5 Stories to Watch at Windsor Spitfires’ 2026-27 Training Camp

The ice is in place, the jerseys are hung, and the rosters are released. The Windsor Spitfires’ 2026-27 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) training camp is set to open on Thursday and there are several stories that are worth keeping an eye on.

This season’s camp is going to be unlike most others we’ve seen from the club. After going all-in last season, losing to the eventual Memorial Cup Champion Kitchener Rangers in the Western Conference Championship, the Spitfires head into camp with significant turnover, plenty of youth, and battles for roster spots that we haven’t seen in ages. Let’s dive into five stories that we’re keeping an eye on.

Can the Youth Take the Next Step?

When you go all-in, you tend to have a veteran roster. The downside is that most of them are close to graduation, which was the case last season.

With veterans like captain Liam Greentree (New York Rangers), Nathan Villeneuve (Seattle Kraken), and A.J. Spellacy (Chicago Blackhawks) having moved on, it’s a chance for the youth to step up. That includes forwards Ethan Garden (2024 OHL Draft), John McLaughlin (2025 OHL Draft), and Beksultan Makysh (2025 Canadian Hockey League (CHL) Import Draft).

The trio all had solid seasons in 2025-26; Garden with 41 points in 65 games, Makysh adding 39 points in 68 games, and McLaughlin finishing with 16 points in 50 games. However, with many of the producing core gone, including Ethan Belchetz (Michigan State University) and Jack Nesbitt (University of Michigan) who went to the NCAA, the younger guys are going to have a chance at more ice time and more situations. Head coach Greg Walters has never been shy about giving ice time to players who deserve it. If a younger player is showing he can be trusted in any situation, he may get that opportunity.

There’s never a guarantee that a player can adjust to more responsibility and ice time. This is the time to start that process, though. The Spitfires have plenty of opportunity to move youngsters up in the lineup if they’ve earned it. Can they do that at camp? We’re going to find out.

Who Takes Third Overage Spot?

While the youth will be a big focus in camp, the club will still need veteran leadership. That’s where defenceman Conor Walton and defenceman-turned-forward Anthony Cristoforo come into play.

Every team in the OHL can dress three overage (20-year-old) players in a game. You can have more on your roster up until the January trade deadline but just three can dress. Last season, the club had goaltender Joey Costanzo, defenceman Wyatt Kennedy, and forward Alex Pharand. This season, they had several options including Carson Woodall, who’s now at Boston College, Jakub Fibigr, who’s at Ohio State University, and Cole Davis, who’s now at the University of Connecticut. However, with all but Walton and Cristoforo gone, there is room for one more.

The question is – does Bowler bring in a third overage player? Does someone like Fibigr or Davis return after a period of time? If they bring someone else in, it could give the room a proven leader who can help out a weaker area of the ice. However, it might take away a spot for a youngster. There are pros and cons to both sides.

Bowler has rarely rushed a decision like this but it’s one that definitely warrants watching, not only through training camp but into preseason and the season as well.

No Guarantees in the Crease

The crease is going to look very different right away. With Costanzo graduating, the Spitfires will have a new starting goaltender for the first time since 2022-23. The question is – who takes control of the crease?

Last season, now-19-year-old Michael Newlove was Costanzo’s backup. The 2024 OHL Under-18 Draft first-overall pick made the club last season and did well with a 2.76 goals-against average (GAA) and .886 save percentage (SV%) in 23 appearances. While he had his off nights, like any rookie will, he also had a 12-4 record with two shutouts. Is he ready for the starter’s role this season, though?

He’s also going to have competition. The Spitfires’ seventh-round pick in 2024, now-18-year-old Jake Windbiel, has been simmering with the LaSalle Vipers Jr. B and is ready to show his talent. He’s had nearly identical back-to-back seasons with a GAA of 3.52 (2024-25) and 3.50 (2025-26) and .898 SV% (both seasons). If there was a time for him to make the jump to the OHL, it’s now.

They could also see a surprise from one of the other six goaltenders chosen in 2025 or 2026. With Costanzo gone, nothing is written in stone and a strong camp could turn heads enough to get more opportunities.

Free Agents Making Roster?

When former GM Warren Rychel was at the helm, the club had knack for finding productive free agents. From forward Cristiano DiGiacinto to defenceman Austin McEneny and goaltender Mario Culina, the Spitfires always seemed to have someone come out of the shadows to surprise everyone. Since then, there’s been a bit of a dry spell.

With at least a dozen players moving on from last season, the Spitfires should have openings this season. That means there’s a chance for free agents to come in and earn a spot. We know that they’ve signed 17-year-old free agent defenceman Jack O’Dell, which was done in July. He’s a 6-foot-2, 194-pound Chicago native who played for Phillips Academy Andover last season. We just don’t know how long he’ll be with the club as he’s expected to return there this season and is committed to Princeton University for 2027-28. If they can get him into the lineup this season, that’s a huge bonus.

Aside from O’Dell, they have about a dozen other free agents who are looking to make an impression. Those range from 17-year-old forward Bruce Perrott, who played for EPIC Sports Academy last season out of Middlesex, ON (near London) and is the brother of former Spitfires’ defenceman Andrew, to 19-year-old forward Reid Gammage, who was third in points in the Greater Ontario Hockey League last season with 82 points in 48 games.

The club didn’t have much room for surprise players last season as they went for a playoff run. This season could be different and it’s quite possible that a free agent comes out of the shadows to make a name for himself.

Walters and Coaching Staff Entering New Territory

Junior hockey is about development, whether that’s players, coaches, or most other positions. For the last two seasons, Walters and his staff have been able to work with a more veteran roster. They’ve had youth but not as much as they’re going to have this season. Now we find out how they work in this new territory.

One thing we heard time-and-time again last season, from players and Walters, was how everyone was buying into the systems. The coaches put things together, showed how they wanted it done, and the players executed them. While it wasn’t always easy, everyone got on board when they needed to. This season might be a different beast, though.

Now, the staff is working with a newer, younger roster. How long will it take for players to buy in? Will they adapt to the systems as well as previous rosters? This is new territory for Walters and his staff. It’s going to be interesting to watch and see how everyone responds to the new connection.

Training camp opens on Thursday and runs through the Blue-and-White Game on Saturday. The first preseason game is at the WFCU Centre on Sunday against the Soo Greyhounds.