Latest news with #WindsorSpitfires
CTV News
4 days ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Windsor Spitfires sign first-round pick
The Windsor Spitfires have signed their first-round draft pick. Forward John McLaughlin was drafted 21st overall by the Spitfires in the 2025 OHL Draft back in April. The Spitfires announced Wednesday that McLaughlin, 15, has signed the scholarship and development agreement to join the Windsor club. McLaughlin hails from Corunna, Ont. and stands at 5 feet 10 inches and weighs 165 pounds. McLaughlin played for his hometown Lambton Jr Sting Team for the past three seasons. In the 2023-24 season, McLaughlin played a year up and scored 16 goals and had 17 assists for 33 points in 24 games. In the playoffs, McLaughlin had one goal and two assists for three points in four games. In the 2024-25 season, McLaughlin's season was cut short after an injury, he played in two games and scored two goals for the Sting. McLaughlin was called up by the Strathroy Rockets (GOJHL) and played in one game and had a goal and an assist. 'It feels incredible (to sign),' McLaughlin said. 'This is something I have worked toward for a long time and to sign with a team like Windsor is a huge honour. I am proud to be part of such a great organization and I am really excited to get started and put in the work,' he added. 'Johnny is a well-rounded player with an elite compete level,' said Spitfires general manager Bill Bowler. 'His work ethic and dedication on and off the ice will benefit both Johnny and our hockey club. We were thrilled to get him so late in the first round.' - Written by Dustin Coffman/AM800 News.
Ottawa Citizen
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Drafted or not, several Spitfires continue to chase the NHL dream
With the NHL Draft past, it's time to turn the page. Article content That's what several members of the Windsor Spitfires are doing as four players have accepted free-agent invitations to attend prospect camps with NHL teams. Article content Article content 'Going into the draft, I didn't have that high of expectations,' Spitfires' defenceman Jonathan Brown said. 'I knew if I got picked, it would be in the sixth or seventh round. So, I wasn't too disappointed.' Article content Article content The 18-year-old Brown, who played prep hockey at Shattuck-St. Mary's in Minnesota last season, was rated as the 177th prospect among North American skaters, but went unselected. Article content Article content However, Brown quickly accepted an invitation to attend prospects camp with the New York Islanders and was on the ice on Monday. Article content 'I'm really happy I got invited to Islanders' camp,' the six-foot-two, 201-pound Brown said. 'Just an amazing experience to learn from such a great organization. Article content 'I'm trying to learn a lot and soak in all the knowledge that comes with being around great players and coaches.' Jack Nesbitt was one of the big surprises at this year's NHL Draft. The Philadelphia Flyers traded a pair of first-round picks – at No. 22 and No. 31 – to the Pittsburgh Penguins to move up and snag Nesbitt at No. 12 overall. Article content 'It means a lot to me for them to trade two first-round picks to get me early,' the 18-year-old Nesbitt said. 'I was very shocked, but very honoured to have this opportunity and I'm going to do nothing, but good things with it.' Article content Article content Rated as a second-or third-round NHL prospect at the start of the season, the six-foot-five, 186-pound Nesbitt kept climbing the chart. He was considered the No. 15 prospect in North America, but had a hunch he might hear his name called when the Flyers made the trade. Article content 'I met with them at the (NHL Draft) Combine and talked to them a little bit throughout the year as well,' Nesbitt said. 'To be honest, I had a little feeling that it was going to happen, but didn't think that feeling was going to be real and I am very happy it did.' Article content The Flyers will open prospects camp on Wednesday. Former Los Angeles Kings first-round pick Liam Greentree, Washington Capitals prospect Ilya Protas and Chicago Blackhawks prospect A.J. Spellacy, who were all drafted a year ago, will also be taking part in prospects camp, but a trio of other Windsor players have joined Brown in accepting free-agent invites.
CTV News
28-06-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Windsor Spitfires' Jack Nesbitt drafted 12th overall by the Philadelphia Flyers
Windsor Spitfires' Jack Nesbitt drafted 12th overall by the Philadelphia Flyers . Jun. 27, 2025. (Source: Windsor Spitfires) Jack Nesbitt is headed to Philadelphia. The Windsor Spitfires' centre was drafted 12th overall in the NHL Draft Friday night by the Philadelphia Flyers. The 18-year-old Nesbitt posted 64 points (25-39-64) in his second season, and was named the OHL Western Conference's Most Improved Player, as voted on by league coaches. Nesbitt becomes the highest drafted Spitfires player since Mikhail Sergachev in 2016, who went ninth overall. -Dustin Coffman, AM800 News
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Flyers Trade Up, Select Jack Nesbitt At No. 12
The Philadelphia Flyers have traded up to get the 12th overall from the Pittsburgh Penguins, giving Pittsburgh their 22nd and 31st picks. Nesbitt, who plays for the Windsor Spitfires in the OHL, is a 6'5" center that brings high hockey IQ, incredible positional awareness, and skillful puck-handling to the table. For his size, he's also considered to have some pretty impressive skating ability. Advertisement The center position has been one where the Flyers have needed more depth, and after taking right winger Porter Martone with their No. 6 pick, it's clear that GM Danny Briere was high enough on Nesbitt to hand over their other two first-round picks to their Keystone State rivals. Nesbitt has shown significant improvement over this past season, and his ceiling is believed to be a high one. Although it might take him a little while to be NHL ready, there is plenty of room to grow and develop into a solid anchor for the Flyers' offense.
Ottawa Citizen
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Pick a day of the week and Spitfires have you covered
Pick a day of the week and the Windsor Spitfires have you covered. Article content The Ontario Hockey League released its 2025-26 schedule and the Spitfires will play at least one home game on every day of the week over the team's 34-game home schedule for the regular season at the WFCU Centre. Article content Article content It starts with the home opener on Sept. 20, which is the first of five Saturday home games. As usual, the club plays the majority of its games on Thursdays with a dozen slated. Eight more are set for Sundays, three each for Fridays and Wednesdays along with two on Mondays and one Tuesday game. October and November are Windsor's busiest home months with seven games slated at the WFCU Centre each month. Article content Article content 'We want to continue what we did on home ice,' said Spitfires' head coach Greg Walters, whose team tied for the best regular-season home record with London last season at 29-4-0-1. 'We only lost four (in regulation) last season and we'd like to boost the road record.' Article content Article content Early on the Spitfires will be away from Windsor for six of the club's first nine games to start the season. Article content 'I like that,' Walters said. 'We'll get it going and I like that we get some time together on the bus.' Article content However, in a league that often leans to the weekend, Windsor will have its share of grinding stretches for the season. The club plays three games in in four days on 12 occasions with one stretch seeing the club playing six times in nine days. Article content By contrast, the club will face just two stretches where the team plays three games in three days and both will see the Spitfires sandwich two home games around a road match. Article content Article content 'We only have the two, so that's a good thing,' Walters said. 'The three-in-threes are tough on kids, especial the top-end guys. It tends to be a lot.' Article content Windsor will play its annual Thanksgiving Day game on Oct. 13 against the Oshawa Generals, who are owned by Windsor's Rocco Tullio. The team will meet the Saginaw Spirit for its annual New Year's Eve at home on Dec. 31 in a 2:05 p.m. game and also face the Spirit on Family Day in at 2:05 p.m. start on Feb. 16. The Erie Otters will be in for St. Patrick's Day on March 17 at 7:05 p.m., which is also the team's final regular-season game of the season.
