With the newcomers in the fold, the Spitfires are finally ready to return to action.

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The wheels finally hit the pavement for the Windsor Spitfires on Friday.

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Postponed on Wednesday and delayed on Thursday, the Spitfires headed north on Friday to face West Division leader Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in a pair of games scheduled for Saturday at 7:07 p.m. and Sunday at 7:07 p.m. 2:07 pm at GFL Memorial Gardens.

“I’ve never seen so many guys excited to be on an 11-hour bus ride,” Spitfires head coach Marc Savard said on Friday, referring to the team not taking the normal route of travel through the United States for the trip. “We are all excited, even the coaches.”

Part of Friday’s trip included a stop at Barrie to catch 19-year-old forward Josh Currie, who was acquired from North Bay on Wednesday along with three draft picks for defender Grayson Ladd and right winger Kyle McDonald.

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“It’s a good group of guys,” said Currie, who has nine goals and 17 points in 28 games along with a 31-minute penalty. “I feel like it’s a team that’s building, pushing for the playoffs and I’ll have a chance.”

Saturday’s game will be Windsor’s first in 11 days with the club’s December 30 game in Guelph and December 31’s home game against Flint postponed due to COVID-19 issues with the team. A January 2 game in Sarnia was postponed due to COVID-19 issues with that team.

Windsor was scheduled to return to action on January 5 at Saginaw, but that game was postponed and the December 30 game against Guelph was rescheduled, but it was also postponed again because city officials were unclear on the new established protocols. by the provincial. Government.

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Originally this two-game set was supposed to start on Friday at Sault Ste. Marie, but the first game was delayed until Sunday as officials tried to put things in place so that the games would be played without fans in the steps. Additionally, Shaw will not televise any of the games, which means YourTV Windsor will not broadcast the games on cable.

“It’s going to be busy, but the guys want to play,” said Savard, whose team is scheduled to play five games in eight days starting Saturday’s game. “It will be exciting.”

Along with Currie, over-aged defender Andrew Perrot, who came from Owen Sound, and goalkeeper Matt Onuska, who came from London, are also on the trip. Both players had two days of practice with the Spitfires before heading out.

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“Perrott and Onuska haven’t skated much,” Savard said. “They came out and they looked good and excited. That is a great thing. We have a couple of great practices and I think the guys are excited. “

Perrot, 20, who has 22 points in 23 games, adds offense, a physical style along with leadership skills.

“Hopefully, I can come in and get the job done,” Perrot said. Hopefully I’ll teach the guys a thing or two and bring my energy and positivity to the team. I want to go in and be a leader ”.

Onuska, 19, provides an insurance policy behind No. 1 goalkeeper Xavier Medina, who has been out 11 games with injuries this season, and takes the pressure off 17-year-old rookie Kyle Downey.

“If you’re not confident in your ability, you’re already preparing,” said Onuska, who appeared in just three games for the Knights this season behind Brett Brochu. “I have confidence in myself to help this team win and that’s what I want to do.”

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