Spitfires weekend recap
Windsor Spitfires defenceman Brandon Devlin (Photo courtesy of the OHL)
by Rob Benneian
Despite scoring first in all three games, the Windsor Spitfires were able to win just once in a weekend road trip across Ontario.
The trip ended Oct. 28 in a 5-2 loss at the hands of the Owen Sound Attack despite Windsor forward Chris Marchese opening the scoring 11 minutes and 28 seconds into the contest. Marchese would score again in the second period but only after the Attack had rattled off four straight goals to take a lead that would prove to be insurmountable. Spits forward Brady Vail assisted on both Marchese goals.
The game, played at Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre in Owen Sound, Ont., featured 11 misconducts and 74 minutes in penalties.
Two days prior, the Spitfires beat the Guelph Storm 6-4 despite being without the services of dynamic rookie forward Josh Ho-Sang. The Windsor coaching staff had decided to make the fifth overall pick in the 2012 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection a healthy scratch for reasons they would not disclose. The Converged Citizen has learned the disciplinary action was not due to Ho-Sang’s on-ice play, or for missing a team meeting or curfew.
Defenceman Brandon Devlin led the way for Windsor in the victory, scoring unassisted 34 seconds into the game. He would later assist on the game-winning goal by Michael Clarke and an empty-netter by Kerby Rychel. Goaltender Jaroslav Pavelka made 31 saves for the win.
In the first game of the set, the Spitfires lost to the Sarnia Sting on the strength of two goals and an assist by Alexander Galchenyuk. The third overall pick of the Montreal Canadiens in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft snapped a 2-2 tie with just under five minutes to go in the second period. Galchenyuk was awarded a penalty shot after he was taken down by Spitfires defenceman Patrick Sieloff, and the American-born forward beat Pavelka for the game-winner.
The Spitfires return home to play host to the London Knights Nov. 1.
The game will be London’s first visit to the WFCU Centre since sweeping the Spitfires from the playoffs in April.
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