and Stewart.

Worth noting: Hjelholt was sent there on Saturday; he's already played in two games for them.

 

[tomschman]

With the Spits exhibition season over,if you has told me Spits would go 5-0 for the session but not only that but lead the league in goals for, 30 in 5,a 6.00 goals for average per game I wouldn't believe it especially when u consider that Windsor did not get a goal from the following, the entire time, Greentree played 2 games had 2 assists,Abraham played 4 games had 5 assists,Spellacy played 1 game had 1 assist, goal,Christoforo and Woodall 2 leading goal scorers from the D, last year had 1 assist each in 2 games played.
To me that's impressive, and oh I forgot,Protas played 1 game had 3 goals,and Davis played 1 game too and scored 1 goal.
Imagine if all hands were on deck.
Belchetz led the team in goal scoring with 6 in 5 GP,Morneau had 6 as well except in 4 games played,Nesbitt had 3G in 4,Martin had 3 in 5,should note Morneau had 8 points in 4 games,rookie Ethan Garden had 5 points in 5 games with 1G,Brocklehurst had 3 assists in 5 games,Lemieux had 2 goals in 4 games and Hicks another 16 year old had 2 assists in 5 games played.
Of the 27 skaters that played excluding goalies only 3 didn't register a point.
Stewart,Morgan and Lavigne were the ones.
Aside the from the torrid scoring Spits allowed 17 goals in the 5 games a 3.40 average but only 8 were at even strength, I will take that any day.
Areas to cleanup would be the PK ,77.7% and the PP at 19.2%.
I feel a full lineup every night will clean that up those.
numbers moving forward hopefully 5 % better in each category.
Now in comparison last year Spits finished 1-4 in exhibition scoring only 16 goals but allowing 25,PP numbers were 18.2 and PK was 68.2
In the 22 pre season Savard's last year Spits were 4-2,scored 32 goals and allowed 22 goals in 6 games,PP was 18.5 and PK was 81.5.
Finally in 2021,Savard's 1st year Spits were 2-4 in exhibition, scored 20 and allowed goals 31,PP was 17.9% and PK was 78.6

Agree with most of what you wrote. The team will be improved when the remaining players return, but their opponents will also have players returning. Also, Flint, Sarnia and Niagara don't appear to be top teams this year.

I anticipate a much better team than last year. I also think the team get better during the season as the younger players mature. The offence will be fine. It is still the Defence and Goal that need to prove themselves. It is going to be a fun season watching the kids mature. There will be some frustration mixed in because or rookie mistakes. I expect a big rookie year from Belchetz. Unfortunately for the Spits and hopefully for him, he could be a 2 and gone.

 

[ohloutsider]

Any word on any returning campers? Still 3 away?

Any chance they keep 4 08's and rotate them in and out of the lineup? Garden and Hicks both showed they deserve a shot.

 

[OHLTG]

I can't say for certain but the Spits' site (team roster) is showing Lavigne, Stewart, and Brocklehurst got reassigned.

 

[OHLTG]

Also worth noting...

Bowler did a sit-down interview today and two things have stood out. First, he took accountability for part of the defensive issues last season. He said (paraphrase) that some guys were put in spots that they weren't ready for and that's on him. Then, he said Froggett and Costanzo are their guys. I'm not sure where this leaves Windbiel but I know the team is very high on him.

 

[Cherrydon]

I don't know Windbiel's options other than sticking as a 3rd and getting his allotment required for 16 yr old goalies until JC delivers or is moved on. The 20 % games played is throughout the season so that could a majority his 13-14/games later in the season.

 

[OHLTG]

Can confirm - Davis is returning today.

 

[tomschman]

Can confirm - Davis is returning today.

Greentree is playing tonight for the Kings. He is getting 4th line minutes.

 

[tomschman]

By my count, that leaves 14 forwards, 8 Defencemen and 3 goalies. This includes 5 2008s. That leaves an additional mandatory cut of an 08. Since 3 forwards are still gone, I don't see Lemieux or Garden being cut. That leaves either Hicks or Windbiel or both. I don't know what they will do with Windbiel if he is cut, but I would assume he would play Midget in Detroit. If Windbiel is cut and they keep Hicks, I would assume Winegard would be cut. I guess we will know by Wednesday.

 

[OHLTG]

Greentree is playing tonight for the Kings. He is getting 4th line minutes.

They play Wednesday, Saturday, and then Monday, before finishing off the preseason schedule. If he's not sent back today, who knows. I wonder if he'll get a regular season game or three?

 

[DetSpitsFan]

Frogget and Costanzo make sense.

Froggett has seemed to prove he deserves a chance, and maybe even a chance to take over the crease.

Goalies take time to develop. How many goalies in the last decade have went from OHL directly to NHL?

Hoping Joey can rebound, not only with a more experienced, slightly better D group.. but also with the addition of a damn good goalie coach. These things take some time, but if it takes too long, I can see Frogget pushing him out.

At the same time, would be weird to cut Joey loose with 2 OHL seasons ahead of him (with 100 OHL games behind him) for a 16 year old, regardless of where the kid was born.

However.. Even after last years performance I couldn’t imagine getting the 4th & 12th we spent on Costanzo would be hard.

Now if Frogget and Costanzo can both perform? We’ve got a shot at an awesome tandem next year or a big chance to move an OA tender for picks in a big year.

I like the options this year way better than last year at the start.

 

[ohloutsider]

Protas and Spellacy both playing NHL preseason games tonight so no chance they will be back for tomorrow's game, maybe for Friday?

 

[ohloutsider]

I don't see Windbeil on the roster? Are the Spits going to have him play somewhere else this year?

 

[Cherrydon]

I don't see Windbeil on the roster? Are the Spits going to have him play somewhere else this year?

Great question. I checked the Chicago Mission and Detroit little caesars and thier rosters are posted without Windbiel on either team as of right now. And both already have 2 goalies listed

 

[Cherrydon]

Wonder if he stays practicing with the team until a decision about Froggett/ JC settles long team?? Always odd circumstances when a 16 yr old US player signs. Rules are nowhere posted. The Vipers have only Bertolin on the roster posted. I did not think that was an option for a US born player??

 

[OHLTG]

I honestly have no idea what they're going to do with Windbiel. I anticipated that he was on the team but would get worked in when they were able to. From what I understand, he's still with the club, so this might be a wait-and-see thing.

 

[Cherrydon]

I honestly have no idea what they're going to do with Windbiel. I anticipated that he was on the team but would get worked in when they were able to. From what I understand, he's still with the club, so this might be a wait-and-see thing.

I agree with thinking he will be worked in for the required starts.

 

[DetSpitsFan]

I see 14 F, 8 D, 2 G listed on the Spits site. Safe to assume this is the roster? Or must there be additional cuts?

I’m not sure on the exact number, especially considering that Greentree, Spellacy, Protas will be gone tomorrow.

 

[tomschman]

I see 14 F, 8 D, 2 G listed on the Spits site. Safe to assume this is the roster? Or must there be additional cuts?

I’m not sure on the exact number, especially considering that Greentree, Spellacy, Protas will be gone tomorrow.

I would make an educated guess that they dress 11F and 7D. Since Belchetz, Lemuix and Garden would be dressed, Hicks woeeuld have to sit out. The only other alternative is calling someone up from LaSalle.