Five Questions: Windsor Spitfires
It’s a new day in Windsor as a season with tremendous promise came to an abrupt end in the first round last spring.
The Spitfires, who were Western Conference champions in 2022 and come off a second straight West Division title, are picking up the pieces under a new head coach entering 2023-24.
Windsor developed consecutive Red Tilson Trophy recipients with rising NHL star Wyatt Johnston of the Dallas Stars taking home the hardware in 2021-22 before top scorer Matthew Maggio claimed the honour last season. While the Spits may be hard-pressed to three-peat in that department, the group of players returning for 2023-24 should give fans plenty of reason for optimism as NHL scouts will frequent the WFCU Centre to get a glimpse of draft eligibles Liam Greentree, Anthony Cristoforo and AJ Spellacy.
The Spits will look to take advantage of a home-heavy start to the season, playing six of their first seven contests at the WFCU Centre.
Five Questions looks at the Windsor Spitfires, a team whose playoff push didn’t go as planned last spring, but still boasts a solid core returning to the lineup for 2023-24.
1. How much changes under Jerrod Smith?
Jerrod Smith is now one of the longest-serving coaches in the OHL, a guy who, after 12 seasons, got the promotion to lead man on the bench in Windsor. After steering the Spitfires to back-to-back West Division titles, Marc Savard is off to Calgary, taking an assistant coaching job with the Flames, leaving Smith with the opportunity to step in and put his mark on the team. It will be interesting to see how much systems and approaches changes under the new head coach, one who has worked alongside some knowledgeable minds in Savard, Bob Boughner, Rocky Thompson and Trevor Letowski among others.
“At the end of the day, the right choice was right here in the building.”
Hard work and dedication pays off for Jerrod Smith, named head coach of @SpitsHockey entering his 13th season with the franchise.
READ 🗞️: https://t.co/Z3D9EhKjZK pic.twitter.com/VexWlfeVOW
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) July 27, 2023
2. Do the Spits have the strongest overage trio in the league?
There’s a lot to like about the fleet-footed Oliver Peer, the underrated Jacob Maillet and returning 49-goal scorer Alex Christopoulos, who give the Spits a terrific trio of overage players. Currently unsigned by the Montreal Canadiens, hard-hitting 2003-born Russian blueliner Daniil Sobolev will be looking for a place to play as well, and it remains to be seen what his immediate plans are moving into the new campaign. As we’ve seen so many times before, veterans can take a team a long way in the OHL, especially ones who have been to the height of a Western Conference title and the low of a disappointing first round sweep. The Spits definitely won’t lack leadership as they’ll also boast a strong crop of 2004-born players that includes power winger Colton Smith and shutdown defender Nicholas DeAngelis in the mix.
Alex Christopoulos has a nose for the net!@SpitsHockey veteran potted his third hat trick of the season on Friday to secure a second-straight West Division title, ending the night one goal shy of 50 on the campaign 🎥 pic.twitter.com/iBEeBGS6GV
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) March 25, 2023
3. How big of a boost is a full season of Ryan Abraham?
At just 5-foot-8, he was a huge presence in Windsor’s 2022 playoff run to Game 7 of the OHL Championship Series, and they missed him dearly when he went down with a season-ending wrist injury on Feb. 24th. A former first round pick by Windsor in 2020, Ryan Abraham is an intense competitor, and he was an offensive force when healthy in 2022-23, recording 35 points (9-26–35) in 29 games. The Spits are hopeful the Livonia, Mich. native can be a regular contributor and help fill the hole left by graduating Red Tilson Trophy recipient Matthew Maggio (New York Islanders).
Rookie Ryan Abraham strikes on a late first period power play to draw @SpitsHockey even with Flint after 20 minutes in Game 1.
Watch #WSRvsFLNT 🖥️📱: https://t.co/CVYMuJcmcr pic.twitter.com/TvzEQca6XU
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) May 21, 2022
4. How much are the Spits relying on NHL Draft prospects Cristoforo, Greentree and Spellacy?
I think it’s fair to say they’ll each be taking on considerably more responsibility coming back for their second seasons. The Spits will presumably lose Shane Wright (Seattle Kraken) along with the aforementioned Maggio, Boston Bruins prospect Brett Harrison and departing blueliners Michael Renwick (Queen’s University) and Jacob Holmes (Kingston Frontenacs). Anthony Cristoforo made a strong first impression, being voted to the OHL’s second all-rookie team with 41 points (6-35–41) across 63 games. Liam Greentree‘s 25 goals led all OHL rookies as he joined Will Cuylle as the second Spits rookie to eclipse the 20-goal mark in the past decade. Cristoforo and Greentree are both representing Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup while AJ Spellacy, who battled an injury in the second half of 2022-23, is suiting up for the United States.
What a season from GREENER! 🥅
Liam Greentree led all rookies with 25 goals during the 2022-23 regular season! Way to go Liam! #WindsorSpitfires #WhateverItTakes pic.twitter.com/VNVFO3b9x5
— Windsor Spitfires (@SpitsHockey) March 28, 2023
5. Have we seen the best of Dionicio?
Spitfires GM Bill Bowler swung a deal with the Niagara IceDogs last year that not only addressed his club’s immediate needs, but looked after 2023-24 as well. Forward Aidan Castle and blueliner Rodwin Dionicio joined the Windsor lineup and both are slated to return for 2023-24. Dionicio played so well that he was scooped up in his second year of NHL Draft eligibility, going in the fifth round to the Anaheim Ducks after recording 50 points (15-35–50) in as many games. The 6-foot-2, 203Ib. blueliner also represented Switzerland at the World Juniors and enjoyed a monster second half to the season, putting up 43 points (11-32–43) in 33 games with Windsor. Dionicio is a defenceman to keep an eye on moving into 2023-24 as he projects to be one of the league’s top blueliners.
Born in Newark, New Jersey to parents from the Dominican Republic and raised in Switzerland. Learn the interesting story of our fifth round pick, Rodwin Dionicio. https://t.co/E8IMMyKoUU
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) June 29, 2023
Five Questions is put together by Josh Sweetland (@joshsweetland). Follow along throughout the summer for an offseason look at all 20 OHL clubs.
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