Spitfires boost net worth
On a day in which they made multiple transactions ahead of this week’s Ontario Hockey League trade deadline the Windsor Spitfires upgraded their goalie position.
After claiming overage goalie Max Donoso off waivers from Ottawa, the Spitfires dealt 19-year old net minder Ian Michelone to the 67’s for a 12th round draft pick. Numbers wise, Donoso is a clear upgrade over Michelone as the Spitfires chase a playoff spot in the Western Conference of the OHL.
For the most part, Michelone was ho-hum in the Windsor crease this season with a 5-7-3 record to go with an .867 save percentage and 4.50 goals against average. And while Donoso was rather basic for Ottawa with a 10-10-2 record, .891 save percentage and 3.45 goals against average, the 6-foot-1, 185 pound puck stopper is just a year removed from a 2022-2023 OHL season in which, playoffs included, he won 34 games for the 67’s. All together, Donoso had a 34-13-2 record with a .906 save percentage and 2.66 goals against average for the 67’s in ’22-23.
With the Spitfires, Donoso forms a goalie tandem with 18-year old Joey Costanzo. Costanzo has a sub-par record of 7-13-1 with an .854 save percentage and 4.74 goals against average for the Spitfires thus far this season.
Interestingly, the Spitfires-67’s goalie exchange brings Donoso to his hometown of Windsor and returns Michelone to his Ottawa roots.
BUSY BOWLER
Monday was a big day for Spitfires general manager Billy Bowler, who finalized a flurry of trades. Bowler shipped out overage defenceman Roberto Mancini to the Flint Firebirds and dealt overage centre Jacob Maillet along with aforementioned 19-year-old goaltender Ian Michelone to Ottawa in a trio of deals. And as previously noted, Bowler brought overage goalie Max Donoso home to Windsor by claiming him off of waivers from Ottawa.
In the three trades, the Spitfires also added seven future OHL draft picks as Bowler enhanced his reputation as a shrewd and thorough general manager who still has two days to potentially make more trades ahead of Wednesday’s deadline.