It was a home opener that could have fans returning.

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It was a home opener that could have fans returning.

The Windsor Spitfires scored double-digits offensively in a home opener for the first time since 2007, defeating the Kitchener Rangers 12-2 in front of a crowd of 5,796 at the WFCU Center.

Taylor Hall, the second overall pick seventeen years ago, made his debut for the Spitfires with a pair of goals, and fellow rookie Andrew Yogan also scored twice in a 10-3 win over Erie at Windsor Arena, with rookie Ryan Ellis also playing on defense.

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“I remember that team very well,” said Spitfires head coach Greg Walters, who was an assistant at Sarnia that season.

But this year’s draft crop was even brighter on Saturday.

“This is an incredible draft and I’m lucky to be coaching them,” Walters said.

Ethan Belchetz, the first overall pick in this year’s draft, scored four goals, including a pair of shorthanded goals, and added two assists in the game.

“It felt great and it’s a confidence booster,” the 6-foot-1, 226-pound Belchetz said. “I had a lot of family here, so it was nice to see.”

He wasn’t the only player to shine in the 2024 draft. American Ethan Garden, who the Spitfires turned down NCAA interest in signing, got Windsor’s offense started with his first OHL goal. Second-round pick JC Lemieux has scored a pair of goals and collected five points in his first three games. Defenseman Carter Hicks, who was also a second-round pick, had two assists and was a plus-four.

“It was a great feeling,” Lemieux said. “I can’t describe the feelings I have. Every rookie is doing everything he can and we are like a family.”

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There was a lot of experienced support in the attack for the Spitfires, who were ahead 5-1 after 20 minutes and 8-2 at the end of two periods.

Owen Outwater had two goals and two assists. Noah Morneau finished the game with a goal and four points. Captain Liam Greentree and freshman forward Nathan Gaymes also added single goals. Carson Woodall, Anthony Cristoforo and Cole Davis each had two assists, 16 players scored at least one point each, and goalkeeper Joey Costanzo made 35 saves.

“We don’t want to put expectations on this group,” Walter said. “We’re trying to get better every day.

“The veterans, led by the captain, have welcomed these kids and feel like a big part of our team.”

As the match progressed, the Kitchener team tried to take a more physical approach, scoring goals from Luca Romano and Luke Ellinas.

The young Windsor team didn’t hold back as Belchetz and Lemieux each recorded their first OHL fight with a dozen majors called into the game.

“I didn’t choose this,” Belchetz said of his fight with 19-year-old Matthew Andonovski. “Guys will try to scare us and try to beat us, but we’re a wolf pack and we have each other’s backs.”

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Despite being early in the season, the Spitfires have secured five out of a possible six points in the first three games, with three key players still missing from the squad.

“The exhibition (season) was about learning how to win with a new voice, new structure, new systems,” Walters said. “You can see the results and it was all with 100 percent participation and I’m very proud of them.”

Things are looking brighter with big forward Ilya Protas returning from NHL camp with Washington on Saturday, but it’s too late to play. AJ Spellacy is still in Chicago but is expected to return along with defenseman Tnias Mathurin, who is out with injury.

“We’re going to surprise some teams,” Belchetz said. “We’ll take it one game at a time, but this is just the beginning. Once we get everyone back and get going, we’ll be a good team.”

The Spitfires return to action Thursday against Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds at the WFCU Center. Match time 19.05

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Game Summary

Saturday Result

Spitfires 12 Rangers 2

Kitchen 1 1 0 – 2

Windsor 5 3 4 – 12

First period: 1. Windsor, Garden 1 (Davis, Walton) 3:47, 2. Windsor, Belchetz 1 (Woodall) 10:13 (sh), 3. Windsor, Morneau 2 (Gaymes, Martin) 12:05, 4. Kitchener, Ellinas 2 (Vermeulen) 12:18, 5th Windsor, Belchetz 2 (Hicks) 18:29, 6th Windsor, Outwater 1 (Abraham) 19:59. Penalties: Greentree K (kneeling) 8:34, Gaymes K (high tack) 15:39.

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Second term: 7. Windsor, Greentree 2 (Belchetz, Cristoforo) 3:49, 8 Windsor, Lemieux 1 (Morneau, Outwater) 5:10, 9. Kitchener, Romano 1 (Reid, Misaljevic) 12:08 (p.), 10. Windsor, Lemieux 2 (Eichler, Davis) 18:43. Penalties: Mercer K (rough handling), Eichler W (rough handling) 6:28, Garden W (holding) 8:34, Bottineau K (fight), Mercer K (misconduct), Winegard W (fight), Martin W (double minor rough handling, abuse), Gaymes W (abuse) 11:46, LaBrash K (rough conduct) 15:20, Dirracolo K (cross-check) 16:42, Hlacar K (fighting with provocation, abuse), Stark K (abuse), Garden W (misconduct), Hicks K (cross-checking), Morneau K (fight) 19:55.

Third period: 11. Windsor, Belchetz 3 (Outwater, Woodall) 11:56 (s.), 12. Windsor, Outwater 2 (Morneau, Belchetz) 14:36, 13. Windsor, Belchetz 4 (Morneau) 16:46 (sh), 14. Windsor, Gaymes 1 (Hicks) 18:59. Penalties: Andinovski K (fight, fight, misconduct), Belchetz K (fight):24, Arquette K (fight), Vermeulen K (fight, game misconduct), Eichler W (fight), Lemieux W (fight, game misconduct) , Winegard W (fighting, bad behavior) 4:28, Romano K (cutting) 11:15, Elinas K (cross-checking) 11:56, Davis W (high sticking) 15:30.

Game statistics – SOG – Kitchener 12 13 11 – 36 Windsor 11 12 14 – 37 Goals (shots-save) – Kitchener: Parsons (L,0-2-0-0) (11-6), Schaubel (0:00 of the second period) (26-19). Windsor: Costanzo (W,2-0-0-0) (36-34). Power play (goals-chances) – Kitchen 1-6. 1-6 at Windsor. Referees: Ryan Hutchison (20) and Ben Wilson (32). Linemen: Riley Clipper (65) and Geoff Rutherford (62). proxy: 5,796 at WFCU Center.

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