Spitfires continue ascent
The recharged Windsor Spitfires are becoming a pretty good story in the making. After starting the 2023-2024 Ontario Hockey League season with a 4-16-1 record that led to the firing of first year head coach Jerrod Smith, the Spitfires have since gone 4-2-0 under interim bench boss Casey Torres.
The ascent of the Spitfires continued on Thursday with a 4-1 home ice victory over the Barrie Colts. It was Windsor’s first home game after five straight road matches with Torres at helm.
Notably, the Spitfires now have as many wins in six games under Torres as they did in 21 outings with Smith as the head coach.
“We know we didn’t get off to the start to the season that anyone wanted,” Spitfires second-year defenceman Anthony Cristoforo told the Windsor Star. “Since the coaching change, we all kind of wiped it clean and are coming to the rink positive and I feel like it shows out there.”
As for the change in fortunes from the first 21 games of the season to the past six, Torres relayed the explanation.
“I don’t think it’s rocket science to understand, our biggest change has been our ability to limit scoring chances, shots and goals against,” Torres said.
After allowing a whopping 125 goals in 21 games when Smith was the head coach, the Spitfires have allowed just 14 goals — excluding empty net tallies — in the six games that Torres has been in charge.