Spits overcoming injuries

by Mitchell Brandner

Sometimes opportunities arise from the most unlikely situations.

The Windsor Spitfires were busy at the trade deadline this season. Two of their higher profile moves included trading captain Saverio Posa to the Guelph Storm and acquiring defenceman, and first round NHL draft pick, Slater Koekkoek from the Peterborough Petes.

After two games the unthinkable happened.

Slater Koekkoek required season-ending shoulder surgery, leaving a hole in the Spitfires’ backend.

“It’s a big loss,” said general manager Warren Rychel. “I think we’d be a real good team with him, it obviously hurts our chances of doing some real damage.”

The Spits were supposed to take a step back without a number one defenceman. They were supposed to struggle. Apparently nobody told them that.

Windsor rattled off four straight wins after losing Koekkoek before the streak came to a halt Jan. 24. Everybody has stepped up in the absence of Koekkoek, most notably two of the younger players.

Adam Bateman and rookie Patrick Sanvido are two players who have seen an increase in their responsibilities.

“With (Posa and Koekkoek) gone we don’t have that one defenceman that is going to be out there most of the time,” said Sanvido. “Some of us have to step up and raise our game a bit. It affects the whole defence core.”

Bateman is in the second year of his Ontario Hockey League career, so that experience comes in handy with his ice time increasing. It also gives Sanvido someone he can look to for leadership.

“I have some experience in this league so I should know what’s going on,” said Bateman. “I talk to Sanvido about what to expect and what’s going on in the league.”

The added responsibility on Sanvido and Bateman is magnified by the fact that the Spits are in the thick of a playoff race. Now is as good a time as any to show that they can handle the pressure.

“It’s exciting,” said Sanvido. “I’ve never really been in this kind of situation so it’s really exciting.”