After a nine-day break from competition, the Windsor Spitfires will now sprint towards the end of the season.
The Spitfires will close out the preseason with three games in four days, facing the Sting on Wednesday in Sarnia. Windsor returns to the WFCU Center to take on the Flint Firebirds on Thursday and the Sting on Saturday.Both games start at 7:05 p.m.
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“I’m looking forward to this week,” Spitfire head coach Jerrold Smith said. “It just makes sense to get our team as prepared as possible before the game.”
While this phase of an exhibition game is typically when teams make final roster cuts, that’s not the case for a Windsor team dealing with a long list of injuries.
Forward Colton Smith (knee) remains sidelined after a collision in the exhibition opener. Bowler hopes he can return in time to start the new season.
That may not be the case for overage forward Alex Christopoulos (wrist) and rookie forward Cole Davis (addendum), who may not return to the lineup until October.
Additionally, sophomore guard Anthony Cristoforo is dealing with a hip issue and management is discussing whether to play him in the three exhibition games, but the condition is not believed to be serious.
“It’s probably better to deal with it now than in the middle of the season,” Smith said of the slew of injuries.
On the bright side, imported rookie Josef Eichler is expected to arrive from the Czech Republic later Wednesday after being cleared to travel with mononucleosis, but Bowler said he has been taken off the ice, He is not expected to play this weekend.
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“He’s got to get back into hockey shape,” Bowler said. “We’ll just have to play it by ear. We’ll see how he responds.”
There are still plenty of new faces in the club’s training camp and the Spitfire have Junior B Strathroy free agent forward Kyler Morgan was also recalled for Wednesday and Thursday’s games.
With multiple players sidelined due to injury or road trips to NHL training camps, the battle at this point isn’t to start the season with the Spitfires, but to see what role some of these rookies can play with the club this season. What a role.
“It’s a chance to build character,” Smith said of the final exhibition game. “They’re going to decide their (playing) time based on the game and the way it’s played.”
While injuries and the absence of key players like Jacob Meyert, Oliver Peel, Nicolas DeAngelis and Rodwin Dionisio from NHL training camps could pose problems, the nine-day break Allowing Smith and his staff to focus on the systems the team will deploy. Install this season and focus on those players who are new to the team.
“A competitive and hard-hitting style will be the backbone of our team this year,” Smith said. “When we bring players back, we retrain their brains.
“Now, it’s a great opportunity for us to get to know these new players one-on-one and discover their strengths and weaknesses.
“We’re really happy with the pace of practice. Now, it’s all about connecting it to game situations.”
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