It may be preseason but the Windsor Spitfires seem to be picking up where they left off.
The Memorial Cup-champion Spitfires finished their first week of training camp by taking all three of their games at this weekend's OHL Preseason Showcase in Buffalo, New York. Newly-signed players were among the key goal scorers in wins over the Flint Firebirds, North Bay Battalion and the Peterborough Petes.
The Spits kicked things off Friday with a 4-3 win over the Firebirds at Key Bank Rink.
Chris Playfair scored twice and assisted on a third goal as the Spitfires spotted a 1-0 lead to Flint. Joseph Mizzi scored once and assisted on two more scores while Igor Larionov (son of the Hockey Hall of Famer and former Detroit Red Wing) scored the fourth goal. Brock Baier turned away 37 Flint shots in goal for Windsor.
Next up for the Spitfires was a Saturday afternoon clash with the Battalion. Windsor took a 3-0 lead but the Battalion fought back to get a tie at the end of regulation. The Spits' Matthew MacDougall scored the winner in overtime to beat North Bay 4-3.
It was the second of two goals in the contest for MacDougall, who made his impact shot over a week after being signed by the Spitfires and turning down a shot at playing in the NCAA.
Michael DiPietro had 21 saves in his first competitive action since the Memorial Cup final. Aaron Luchuk and Kirill Kozhevnikov also scored for Windsor.
The final opponent at the showcase for Windsor was Peterborough on Sunday afternoon. William Sirman, who signed his entry-level package with the Spitfires last week, scored two goals in Windsor's 4-1 victory. MacDougall and Larionov scored the other goals. Lucas Patton was the winner in goal.
The Spitfires continue their preseason on September 15 when they begin a home-and-away series with the Sarnia Sting at the WFCU Centre. The regular season begins September 21.
