Spitfires think pink and shoot down Greyhounds

By Todd Shearon

The Windsor Spitfires scored five times to take down the Soo Greyhounds at the WFCU Centre.

Windsor Spitfires associate coach Trevor Letowski ran the bench as acting head coach in the absence of Rocky Thompson. Thompson is currently in Sault Ste. Marie coaching Team Canada Red during the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge taking place from Oct. 30 to Nov. 5.

“We had a lot to play for and we wanted to come with a good energy and for the most part we did that, said Letowski. “It wasn’t a perfect game by any means, but the guys feel good about that win.”

Aaron Luchuk, Christiano DiGiancinto, Gabriel Vilardi, Logan Brown and Jeremiah Addison each scored for Windsor to defeat the Greyhounds 5-2.

“We have good depth. I thought our first line carried us tonight, they scored three goals,” said Letowski. “We put DiGiacinto with Brown and Vilardi and I thought they were dangerous all night. In big games against good teams you need that. It was a good hockey game, there were chances traded on both sides.”

Spits goaltender Michael DiPietro earned his sixth win of the season stopping 23 of 25 shots and Sean Day added two assists to the Spitfires offence.

“Everyone played hard tonight from our goalie out. Mikey (DiPietro) was awesome and our power play got us a goal,” said Spitfires defenseman Logan Stanley. “We played a solid team game and shut it down in the third period. (Day) is great on the blue line, he’s got offensive skills and he’s a great skater. Off the ice he’s a great guy and all the boys like him. He’s a great fit right now and he’s only going to keep getting better.”

Windsor’s ninth win of the season came during ‘Pink in the Rink’ where Spitfires players wore special pink jerseys to create breast cancer awareness. Players, coaches and fans also participated by wearing pink ties, skate laces, hats, jerseys and other apparel.

“The (pink jerseys) were awesome. It’s always a special night for breast cancer awareness and it’s unique to get to wear those jerseys,” said Spitfires forward Hayden McCool. “We’ve got guys on the team who have been touched by breast cancer and everyone kind of has in their own way, but it’s a special night for those people.”

The Spitfires sit atop the West Division with a 9-4-0 record (18 points) and host the North Bay Battalion this Saturday at 7:05p.m.