Windsor Spitfires' Crease Battle Grows Into Final '24 Preseason Games – Hockey Writers – OHL

With the 2024-25 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) regular season less than a week away, the Windsor Spitfires have a classic crease jam. It will be the focus of their final pre-season weekend and no spots are guaranteed.

Last season, the Spitfires allowed 360 goals in 68 games, the most in the OHL, the entire Canadian Hockey League (CHL), and the most in the organization since they allowed 379 in 70 games in 1983-84. It was a combination of inexperienced defense and sloppy goaltending. Fast forward to now and changes may be coming to the crease. They have three goalies left in camp who may find a spot. It made life difficult for general manager Bill Bowler. Let's take a look at each goalkeeper.

3. Veteran Joey Costanzo

Acquired from the Niagara IceDogs in September, 2022, 19-year-old Joey Costanzo should now be the clear favorite. However, that is not really the case.

In 2022-23, Costanzo, then 17, joined 20-year-old Mathias Onuska as a tandem. In 40 games, he posted a 3.03 goals against average (GAA) and a .901 save percentage (SV%) and everything seemed fine. Unfortunately, the first-time losing club lost in the first round to the eighth-seeded Kitchener Rangers, creating a storm of frustration for the team.

Costanzo entered 2023-24 with high expectations. Unfortunately, he had a very green defense in front of him with four of the seven players totaling less than 15 OHL games played. The result was simply awful – a 5.09 GAA and .855 SV% in 39 games. It was a combination of inexperienced defense and Costanzo having more nights than anyone used to. However, now you have a chance to find redemption.

He enters 2024-25 with something to prove. Everyone knows he is better than his stats showed last season but he has to back that up too. He played just 40 minutes in the season opener, allowing five goals on 26 shots in the final win over the Sarnia Sting on Tuesday, September 17. His defense didn't do him any favors but he may be hungry for more. This weekend will be a good opportunity for him to show that he is not backing down from the starting role.

2. Rookie Carter Froggett

Every once in a while, you find a player in camp who has “deserves a shot” written all over him. This season, that's 18-year-old Carter Froggett.

The Spitfires' 2022 sixth-round pick has had quite the journey. In 2022-23, he did well in camp but the team felt he should play as often as possible. They sent him to the London Knights Under-18 AAA where he made 20 appearances. That followed another strong showing in the 2023-24 Spitfires camp. The position seemed likely but, instead, the team went with Costanzo and Ian Michelone, 19. Fortunately, Froggett joined the London Nationals' Junior B where he had a 2.64 GAA and .914 SV% in games 25. He was also called up to the Spitfires when Costanzo was unable to play and looked out of place.

We look forward to this season and Froggett is determined to prove that he deserves to finally earn a spot. He entered camp at 6-foot-4, 215-pounds, showing he's putting in work from his 6-foot-2, 186-pound draft measurements and isn't looking to go anywhere. In 60 minutes (the most of any Spitfires goaltender), he has a 3.00 GAA and a .875 SV%. He looked independent, confident, and athletic, showing that he not only wanted a place, but deserved a place.

Related: 5 stories to watch from Windsor Spitfires' 2024-25 Training Camp

This last weekend, he's likely to get a lot of snow for that final push. It will not be easy for anyone to convince Bowler that Costanzo can be removed from the starting position but Froggett will do his best. If anyone in the camp deserves it, it's him.

1. Rookie Jake Windbiel

The Spitfires are high on 16-year-old Jake Windbiel. Drafted in the seventh round in April, he is being touted as a respectable, athletic goaltender with an unlimited ceiling. We're getting a little taste of that right now.

Last season, the Elk Grove Village, Illinois native played for the Chicago Mission 15U AAA team. The NCAA was an option but Bowler convinced him that the OHL was the best option for him. Now he's here and he's making a legitimate case for the place.

Windbiel looked comfortable during the May draft weekend and enters this season's camp ready to show he can hang with the older guys. So far, the goal has been achieved. In 50 minutes, he has a 2.38 GAA and a .926 SV%. He uses his big frame to create problems for shooters and his quickness is impressive for a big man. And it makes it difficult for Bowler since 16-year-olds rarely make the roster, even after a strong preseason (see Froggett for example.) It creates a bitter wait jam for the organization.

It should be noted that they have 17-year-old Michael Newlove still on their preseason roster but he has been playing for the Georgetown Raiders (Ontario Junior A).

The Spitfires have two final preseason games remaining. They play the Flint Firebirds Thursday evening at the Vollmer Complex in LaSalle, West of Windsor. On Saturday, they face the Niagara IceDogs at Lakeshore, which is east of Windsor. They are home to the Spitfires' Junior B and C teams, respectively. Their regular season begins on Wednesday, September 25th on the road against the Memorial Cup champion Saginaw Spirit.

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