It was a home opener that may have had fans flashing back.

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It was a home opener that may have had fans flashing back.

The Windsor Spitfires hit double figures in offence in a home opener for the first time since 2007 on Saturday in a 12-2 win over the Kitchener Rangers before a crowd of 5,796 at the WFCU Centre.

Seventeen years ago, second overall pick Taylor Hall made his home debut for the Spitfires with a pair of goals and fellow rookie Andrew Yogan also scoring twice in a 10-3 win over Erie at Windsor Arena that also saw rookie Ryan Ellis playing on defence.

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“I remember (that team) well,” said Spitfires’ head coach Greg Walters, who was an assistant in Sarnia that season.

But on Saturday, this year’s draft crop shone even brighter. 

“It’s an unbelievable draft and I’m lucky to coach them,” Walters said.

Ethan Belchetz, who was the first overall pick in this year’s draft, exploded for four goals, including a pair of short-hands goals, and added two assists in the game.

“It felt awesome and it’s a confidence builder,” the six-foot-five, 226-pound Belchetz said. “I had a bunch of family here, so it was good to see.”

He wasn’t the only 2024 draft pick to shine. American Ethan Garden, who the Spitfires got to spurn NCAA interest to sign, got Windsor’s offence started with his first OHL goal. Second-round pick J.C. Lemieux had a pair of goals and has five points in his first three games. Defenceman Carter Hicks, who was also a second-round pick, had two assists and was a plus four.

“It was just an awesome feeling,” Lemieux said. “I can’t explain the feelings I’m having. Every rookie is doing everything they can and we’re like a family.”

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There was plenty of veteran support on offence for the Spitfires, who led 5-1 after 20 minutes and 8-2 after two periods.

Owen Outwater had two goals and two assists. Noah Morneau finished with a goal and four points. Captain Liam Greentree and first-year forward Nathan Gaymes also added single goals. Carson Woodall, Anthony Cristoforo and Cole Davis each picked up two assists with 16 players picking up at least a point while goalie Joey Costanzo made 35 saves.

“We don’t want to put expectations on this group,” Walter said. “We’re just trying to get better every day.

“The veterans, led by the captain, have welcomed these kids and they feel a huge part of our team.”

As the game wore on, a frustrated Kitchener squad, which got goals from Luca Romano and Luke Ellinas, tried to take a more physical approach.

The young Windsor squad did not back down with Belchetz and Lemieux each recording their first OHL fight with a dozen majors called in the game.

“I didn’t select that,” Belchetz said of the fight with 19-year-old Matthew Andonovski. “Guys are going to try and intimidate and take us on, but we’re a pack of wolves and we have each other’s back.”

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While it’s early in the season, the Spitfires have five of a possible six points in the first three games with three key players still out of the lineup.

“The exhibition (season) was learning how to win with a new voice, new structure and new systems,” Walters said. “You can see the results and it’s all been a 100 per cent buy in and I’m proud of them.”

Things only look brighter with big forward Ilya Protas returned from NHL camp with Washington on Saturday, but too late to suit up. A.J. Spellacy is still in camp with Chicago, but is expected back along with overage defenceman Tnias Mathurin, who is sidelined by injury.

“We’re going to surprise some teams,” Belchetz said. “We’re going to take it game-by-game, but this is just the start. Once we get everyone back and get rolling, we’ll be a good team.”

The Spitfires are back in action on Thursday against the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds at the WFCU Centre. Game time is 7:05 p.m.

jpparker@postmedia.com

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Game Summary

Saturday Result

Spitfires 12 Rangers 2

Kitchener 1 1 0 – 2

Windsor 5 3 4 – 12

First period: 1. Windsor, Garden 1 (Davis, Walton) 3:47, 2. Windsor, Belchetz 1 (Woodall) 10:13 (sh), 3. Windsor, Morneau 2 (Gaymes, Martin) 12:05, 4. Kitchener, Ellinas 2 (Vermeulen) 12:18, 5. Windsor, Belchetz 2 (Hicks) 18:29, 6. Windsor, Outwater 1 (Abraham) 19:59. Penalties: Greentree W (kneeing) 8:34, Gaymes W (high sticking) 15:39.

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Second period: 7. Windsor, Greentree 2 (Belchetz, Cristoforo) 3:49, 8 Windsor, Lemieux 1 (Morneau, Outwater) 5:10,  9. Kitchener, Romano 1 (Reid, Misaljevic) 12:08 (pp), 10. Windsor, Lemieux 2 (Eichler, Davis) 18:43. Penalties: Mercer K (roughing), Eichler W (roughing) 6:28, Garden W (holding) 8:34, Bottineau K (fighting), Mercer K (misconduct), Winegard W (fighting), Martin W (double-minor roughing, misconduct), Gaymes W (misconduct) 11:46, LaBrash K (roughing) 15:20, Dirracolo K (cross checking) 16:42, Hlacar K (instigator fighting, misconduct), Stark K (misconduct), Garden W (misconduct), Hicks W (cross checking), Morneau W (fighting) 19:55.

Third period: 11. Windsor, Belchetz 3 (Outwater, Woodall) 11:56 (pp), 12. Windsor, Outwater 2 (Morneau, Belchetz) 14:36, 13. Windsor, Belchetz 4 (Morneau) 16:46 (sh),  14. Windsor, Gaymes 1 (Hicks) 18:59. Penalties: Andinovski K (instigator, fighting, misconduct), Belchetz W (fighting) :24, Arquette K (fighting), Vermeulen K (fighting, game misconduct), Eichler W (fighting), Lemieux W (fighting, game misconduct), Winegard W (fighting, game misconduct) 4:28, Romano K (slashing) 11:15, Elinas K (cross checking) 11:56, Davis W (high sticking) 15:30. 

Game stats – SOG – Kitchener 12 13 11 – 36 Windsor 11 12 14 – 37 Goal (shots-saves) – Kitchener: Parsons (L,0-2-0-0) (11-6), Schaubel (0:00 of of second period) (26-19). Windsor: Costanzo (W,2-0-0-0) (36-34). Power play (goals-chances) – Kitchener 1-6. Windsor 1-6. Referees: Ryan Hutchison (20) and Ben Wilson (32). Linesmen: Riley Clipper (65) and Geoff Rutherford (62). Att.: 5,796 at the WFCU Centre.

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