The Windsor Spitfires have a chance to win their first OHL championship since 2010 after averting elimination with a 5-2 win in Game 6 of the finals against Hamilton.
“That’s what we play for,” said top scorer Wyatt Johnston. “We’ve grown so much as a team and I think we’re just a really confident group.”
The Spits put themselves in a winning position with a 5-2 win on Monday night at the WFCU Centre. “We always talk about it being a journey and last night was definitely a tough test for us,” said head coach Marc Savard.
Hamilton’s Logan Morrison scored twice to give the visitors a 2-1 lead midway through the second game. Daniel D’Amico then faced the situation as he had against Flint in games six and seven of the Western Conference Finals.
The 21-year-old scored his second goal of the evening late in the draw.
“I’ve said it a few times that I didn’t go home my senior year in the Ontario Hockey League. I don’t want to go away,” D’Amico said.
Less than a minute later, former Bulldogs defenseman Michael Renwick went up front with what turned out to be the game winner.
“Playing against your former team is really cool. you know the boys They have connections with some of the guys on the team but I’m trying to win a championship here so it’s really special and I love this group. I’m a Windsor Spitfire,” Renwick said.
A Spits team led by a captain who jumped up and down like a five-year-old player as he scored on the power play in the first minute of the third game to make it 4-2.
“In a game like this, especially when the fans are going crazy, it’s definitely hard to contain your emotions when you score a goal like that,” said Will Cuylle.
Pasquale Zito added insurance on a breakaway goal to set up a one-game winner-takes-all scenario.
Fans like John Botosan will travel to Hamilton to give the team a boost of energy. He also made the trip to Steel Town for game five.
“I just like supporting and cheering on the team,” said Botosan. “I have fun. It gives me something to do and I really enjoy the team. I’ve owned season tickets since 1993.
Head coach Marc Savard had family in Hamilton Sunday for the game.
“They said sometimes you can’t tell where you are because our fans are just as rowdy as theirs,” he said.
After surviving the playoffs with 12 straight wins, the Bulldogs are on the brink of elimination for the first time. It’s a situation that could favor Windsor.
“We definitely have the experience in the playoff game with our backs to the wall. We know what to expect and we know we’re going to come out of it strong,” Scavard said.
Botosan hopes the Spits emerge victorious.
“If they win, I think I could do a trip to Saint John,” he said. “We will see.”