Once again, the 2025-26 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) season came down to the final weekend. The Windsor Spitfires needed until the third period of their final game, but we finally know their first-round opponent – the Guelph Storm.
The Spitfires have been considered a contender since nearly day one. While they started the season hot, they got into a battle with the Flint Firebirds for the top seed in the West Division. A 5-3 win over the Soo Greyhounds on Sun., March 22, clinched the division for the Spitfires by two points. Now, they gear up for a Storm club that’s looking to gain some valuable playoff experience as they gear up for a big 2026-27 season. Game 1 is set for Thurs., March 26. Let’s break it down.
The Vitals
Records:
Spitfires – 44-15-6-3 – 97 points – Second Western Conference, First West Division
Storm – 28-35-2-3 – 61 points – Seventh Western Conference, Fourth Midwest Division
Home-and-Away Records:
Spitfires – 24-4-5-1 (home); 20-11-1-2 (road)
Storm – 17-14-1-2 (home); 11-21-1-1 (road)
Goals-For and Goals-Against:
Spitfires – 264-173
Storm – 225-263
Head-to-Head Record:
Spitfires – 2-2-0-0
Storm – 2-1-1-0
- Spitfires out-scored the Storm 17-16 in the four games.
Last 10 Games:
Spitfires – 7-1-1-1 – 45 goals for, 20 goals against
Storm – 2-8-0-0 – 29 goals for, 37 goals against
Leading Producers and Goaltending Stats
Top 3 Producers:
Spitfires
- Captain forward Liam Greentree (New York Rangers) – 52 games, 38 goals, 36 assists, 74 points
- Forward Nathan Villeneuve (Seattle Kraken) – (two teams) 51 games, 21 goals, 42 assists, 63 points
- Defenceman Carson Woodall – 68 games, 12 goals, 51 assists, 63 points
Storm
- Forward Tyler Hopkins (Toronto Maple Leafs) – (two teams) 56 games, 25 goals, 25 assists, 50 points
- Forward Ethan Miedema (Buffalo Sabres) – 68 games, 25 goals, 22 assists, 47 points
- Forward Illia Shybinskyi – 60 games, 19 goals, 25 assists, 44 points
Goaltending:
Spitfires
- Joey Costanzo – 50 games, 32-11-4-1, 2.16 goals-against average (GAA), .908 save percentage (SV%)
- Michael Newlove – 23 games, 12-4-2-2, 2.76 GAA, .886 SV%
Storm
- Zachary Jovanovski – 52 games, 25-20-1-3, 3.39 GAA, .890 SV%
- Colin Ellsworth – 21 games, 3-14-1-0, 4.30 GAA, .863 SV%
What the Spitfires Bring to the Table
General manager Bill Bowler has put together a team built for a long playoff run. In 2022, he started building a team around the 2006-born players that included Greentree, Woodall, defenceman-turned-forward Anthony Cristoforo, forward A.J. Spellacy (Chicago Blackhawks), and forward Cole Davis, among others.
In 2022-23, they lost in the first round. While they missed the playoffs in 2023-24, they made it to Game 7 of the second round last season, losing to the Kitchener Rangers in overtime. Now, it all comes to a head.
Related: OHL Round 2: 5 Takes From Spitfires’ 2-1 OT Game 7 Loss to Rangers
This season, that 2006 core, along with long-time goaltender Costanzo, are ready for one last attempt at the Memorial Cup as a group. At the January trade deadline, they added Villeneuve and forward Alex Pharand (Blackhawks), plus defenceman Jakub Fibigr (Kraken), to bolster two areas. As a result, they finished third overall in goals scored and second overall in goals against. If the players can put this all together, they have a solid shot of playing well into May.
What the Storm Bring to the Table
Earlier this season, the Storm, along with the City of Guelph, were named hosts for the 2027 Memorial Cup. It’s the first time they’ve hosted since 2002. However, with this announcement came a sell-off at the January trade deadline. Since then, they’ve become a younger, hungrier club that’s eager to show the league they can handle the playoff battles.
While the Storm don’t have the star power that the Spitfires do, they have plenty of depth and persistence to create havoc if you don’t treat them like a contender. From Miedema (acquired from the Kingston Frontenacs), Hopkins, and young phenom Jaakko Wycisk up front to gritty veterans Rowan Topp, Grant Spada, and Quinn Beauchesne on defence, it’s a team you cannot sleep on.
The Storm beat the Spitfires twice at home this season and are looking to gain all the experience they can for next season. This isn’t a team anyone can take lightly.
The X-Factors
Spitfires
Last season, the Spitfires had some horrible luck with injuries during the playoffs. At one point in the second round, they had as many as eight regulars out of the lineup.
This season, Villeneuve and Spellacy, along with forward Ethan Belchetz, have been hurt for most of March. They even lost Davis for several games, though he has since returned. The club found a way to stay focused and earn the West Division title. However, staying healthy is going to be important if they want to get past the Storm. While they’ve often found a way to come together when players are out, at some point, the luck could run out.
Storm
For the Storm, we’re looking at the overager (21-year-old) Miedema. He’s an interesting case in this series. The 6-foot-4, 211-pound Cobourg native was the Spitfires’ first-round pick in the 2021 OHL Draft, chosen fourth overall, and had 38 points in 65 games for them in 2021-22. However, they traded him to the Frontenacs in January 2023 as part of a trade for Shane Wright. Now, the veteran finds himself with the Storm for his final season… and he’s playing his original team.
Miedema has played in 335 career OHL games, which is third in league history. Over that stretch, he has 100 goals and 235 points. However, he has just seven points in 41 career playoff games. If he can find a way to get that turned around in his final playoff chance, he’s a lot to handle around the goal, and it could make life miserable for the Spitfires’ defence. This might be his golden opportunity to get the last laugh as he moves on with his hockey career.
Quick Playoff Tidbits
Spitfires
Since winning the 2010 Memorial Cup in Brandon, MB, the Spitfires have won just four playoff series. They went to the OHL Championship in 2021-22, beating the Sarnia Sting, the Rangers, and the Firebirds in the West before losing to the then-Hamilton Bulldogs in Game 7 of the OHL Championship. Last season, they beat the Greyhounds before losing to the Rangers in the second round. It makes this season important to show that the 2021-22 season wasn’t a fluke.
Storm
The Storm aren’t much better than the Spitfires in that trend, either. While they won the OHL Championship in 2013-14 and 2018-19, they’ve won just one playoff series otherwise since 2008-09. That was when they made it to the second round in 2014-15. It makes this season important as they’ll want that experience before hosting the tournament next season.
Playoff History Between the Clubs
The Spitfires and Storm have a unique playoff history. Despite the Storm joining the OHL in 1991-92 and the Spitfires joining in 1975-76, they’ve only met once in the playoffs.
In 2001-02, when the Storm hosted the Memorial Cup at the Guelph Sports and Entertainment Centre (now Sleeman Centre), the clubs met in the second round. Unfortunately for the hosts, the Spitfires took the series 4-1, outscoring the Storm 23-15. If there’s any consolation, it’s that two games went into overtime.
Quotables
Greentree on Tuesday regarding one last playoff with the full 2006-born group: “It’s been the best four seasons of my life. Windsor has been such a great spot, and being able to share that with guys like Cristoforo and Spellacy, it’s really something special. Those are guys that I’ll be friends with for the rest of my life. I’m sure I’ll miss them, and they’ll do great in the next chapter of their career. I’m super excited to follow them and see what they’ll do. It’s been a great four seasons, and I just want to end it off on a good note.”
Cristoforo on the last playoff run with the full 2006 group: “It’s pretty crazy how fast the four seasons have gone by. It’s special. That’s three division titles in four seasons. For us, we don’t care about anything else besides winning. Knowing that it’s our last go-around, it’s tough. You want to leave it out there for the guys you came in with, but everyone else. It’s playoffs, you always want to win. Playing for the guys like Spellacy and Greentree, we feel we’ve built it up to this point. We’ve been a consistent team. We have a good group of guys, and showing that when it matters the most is the most important thing.”
Spitfires’ head coach Greg Walters on what they expect from the Storm: “The Storm are a good team, they’re structured … In the last couple of weeks, we knew it would be the Storm, Saginaw Spirit, or Owen Sound Attack. Each of the coaches took a team and pre-scouted them. After Sunday, we got right down to the Storm. We know what they have. We’ll show the players but, most importantly, it’s about us.”
Greentree’s message to the fans: “Come prepared and come ready to be loud … The fans have been great for the last few seasons. If I can hear the coach, you’re not loud enough (laughs).”
Walters’ message to the fans: “Keep coming out. Our kids love it, we love it. We’re really excited to get going in front of our fans.”
The Schedule
Game 1 – Thurs., Mar. 26 at Windsor – 7:05 pm
Game 2 – Sat., Mar. 28 at Windsor – 7:05 pm
Game 3 – Tues., Mar. 31 at Guelph – 6:37 pm
Game 4 – Thurs., Apr. 2 at Guelph – 7:07 pm
Game 5 – Sat., Apr. 4 at Windsor – 7:05 pm (if necessary)
Game 6 – Mon., Apr. 6 at Guelph – 6:37 pm (if necessary)
Game 7 – Tues., Apr. 7 at Windsor – 7:05 pm (if necessary)
Prediction
On paper, the Spitfires have the offensive firepower and defensive capabilities to make this a quick series. Their hard work over the last few seasons has come down to this moment, and they’re ready for it. However, while the Storm come in as the underdogs, they’ve still earned two wins head-to-head this season, and that can’t be overlooked. Is getting another four wins possible against a team that’s been waiting for this opportunity? That’s a tough ask – Spitfires in 5.
Ticket Information
Tickets to the Spitfires’ home playoff games are found on the WFCU Centre website. Prices range from $28.85 in the East end to $53.15 in Platinum sections.
Tickets to the Storms’ home playoff games at the Sleeman Centre can be found on their website. They also have a wide range of zones and pricing levels for fans. Prices range from $20.63 for children in multiple zones to $48.65 for “200 LEVEL TD Zone” tickets.
