Ryan Ellis has plenty on his plate these days.
With a third trip to the World Juniors on the horizon this weekend, and the weight of persistent trade rumours swirling around him, you could forgive the fourth-year defenceman if he was a little distracted.
But instead, the Spitfire captain - once again - showed a Thursday night crowd of 6,012 why he is an all-time great.
Ellis scored a pair of goals, including the game-winner, and added an assist as the Spitfires outlasted the Soo Greyhounds, 4-3, to move to within five points of the idle Saginaw Spirit for first place in the Western Division.
Nick Ebert had the other two goals and a three point night for Windsor (18-11-0-1), while Jack Campbell made 25 saves in the win.
Nick Cousins scored a pair of goals, his 12th and 13th of the year, for the Greyhounds. Chad Thibodeau added his third of the season in a losing cause.
It was the final OHL game of 2010 for Ellis and teammate Zack Kassian. The pair will leave Windsor Saturday for Toronto, where they will take part in Team Canada's World Junior training camp.
"It's great to be going back to the World Juniors," Ellis told windsorspitfires.com. "And, ya, it's great to bring Kass along. He brings a lot to the table and he's scoring a lot of points in this league. So, hopefully, he can make the team and we'll see what happens."
NOTES
*The Spitfires went 1-for-4 on the power play, while the Greyhounds were 0-for-3.
Kassian assisted on Ellis and Ebert's first goals of the night.
*Campbell will remain with the team through the weekend. Team USA's training camp doesn't start until next week.
SHOTS ON GOAL
WINDSOR 32, SOO 28
SCORING
FIRST PERIOD
WSR Ellis, (11) (Locke, Kassian), 3:43
WSR Ebert, (6) (Lanoue, Ryan), 10:32
SSM Thibodeau, (3) (Catenacci, Sulmonte), 11:56
WSR Ebert, (7) (Ellis, Kassian), 18:26
SECOND PERIOD
SSM Cousins, (12) (Catenacci), 1:02
SSM Cousins, (13) (Miller), 4:11
WSR Ellis, (12) (Ebert), 6:51 (PP)
THIRD PERIOD
No Scoring
