Spits lose their cool, game in Plymouth

by Rob Benneian

The Windsor Spitfires fought tooth and nail to the final whistle Nov. 21 at Compuware Arena in Plymouth, Mich. against the Whalers with the home side coming out on top by a 3-0 count.

Plymouth was without leading scorer Stefan Noesen, who missed the game with a high ankle sprain. A goal 11:36 into the first period by Washington Capitals 2012 first round pick Tom Wilson was all the Whalers would need on the night.

After Spits forward Michael Clarke was waived from a defensive zone face-off attempt, rookie Josh Ho-Sang came in to take the draw against Whalers centre Ryan Hartman. Ho-Sang was beaten cleanly on the draw and the puck came to Plymouth defenceman Austin Levi. His point shot settled in front of Spits goaltender Jaroslav Pavelka where Wilson was waiting to pounce.

“It was nice to get the game-winner and get it right off the bat,” Wilson said. “It just popped out into the slot, a great shot from the point that got through and a big rebound. I just whacked at it and it went in and it was a nice feeling.”

On the ensuing face-off, Windsor overage forward Derek Schoenmakers dropped the mitts and fought Whalers winger Cody Payne. It was the first tilt in a game that often looked more like a yard sale with the amount of equipment strewn about the ice. Second year Spits forward Jordan Maletta fought with Whalers defenceman Mitch Jones after Gianluca Curcuruto declined his invitation.

Kerby Rychel, Windsor’s top goal scorer, also targeted Curcuruto. He dropped his gloves and started swinging at the Whalers defender who again was not interested in duking it out. Rychel drew a double-minor for roughing on the play, plus a ten minute misconduct. His 14 minutes in penalties kept him out until midway through the third period. Upon his return, he finally found someone to dance with in Plymouth winger Connor Sills. Rychel finished with 19 penalty minutes and was a -3.

“It was a heated game, both sides. I didn’t like a couple of the calls against us, but when you’re down 3-0 you’ve gotta show a little more composure and try to stay out of the box and keep your cool a little bit,” said Spitfires assistant coach Bob Jones. “Frustrations are high but you’ve gotta be able to stay composed, especially from the older guys you count on.”

Windsor’s Patrick Sanvido picked up a match penalty for cross-checking Wilson after the bruising Whalers forward finished a hit up high on the rookie defenceman. Wilson also appeared to be under the skin of Spitfires defenceman Patrick Sieloff. Though Sieloff finished the night with just a single minor penalty, he often engaged in skirmishes with Whalers skaters, who appeared to enjoy riling him up and then skating away.

“There’s a rivalry there,” Wilson said. “I played him at under-17s a couple of years ago, and the way he plays he makes big hits and draws a lot of attention. I was just trying to give him a hard time and protect my teammates.”

The two teams will next square off when they ring in 2013 together with a New Year’s Eve day matinee at the WFCU Centre.