Studnicka, McNaughton state their case

by Rob Benneian

Sam Studnicka and Jordan McNaughton have less than a full season of OHL experience between them.

They aren’t letting it hold them back from making an impression on the Windsor Spitfires coaching staff.

“Last year, both of them didn’t play a heck of a lot for us but when they came up they held their own for being young guys,” said Spitfires head coach Bob Boughner.

The final roster cuts will be determined some time after Sunday afternoon’s game with the Sarnia Sting. Boughner said McNaughton and Studnicka won’t have to lose much sleep worrying about whether or not they’ve made the team.

“I think…they’re both secure in their positions,” Boughner said.

McNaughton was acquired from the Brampton Battalion for forward Brennan Feasey prior to the OHL trade deadline in January. An undersized defenceman listed at 5’9″, McNaughton recalled a conversation he had with Spitfires general manager Warren Rychel at the end of last season.

“My defensive end, I just gotta be stronger, play stick-to-stick better,” McNaughton said. “They said I’ve gotten a lot better but it’s something I can work on too. That’s one thing Warren (Rychel) told me to work on in the summer and I came in to camp and it showed out there that I worked on it, just try to be aggressive and not get beat out of the corners.”

Boughner said the early results have been positive for McNaughton.

“For a small guy…he’s never going to be a physical guy but he can go in there and eliminate defensively,” Boughner said.

Studnicka, a Tecumseh-native, worked with Spitfires athletic trainer Joey Garland this summer to improve his strength and speed. His current role as a checking line player means he must be in peak shape to handle the bump-and-grind of a long OHL season.

“Kind of an energy guy, just do as much as I can,” Studnicka said of his role on the team. “I’ve been playing penalty kill a lot, so I know that’s my role right now. Just  blocking shots and keeping it simple.”

Special teamers

Boughner said he plans on using McNaughton and Studnicka in a variety of roles, including special teams play.

“I think Studs (Studnicka) has been really consistent for us, he’s been a good penalty killer for us, and we’ve juggled him right from the second line to the fourth line,” Boughner said. “We’ve really liked Studs’s training camp and pre-season so far. He’s definitely turned my head. I think McNaughton’s the same thing. He was more of a utility guy last year but he’s had a good summer, a good training camp, he’s come in and shown us that he’s a real good puck-mover. He’s got things to work at defensively but he’s one of our best puck-movers.”

McNaughton played the majority of last season with the Strathroy Rockets of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, a step below the OHL. He said playing, and dominating, at a lower level helped him gain the confidence to make the transition.

“I went back to junior B…killed it in junior B and I knew I had to find a way to make the team somehow,” McNaughton said. “I think I ended off with 32 points in (31) games.”

In the Spitfires most recent game, a 4-3 shootout loss to the Niagara IceDogs on Friday, Sept. 14, Studnicka centred Windsor’s fourth line. He was flanked by Ty Bilcke and Stephen Alonge who are known more for their brawn than their offensive prowess. Studnicka said the fourth line’s role would be to provide a spark for the team.

“We’re just out there banging bodies, trying to create energy for the first two lines,” Studnicka said. “They’re gonna be our scorers. If we’re lucky enough to get one in front, we’ll make sure we bang it home.”

The Spitfires will close out their pre-season schedule Sunday afternoon. Their first regular season game is a 7:05 home date with the Owen Sound Attack on Thursday, Sept. 20.