Spitfires help out

By Kenton Wolfe

Their season may have come to a disappointing end, but that didn’t stop the Windsor Spitfires from giving back to the community.

Several members of the team traded their hockey sticks for microphones, giving advice and preaching the values associated with hockey.

Spits forward Brady Vail started an initiative affectionately dubbed “Brady Brady,” in which Vail read children’s books to elementary school students. The books, all featuring a young hockey player named Brady, are based off real stories shared by real-life hockey stars.

“My billet family helped start it,” said Vail. “I really like coming in and reading to the kids. They like to hear the stories and I just hope it helps them learn something about hockey or life.”

Also traveling to local schools were forwards Alex Aleardi and Ty Bilcke. The pair had been giving presentations to entire schools, advocating the importance of education, health and nutrition. Bilcke has been delivering the seminars since breaking his wrist in December, while Aleardi started following his trade to Windsor Jan. 10.

“Working with kids, I really enjoy it,” said Aleardi. “I hope we can keep doing these throughout the year.”

The Spitfires coaches also got in on the community work, as head coach Bob Boughner and the rest of the Spits coaching staff helped out with girl’s minor hockey at the WFCU Centre. Boughner took to the ice along with Spits forward Sam Studnicka and defenseman Adam Bateman, who demonstrated drills for the girls.

“I think it’s important to make time for this,” said Boughner. “We’ve all got busy schedules but you have to help out when you can.”

Though the team missed the playoffs for the first time since 2007, the coaches hoped the players would continue to help out around the community throughout the offseason.
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