5 Stories to Watch from Windsor Spitfires' 2024-25 Training Camp – Hockey Writers – OHL

Summer is unofficially over but for a very good reason. On Thursday, the Windsor Spitfires hit the ice to begin their 2024-25 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) training camp. After a busy season, there are a few stories worth watching.

It's been a long, tumultuous summer for the organization. After finishing second in the league last season (following the first consecutive seed in the Western Conference), they had the first pick in April's OHL Draft, the third pick in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) Import Draft in July, signed multiple draft picks, and hired Greg Walters as coach their new. They also hosted the Canadian National Juniors for a few days at the end of July. Now, the team heads into training camp looking to build summer momentum. However, there is still a lot of news to follow before the season begins.

5. Development of the 2023 Draft Class

The Spitfires' 2022 Draft class, led by captain Liam Greentree, proved to be the best. However, their class of 2023 has work to do and must show that they can have a long-term impact on the club.

After a run to the OHL Championship in 2022, general manager Bill Bowler went all in at the January 2023 trade deadline to try again. Unfortunately, it gave up part of the future. In the case of forwards Shane Wright and Brett Harrison, as well as defenseman Jacob Holmes, the club traded multiple picks in the second, third, and fourth rounds of the 2023 OHL Draft. It left the Spitfires with a first-round pick, but nothing until the fifth round.

Their first-round pick, forward Jack Nesbitt, made the roster last season. He finished with nine goals and 18 points in 58 games, including 10 points in his last 15 games. He will be counted on to take that next step and work in a bigger role.

Unfortunately, he's the only one who makes an impact from the frame. Their fifth round pick, Adrian Manzo, spent most of the season with the LaSalle Vipers Junior B team. The offensive defenseman saw action in five OHL games when the Spitfires were injured or suspended and performed well. Their sixth round pick, Michael Lavigne, was in the same position with 44 games for the Vipers and three in the OHL.

No one else from the draft class saw OHL action last season. The Spitfires need Nesbitt to step up early, they need Manzo and Lavigne to push hard for a roster spot, and having a fourth game that shows they can compete in the league would be a huge bonus. Having only one player on the roster this season would be a tough pill for the club to swallow.

4. The War of Creation Time

If the Spitfires' crease looks a little brighter in camp, that's because there's a lot of light in it.

Last season, veteran goalkeeper Joey Costanzo, then 18 years old, was expected to control the crease and run with it. After a 3.03 goals against average (GAA) and a .901 save percentage (SV%) in 2022-23, all eyes are on the youngster to continue that development. Instead, with a shaky, inexperienced defense in front of him, his numbers dropped in 2023-24 to a 5.09 GAA and .855 SV%. Although they had solid performances, they weren't as extraordinary as everyone expected.

Costanzo now heads into camp as a 19-year-old and it may be up to him to decide the future. Spitfires 2022 sixth round pick Carter Froggett is ready to make the jump after posting a 2.64 GAA and .914 SV% with the London Nationals Jr. club. B last season. He saw something last season when Costanzo was out and seemed to be going nowhere. They also recently signed 2024 seventh-round pick Jake Windbiel, who is considered one of the top picks in the draft.

In total, there will be seven goalkeepers trying to prove that they belong in the team this season. While the starting role should be Costanzo's to lose, this is a fight that could come down to the wire.

3. How Fast Can Ethan Belchetz Adjust to the OHL?

One of the silver linings for the Spitfires who finished second in the OHL last season was the ability to win the top pick in April's draft. Bowler had no hesitation in selecting the OHL's Most Valuable Player, 6-foot-5, 230-pound forward Ethan Belchetz out of the Oakville Rangers. With 46 goals and 84 points in just 34 games, he is a man among boys. The question is – how quickly can he adapt to the OHL level?

While most rookies, even first-round picks, are brought in slowly, it wouldn't be surprising if Belchetz was given every opportunity to move up the line very quickly. Since arriving at the WFCU Center in Windsor, he has seen himself as a mature young man determined to pick up all the knowledge and advice the organization can offer him. That will benefit him, not only in the short term, but in the long run.

Related: Windsor Spitfires name Ethan Belchetz Top Pick in 2024 OHL Draft

No one expects him to score a hat trick in every preseason game or 40 goals in a season. However, fine tuning the league and gradual improvement would be a big win for the Spitfires and him.

2. Is Mathurin Enough to Transform the Defense?

Let's be clear – the Spitfires defense last season wasn't bad. They gave up double-digit goals four times and allowed 360 goals in 68 games, their most since they allowed 379 in 70 games in 1983-84. Part of that was in the training programs; they broke into the goal and couldn't find a way to stop the attack. However, the other part was a significant lack of experience before the season.

After having a team full of veterans in 2022-23, Bowler traded away several leaders in hopes of re-election along with youth. The result was a team that had two returning veterans – 17-year-old Anthony Cristoforo and 20-year-old James Jodoin – while others had a cup of coffee at the OHL level. Jodoin was quickly released due to numbers and, while the team tried to add veterans as the season progressed, they weren't enough.

Last season was a trial by fire from Bowler but, earlier this month, he went out and acquired 20-year-old Tnias Mathurin from the North Bay Battalion for selection. The former Detroit Red Wings player has a sharp offense but prides himself on his defense and shutting down other teams' top lines. It was just what the Spitfires needed. However, is that enough?

The club enters camp hoping that the defense is older and wiser, but also that Mathurin can be the big help they need. If it's a single-player fix, combined with new structure and behavior, that's important. However, if more is needed, the bowler can't wait to make changes.

1. Can Greg Walters Reset The Club?

Coaching the Spitfires last season can be described in one word – “chaos.” When head coach Marc Savard left for the Calgary Flames in June 2023, longtime teammate Jerrod Smith was promoted to head coach. Unfortunately, after just four wins in 21 games, he was let go, forcing assistant coach Andy Delmore and goalkeeping coach Michael Leighton to resign. As a result, new assistant coach Casey Torres took over as interim coach and Bowler jumped behind the bench to assist him. The club brought in former OHLer Kris Newbury over Christmas as an assistant while Bowler returned to his duties.

In the second half, Bowler talked about getting a head coach, whether it was Torres or someone else. Enter Walters; the longtime OHL coach was behind the bench for the Owen Sound Attack before he was fired in October after a verbal altercation with an employee. In December, the league suspended him until June 30. After reinstatement goals were met, he returned and the Spitfires brought him back.

When he arrived, Walters apologized for the incident and took full responsibility. He emphasized that he wants his team to have a tight-knit, hard-working culture that everyone can be proud of. He joins Torres and Newbury behind the bench as camp continues. However, can he reset the club? They need structure, discipline, and someone who can focus on defense while maintaining offensive brilliance. Is Walters a career guy? How will you work with Torres and Newbury?

This season is important for the Spitfires. After finishing first in the conference in two consecutive seasons, moving up to second place in the league was an eye-opener. Now it's time to rock it and prove it was a speed bump. That starts with camp, which begins Thursday at the WFCU Center.