Windsor Spitfires win fourth West Division title in past five seasons

Philadelphia Flyers prospect Jack Nesbitt scored a hat-trick, powering the Windsor Spitfires to their second-straight West Division title in a 5-3 road win over the Soo Greyhounds on the final day of the 2025-26 regular season.

Liam Greentree and Anthony Cristoforo each posted a goal and three assists as the Spitfires pushed ahead of the Flint Firebirds, finishing the season with a record of 44-15-6-3 for 97 points, marking their fourth Bumbacco Trophy as West Division champions in the past five seasons. It marks the sixth time the Spitfires have won the West Division since its inception in 1994-95, with other titles in 2009 and 2010.

The Spits were solid down the stretch, ending the season collecting points in 10 of their final 11 games. Overage goaltender Joey Costanzo made 15 saves in Sunday’s win to end his OHL regular season career among the winningest goaltenders in league history with 107 victories.

In their four most recent years as West Division champions, the Spits won a Western Conference title in 2022, losing the OHL Championship Series in seven games to the Hamilton Bulldogs. They suffered a disappointing first round exit in 2023, and were ousted in the second round of last spring’s playoffs, seeing a 3-0 series lead evaporate against the Kitchener Rangers.

The Spits set their sights on bigger things this spring, elevating their game in the absence of injured 2026 NHL Draft prospect Ethan Belchetz while Seattle Kraken prospect Nathan Villeneuve hasn’t seen action since Mar. 8th. It’ll be all hands on deck starting Thursday, Mar. 26th when the Spits host the Guelph Storm in Game 1 of their first round playoff series.

The Bumbacco Trophy is named after Angelo Bumbacco, one of the founders of the Soo Greyhounds franchise who was known as ‘Mr. Hockey’ in Sault Ste. Marie prior to his passing in October 2020.