SPITS LOSE 1-0 BY PENALTY SHOT

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ATTACK 5 SPITS 4 OT

Jay Gilbert had the overtime winner, as the red-hot Owen Sound Attack escaped the WFCU Centre with a 5-4 win on Saturday night.
Alexander Khokhlachev had a pair of goals and Chris Marchese continued his torrid scoring pace with a goal and an assist, as the Spitfires (25-28-3-2) finished the weekend with three of a possible six points.

Daniel Catenacci, Joseph Blandisi, Cameron Brace and Chris Bigras had the other goals for the Attack (28-21-3-4), who leapfrogged Sarnia to move into fourth place in the Western Conference.

Trailing 4-2, KoKo scored matching power play goals (his first since January 19th). The first came at 16:11 of the second period. The tying goal came just 34 seconds into the third.

Gilbert's winner came 56 seconds into OT, just one second after a Nick Ebert elbowing penalty expired.

Jaroslav Pavelka made 29 saves in a losing cause.

SCORING
1ST PERIOD
OS CATENACCI (29) (BRACE, HALMO) 3:08
OS BLANDISI (17) 3:38
WSR MACQUEEN (15) (CLARKE, MARCHESE) 13:02

2ND PERIOD
OS BRACE (24) (BIGRAS, GILBERT) 7:25 SH
WSR MARCHESE (16) (JOHNSON, BRAITHWAITE) 8:23 PP
OS BIGRAS (2) (HOPE, GAVRUS) 12:35 PP
WSR KOKO (21) (VAIL, HOLDEN) 16:11 PP

3RD PERIOD
WSR KOKO (22) (HOLDEN) 0:34 PP

OVERTIME
OS GILBERT (GAVRUS, HOPE) 0:56

SHOTS
WSR 11 - 15 - 8 - 0 = 34
OS 13 - 11 - 9 - 1 = 34

PPS
WSR 3-FOR-7
OS 1-FOR-4

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QUEENER A KING IN OT WIN FOR SPITFIRES

QUEENER A KING IN OT WIN
(OWEN SOUND) Zack MacQueen's second goal of the game was the OT winner, as the Spits escaped Owen Sound with a thrilling, 6-5 win on Friday night. 

Chris Marchese had a goal and two assists, and Nick Ebert chipped in with three helpers, as Windsor (22-23-3-2) moved within two points of the Attack for fifth place in the Western Conference. 

The Spits fell behind 3-0 before the game was 10 minutes old. But Michael Clarke (12) and Chris Marchese (14) scored in an 85-second spurt late in the first period, cutting the lead to 3-2.

The teams traded a pair of goals in the middle 20, with Nick Czinder (13) and MacQueen (11) scoring for the Spits. 
The Attack appeared to have made it a 6-4 game in the third period. But it was ruled Mike Halmo knocked a puck in with a high stick. That set the stage for Windsor to complete the comeback. Just 32 seconds later, Kerby Rychel's 29th of the season evened things at 5-5 at the 7:31 mark. 

MacQueen's second of the night came 44 seconds into overtime, during Windsor's third power play of the game. 
John Cullen was outstanding in goal after coming in cold, replacing Jaroslav Pavelka at 9:12 of the first period. Cullen made 35 saves for the win. 

SCORING
FIRST PERIOD
OS BRACE (17) (CATENACCI, HALMO) 6:06, 
OS CATENACCI (24) (HALMO, GAVRUS) 7:52 PP, 
OS HALMO (32) (CATENACCI, SMITH) 9:12 PP, 
WSR CLARKE (14) (POSA, MARCHESE) 15:56, 
WSR MARCHESE (14) (EBERT, BRAITHWAITE) 17:31 PP

SECOND PERIOD
OS ZWEEP (3) (ROSE, CHILDERLEY) 1:39, 
WSR CZINDER (13) (POSA, EBERT) 7:46, 
WSR MACQUEEN (11) (KOKO) 12:02, 
OS BRACE (18) (HALMO, CUTTING) 13:53

THIRD PERIOD
WSR RYCHEL (29) (VAIL, MARCHESE) 7:31

OVERTIME
WSR MACQUEEN (12) (RYCHEL, EBERT) 0:45

SHOTS: 
WSR 11 - 6 - 9 - 2 = 28
OS 22 - 17 - 13 - 0 = 52
PPS: 
WSR 2-FOR-3
OS 2-FOR-5

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SPITS DROP SIXTH STRAIGHT

(Owen Sound) Three third period goals blew the game wide open, as the Spitfires dropped a 5-1 decision in Owen Sound on Sunday afternoon. 

Jarrod Maidens scored twice and Gemel Smith added three assists, as the Attack (8-8-1-1) moved into a tie for fourth place in the Western Conference with the Spits (8-8-1-1).

Adrian Robertson scored the lone goal for Windsor, which dropped its sixth straight game. The Spits last won two weeks ago in Brampton. 

Scott Stajcer was outstanding in goal for the hometown club, making 39 saves. Jack Campbell stopped 34 pucks in a losing cause. 

The Spits host the Barrie Colts on Thursday night at the WFCU Centre. 

SCORING
FIRST PERIODWIN ROBERTSON (3) (KUHNHACKL) 17:07

SECOND PERIOD
OS GAVRUS (8) (SMITH) 9:38
OS MAIDENS (8) (GILBERT, CATENACCI) 11:32
OS BLANDISI (3) (BRACE, SMITH) 18:14

THIRD PERIOD
OS MAIDENS (9) (CATENNACCI) 13:42 PP
OS BRACE (7) (SMITH, HALMO) 15:59 PP

SHOTS
WINDSOR 18 - 11 - 11 = 40
OWEN SOUND 6 - 17 - 16 = 39
PPS
WINDSOR 0-FOR-4
OWEN SOUND 2-FOR-6

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Spits Historic Run Comes to an End

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windsorspitfires.com staff reports

A team that many counted out at the start of the 2011 OHL Playoffs, Windsor fans have reason to be proud of the performance put forth by the Spitfires over the past month.

One of the greatest runs in junior hockey history came to an abrupt end earlier tonight as the Owen Sound Attack defeated the two-time defending MasterCard Memorial Cup and Rogers OHL Champion Spitfire squad 10-4 in Owen Sound. 

The Attack took the series four games to one and have earned the Wayne Gretzky trophy as Rogers Western Conference Champions and will move on to the Rogers OHL Championship Series against the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors.  Owen Sound also earned a berth to the 2011 MasterCard Memorial Cup in Mississauga.

Windsor opened the scoring 2:12 into the contest, with Alex Khokhlachev converting a Nick Czinder rebound to take an early lead.  Matt Petgrave tied the game for Owen Sound three minutes later on an odd man rush, beating Campbell blocker side.  The Spits again took a 2-1 lead on a Brady Vail wrist shot from the right circle at 9:38 of the opening frame before Joey Hishon tied the affair for the Attack on an exceptional individual effort.  The period ended with both teams tied at 2-2.

The second period was evenly played for the first 15 minutes before Petgrave netted two goals to record a hat-trick and provide Owen Sound a 4-2 lead, putting the Spits on the ropes with possibly 20 minutes left in their season.

Mike Halmo and Garrett Wilson gave Owen Sound a four-goal lead early in the third period.  Brady Vail gave the Spits hope just 14 seconds later, crashing the Attack net and scoring his second goal to make it a 6-3 game. 

After a few good shifts by the Spits, Andrew Shaw scored two goals, Halmo netted his second of the period and Jarred Maidens scored Owen Sound’s final goal to put the game out of reach for the Attack.  Brady Vail rounded out the scoring for the Spits on a shorthanded marker for his first career hat-trick but it was too little, too late.  Owen Sound ended the series with a 10-4 win.

SCORING
FIRST PERIOD

WSR Kuhnhackl, (12) (Czinder), 2:12

OS Petgrave, (1) (Schemitsch, Mignardi), 5:31

WSR Vail, (2) (Ellis), 9:38

OS Hishon, (4) (Wilson, Petgrave), 12:27

SECOND PERIOD

OS Petgrave, (2) (Wilson, Hishon) 14:41

OS Petgrave, (3) (Schemitsch) 19:44 (PP)

THIRD PERIOD

OS Halmo, (2) (Brace, Shaw), 4:32

OS Wilson, (9) (Fritsch, Wilson), 5:48

WSR Vail, (3) (MacQueen), 9:02

OS Shaw, (7) (Halmo), 7:11

OS Shaw, (8) (Mignardi, Halmo), 11:03 (PP)

OS Halmo, (3) (Shaw, Gilbert), 15:31 (PP)

OS Maidens, (3) (Petgrave, Schemitsch), 16:22 (PP)

WSR Vail, (4) (MacQueen), 17:06 (SH)

SHOTS

WINDSOR  13 – 14 – 11 = 38

OWEN SOUND  11 – 8 – 15 = 34

PPS

WINDSOR  0-FOR-7

OWEN SOUND  4-FOR-7

#1 Owen Sound vs. #4 Windsor – Rogers Western Conference Championship Series Schedule (Round Three)

2011 OHL Playoffs

Game 1 – Tuesday April 19 at 7:00 pm at Owen Sound (Owen Sound 8-1)

Game 2 – Thursday April 21 at 7:05 pm at Windsor (Windsor 4-2)

Game 3 – Saturday April 23 at 7:30 pm at Owen Sound (Owen Sound 6-4)

Game 4 – Monday April 25 at 7:05 pm at Windsor (Owen Sound 3-2)

Game 5 – Wednesday April 27 at 7:00 pm at Owen Sound (Owen Sound 10-4)

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Attack Push Spits to the Brink

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windsorspitfires.com staff reports

Roman Berdnikov's breakaway goal stood up as the winner Monday night, as the Owen Sound Attack took a 3-1 lead in the Rogers Western Conference final, with a 3-2 win at the WFCU Centre.

The teams exchanged first period power play goals - Robby Mignardi for the visitors at 6:36, then Tom Kuhnhackl's 10th of the playoffs, on a bullet slapshot, at 15:59.

The second period was all about Jack Campbell, who made 22 saves in the frame, including an outstanding glove save off Andrew Shaw just shy of the nine-minute mark.

Jack's handywork was the sole reason the Spits headed to the room tied at 1-1. 

But it didn't take the Attack long to take a lead in the third. A Roman Berdnikov shot kicked out by Campbell bounced right onto the stick of Garrett Wilson, who potted the rebound into an empty net for a 2-1 lead at 2:52.

Berdnikov extended the lead to 3-1 just past the midway mark. After Adrian Robertson whiffed on a keep-in attempt at the Owen Sound blueline, the speedy Russian flew down the left wing, scooped up the puck and swooped in alone, beating Jack high glove side.

With Campbell on the bench, creating a 6-on-4 advantage, Tom Kuhnhackl's second of the game cut the lead to 3-2 at 17:23.

Shaw's goaltender interference penalty at 18:40 gave the Spits another power play, and another 6-on-4 with Campbell pulled again. But the Spits couldn't find the equalizer.

Windsor now faces elimination on Wednesday night in Owen Sound.

If necessary, Game Six will be played back at the WFCU Centre on Friday night.

Fans are encouraged to wear red for each Spitfire home game as part of the Spits “Mission 9-10-11” theme for the 2011 OHL Playoffs.

SCORING
FIRST PERIODOS Mignardi, (9) (Hishon, Wilson), 6:36 (PP) 

WSR Kuhnhackl, (10) (Carrick, Carnevale), 15:59 (PP)

SECOND PERIODNo Scoring

THIRD PERIODOS Wilson, (8) (Berdnikov, Hishon), 2:52

OS Berdnikov, (6) (Blacker) 10:24 

WSR Kuhnhackl, (11) (Carrick), 17:23 (PP)

SHOTSWINDSOR: 13 - 6  - 11 = 30 

OWEN SOUND: 10 - 22 - 12 = 44

PPSWINDSOR: 2-FOR-5

OWEN SOUND: 1-FOR-3

#1 Owen Sound vs. #4 Windsor – Rogers Western Conference Championship Series Schedule (Round Three)

2011 OHL Playoffs

Game 1 – Tuesday April 19 at 7:00 pm at Owen Sound (Owen Sound 8-1)

Game 2 – Thursday April 21 at 7:05 pm at Windsor (Windsor 4-2)

Game 3 – Saturday April 23 at 7:30 pm at Owen Sound (Owen Sound 6-4)

Game 4 – Monday April 25 at 7:05 pm at Windsor (Owen Sound 3-2)

Game 5 – Wednesday April 27 at 7:00 pm at Owen Sound

Game 6 – Friday April 29 at 7:05 pm at Windsor*

Game 7 – Sunday May 1 at 2:00 pm at Owen Sound*

*if necessary

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Wilson’s Late Game Heroics Secure Game Three Win for Attack

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With Windsor up one goal late in the game, a pair of ill advised penalties by the Spitfires led to consecutive goals by Attack captain Garrett Wilson, including the game winner with just over three minutes left to give the Attack a 6-4 win on Saturday night in Owen Sound.  The Attack now lead the Rogers Western Conference Championship series two games to one, with game four being played in Windsor on Monday night.

A failed clearing attempt by the Spits allowed the Attack to open the scoring, with Andrew Shaw roofing  a back hand on the first shot recorded by either team to make it 1-0 6:56 into the game.  Windsor scored shorthanded to tie the game at 9:44 of the opening frame with an unlikely combination striking as Craig Duininck drove to the net and tipped a point shot from Saverio Posa to score his first of the post-season.

Less than two minutes later, Owen Sound regained the lead on a Mike Halmo marker in a goal mouth scramble for a 2-1 Attack advantage.  Both teams played the rest of the period with a physical edge and headed to the dressing room with the Attack preserving their one goal lead.

Early in the second period, Attack netminder Scott Stacjer misplayed a Spits dump in and Jeff Brown scored on a bad angle shot to tie the game at 2-2.  The back and forth lead changes continued and Owen Sound would take their third lead of the game at the 3:25 mark, as Liam Heelis was allowed to walk into the Spits zone unmarked and scored on a wrist shot from the slot, making it 3-2. 

Moments later, Windsor went on the power play and Zack MacQueen tipped an Adrian Robertson shot from the left circle to score his first of the playoffs and tie the game yet again at 3-3.  The physical play continued from both sides and Jack Campbell made several big saves for the Spits to keep the game tied after two periods of play.

The Spitfires got off to a good start in the third period.  On an Owen Sound clearing attempt, Saverio Posa pinched in to keep the play alive in Attack zone and the puck rolled to Tom Kuhnhackl who made a beautiful pass to Alex Khokhlachev in the slot.  Koko unleashed a laser shot to score his eighth goal of the playoffs at 4:17, giving Windsor their first lead of the game at 4-3. 

Windsor hung onto the lead for the majority of the period before ill advised penalties by Jake Carrick and Zack Kassian gave the Attack two late power plays.  Owen Sound converted on each opportunity with Attack captain Garrett Wilson scoring both goals less than two minutes apart to give the home side a 5-4 advantage. 

Windsor pulled their goalie with one minute left in the contest and Bobby Mignardi scored on a partial breakaway into an empty net to give Owen Sound a 6-4 win. 

Game four of the Rogers Western Conference Championship Series between the Spits and Attack will be played on Monday, April 25^th at the WFCU Centre.  

Fans are encouraged to wear red for each Spitfire home game as part of the Spits “Mission 9-10-11” theme for the 2011 OHL Playoffs.

SCORING

FIRST PERIOD

OS Shaw, (6) (Halmo), 6:58

WSR Duininck, (1) (Posa, Carnevale), 9:44 (SH)

OS Halmo, (1) (Shaw, Schemitsch), 11:01

SECOND PERIOD

WSR Brown, (5) (Posa, Ellis) 1:14

OS Heelis, (5) (Blacker), 3:25

WSR MacQueen, (1) (Robertson, Kassian) 4:46 (PP)

THIRD PERIOD

WSR Khokhlachev, (8) (Kuhnhackl, Posa), 4:17

OS Wilson, (6) (Hishon, Stanisz), 15:27 (PP)

OS Wilson, (7) (Hishon, Stanisz), 16:56 (PP)

OS Mignardi, (8) (Blacker, Wilson), 19:42 (EN)

SHOTS

WINDSOR – 6 – 8 – 7 = 21

OWEN SOUND – 9 – 15 – 11 = 35

PPS

WINDSOR 1-FOR-3

OWEN SOUND 2-FOR-6

#1 Owen Sound vs. #4 Windsor – Rogers Western Conference Championship Series Schedule (Round Three)

2011 OHL Playoffs

Game 1 – Tuesday April 19 at 7:00 pm at Owen Sound (Owen Sound 8-1)

Game 2 – Thursday April 21 at 7:05 pm at Windsor (Windsor 4-2)

Game 3 – Saturday April 23 at 7:30 pm at Owen Sound (Owen Sound 6-4)

Game 4 – Monday April 25 at 7:05 pm at Windsor

Game 5 – Wednesday April 27 at 7:00 pm at Owen Sound

Game 6 – Friday April 29 at 7:05 pm at Windsor*

Game 7 – Sunday May 1 at 2:00 pm at Owen Sound*

*if necessary

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Kuhnhackl, Carny Lead Spitfires to Game 2 Win

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Tom Kuhnhackl scored a pair of goals - one in the opening minute and one in the final minute - as the Spitfires grinded out a huge, 4-2 win over the Owen Sound Attack in Game Two of the Rogers Western Conference final at the WFCU Centre in Windsor on Thursday night.  With the win, the Spits have now evened the series at 1-1.

Taylor Carnevale assisted on all four Windsor goals. Kerby Rychel and Zack Kassian also scored for the Spits.

Rychel's turned the tide in the second period.

The Spits were shorthanded four times in the frame, including a full two-minute, 5-on-3 that led to Jesse Blacker's go-ahead goal at 8:07. 

But the home side managed to fend off a third goal, and Rychel got them even at 2-2 with a strong rush to the net, tipping home a tape-to-tape pass from Carnevale at 16:14.

Kassian's sixth of the playoffs and fourth in two games put Windsor up for good just 1:49 into the third. The big fella waltzed out of the left corner and let a harmless looking wrister go that hit a stick and eluded Scott Stajcer.

The Attack did everything they could to get back in it, peppering Campbell late with an empty net.

But Kuhnhackl's ninth of the playoffs put the win on ice. The lanky winger hit the post dead-on, before picking up his own rebound and putting a backhander home, rounding out the scoring at 4-2.

Jack Campbell was outstanding in the Windsor goal, making 33 saves for his ninth win of the playoffs.

The series now shifts back to Owen Sound for Game three on Saturday night at 7:30 pm.  For game by game coverage, visit the Spits live blog at windsorspitfires.com or via twitter @GO_SPITS_GO. Fans can also tune into TVCOGECO to watch each game or catch the action live with Mike Miller, the Voice of the Spits on AM800.

Game four of the Rogers Western Conference Championship Series between the Spits and Attack will be played on Monday (April 25) at the WFCU Centre.  Game time is set for 7:05 pm.

Fans are encouraged to wear red for each Spitfire home game as part of the Spits “Mission 9-10-11” theme for the 2011 OHL Playoffs.

SCORING

FIRST PERIOD

WSR Kuhnhackl, (8) (Carnevale, Khokhlachev), 0:43 (PP),

OS Mignardi, (7) (Wilson, Heelis), 19:50

SECOND PERIOD

OS Blacker, (4) (Stanisz), 8:07 (PP)

WSR Rychel, (2) (Carnevale, Ellis), 16:14

THIRD PERIOD

WSR Kassian, (6) (Carnevale, Posa), 1:49

WSR Kuhnhackl, (9) (Carnevale, Ryan), 19:21 (EN)

SHOTS

WINDSOR: 7 - 8 - 8 = 23

OWEN SOUND: 6 - 20 - 9 = 35

PPS

WINDSOR: 1-FOR-4

OWEN SOUND: 1-FOR-5

#1 Owen Sound vs. #4 Windsor – Rogers Western Conference Championship Series Schedule (Round Three)

2011 OHL Playoffs

Game 1 – Tuesday April 19 at 7:00 pm at Owen Sound (Owen Sound 8-1)

Game 2 – Thursday April 21 at 7:05 pm at Windsor (Windsor 4-2)

Game 3 – Saturday April 23 at 7:30 pm at Owen Sound

Game 4 – Monday April 25 at 7:05 pm at Windsor

Game 5 – Wednesday April 27 at 7:00 pm at Owen Sound*

Game 6 – Friday April 29 at 7:05 pm at Windsor*

Game 7 – Sunday May 1 at 2:00 pm at Owen Sound*

*if necessary

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Owen Sound Routs the Windsor Spitfires 8-1 in Game One

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A fresh Attack squad took full advantage of the Spitfires on Tuesday night, as the Western Conference’s top ranked team routed Windsor 8-1 in the opening game of the Rogers Western Conference Championship series in Owen Sound.

Both teams were getting a feel for things in the early going and few chances were had in the game’s first ten minutes.  The Attack eventually opened the scoring, after Jarrod Maidens converted a Bobby Mignardi rebound into an empty cage at 14:17.  With 19 seconds left in the opening stanza, Joey Hishon increased Owen Sound’s lead to 2-0 on a shorthanded marker, beating Campbell with a wrist shot from the slot on a two-on-two counter attack.

Windsor opened the second frame on a positive note, with Adrian Robertson continued his hot post-season run, scoring a power play goal on a blast from the point to make it a 2-1 contest at the 6:49 mark.

Just 22 seconds later, Andrew Shaw restored the Attack’s two goal on an odd man rush lead to make it 3-1.  Midway through the frame, the Attack capitalized again on the special teams, as Hishon roofed a wrist shot on the power play for his second goal of the game and a 4-1 lead. 

Owen Sound’s onslaught continued, with captain Garrett Wilson banging in a rebound on the power play at 14:47 to make it 5-1 and Brandon Childerley scored one minute later to make it 6-1.  Andrew Shaw of the Attack made it 7-1 with 21 seconds left in the second period, converting a bad bounce off the back board to end a nightmarish 20 minutes for Windsor.

With the outcome already decided, Owen Sound made it 8-1 on the power play midway through the third period on a Roman Berdnikov marker. 

Game two of the Rogers Western Conference Championship Series between the Spits and Attack will be played on Thursday (April 21) at the WFCU Centre.  

Fans are encouraged to wear red for each Spitfire home game as part of the Spits “Mission 9-10-11” theme for the 2011 OHL Playoffs.

SCORING

FIRST PERIOD

OS Maidens, (2) (Mignardi, Gilbert), 14:17

OS Hishon, (2) (Wilson), 19:41 (SH)

SECOND PERIOD

WSR Robertson, (3) (Khokhlachev, Kuhnhackl), 6:39 (PP)

OS Shaw, (4) (Brace), 7:01

OS Hishon, (3) (Wilson, Stanisz), 10:24 (PP)

OS Wilson, (5) (Stanisz, Mignardi), 14:47 (PP)

OS Childerley, (4) (Gilbert, Maidens), 15:49

OS Shaw, (5) (Petgrave, Schemitsch), 19:39

THIRD PERIOD

OS Berdnikov, (5) (Shaw, Halmo) 10:36 (PP)

SHOTS

WINDSOR  10 – 19 – 10 = 39

OWEN SOUND 10 – 15 – 8 = 33

PPS

WINDSOR  1-FOR-6

OWEN SOUND 3-FOR-8

#1 Owen Sound vs. #4 Windsor – Rogers Western Conference Championship Series Schedule (Round Three)

2011 OHL Playoffs

Game 1 – Tuesday April 19 at 7:00 pm at Owen Sound (Owen Sound 8-1)

Game 2 – Thursday April 21 at 7:05 pm at Windsor

Game 3 – Saturday April 23 at 7:30 pm at Owen Sound

Game 4 – Monday April 25 at 7:05 pm at Windsor

Game 5 – Wednesday April 27 at 7:00 pm at Owen Sound*

Game 6 – Friday April 29 at 7:05 pm at Windsor*

Game 7 – Sunday May 1 at 2:00 pm at Owen Sound*

*if necessary

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Jake Carrick – The Tecumseh and South Walkerville Player of the Week

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windsorspitfires.com staff reports

Jake Carrick Player of the Week.
Photo by Joe Lemire/In Play! Magazine

After Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinal series in Saginaw, Jake Carrick said he'd played his 'worst game of the playoffs'. He was -2 with 13 penalty minutes in a 5-2 loss to the Spirit.

So he went to work and turned his play around, helping lead the Spitfires to three consecutive wins and a trip to the OHL's final four and earning himself Tecumseh and South Walkerville Vision Centres Windsor Spitfires Player of the Week honours for the period ending Sunday, April 17th.

In Game 4 on Thursday, back in Windsor, Carrick had a pair of goals and a +1 rating in a key 6-2 Spits win that knotted the series at two games apiece.

Two nights later, he vindicated himself back in Saginaw - again scoring two goals with a +2 rating, in a come-from-behind, 5-3 win over the Spirit.

Carrick wrapped up the week with a solid two-way performance, as the Spits won the series in six games on Sunday night with a 5-0 victory.

Jake Carrick in round two action against the Saginaw Spirit.
Photo by Joe Lemire / In Play! Magazine

It's been an outstanding playoff season for Carrick; who leads the Spitfires in goals with nine. Jake also ranks fifth on the team and eighth overall in the OHL in post-season points (14).

The entire staff at Tecumseh and South Walkerville Vision Centres congratulates Jake on an outstanding week, and wishes he and the Spitfires all the best of luck in their quest for a third straight Memorial Cup title!

Game one of Rogers Western Conference Final series starts tonight as the Spitfires are currently in Owen Sound, ready to take on the Attack.  Game time is set for 7 pm at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre.  Fans can catch the game live on TVCOGECO or listen to the action with Mike Miller, the Voice of the Spits on AM800.

Game two of the series will be played at the WFCU Centre this Thursday at 7:05 pm.

Fans are encouraged to wear red for each Spitfire home game as part of the Spits “Mission 9-10-11” theme for the 2011 OHL Playoffs.

2010-2011 Windsor Spitfires’ Players of the Week

Jake Carrick – Apr. 11 – Apr. 17, 2011

*Tom Kuhnhackl – Apr. 4 – Apr. 10, 2011

Adrian Robertson – Mar. 28 – Apr. 3, 2011

Jack Campbell – Mar. 21 – Mar. 27, 2011

Ryan Ellis – Mar. 14 – Mar. 20, 2011

Jack Campbell – Mar. 7 – Mar. 13, 2011

Craig Duininck – Feb. 28 – Mar. 6, 2011

Ryan Ellis – Feb. 21 – Feb. 27, 2011

Jeff Brown – Feb. 14 – Feb. 20, 2011

Taylor Carnevale – Feb. 7 – Feb. 13, 2011

Tom Kuhnhackl – Jan. 31 – Feb. 6, 2011

Alexander Khokhlachev – Jan. 24 – Jan. 30, 2011

Ryan Ellis – Jan. 17 – Jan. 23, 2011

Jake Carrick – Jan. 10 – Jan. 16, 2011

Kenny Ryan – Jan. 3 – Jan. 9, 2011

Saverio Posa – Dec. 27, 2010 – Jan. 2, 2011

Craig Duininck – Dec. 13 – Dec. 19, 2010

*Nick Ebert – Dec. 6 – Dec. 12, 2010

Troy Passingham – Nov. 29 – Dec. 5, 2010

Eric Locke – Nov. 22 – Nov. 28, 2010

Ryan Ellis – Nov. 15 – Nov. 21, 2010

Tom Kuhnhackl – Nov. 8 – Nov. 14, 2010

Tom Kuhnhackl – Nov. 1 – Nov. 7, 2010

Jack Campbell – Oct. 25 – Oct. 31, 2010

Tom Kuhnhackl – Oct. 18 – Oct. 24, 2010

Eric Locke – Oct. 11 – Oct. 17, 2010

Zack Kassian – Oct. 4 – Oct. 11, 2010

Kyle Tarini – Sep. 27 – Oct. 3, 2010

Alexander Khokhlachev – Sep. 21 – Sep. 27, 2010

* Player was selected as the OHL Player of the Week

** Player was selected as the OHL and CHL Player of the Week

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The Attack will see adversity for the first time in the post-season

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By David Clark
In Play! Magazine

Owen Sound has been waiting for Windsor. The Memorial Cup winning Windsor Spitfires will come into their house and try to finish off the team that secured the top spot in Western Conference at the end of the regular season. Guys like Hishon, Wilson and Blacker are three good reasons to respect the Attack who also have three good goalies to choose from for game 1. It is likely that over-ager Scott Stajcer who has four playoff wins under his belt already will probably get the call.

Regarding the Spitfires, they now have a record for winning ten straight playoff series in the history of the Ontario Hockey League by defeating the Saginaw Spirit who just seemed to fold at the end. Windsor celebrates the win but the Attack are ready and in the dressing room already, looking at video, discussing the match-ups and figuring out the best way to get done in their favour. The Spitfires prepared themselves for the Attack by beating clubs like Erie and Saginaw who were considered favourites but the Spitfires proved them wrong.

If Zack Kassian stays hot for the Spitfires that would make a huge difference in this upcoming series. He is red-hot, coming off his first hat-trick in the playoffs against Saginaw. His physical presence is understood out there by all opposing teams who move as far away from him as possible because he brings on the pain. When he’s on the ice, they know it.

The most decorated defenceman in OHL history, Ryan Ellis is tied for second in the playoff scoring race. In fact, Windsor has five other Spitfires joining him in the top ten in scoring for the 2011 playoffs. Kuhnhackl and Johnston are even with Ellis at 16 points and Khoklachev just one point shy from the others has 15. Some of the muscle on the team including Carrick and Kass are at 14. Carrick leads the team with nine goals and sits in 8^th overall in the OHL at the moment.

Another defenceman, Adrian Robertson who came from the Peterborough Petes in the big trade is showing up for every game, and scoring in a few. He is a scrappy defender for sure but he has 13 points additionally.

Jack Campbell has been outstanding since he started this campaign in a winning fashion in Game 2 against a very offensive Erie team who had a few snipers who knew how to finish. Campbell kept Windsor in it, stopping the Luciani’s, McKegg’s and Varone’s most of the time.

Near the end, Campbell had outplayed Sadikov in this tight series. Saginaw had an even harder time solving him but Shalla gave him fits. Campbell is one of the main reasons the Spits are going to the conference finals. Campbell is a big game goalie from the US National Junior Development System and is playing to the max right now, like the two World Junior Tournament medals including a gold he received for a winning performance. This is his A game and fans happy to see it.  

     The coaching staff in Windsor are very experienced at winning titles, particularly Bob Jones who has a winning system to work with, inherited from part owner and former coach Bob Boughner. Jones has his own way of doing things too with the help of D.J. Smith and David Matsos, showing the team how to win.

In the upcoming series against a formidable Owen Sound team, the players are buying into the system Jones has implemented. The team also shows they know how to cope with the pressure associated with going far into the playoffs, a task for the coaching staff has instilled on them.

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Rogers Western Conference Championship Series Schedule vs. Owen Sound Announced

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Following Windsor’s 5-0 victory over the Saginaw Spirit tonight, the Spitfires have won the OHL’s Western Conference Semi-Final Series four games to two.  The Spitfires will advance to the Rogers Western Conference Championship Series for the third consecutive season, as they take on the top seeded Owen Sound Attack.

Windsor set an OHA and OHL record tonight, winning their 10^th consecutive series in the past three seasons, breaking their tie with the Peterborough Petes 1978-1980 championship squads who won nine straight series.

The Rogers Western Conference Championship Series schedule is as follows:

#1 Owen Sound vs. #4 Windsor – Rogers Western Conference Championship Series Schedule (Round Three)

2011 OHL Playoffs

Game 1 – Tuesday April 19 at 7:00 pm at Owen Sound

Game 2 – Thursday April 21 at 7:05 pm at Windsor

Game 3 – Saturday April 23 at 7:30 pm at Owen Sound

Game 4 – Monday April 25 at 7:05 pm at Windsor

Game 5 – Wednesday April 27 at 7:00 pm at Owen Sound*

Game 6 – Friday April 29 at 7:05 pm at Windsor*

Game 7 – Sunday May 1 at 2:00 pm at Owen Sound*

*if necessary

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Spits Win Another Shootout Thriller

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Tom Kuhnhackl had the game-winning goal in a shootout for the second time in a week, as the Windsor Spitfires clipped the Owen Sound Attack, 4-3 on Thursday night at the WFCU Centre.

Jake Carrick had a pair of goals and Stephen Johnston potted his 20th of the season, as the Spits (36-22-3-3) moved three points ahead of the Plymouth Whalers for fourth in the Western Conference and to within three of Saginaw for first in the West Division.

Jack Campbell was outstanding in goal again, making 34 saves and two more big ones in the shootout.

Ryan Ellis had an assist, extending his streak of games with at least a point to 17.

Zack Kassian was a healthy scratch for Windsor, which dressed just 16 skaters - 11 forwards and five defencemen.

The Spits are off until Sunday afternoon, when they host the Sarnia Sting in a 2PM matinee.

SCORING
FIRST PERIOD
WSR Carrick, (20) (Khokhlachev), 8:00
WSR Carrick, (21) (Ellis), 15:27
OS Wilson, (39) (Fritsch, Petgrave), 18:16

SECOND PERIOD
OS Berdnikov, (6) (Wilson, Fritsch), 13:04
OS Shaw, (21) (Halmo, Stanisz), 18:04

THIRD PERIOD
WSR Johnston, (20) (Brown, Ryan), 11:26

OVERTIME
No Scoring

SHOOTOUT
T. Kuhnhackl - GWG

SHOTS ON GOAL
WINDSOR: 15 - 6 - 10 - 3 = 34
OWEN SOUND: 8 - 9 - 14 - 6 = 37

POWER PLAYS
WINDSOR: 0-FOR-2
OWEN SOUND: 0-FOR-2

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