Spitfires revels as the first Ontario-based OHL team to play in the USA with a 6-2 win over Firebirds

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The Windsor Spitfires scored for the first time in the Ontario Hockey League on Wednesday.

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The Spitfires became the first Ontario-based team to cross the border to play in the United States in nearly 20 months when Windsor beat the Firebirds 6-2 in Flint before 1,768 at the Dort Financial Center.

“We can’t cross the border to do something else and now we can play a game,” said Spitfires head coach Marc Savard. “It’s nice to feel a little normal.”

Almost a month into the season, the three US OHL teams in Flint, Saginaw and Erie have had to play each other. The 17 Ontario-based teams, while playing predominantly in conferences, have at least had some variety on the schedule.

“I don’t think it was that bad,” said Firebirds head coach Ted Dent, whose team faced Erie four times and Saginaw two before the Spitfires arrived on Wednesday. “For the first month, it has been good.

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“There are two ways of looking at it. You have a lot of time to practice and get the youngsters to score, but on the other hand, everyone wants to play, especially with last year’s pandemic. “

For OHL teams on both sides of the border, there are still hoops to jump. The Spitfires were required to be tested for travel, and while it is not a requirement for those in the U.S. to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, Dent said his equipment will also be tested before traveling to Kitchener and London this weekend. week. The OHL also requires those in the bank to wear masks.

However, fans in the stands in the US do not necessarily have to follow the same rules for fans that all fans present in Ontario must be double vaccinated.

“In every game, regardless of Canada or the United States, in a sense we are full of bubbles,” said Spitfires general manager Bill Bowler, who said his team was not coming into close contact with anyone else. “There is no one else besides our group near our group. It’s strictly for the game and then come back. “

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As the season progresses, that could be key considering COVID-19 infection rates on both sides of the border.

On Wednesday, Ontario, with a population of more than 14.5 million, reported 378 new cases and five deaths.

By contrast, Michigan, which has a population of less than 10 million, announced that it averaged 4,882 cases in the past two days, which is the highest total since April, as well as 137 deaths.

Meanwhile, Pennsylvania, with a population of 12.8 million, reported an average of 3,415 in the past three days and 181 deaths.

For the entire pandemic, Canada has reported 1.73 million cases and 29,052 deaths. Pennsylvania alone has 1,575,184 cases and 31,711 deaths, with Michigan now up to 1,147,512 total cases and 22,384 deaths. That compares to Ontario’s total of 601,039 cases and 9,886 deaths.

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“OHL trumps protocol,” Savard said of team personnel. “You can never be too sure and since it started, I know my family has been very careful.

“We go on the court, we go to the locker room, we play a game and then we come back.”

Wednesday’s game was the first of eight meetings between the two West Division foes and Spitfires defender Grayson Ladd said it’s good to renew the rivalry.

“It’s exciting,” Ladd said. “We don’t like Flint and they don’t like us.”

The Spitfires got a great effort from forward Matthew Maggio in Wednesday’s win as the Tecumseh native scored his first OHL hat-trick and added an assist. Windsor also put a lot of effort on special teams by killing all four of Flint’s power play opportunities while converting once in two opportunities with the power play.

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Kyle McDonald added a pair of goals while rookie Ethan Miedema a goal and an assist. Wyatt Johnstons and rookie defender Bronson Ride added a pair of assists in support of Windsor goalkeeper Xavier Medina, who made 36 saves for the win.

Brennan Othmann and Luca D’Amato scored for the Firebirds, who had a 38-34 advantage in shooting.

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Game Summary

Wednesday result

Spitfires 6 Firebirds 2

Windsor 3 1 2-6

Flint 1 0 1-2

First period: 1. Windsor, Miedema 3 (May, Sobolev) 3:15 (pp), 2. Windsor, May 3 (O’Flaherty, Ride) 7:26, 3. Flint, Othmann 5 (D’Amato, Panwar) 8 : 23, 4. Windsor, May 4 (Johnston) 18:29. Penalties: Kressler F (stumble) 1:27, Hayes F (hook) 12:42.

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Second period: 5. Windsor, May 5 (laughs) 9:15 am. Penalties: Ribau W (high sticking) 1:54, Birkett W (check to the head) 12:43, Henault W (high sticking) 15:08.

Third period: 6. Windsor, McDonald 3 (D’Amico) 4:13, 7. Flint, D’Amato 1 (unassisted) 7:36, 8. Windsor, McDonald 4 (Johnston, Miedema) 13:33. Penalty fee: Paseo W (cutting) 18:45.

Game Statistics – SOG – Windsor 15 7 12 – 34 Flint 9 14 15 – 38 Goal (shot-saves) – Windsor: Medina (W, 2-3-0-2) (38-36). Flint: Cavallin (L, 3-3-0-0) (34-28). Power play (goals-chances) – Windsor 1-2. Flint 0-4. Referees: Nicholas Bet (79) and Joe Monette (25). Linesmen: Justin Cornell (92) and Colton Giacumbo (64). For: 1,768 at Dort Financial Center.