The Windsor Spitfires could easily have stayed down on the canvas.

Breadcrumb Trail Links

SportsHockeyWindsor SpitfiresLocal Sports

Article content

The Windsor Spitfires could easily have stayed down on the canvas.

Article content

Article content

Coming off a 3-2 shootout loss to the Kitchener Rangers on Saturday, the Spitfires were down three goals less than 16 minutes into Sunday’s game.

“When we went down three goals, we were all kind of down a little bit,” Spitfires’ forward Jack Nesbitt said.

Instead, the Spitfires answered the challenge with five-unanswered goals that eventually produced a 7-4 win over the defending Memorial Cup champion Saginaw Spirit before a crowd of 4,582 at the WFCU Centre.

Article content

“It always fun to play these kinds of games where we’re battling back and we get tested and it’s huge for us to get that win,” said Spitfires’ captain Liam Greentree, who saw his team stretch its lead over second-place Saginaw to 12 points in the West Division. “Again, I’m excited to see what we can do the rest of the year.”

James Guo, Zayne Parekh and Jacob Cloutier had the Spirit up 3-0 just over 15 minutes into the opening period.

“We have no clue why we have those starts,” Nesbitt said. “We’re glad that we can pick it up in the second and third to get the win, but we have to work on that for sure.”

Nesbitt got the Windsor comeback rolling with a goal that sent 3,954 stuffed animals hurtling to the ice from the stands on the team’s annual Teddy Bear toss game to benefit Sparky’s Toy Drive.

“All of us were wanting to get that goal,” Nesbitt said. “For me to get it, it was pretty special watching those teddy bears fly. Back when I was younger, I was the one throwing the teddy bears, so it’s pretty cool being on the other side.”

Ilya Protas with a pair of goals, including his second with 16 seconds left in the second period, along with singles from A.J. Spellacy and rookie Ethan Belchetz had the Spitfires boasting a 5-3 lead after 40 minutes.

Ryan “Pucks” Pyette on the OHL

OHL news and expert analysis from Postmedia reporters across the province.

By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.

Article content

Article content

“So proud of them,” Spitfires’ head coach Greg Walters said. Their compete level, the never-say-die attitude keeps happening.

“(Giving up) never happens with this team. They’re calm on the bench and know they can come back. We’ve done it a few times. The characters is so strong in that room and they believe in themselves.”

Parekh’s second of the game made it a one-goal game just 89 seconds into the third period.

“After they put that in, we weren’t too worried,” said Nesbitt, who had a goal and three points.

After blocking a shot on a Windsor penalty kill and being knocked to the ice, Greentree got back up and took a feed from Protas, who had four points, before skating in alone and scoring a short-handed goal for a 7-4 Windsor lead. Spellacy’s second of the game, into an empty Saginaw net, secured Windsor’s third win in four meetings with the Spirit this season.

“I think we have a completely different culture than last year and I’m super proud of the guys with what we’ve been able to accomplish,” said Greentree, who had a goal and two assists. “It shows we’ve taken bigger steps. It was a big win for us.”

Article content

The Spitfires are now off until Thursday when the club will face the Erie Otters at the WFCU Centre. Game time is 7:05 p.m. 

jpparker@postmedia.com

twitter.com/winstarparker

Game Summary

Sunday Result

Spitfires 7 Spirit 4

Saginaw 3 0 1 – 4

Windsor 1 4 2 – 7

First period: 1. Saginaw, Guo 3 (Epperson, Misa) 1:51, 2. Saginaw, Parekh 9 (Mía, Sima) 13:49, 3. Saginaw, Cloutier 6 (Mangone) 15:21, 4. Windsor, Nesbitt 12 (Spellacy, Mathurin) 16:51.Penalties: None.

Second period: 5. Windsor, Spellacy 7 (Woodall, Costanzo) 4:43 (pp), 6. Windsor, Protas 18 (Greentree, Cristoforo) 13:39 (pp), 7. Windsor, Belchetz 9 (Nesbitt) 17:47, 8. Windsor, Protas 19 (Nesbitt, Greentree) 19:44 (pp). Penalties: Hay S (slashing) 3:25, Willis S (slashing) 6:21, Gaymes W (roughing) 8:56, Bishop S (roughing) 13:22, Mangone S (fighting), Abraham W (fighting) 16:13, Forgione S (high sticking) 19:35.

Third period: 9. Saginaw, Parekh 10 (Mía, Epperson) 1:29, 10. Windsor, Greentree 18 (Protas, Mathurin) 12:47 (sh), 11. Windsor, Spellacy 8 (Protas, Morneau) 18:48 (en). Penalties: Davis W (cross checking) 2:09, Misa S (double minor roughing), Spellacy W (roughing) 2:38, Mangone S (too many men) 3:35, Cristoforo W (delay of game) 11:53. 

Game stats – SOG – Saginaw 12 9 11 – 32 Windsor 7 12 13 – 32 Goal (shots-saves) – Saginaw: Oke (L,13-11-1-0) (31-25). Windsor: Costanzo (W,17-4-1-1) (32-28). Power play (goals-chances) – Saginaw 0-3. Windsor 3-6. Referees: Blake Beer and Mac Nichol. Linesmen: Devon Gale and Geoff Rutherford. Att.: 4,582 at the WFCU Centre.

Article content

Share this article in your social network