In a cross-conference battle that was anything but tame, the Windsor Spitfires emerged victorious with a 6-3 win over the Brampton Steelheads on Saturday at the WFCU Centre. The game was defined by a staggering 24 penalties, a fight-filled second period, and a standout offensive performance from second-year forward J.C. Lemieux, who recorded his first career OHL hat-trick.
A Feisty Affair on Home Ice
What began as a standard cross-conference matchup quickly escalated into a heated contest. The two teams combined for a total of 24 penalties, with a remarkable 18 of those infractions occurring in the second period alone. The period featured six fighting majors and three misconducts, all assessed to Windsor players. This chippy play allowed the Brampton Steelheads to claw their way back from a three-goal deficit, tying the game and threatening the Spitfires' lead.
"I think with Brampton, they knew they were down 3-0 and they just wanted to come out hitting us and try to get under our skin and they definitely did that," said Spitfires' centre Jack Nesbitt. "A couple of big hits and we just stuck up for our teammates and there's nothing wrong with that."
Offensive Firepower Seals the Win
Despite the momentum swing, the Windsor Spitfires regrouped for the third period, scoring three unanswered goals to secure the 6-3 victory. The win improved the Western Conference-leading club's record to an impressive 15-3-1-1 for the season.
The story of the game was the explosive performance from J.C. Lemieux. The second-year forward broke through for his first OHL hat-trick in his 61st regular-season game. "I was struggling for a couple of games and my teammates were there for me," Lemieux remarked, noting he had been putting in extra work after practice with captain Liam Greentree and A.J. Spellacy. "It means a lot."
He was not the only Spitfire with a memorable night. Centre Jack Nesbitt had a career game, tallying a goal and four assists for his first five-point performance in 137 regular-season appearances. "I think that line was clicking," Nesbitt said of starting between Lemieux and rookie Max Brocklehurst, who also recorded his first multi-point OHL game with two assists. "We were playing well together."
Coach's Perspective and Roster Challenges
Looking for a spark in the third period, head coach Greg Walters moved Nesbitt back to a line with Liam Greentree and Ethan Belchetz. The move paid immediate dividends, as Greentree scored a pair of goals to help seal the win.
"I think the effort was there," Walters stated. "The execution, a lot of structure goals, I didn't like, but good teams find a way to win when you don't play well."
The victory did not come without its challenges. The Spitfires' injury list continued to grow, with forwards Cole Davis, Cole Dubowsky, and defenceman Carter Hicks remaining out of action. They were joined on the sidelines by centre Ethan Garden, who had played on Thursday. All four are sidelined with upper-body injuries.
"It was hard," Walters admitted, referencing the lineup adjustments that included call-ups Ian Inskip and Kaiden Harmon. "With two callups in and a bunch of guys in the box." Despite these hurdles, the Spitfires demonstrated resilience to claim a hard-fought two points on home ice.
