[{"id":67629,"date":"2026-07-07T19:04:17","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T19:04:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spitfires\/?p=67629"},"modified":"2026-07-07T19:04:17","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T19:04:17","slug":"thank-you-nick-welsh","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spitfires\/article\/thank-you-nick-welsh","title":{"rendered":"Thank You, Nick Welsh!"},"content":{"rendered":"

WINDSOR, ON.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Windsor Spitfires are proud to announce that Nick Welsh has accepted an exciting new opportunity in professional sports.<\/p>\n

During his time with the Spitfires, Nick played an integral role within the organization’s Media Relations and Communications department. He helped tell the story of the team through game coverage, feature content, social media, and digital communications, while building strong relationships with local and national media. Beyond his communications responsibilities, Nick also led the club’s community outreach initiatives, helping strengthen the connection between the Spitfires and Windsor-Essex through school visits, charitable events, community appearances, and fan engagement programs. His passion, professionalism, and commitment to the organization made a lasting impact both on and off the ice.<\/p>\n

“Nick’s dedication, versatility, and team-first attitude have left a lasting mark on the Windsor Spitfires organization. Whether working behind the scenes in communications, representing the club throughout the community, or contributing on the hockey operations side, Nick approached every opportunity with professionalism and enthusiasm,\u201d commented Director of Business Operations, Steve Horne.<\/em><\/p>\n

This past season, Nick worked simultaneously as the Communications Manager and the role of Video Coach within the Hockey Operations department, embracing a new challenge and quickly becoming an important part of the coaching staff. He played a key role in video preparation, coach’s challenges, and player development while gaining valuable experience during a season that saw the Spitfires advance to the Western Conference Final.<\/p>\n

General Manager Bill Bowler reflected on Nick’s versatility in hockey operations, saying:<\/p>\n

“We are happy for Nick and his new endeavor; Nick was a professional and excelled in his position as our video coach. He immediately gelled with our entire coaching staff, and we look forward to watching his career progress.”<\/p>\n

The Windsor Spitfires thank Nick for his years of hard work and wish him nothing but success as he begins this exciting new chapter.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am very grateful for my time as a Spitfire\u201d Nick Welsh said. \u201cIt has been an honour to serve the community and building meaningful stories that Spitfire fans could enjoy. I would like to thank Steve Horne and Bill Bowler for giving me a chance and helping me grow all those years ago and Greg Walters for giving me the opportunity to coach last year. Once a Spitfire, always a Spitfire.\u201d<\/p>\n

Congratulations, Nick, and all the best!<\/p>\n

-30-<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

WINDSOR, ON. The Windsor Spitfires are proud to announce that Nick Welsh has accepted an exciting new opportunity in professional sports. During his time with the Spitfires, Nick played an integral role within the organization’s Media Relations and Communications department. He helped tell the story of the team through game coverage, feature content, social media,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":40,"featured_media":67630,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"article","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[113],"tags":false,"class_list":["post-67629","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article","category-113","description-off"],"acf":[],"featured_image":["https:\/\/media.chl.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/07\/07185756\/Nick-Welsh-Thank-you.png",1080,1080,false],"hide_from_app_feed":false,"video":false,"gallery":null,"ht_game_id":0,"target_video":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spitfires\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67629","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spitfires\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spitfires\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spitfires\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/40"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spitfires\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=67629"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spitfires\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67629\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":67631,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spitfires\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67629\/revisions\/67631"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spitfires\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/67630"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spitfires\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=67629"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spitfires\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=67629"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spitfires\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=67629"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":67626,"date":"2026-07-07T18:02:05","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T18:02:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spitfires\/?p=67626"},"modified":"2026-07-07T18:02:05","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T18:02:05","slug":"windsor-spitfires-announce-2026-preseason-schedule","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spitfires\/article\/windsor-spitfires-announce-2026-preseason-schedule","title":{"rendered":"Windsor Spitfires Announce 2026 Preseason Schedule"},"content":{"rendered":"

WINDSOR, ON.<\/strong> \u2013 The Windsor Spitfires, in conjunction with the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), have announced their 2026 preseason schedule.<\/p>\n

Continuing an initiative launched two years ago to further engage with the local community, the Spitfires will once again bring preseason hockey to community arenas across Essex County. The club will play four preseason games this year, including two contests at neutral venues.<\/p>\n

The preseason begins on Sunday, August 30th<\/sup><\/strong>, when the Spitfires host the Soo Greyhounds at the WFCU Centre. Puck drop is scheduled for 4:05 p.m.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The teams will meet again on Saturday, September 5<\/strong>, as Windsor travels to Sault Ste. Marie to face the Greyhounds at GFL Memorial Gardens. Game time is 4:00 p.m.<\/strong><\/p>\n

On Friday, September 11<\/strong>, the Firebirds will host the Windsor Spitfires at the Leamington Community Recreation Centre, home of the Leamington Flyers. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The preseason concludes on Saturday, September 12<\/strong>, when the Spitfires host the Firebirds at the Vollmer Complex in LaSalle. Home of the Spitfires affiliate, the LaSalle Vipers. Game time is 7:00 p.m.<\/strong><\/p>\n

2026 Preseason Schedule<\/strong><\/p>\n

Soo @ Windsor – Sunday August 30 4:05 PM – WFCU Centre
\nWindsor @ Soo – Saturday September 5 4:00 PM – GFL Memorial Gardens \u2013 Soo
\nWindsor @ Flint – Friday September 11 7:00 PM – Leamington Community Centre \u2013 Leamington
\nFlint @ Windsor – Saturday September 12 7:00 PM – Vollmer Complex – LaSalle<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

WINDSOR, ON. \u2013 The Windsor Spitfires, in conjunction with the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), have announced their 2026 preseason schedule. Continuing an initiative launched two years ago to further engage with the local community, the Spitfires will once again bring preseason hockey to community arenas across Essex County. The club will play four preseason games…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":40,"featured_media":67627,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"article","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[113],"tags":false,"class_list":["post-67626","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article","category-113","description-off"],"acf":[],"featured_image":["https:\/\/media.chl.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/07\/07172609\/preseason-2026.png",1920,1080,false],"hide_from_app_feed":false,"video":false,"gallery":null,"ht_game_id":0,"target_video":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spitfires\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67626","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spitfires\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spitfires\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spitfires\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/40"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spitfires\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=67626"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spitfires\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67626\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":67628,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spitfires\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67626\/revisions\/67628"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spitfires\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/67627"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spitfires\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=67626"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spitfires\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=67626"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spitfires\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=67626"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":67609,"date":"2026-06-30T16:16:33","date_gmt":"2026-06-30T16:16:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spitfires\/?p=67609"},"modified":"2026-06-30T16:16:33","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T16:16:33","slug":"spitfires-select-russian-forward-bogdan-yakushevsky-in-2026-chl-import-draft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spitfires\/article\/spitfires-select-russian-forward-bogdan-yakushevsky-in-2026-chl-import-draft","title":{"rendered":"Spitfires select Russian forward Bogdan Yakushevsky in 2026 CHL Import Draft"},"content":{"rendered":"

WINDSOR, ON.<\/p>\n

The 2026 Canadian Hockey League Import Draft was held today and the Spitfires made one selection with the 46th<\/sup> overall pick, drafting 2009-born Russian forward Bogdan Yakushevsky.<\/p>\n

Yakushevsky, from Russia, stands at 6\u20190\u2019\u2019 and spent the 2025-26 season with the CSKA Moskova U17 and U18 Teams as well as Krasnaya Armiya Moskva in the MHL. Over the 3 competitions Bogdan played in 63 games and recorded 78 points (36 goals and 42 assists). He is eligible for the 2027 NHL Entry Draft. Bogdan has also suited up for Team Russia, in 2024-25 he played for both the U16 and U17 teams and appeared in 12 games and collected 14 points (5 goals, 9 assists).<\/p>\n

Welcome to the Spitfires, Bogdan!<\/p>\n

-30-<\/p>\n

For media inquiries, please contact:<\/p>\n

Nick Welsh | Manager of Communications, Media, and Community Relations <\/em>|
\nWindsor Spitfires Hockey Club
\n<\/strong>WFCU Centre
\n8787 McHugh St. Windsor ON N8S 0A1
\nW.\u00a0519-254-5000 ext 221
\nEmail: Social@windsorspitfires.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

WINDSOR, ON. The 2026 Canadian Hockey League Import Draft was held today and the Spitfires made one selection with the 46th overall pick, drafting 2009-born Russian forward Bogdan Yakushevsky. Yakushevsky, from Russia, stands at 6\u20190\u2019\u2019 and spent the 2025-26 season with the CSKA Moskova U17 and U18 Teams as well as Krasnaya Armiya Moskva in…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":40,"featured_media":67610,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"article","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[113],"tags":false,"class_list":["post-67609","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article","category-113","description-off"],"acf":[],"featured_image":["https:\/\/media.chl.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/06\/30161217\/CHLImport-PlayerDraft-Text-16x9-1.png",1920,1080,false],"hide_from_app_feed":false,"video":false,"gallery":null,"ht_game_id":0,"target_video":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spitfires\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67609","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spitfires\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spitfires\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spitfires\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/40"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spitfires\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=67609"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spitfires\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67609\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":67611,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spitfires\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67609\/revisions\/67611"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spitfires\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/67610"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spitfires\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=67609"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spitfires\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=67609"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spitfires\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=67609"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":67606,"date":"2026-06-29T19:51:19","date_gmt":"2026-06-29T19:51:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spitfires\/?p=67606"},"modified":"2026-06-29T19:51:19","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T19:51:19","slug":"12-windsor-spitfires-players-invited-to-nhl-development-camps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-spitfires\/article\/12-windsor-spitfires-players-invited-to-nhl-development-camps","title":{"rendered":"12 Windsor Spitfires Players invited to NHL Development Camps"},"content":{"rendered":"

Windsor, ON<\/strong> \u2013 Following the conclusion of the 2026 NHL Draft, 12 members of the Windsor Spitfires’ 2025-26 roster have received invitations to NHL Development Camps.<\/p>\n

Fresh off being selected in the 2026 NHL Draft, Ethan Belchetz (Utah Mammoth), Andrew Robinson (Edmonton Oilers) and Caden Harvey (Edmonton Oilers) will attend development camp with their respective NHL clubs.<\/p>\n

Joining them are six previously drafted Spitfires: Jakub Fibigr (Seattle Kraken), Liam Greentree (New York Rangers), Jack Nesbitt (Philadelphia Flyers), AJ Spellacy (Chicago Blackhawks), Michal Svrcek (Detroit Red Wings) and Nathan Villeneuve (Seattle Kraken).<\/p>\n

Cole Davis, Wyatt Kennedy and Conor Walton also earned free-agent invitations to NHL Development Camps. Davis will attend with the Colorado Avalanche, while Kennedy and Walton will participate in the Vegas Golden Knights’ camp.<\/p>\n

In total, 12 Windsor Spitfires will attend development camps with nine different NHL organizations. The Edmonton Oilers, Seattle Kraken and Vegas Golden Knights each have two Spitfires participating.<\/p>\n

2026 NHL Development Camp Invitees<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chicago Blackhawks<\/strong><\/p>\n