In a night of personal milestones and strategic gambles, the Windsor Spitfires secured a decisive 6-2 victory over the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds at the WFCU Centre on Thursday, December 19, 2025. The win was fueled by a standout performance from defenceman-turned-forward Anthony Cristoforo and a historic achievement from veteran goaltender Joey Costanzo.
Cristoforo Seizes Opportunity with Offensive Explosion
With key forwards Liam Greentree and A.J. Spellacy away at world junior camps, Spitfires head coach Greg Walters needed to spark his team's offence. He turned to a persistent request from fourth-year defenceman Anthony Cristoforo, who had long asked for a chance to play up front.
The 19-year-old didn't just fill a spot; he dominated. In his 223rd regular-season OHL game, Cristoforo recorded his first career hat trick, scoring all three of his goals in the third period. He also added an assist on Jack Nesbitt's first-period goal, finishing the night with four points.
"I feel like we clicked," Cristoforo said of his chemistry with linemates Nesbitt and Ethan Belchetz. "They're easy to play with." The move was facilitated by the return of forward Andrew Robinson from injury, which gave the roster flexibility to deploy seven defencemen and shift Cristoforo to forward.
Costanzo Claims Franchise Goaltending Record
While Cristoforo shone offensively, the night held equal significance in the crease. Overage goalie Joey Costanzo stopped 27 shots to backstop the win, which marked his 87th career victory with the Spitfires.
This achievement broke the previous club record of 86 wins, held by Amherstburg native and NHL goalie Mikey DiPietro. Characteristically humble, Costanzo credited the team for the milestone. "At the end of the day it's a team stat," Costanzo stated. "I want to give a piece of that to all 20 guys in the room, staff included."
His teammates were aware of the impending record and motivated to secure it for him. "We knew Joey was one (win) away," Cristoforo confirmed. "We all wanted to make sure he got it."
A Strategic Move Pays Dividends for Windsor
Coach Walters's decision to move Cristoforo was born out of necessity after two consecutive losses and a one-goal performance in their previous game. The experiment proved to be a masterstroke.
"Down Greentree and (Spellacy)... we were so young up front and trying to create offence," Walters explained. "For two years now, he's asked, 'If you ever need anyone.' So, I went to him. We thought it was the right time to do it."
Cristoforo, who played defence throughout his minor hockey career, embraced the new role. "It was fun," he said. "I like both, I don't know if it's possible to do both, but if it's possible I would love that."
The Spitfires' scoring was rounded out by goals from Andrew Robinson and Cole Davis, who netted an empty-netter alongside Cristoforo's third into the vacant Sault Ste. Marie net. The 6-2 final score provided a much-needed boost for Windsor, showcasing the depth and adaptability of their roster in the absence of star players.
