Windsor Spitfires

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You have new messages (last change).
Windsor Spitfires
City: Windsor, Ontario
League: Ontario Hockey League
Conference: Western
Division: West
Founded: 1975-1976
Home Arena: Windsor Arena
Colours: Blue, White and Red
Head Coach: Bob Boughner
General Manager: Warren Rychel
Franchise history
1945-53 & 1971-73: Windsor Spitfires
1973-1975: Windsor Bulldogs
1975-Present: Windsor Spitfires

The Windsor Spitfires are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. The team is based in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The franchise was granted for the 1975-1976 season and revived a previous OHA Jr. A Spitfires team which disbanded in 1953.

Contents

[edit] History

The Original Spitfires in the Ontario Hockey Association played Junior A hockey from 1945 to 1953. During this period the Spitfires reached the league finals twice, and featured four future Hockey Hall of Fame players. Prior to 1945 the club played several years at the Junior B level.

The modern Windsor Spitfires started as a Junior A team which played in the Southern Ontario Junior A Hockey League from 1971-1975. The team was known as the "Windsor Bulldogs" from 1973-75. The Spitfires were granted entry into the OMJHL (later known as the OHL) as an expansion franchise for the 1975-76 OMJHL season, after a 22 year hiatus.

The "Spits" as they are commonly known, won their first Emms division title in 1980 and reached the OHL finals, but lost to the Peterborough Petes. Ernie Godden set an all-time OHL record in 1980-81 scoring 87 goals. In 1984 Peter Karmanos, the founder and CEO of Compuware, bought the team and renamed them the Windsor Compuware Spitfires.

In a well executed four-year plan, Windsor won the J. Ross Robertson Cup in 1987-88, defeating the Peterborough Petes for the OHL championship. The Compuware Spitfires won 35 of their last 36 games played, including being the first team to be undefeated in the OHL playoffs. Windsor also won 54 games and lost none, when leading after two periods. The Spitfires played in the 1988 Memorial Cup hosted in Chicoutimi, Quebec. Windsor lost in the championship game to the Medicine Hat Tigers.

Karmanos sold the team to local construction magnate Steve Riolo after the 1988-89 season, and the team reverted back the Windsor Spitfires name and adopted their modern logo.

[edit] Conflict and renewal

As of October 18, 2005, Head Coach Moe Mantha was handed a 40 game suspension and later terminated without pay, for a hazing incident that occurred aboard a bus after a preseason versus the London Knights. An altercation involving players Steve Downie and Akim Aliu, in which Aliu lost four teeth, led to public exposure of the compulsive hazing within the Spitfires organization. Downie has since been traded to the Peterborough Petes, and Aliu has been traded to the Sudbury Wolves.

On Thursday April 6, 2006, the Ontario Hockey League Board of Governors announced the approval of a new ownership group for the Windsor Spitfires. The group of Bob Boughner, Warren Rychel and Peter Dobrich will take over the team. All three men have history in Windsor with OHL hockey, and look forward to building a championship team and moving into a new arena in the near future. Boughner will assume the roles of President and CEO of the Spitfires, Rychel will be director player development, and Dobrich its new business manager.

[edit] Championships

The Windsor Compuware Spitfires won the Hamilton Spectator Trophy, the J. Ross Robertson Cup, and were the top-ranked junior team in Canada during the 1987-88 season.

Memorial Cup

  • 1988 Finalist vs. Medicine Hat Tigers

J. Ross Robertson Cup

  • 1948 Finalist vs. Barrie Flyers
  • 1950 Finalist vs. Guelph Biltmores
  • 1980 Finalist vs. Peterborough Petes
  • 1988 Champion vs. Peterborough Petes

Hamilton Spectator Trophy

  • 1987-88 102 points

Division Trophies

SOJAHL Jack Oakes Trophy

  • 1973-74 Playoff Champions

[edit] Coaches

List of coaches with multiple season in parentheses.

  • 197x-73 - Jerry Serviss
  • 1973-75 - Wayne Maxner
  • 1975-76 - Doug Johnston & Wayne Maxner
  • 1976-80 - Wayne Maxner (8)
  • 1980-81 - Ron Harris & Ron Carroll
  • 1981-82 - Marcel Pronovost (2)
  • 1982-83 - Marcel Pronovost, Doug Imrie, John Becanic
  • 1983-84 - Bob Boucher, Terry McConnell, Wayne Maxner
  • 1984-85 - Mark Craig
  • 1985-86 - Tom Webster (8)
  • 1986-87 - Tom Webster, Jim Rutherford, Tony McDonald
  • 1987-89 - Tom Webster (8)
  • 1989-91 - Brad Smith (3)
  • 1991-92 - Brad Smith, Wayne Maxner, Dave Prpich (3)
  • 1992-93 - Wayne Maxner, Kevin McIntosh
  • 1993-94 - Shane Parker
  • 1994-95 - Mike Kelly (5)
  • 1995-96 - Mike Kelly & Paul Gillis
  • 1996-97 - Paul Gillis (2)
  • 1997-98 - Vern Stenlund, Dave Prpich, Tony Curtale
  • 1998-99 - Tony Curtale (2) & Dave Prpich
  • 1999-02 - Tom Webster (8)
  • 2002-03 - Tom Webster & Mike Kelly
  • 2003-04 - Steve Smith & Mike Kelly
  • 2004-05 - Mike Kelly
  • 2005-06 - Moe Mantha, Jr., Bill Bowler & D.J. Smith (interim co-coaches)
  • 2006-present - Bob Boughner

[edit] Players

There have been 100 alumni of the OHA & OHL Junior A Spitfires who have graduated to play in the National Hockey League. Four of those alumni have been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Those are:Glenn Hall, Marcel Pronovost, Terry Sawchuk, and Al Arbour as coach.

Retired numbers

Honoured numbers

[edit] Award Winners

[edit] NHL alumni

Original Spitfires 1945-1953
SOJHL Spitfires & Bulldogs 1971-1975
Modern Spitfires 1975-Present

[edit] Team records

Team records calculated since 1975-76 season.

Team Records for a single season
Statistic Total Season
Most Points 102 1987-88
Most Wins 50 1987-88
Most Goals For 396 1987-88
Least Goals For 201 2003-04
Least Goals Against 215 1987-88
Most Goals Against 470 1975-76
Individual player records for a single season
Statistic Player Total Season
Most Goals Ernie Godden 87 1980-81
Most Assists Bill Bowler 102 1994-95
Most Points Ernie Godden 153 1980-81
Best GAA (Goalie) Mike Leighton 2.73 2000-01
Goalies = minimum 1500 minutes played



[edit] Yearly results

[edit] Regular Season

  • 1946-53 Original OHA Spitfires
  • 1984-89 Windsor Compuware Spitfires

Legend: T = Tie (2004-05 & previous), SL = Shoot Out Loss (2005-06 & onward)

Season Games Won Lost T/SL OTL Points Pct % Goals
For		 Goals
Against		 Standing
1946-47 36 10 24 2 - 22 0.306 75 125 7th OHA
1947-48 36 29 6 1 - 59 0.819 231 124 1st OHA
1948-49 48 34 13 1 - 69 0.719 272 184 1st OHA
1949-50 48 34 13 1 - 69 0.719 307 169 2nd OHA
1950-51 54 32 18 4 - 68 0.630 209 167 4th OHA
1951-52 54 9 42 3 - 21 0.194 172 355 9th OHA
1952-53 56 16 35 5 - 37 0.330 127 186 8th OHA
1971-72 56 21 32 3 - 45 0.402 220 266 5th SOJAHL
1972-73 60 30 21 9 - 69 0.575 286 273 3rd SOJAHL
1973-74 No SOJAHL Statistics Available
1974-75 No SOJAHL Statistics Available
1975-76 66 12 50 4 - 28 0.212 251 470 6th Emms
1976-77 66 21 37 8 - 50 0.379 294 386 5th Emms
1977-78 68 36 24 8 - 80 0.588 338 289 2nd Emms
1978-79 68 32 35 1 - 65 0.478 323 322 3rd Emms
1979-80 68 36 31 1 - 73 0.537 323 344 1st Emms
1980-81 68 33 33 2 - 68 0.500 322 337 2nd Emms
1981-82 68 22 42 4 - 48 0.353 269 343 6th Emms
1982-83 70 19 50 1 - 39 0.279 289 394 6th Emms
1983-84 70 22 46 2 - 46 0.329 280 379 6th Emms
1984-85 66 28 35 3 - 59 0.447 267 301 5th Emms
1985-86 66 34 26 6 - 74 0.561 280 259 3rd Emms
1986-87 66 36 25 5 - 77 0.583 287 249 3rd Emms
1987-88 66 50 14 2 - 102 0.773 396 215 1st Emms
1988-89 66 25 37 4 - 54 0.409 272 321 5th Emms
1989-90 66 17 41 8 - 42 0.318 233 341 8th Emms
1990-91 66 33 29 4 - 70 0.530 307 279 4th Emms
1991-92 66 25 33 8 - 58 0.439 272 316 5th Emms
1992-93 66 19 42 5 - 43 0.326 240 343 8th Emms
1993-94 66 25 36 5 - 55 0.417 253 298 7th Emms
1994-95 66 41 22 3 - 85 0.644 303 232 2nd Western
1995-96 66 21 41 4 - 46 0.348 256 312 4th Western
1996-97 66 29 29 8 - 66 0.500 303 285 3rd Western
1997-98 66 19 42 5 - 43 0.326 261 340 6th Western
1998-99 68 23 39 6 - 52 0.382 203 294 5th West
1999-00 68 35 30 2 1 73 0.529 213 231 4th West
2000-01 68 34 22 8 4 80 0.559 257 221 2nd West
2001-02 68 33 24 6 5 77 0.529 253 229 3rd West
2002-03 68 37 25 5 1 80 0.581 259 221 3rd West
2003-04 68 27 30 3 8 65 0.419 201 219 3rd West
2004-05 68 26 29 6 7 65 0.426 223 253 3rd West
2005-06 68 32 29 3 2 71 0.522 247 253 3rd West
2006-07 See 2006-07 OHL season for up-to-date standings.

[edit] Playoffs

  • 1973-74 Won Jack Oakes Trophy as SOJAHL Champions.
    Defeated by Wexford Warriors in OHA Championship 4 games to 3.
  • 1975-76 Out of playoffs.
  • 1976-77 Defeated Kitchener Rangers 3 games to 0 in first round.
    Lost to St. Catharines Fincups 4 games to 2 in quarter-finals.
  • 1977-78 Lost to Hamilton Fincups 9 points to 3 in quarter-finals.
  • 1978-79 Lost to London Knights in a 9 games series in quarter-finals. Series protested and both teams moved on.
    Eliminated in semi-final round-robin vs. Niagara Falls Flyers and London Knights.
  • 1979-80 Defeated Niagara Falls Flyers 4 games to 1 in quarter-finals.
    Defeated Brantford Alexanders 4 games to 3 in semi-finals.
    Lost to Peterborough Petes 4 games to 0 in finals.
  • 1980-81 Defeated Brantford Alexanders 8 points to 4 in division semi-finals.
    Lost to Kitchener Rangers 9 points to 1 in division finals.
  • 1981-82 Defeated Niagara Falls Flyers 6 points to 4 in first round.
    Lost to Kitchener Rangers 8 poins to 0 in quarter-finals.
  • 1982-83 Lost to North Bay Centennials 6 points to 0 in first round.
  • 1983-84 Lost to S.S.Marie Greyhounds 6 points to 0 in first round.
  • 1984-85 Lost to London Knights 8 poins to 0 in first round.
  • 1985-86 Defeated Kitchener Rangers 8 points to 2 in first round.
    Finished quarter-final round robin vs Guelph Platers and North Bay Centennials in second place (4 points).
    Lost to Guelph Platers 8 points to 4 in semi-finals.
  • 1986-87 Defeated S.S.Marie Greyhounds 4 games to 0 in first round.
    Defeated Hamilton Steelhawks 4 games to 0 in quarter-finals.
    Lost to North Bay Centennials 4 games to 2 in semi-finals.
  • 1987-88 Defeated Kitchener Rangers 4 games to 0 in first round.
    Earned bye through quarter-finals. 1st place in Emms division.
    Defeated Hamilton Steelhawks 4 games to 0 in semi-finals.
    Defeated Peterborough Petes 4 games to 0 in finals. OHL CHAMPIONS
    Finished Memorial Cup round-robin in first place, earned berth in finals.
    Lost to Medicine Hat Tigers 7-6 in championship game.
  • 1988-89 Lost to Niagara Falls Thunder 4 games to 0 in first round.
  • 1989-90 Out of playoffs.
  • 1990-91 Defeated London Knights 4 games to 3 in first round.
    Lost to Niagara Falls Thunder 4 games to 0 in quarter-finals.
  • 1991-92 Lost to Kitchener Rangers 4 games to 3 in first round.
  • 1992-93 Out of playoffs.
  • 1993-94 Lost to S.S.Marie Greyhounds 4 games to 0 in division quarter-finals.
  • 1994-95 Defeated Sarnia Sting 4 games to 0 in division quarter-finals.
    Lost to Sudbury Wolves 4 games to 2 in quarter-finals.
  • 1995-96 Lost to Detroit Whalers 4 games to 3 in division quarter-finals.
  • 1996-97 Lost to Sarnia Sting 4 games to 1 in division quarter-finals.
  • 1997-98 Out of playoffs.
  • 1998-99 Defeated Kitchener Rangers 2-1 in 8th place tiebreaker.
    Lost to Plymouth Whalers 4 games to 0 in conference quarter-finals.
  • 1999-00 Defeated Sarnia Sting 4 games to 3 in conference quarter-finals.
    Lost to Plymouth Whalers 4 games to 1 in conference semi-finals.
  • 2000-01 Defeated Owen Sound Attack 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
    Lost to Plymouth Whalers 4 games to 0 in conference semi-finals.
  • 2001-02 Defeated S.S.Marie Greyhounds 4 games to 2 in conference quarter-finals.
    Defeated Guelph Storm 4 games to 1 in conference semi-finals.
    Lost to Erie Otters 4 games to 1 in conference finals.
  • 2002-03 Lost to London Knights 4 games to 3 in conference quarter-finals.
  • 2003-04 Lost to London Knights 4 games to 0 in conference quarter-finals.
  • 2004-05 Defeated S.S.Marie Greyhounds 4 games to 3 in conference quarter-finals.
    Lost to London Knights 4 games to 0 in conference semi-finals.
  • 2005-06 Lost to Plymouth Whalers 4 games to 3 in conference quarter-finals.

[edit] Uniforms and logos

The Windsor Spitfires use jerseys in the white, red & blue colours with the current logo (top of page), the white jerseys used at home, with the red jerseys used on the road. The Spitfires briefly used a third jersey featuring a white, red and green colour scheme and an alternate logo featuring an airplane flying in front of the Ambassador Bridge. When the team was also known as the Compuware Spitfires the team's colours were brown and orange, with a logo featuring a Spitfire airplane. The original Spitfires logo featured a maple leaf.

Third Logo Compuware Spitfires Logo Original Spitfires Logo SOJHL Spitfires Logo

[edit] Arena

Windsor Arena
Enlarge
Windsor Arena

The Spitfires play home games at the Windsor Arena, built in 1924 in downtown Windsor, Ontario. The arena was originally known as the "Border Cities Arena" and was once home to the Detroit Red Wings of the NHL prior to 1927. The Windsor Arena, nicknamed "The Barn," is the oldest operating facility in the Canadian Hockey League. It hosted the OHL All-Star game in 1978, and the Memorial Cup in 1981.

Capacity = 4,400
Ice Size = 195' x 80'

The Spitfires announced on October 7, 2006 that a new arena has been approved by city council to be ready for the 2008-09 OHL season. [1]

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Ontario Hockey League
Current Teams : Barrie Colts | Belleville Bulls | Brampton Battalion | Erie Otters | Guelph Storm | Kingston Frontenacs | Kitchener Rangers | London Knights | Mississauga IceDogs | Oshawa Generals | Ottawa 67's | Owen Sound Attack | Peterborough Petes | Plymouth Whalers | Saginaw Spirit | Sarnia Sting | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | Sudbury Wolves | Toronto St. Michael's Majors | Windsor Spitfires
Defunct Teams : Brantford Alexanders | Cornwall Royals | Detroit Compuware Ambassadors | Detroit Junior Red Wings | Detroit Whalers | Guelph Platers | Hamilton Dukes | Hamilton Steelhawks | Kingston Canadians | Kingston Raiders | Newmarket Royals | Niagara Falls Thunder | North Bay Centennials | Owen Sound Platers | Toronto Marlboros
CHL | Memorial Cup | WHL | QMJHL | OHL | OHL History | OHL Standings | J. Ross Robertson Cup


Defunct OHA / OMJHL Teams
Brantford Alexanders | Barrie Flyers | Brantford Lions | Galt Black Hawks | Galt Canadians | Galt Red Wings | Galt Rockets | Guelph Biltmore Mad Hatters | Guelph Indians | Guelph Royals | Hamilton Fincups | Hamilton Lloyds | Hamilton Majors | Hamilton Red Wings | Hamilton Szabos | Hamilton Tiger Cubs | Hamilton Whizzers | Kitchener Canucks | Kitchener Greenshirts |Kingston Canadians | London Nationals | Montreal Junior Canadiens | Niagara Falls Flyers | Oshawa Generals* | Owen Sound Greys | Port Colborne Recreationists | St. Catharines Black Hawks | St. Catharines Falcons | St. Catharines Fincups | St. Catharines Teepees | Stratford Kroehlers | Toronto Lions | Toronto Marlboros | Toronto Native Sons | Toronto St. Michael's Majors* | Toronto Young Rangers | Varsity Blues | Waterloo Hurricanes | West Toronto Nationals | Windsor Spitfires
Metro Junior A League teams (1961-1963):
Brampton 7Ups | Oshawa Generals* | Toronto Knob Hill Farms | Toronto Marlboros* | Toronto Neil McNeil Maroons | Toronto St. Michael's Majors* | Unionville Seaforths | Whitby Dunlops | Whitby Mohawks
CHL | Memorial Cup | WHL | QMJHL | OHL | J. Ross Robertson Cup
OHA/OMJHL History | OHA Standings | OMJHL Standings
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../w/i/n/Windsor_Spitfires_54e1.html"