WIndsor Spitfires: A First Half Review

Special Thanks to Matt Dumouchelle

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With the Windsor Spitfires just past the halfway point in their schedule and with Christmas break just wrapping up, it gives us some time to see what has happened in the first 37 games.

MVP: Alexander Khokhlachev. The steadiest offensive player on the team, Khoklachev has produced 17 goals and 47 points in 35 games this season. His -6 rating is concerning, but this team has given up the fifth most goals of any team in the OHL.

Most Underrated Player: It has been a fairly quiet December for Brady Vail, but there’s no question his contributions this year have been impressive. Vail has put up 27 points in 37 games this year, having totaled 10 in 61 games last year. He’s also being used in a much more defensive-minded role – against team’s top lines and on the PK – and he has adjusted well.

Biggest Disappointment: Ben Johnson. He has heated up as of late, but did not score his first OHL goal until November 13^th. The Spitfires were very high on Johnson, who scored 77 points in 30 games with Calumet High School in Michigan and was just the second Junior to ever be picked as Mr. Hockey (the top Michigan High School hockey player), but has had a hard time adjusting to the OHL game. If you remove a flashy 6 game spread in November, Johnson has just 2 goals and 5 assists in 31 games.

Biggest Surprise: Coming into this season, Kerby Rychel had scored 7 OHL goals in 62 regular season games, this year he’s got 21 markers after only 37 contests. Rychel, who is on pace for a 75 point season, has been the most reliable offensive weapon Windsor has had outside of Khoklachev.

Players on the Block: I can’t say everyone, but close to it. Players like Chris Marchese, Brandon Devlin and Jaroslav Pavelka were acquired by GM Warren Rychel to be pieces for the future so they can be expected to stay put. If someone came calling for a veteran goaltender, John Cullen is available (but has not helped his own cause this year). Adrian Robertson would make a very interesting trade piece before the January 10^th trade deadline.

Key Game Coming Up: January 22 vs Jack Campbell and the Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds. Campbell did not play in the November 13^th meeting, an 8-0 Windsor win.

Who’s Hot/Who’s Not: It has only been a quick glimpse, but Chris Marchese seems to be adjusting to his new surroundings quite well, with 5 points in his first two games as a Spitfire. Rookie Michael Clarke has only scored 3 goals since October 16^th, after scoring 8 in his first 11 OHL games.

2^nd Half Outlook: It’s the worst kept secret in the league that Windsor is looking forward to 2014, when the Memorial Cup returns to the OHL and the Spitfires will place their bid to host the tournament at the WFCU Centre. This team is rebuilding and it would be hard to see them get into the top 4 in the Western Conference this year. They will make the postseason, but more eyes are watching the calendar flip than eyeing a playoff run in 2012.

Spitfire Connections in Niagara

The Windsor Spitfires spent the week-end in Niagara and despite a valiant Spitfire effort in the last few minutes of the Saturday evening game the Ice Dogs were able to hang on for a 4-3 victory. For a complete over view of the game check out the Niagara Ice Dog site http://www.niagaraicedogs.net/article/icedogs-extinguish-spitfires-comeback

There are lots of Niagara connections to the young Spitfire team.

Tom Kuhnhackl was recently acquired from Windsor by the Ice Dogs on November 2nd. Unfortunately, on November 4^th Kuhnhackl was suspended for 20 games (a third of the season) for a hit on Kitchener Rangers defenceman Ryan Murphy.

John Cullen, the Spitfire’s goalie who had to sit out Saturday’s game due to a violent virus (read throwing up all over) interpreted his ex-teammate’s consequence as OHL Commissioner David Branch having “set the bar high” and wanting to make the league safe for the young players. Throughout the OHL there is much conversation (controversy) regarding the heavy suspension imposed versus the need to keep young hockey players safe from dangerous head shots.

With the bar set so high we are all in anticipation of what the possible consequence could/should be for London Knight Ryan Rupert who two-handed Sault Ste Marie’s Nick Cousins on Friday night. If Kuhnhackl got 20 what does Rupert get? Make your own opinion after watching:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cbsiHPxZfY

John Cullen made his OHL debut in 2008 with the Niagara Ice Dogs the same season as current Ice Dog goaltender Mark Visentin. While Cullen self-deprecatingly refers to himself as a “suitcase” to describe his circuitous time in the OHL, (Niagara, Kingston, Sarnia and now Windsor) with the momentous trade of Windsor’s (and Team USA star) Jack Campbell to the Soo, Cullen is now the starting goalie for the Spitfires. Because of Cullen’s aforementioned illness, Pavelka the backup goalie made the start Saturday evening against the Ice Dogs.

Jaroslav Pavelka, acquired in a trade from the Ice Dogs for Tom Kuhnackl, put on a great show Saturday night fending off a Niagara strong offense. Jaroslav Pavelka, was selected by the Ice Dogs 52^nd in the 2011 CHL Import draft. There was some trepidation prior to Saturday’s game that the Ice Dogs would look foolish if Pavelka was able to steal a game away from the Dogs. (a fear which was certainly a possibility)

Jordan Malletta, a native of Port Dalhousie (that’s the best part of St. Catharines) returned to Niagara to play in front of over 50 friends and family as part of the “Malletta” section. While he says the OHL is “a faster game…more competitive…a lot of fun.” Malletta has been afforded lots of ice time for a rookie which means lots of learning. The Jack Campbell trade was high profile but Malletta believes “other than Jack (the Spitfires) still has the same team and will battle hard and will still have a chance to win.” Windsor’s week-end sojourn in Niagara meant Malletta got to sleep in his own bed and enjoy his mother’s home cooking for one night.

Bones, the official Niagara Ice Dog mascot, was out on the town Friday evening and discovered the Spitfire team. He then pretended the bus was a large Ice Dog fire hydrant and created an entertaining video for the Ice Dog fans between plays Saturday night.