The year ended far brighter than it began for the Windsor Spitfires.

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The year ended on a far brighter note than it began for the Windsor Spitfires.

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The club will carry a five-winning streak into 2025 after ending 2024 with a 6-4 win over the Flint Firebirds on Tuesday before a season-high crowd of 6,462 at the WFCU Centre.

“This group of guys is so special and what we’ve done the first half of the season is something I can’t even express coming off last year,” Spitfires’ captain Liam Greentree said. “I’m so proud of the guys and really excited to start this new year with the guys.”

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Windsor ended the 2023-24 season with 13 losses in a row and finished last in the Western Conference. As the 2024-25 season turns to a new year, the club now finds itself with a 20-point lead atop the West Division after Thursday’s victory over division rival Flint.

“Huge two points and not allowing them to get that tying the goal and get a point,” Spitfires’ first-year head coach Greg Walters said. “Obviously, 26-7(-2-1 record), it’s an amazing start, but this is where the league picks up and it’s going to take another jump here and we’re excited to see where this team can get to.”

A young Windsor squad still has lessons to learn and Tuesday was another example as a 5-0 lead after the opening period turned into one-goal game in the third period.

“It was a tough game for sure,” Spitfires’ first-year forward Ilya Protas said. “Obviously, a great first period. I don’t know what happened the second or third, but I think good teams always find a way to win and we did that.”

Rookie Ethan Garden, Protas, Jack Nesbitt, rookie Ethan Belchetz and Noah Morneau staked Windsor to a 5-0 lead after 20 minutes despite the club being outshot 11-9 in the opening period.

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“Obviously, our skill guys, great first period,” Walters said. “We scored some elite goals, but I didn’t even feel comfortable with our overall game, but give credit to Flint.”

Playing the team’s third game in four days after an eight-day break, the Spitfires struggled to generate offence and produced just seven total shots on goal over the final two periods with the Firebirds holding a 32-16 edge overall.

“Our offensive game has been good,” Greentree said. “I think that was an off game for us. We didn’t get as many shots as we liked, but when we play our game, it’s hard to stop us.” 

Goals by Flint’s Cole Zurawski, Nathan Aspinall and Jimmy Lombardi made it a 5-3 game after two periods and Connor Clattenburg’s power-play goal made it a one-goal game with just over three minutes left in regulation.

“Our guys are tired,” Walters said. “They weren’t skating with a ton of energy. (Goalie) Joey (Costanzo) was good there.”

Greentree ended it with an empty-net goal to give him a four-point game. Protas found the big winger for an assist and his third point of the game.

“I feel like I’m more playmaker than goal scorer,” Protas said. “When I have the puck and (Greentree’s) open, I’ll pass it to him 100 per cent and it’ll probably be a goal.”

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The two have been a dynamic force for the club much of the season. Greentree is now second in league scoring with 25 goals and 60 points in 35 games and second in the league to teammate Anthony Cristoforo with a plus 31 rating.

“I think we just kind of know each other’s game,” Greentree said of Protas. “It’s pretty easy to play with him. He’s always doing the right thing and being in the right spot.

“To play with a guy like that is really cool. I don’t think I would be where I am right now without him. He’s been great and we’ll keep it going in the new year.”

Protas had 51 points in 61 games in the United States Hockey League last season and the Washington Capitals’ prospect is surprised by his offensive game this far in Windsor, which now has him sixth in league scoring with 21 goals and 53 points in 33 games and fourth in the league with a plus 26 rating.

“I thought (my offensive game in the OHL) would be not that good, but I hope I will keep it going,” Protas said. “I hope 2025 will be better.”

Windsor plays its first game of 2025 at home on Thursday against the Guelph Storm. Game time at the WFCU Centre is 7:05 p.m.

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Game Summary

Tuesday Result

Spitfires 6 Firebirds 4

Flint 0 3 1 – 4

Windsor 5 0 1 – 6

First period: 1. Windsor, Garden 3 (Woodall) 3:08, 2. Windsor, Protas 21 (Belchetz, Greentree), 4:11, 3. Windsor, Nesbitt 15 (Lemieux, Greentree) 11:37, 4. Windsor, Belchetz 10 (Greentree, Protas) 13:20, 5. Windsor, Morneau 13 (Abraham) 15:47. Penalty: Konyen F (tripping) 19:55.

Second period: 6. Flint, Zurawski 6 (Flugins) 6:39, 7. Flint, Aspinall 9 (Lombardi, Clattenburg) 7:27 (pp), 8. Lombardi 6 (K.Pitre, Podrekar) 14:23. Penalties: Spellacy W (hooking) 6:58, Mania F (hooking) 7:56, Mania F (fighting), Greentree W (fighting) 10:13, Frolov F (high sticking) 12:15.

Third period: 9. Flint, Clattenburg 12 (Mania, Lombardi) 16:47 (pp), 10. Windsor, Greentree 25 (Protas) 19:47 (en). Penalties: Aspinall F (tripping) 11:02, Cristoforo W (interference) 13:57, Eichler W (boarding) 16:13. 

Game stats – SOG – Flint 11 9 12 – 32 Windsor 9 4 3 – 16 Goal (shots-saves) – Flint: Bender (L,1-4-0-0) (9-4), Day (0:00 of second period) (6-6). Windsor: Costanzo (W,22-5-1-1) (32-28). Power play (goals-chances) – Flint 2-3. Windsor 0-4. Referees: Ryan Hutchison and Kurtis Pare. Linesmen: Geoff Rutherford and Brandon Shaw. Att.: 6,462 at the WFCU Centre.

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