Spits rookies continue to shine as season begins to darken

By Cody Wall

The Windsor Spitfires playoff hopes are beginning to look less likely, but the team’s rookies are continuing to give fans hope for the future.

Having lost eight of the team’s last 10 games some fans are beginning to lose faith in the team’s chances of making the playoffs this year. However, Spitfires Head Coach Trevor Letowski said the locker room still has their heads held high, with hopes being in the playoffs.

“We took a lot of positives away for last weekend,” said Letowski. “We feel the team is playing well so now it’s time to get some results.”  

One of the bright spots that has developed over the course of the season has been the play of the team’s rookies, particularly William Cuylle and Jean-Luc Foudy. The two 16-year-old rookies were acquired this past offseason, Cuylle via trade after being selected 3rd overall in the OHL draft and Foudy being taken with the 10th pick by the Spitfires.

Jonathan Moran runs the Windsor Spitfires Report Twitter account, breaking down stats and ranking each player every game from worst to best. Moran said he has been impressed by the play of the two rookies.

“Foudy is definitely the rookie that impressed me the most,” said Moran. “He has tremendous speed and is one of the best players at carrying the puck in the offensive zone.”

Moran would also add he feels the duo fit well with one another and should give Spitfires fans something to cheer about for the next couple of seasons.

“Foudy has established himself as the playmaker of the duo and Cuylle the goal scorer,” said Moran. “Throughout the last 20 or so games, the pair have been lined with Curtis Douglas and the line has been used as Trevor Letowski’s top line when needing some offense.”

The budding stars are in the middle of their rookie seasons in the OHL. With Cuylle being the first 16-year-old rookie to score 20 goals for the Spitfires since the 2010-11 season. Foudy on the other hand currently has 42 points on the season, good for third on the team in scoring.

“He [Foudy] is continuing to get better, especially over the last 30 games he has been over a point per game and just a really dangerous guy,” said Letowski.  

The Spitfires currently sit three points up on the Erie Otters for the final playoff spot, however, have played three more games than the Otters. With 12 games remaining this season the team will continue to need players like Cuylle and Foudy to contribute on the ice to keep the Stipfires playoff hopes alive.