It was a home opener that may have had fans flashing back.

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It was a home opener that may have had fans flashing again.

The Windsor Spitfires hit double figures in offence in a home opener for the primary time since 2007 on Saturday in a 12-2 win over the Kitchener Rangers earlier than a crowd of 5,796 on the WFCU Centre.

Seventeen years in the past, second total decide Taylor Hall made his home debut for the Spitfires with a pair of objectives and fellow rookie Andrew Yogan additionally scoring twice in a 10-3 win over Erie at Windsor Arena that additionally noticed rookie Ryan Ellis taking part in on defence.

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“I remember (that team) well,” stated Spitfires’ head coach Greg Walters, who was an assistant in Sarnia that season.

But on Saturday, this yr’s draft crop shone even brighter. 

“It’s an unbelievable draft and I’m lucky to coach them,” Walters stated.

Ethan Belchetz, who was the primary total decide on this yr’s draft, exploded for 4 objectives, together with a pair of short-hands objectives, and added two assists within the recreation.

“It felt awesome and it’s a confidence builder,” the six-foot-five, 226-pound Belchetz stated. “I had a bunch of family here, so it was good to see.”

He wasn’t the one 2024 draft decide to shine. American Ethan Garden, who the Spitfires bought to spurn NCAA curiosity to signal, bought Windsor’s offence began together with his first OHL objective. Second-round decide J.C. Lemieux had a pair of objectives and has 5 factors in his first three video games. Defenceman Carter Hicks, who was additionally a second-round decide, had two assists and was a plus 4.

“It was just an awesome feeling,” Lemieux stated. “I can’t explain the feelings I’m having. Every rookie is doing everything they can and we’re like a family.”

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There was loads of veteran assist on offence for the Spitfires, who led 5-1 after 20 minutes and 8-2 after two intervals.

Owen Outwater had two objectives and two assists. Noah Morneau completed with a objective and 4 factors. Captain Liam Greentree and first-year ahead Nathan Gaymes additionally added single objectives. Carson Woodall, Anthony Cristoforo and Cole Davis every picked up two assists with 16 gamers choosing up no less than a level whereas goalie Joey Costanzo made 35 saves.

“We don’t want to put expectations on this group,” Walter stated. “We’re just trying to get better every day.

“The veterans, led by the captain, have welcomed these kids and they feel a huge part of our team.”

As the sport wore on, a annoyed Kitchener squad, which bought objectives from Luca Romano and Luke Ellinas, tried to take a extra bodily strategy.

The younger Windsor squad didn’t again down with Belchetz and Lemieux every recording their first OHL struggle with a dozen majors known as within the recreation.

“I didn’t select that,” Belchetz stated of the struggle with 19-year-old Matthew Andonovski. “Guys are going to try and intimidate and take us on, but we’re a pack of wolves and we have each other’s back.”

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While it’s early within the season, the Spitfires have 5 of a doable six factors within the first three video games with three key gamers nonetheless out of the lineup.

“The exhibition (season) was learning how to win with a new voice, new structure and new systems,” Walters stated. “You can see the results and it’s all been a 100 per cent buy in and I’m proud of them.”

Things solely look brighter with huge ahead Ilya Protas returned from NHL camp with Washington on Saturday, however too late to swimsuit up. A.J. Spellacy remains to be in camp with Chicago, however is predicted again together with overage defenceman Tnias Mathurin, who’s sidelined by harm.

“We’re going to surprise some teams,” Belchetz stated. “We’re going to take it game-by-game, but this is just the start. Once we get everyone back and get rolling, we’ll be a good team.”

The Spitfires are again in motion on Thursday towards the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds on the WFCU Centre. Game time is 7:05 p.m.

jpparker@postmedia.com

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Game Summary

Saturday Result

Spitfires 12 Rangers 2

Kitchener 1 1 0 – 2

Windsor 5 3 4 – 12

First interval: 1. Windsor, Garden 1 (Davis, Walton) 3:47, 2. Windsor, Belchetz 1 (Woodall) 10:13 (sh), 3. Windsor, Morneau 2 (Gaymes, Martin) 12:05, 4. Kitchener, Ellinas 2 (Vermeulen) 12:18, 5. Windsor, Belchetz 2 (Hicks) 18:29, 6. Windsor, Outwater 1 (Abraham) 19:59. Penalties: Greentree W (kneeing) 8:34, Gaymes W (excessive sticking) 15:39.

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Second interval: 7. Windsor, Greentree 2 (Belchetz, Cristoforo) 3:49, 8 Windsor, Lemieux 1 (Morneau, Outwater) 5:10,  9. Kitchener, Romano 1 (Reid, Misaljevic) 12:08 (pp), 10. Windsor, Lemieux 2 (Eichler, Davis) 18:43. Penalties: Mercer Ok (roughing), Eichler W (roughing) 6:28, Garden W (holding) 8:34, Bottineau Ok (preventing), Mercer Ok (misconduct), Winegard W (preventing), Martin W (double-minor roughing, misconduct), Gaymes W (misconduct) 11:46, LaBrash Ok (roughing) 15:20, Dirracolo Ok (cross checking) 16:42, Hlacar Ok (instigator preventing, misconduct), Stark Ok (misconduct), Garden W (misconduct), Hicks W (cross checking), Morneau W (preventing) 19:55.

Third interval: 11. Windsor, Belchetz 3 (Outwater, Woodall) 11:56 (pp), 12. Windsor, Outwater 2 (Morneau, Belchetz) 14:36, 13. Windsor, Belchetz 4 (Morneau) 16:46 (sh),  14. Windsor, Gaymes 1 (Hicks) 18:59. Penalties: Andinovski Ok (instigator, preventing, misconduct), Belchetz W (preventing) :24, Arquette Ok (preventing), Vermeulen Ok (preventing, recreation misconduct), Eichler W (preventing), Lemieux W (preventing, recreation misconduct), Winegard W (preventing, recreation misconduct) 4:28, Romano Ok (slashing) 11:15, Elinas Ok (cross checking) 11:56, Davis W (excessive sticking) 15:30. 

Game stats – SOG – Kitchener 12 13 11 – 36 Windsor 11 12 14 – 37 Goal (shots-saves) – Kitchener: Parsons (L,0-2-0-0) (11-6), Schaubel (0:00 of of second interval) (26-19). Windsor: Costanzo (W,2-0-0-0) (36-34). Power play (goals-chances) – Kitchener 1-6. Windsor 1-6. Referees: Ryan Hutchison (20) and Ben Wilson (32). Linesmen: Riley Clipper (65) and Geoff Rutherford (62). Att.: 5,796 on the WFCU Centre.

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