Windbiel nets first OHL win while Costanzo post third shutout to lead Spitfires

The Windsor Spitfires’ goaltending situation appears to be in good hands now and in the future.

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In his first career start, 16-year-old Jake Windbiel made 32 saves to help the Spitfires to a  wild 10-6 road win over the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds on Sunday before a crowd of 4,502 at the GFL Memorial Gardens.

Windbiel’s victory came a day after veteran Joey Costanzo made 20 saves for his third shutout of the season to lead Windsor to a 4-0 win in Sault Ste. Marie before a crowd of 4,602 at the GL Memorial Gardens as the club returned to play after an eight-day break for Christmas.

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“I was feeling really good,” said the six-foot-four, 223-pound Windbiel, who shaw his team outshot 38-30. “Obviously, being young, I’m still learning, but my teammates were great to me the entire game. I felt like, once I got my feet under me, I was calm and able to track well.”

With three games in four days coming out of the break, Spitfires’ head coach Greg Walters did not put too heavy a workload on Costanzo.

With backup Carter Froggett sidelined by injury, Michael Newlove, who was the No. 1 pick overall in the U18 Draft, backed up Costanzo on Saturday and Walters said he will get a start at some point. However, Windbiel, who has played much of this season in junior B with the LaSalle Vipers, got the start on Sunday.

Considered one of the top American prospects in 2024 OHL Draft, the Spitfires took a chance in the seventh round of the draft and grabbed the Elk Grove Village, Ill. native, who played for the Chicago Mission last year.

He has spent practice time with the Spitfires, but was sent to the Vipers to help his development and boasts a 2.84 goals-against average and .914 save percentage in 20 junior B games.

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“It’s pushed me to become better each day,” Windbiel said. “The coaches have been so helpful, learning new things every day from them. As well as practices, it’s always fun playing against older kids because it forces you to be faster. Overall, it’s helped me a ton development wise.”

Windbiel, who got some advice from Costanzo, was sharp early on Sunday with the Spitfires outshot 6-1. The Greyhounds also had the first four shots to start the second period, but Windbiel held the Spitfires close.

“I just told me to play his game, be confident in his abilities and try not to do too much,” Costanzo said. “I think he did a great job of that (Sunday). He’s a great kids with a great head on his shoulders. I think he’s made big strides even since camp.”

The Spitfires twice built a four-goal lead in the third period, but the Greyhounds rallied to make it a one-goal game before Windsor was finally able to close things out.

“Huge four points for us,” said Walters, whose team has won four in a row. “Jake was really good in the first 40 minutes and we got up and let our foot off the pedal. The third was a little crazy, but we found a way.

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Cole Davis notched his first OHL hat-trick and finished with four points. Liam Greentree scored twice with Noah Morneau, Ryan Abraham, rookie J.C. Lemieux, Ilya Protas and Jack Nesbitt adding single goals.

On Saturday, Costanzo recorded his league-leading 21st win while collecting his fourth career shutout.

“I think we did a really good job limiting chances early,” said Costanzo, who lowered his goals-against average to 2.29 while improving his save percentage to .917. “The boys let me settle into the game and I’m confident in myself and in the team.”

Davis and Greentree had Windsor up 2-0 after the first period with defencemen Adrian Manzo, who scored his first OHL gaol, and Carson Woodall adding second-period goals. However, the club saw rookie forward Ethan Belchetz suspended by the league for a head checking major in the third period.

“I think the break helped us get our legs back,” Costanzo said. “We had a good day of practice Friday and we established a goal Saturday that we were going to come out hard to play against in the first.”

The Spitfires return to action on Tuesday against the Flint Firebirds at the WFCU Centre. Game time is 2:05 p.m.

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jpparker@postmedia.com

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Game Summaries 

Sunday Result

Spitfires 10 Greyhounds 6

Windsor 1 4 5 – 10

Sault Ste. Marie 1 1 4 – 6

First period: 1. Sault Ste. Marie, Charron 4 (Andrew, Muxow) 13:12, 2. Windsor, Abraham 12 (Davis, Walton) 19:37. Penalty: Cloutier S (slashing) 7:28.

Second period: 2. Sault Ste. Marie, Hayes 10 (Gillen) 9:37, 4. Windsor, Lemieux 6 (Greentree, Garden) 15:36, 5. Windsor, Davis 13 (Morneau, Abraham) 15:59, 6. Windsor, Morneau 12 (Nesbitt, Cristoforo) 18:30 (pp), 7. Windsor, Greentree 23 (Garden, Protas) 19:55. Penalties: Solomon S (cross checking) 10:35, Mignosa S (high sticking) 16:50.

Third period: 8. Windsor, Nesbitt 14 (unassisted) 3:05, 9. Sault Ste. Marie, Cloutier 18 (Reid) 4:00, 10. Windsor, Protas 20 (Spellacy) 6:45, 11. Sault Ste. Marie, Mignosa 14 (Allard, Reid) 7:48, 12. Sault Ste. Marie, Solomon 2 (Andrew, Muxlow) 8:26, 13. Sault Ste. Marie, Allard 5 (Cloutier) 14:45, 14. Windsor, Greentree 24 (Protas) 17:40, 15. Windsor, Davis 14 (unassisted) 17:58, 16. Windsor, Davis 15 (Hicks) 19:40 (en). Penalties: Greentree W (unsportsmanlike conduct), Hayes S (unsportsmanlike conduct) 3:05, Martin W (roughing) 12:14, Spellacy W (unsportsmanlike conduct), Cloutier S (unsportsmanlike conduct) 17:58, Vellaris S (unsportsmanlike conduct) 19:40.

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Game stats – SOG – Windsor 9 11 10 – 30 Sault Ste. Marie 11 9 18 – 38 Goal (shots-saves) – Windsor: Windbiel (W,1-0-0-0) (38-32). Sault Ste. Marie: Miller (L,7-10-0-0) (29-20). Power play (goals-chances) – Windsor 1-3. Sault Ste. Marie 0-1. Referees: Darcy Burchell and Brendan Kane. Linesmen: Marcus Policicchio and Michael Quesnele. Att.: 4,502 at GFL Memorial Gardens.

Saturday Result

Spitfires 4 Greyhounds 0

Windsor 2 2 0 – 4

Sault Ste. Marie 0 0 0 – 0

First period: 1. Windsor, Davis 12 (Protas) 4:05, 2. Windsor, Greentree 2 (Protas, Belchetz) 9:54. Penalties: None.

Second period: 3. Windsor, Manzo 1 (Abraham, Nesbitt) 14:46, 4. Windsor, Woodall 2 (Abraham, Davis) 17:21. Penalties: Greentree W (roughing, unsportsmanlike conduct), Reid S (boarding, roughing) 8:03, Solomon S (roughing) 8:52, Eichler W (cross checking) 11:11.

Third period: No scoring. Penalties: Belchetz W (head checking major, game misconduct) :31, Cristoforo W (unsportsmanlike conduct) :45, Nesbitt W (instigator, fighting, misconduct), Carlisle S (fighting) 5:26, Muxlow S (too man men) 8:05, Martin W (roughing), Gillen S (roughing) 9:01, Lemieux W (unsportsmanlike conduct), Cloutier S (cross checking) 9:52, Muxlow S (high sticking) 13:56, Hicks W (unsportsmanlike conduct), Cloutier S (unsportsmanlike conduct) 14:37, Winegard W (roughing) 15:45, Hilton S (slashing, unsportsmanlike conduct) 18:19. 

Game stats – SOG – Windsor 14 15 11 – 40 Sault Ste. Marie 3 8 9 – 20 Goal (shots-saves) – Windsor: Costanzo (W,21-5-1-1) (20-20). Sault Ste. Marie: Schenkel (L,8-10-0-0) (40-36). Power play (goals-chances) – Windsor 0-4. Sault Ste. Marie 0-4. Referees: Darcy Burchell and Brendan Kane. Linesmen: Joshua Houslander and Corey Jackson. Att.: 4,610 at GFL Memorial Gardens.

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