Luchuk, Fotinos Combine For Stellar Win

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The Spitfires are really coming together. Two days removed from a devastating loss, the young team found chemistry and drive for Windsor. Saturday night, Aaron Luchuk scored a hat trick, and Alex Fotinos stopped 37 of 41 shots as Windsor went on to beat North Bay 5-4.

Back and forth battles kicked off the action at the WFCU Centre. The Spitfires would strike first when Aaron Luchuk slapped a centering pass past goalie Evan Cormier. Upon scoring the first goal, the stuffed bears came flying as the Spitfires celebrated their annual teddy bear toss. Windsor was fired up and pressing for another goal. Despite the energy, the battalion got on the board six minutes later to tie the game before the end of the period. Mike Amadio set up Kyle Wood for a one-timer slapshot that found the back of the net. With one period down, the teams were locked at one.

North Bay was the team getting the chances early in the second period. Alex Fotinos was up to the task, though. The 5’10”, 204lb goaltender pulled off enormous saves for the Spitfires. Huge stops at one end would allow for a Windsor goal at the other. Cormier couldn’t handle a trickling puck, and Logan Brown was there to tap the puck into the open net. Momentum was back on their side as the Spits picked up the pace. As a result, Luchuk scored his second of the night on a sharp-angle shot from the near corner. A little later, however, the Battalion cut the lead to one. Once more on the powerplay, a one-timer by Miles Liberati made its way through traffic and in. Late in the period, North Bay nearly tied the game again, but Luchuk and Fotinos teamed up to keep the puck out. The Spitfires held on to a one-goal, 3-2 lead heading to the third.

The two teams were set to clash with one period to go. Each had their fair share of opportunities, but North Bay would pick up the next goal, scoring the equalizer. Windsor’s penalty-killing units were having a hard time down a player. The Battalion again struck on the powerplay as Ray Huether tipped a point shot past Fotinos. Windsor countered less than two minutes later when Luchuk completed his hat trick. He slapped a rebound into the back of the net to give the Spitfires the go-ahead goal. Four minutes later, Windsor got its insurance goal while shorthanded, thanks to the efforts from Jamie Lewis. While spinning and falling, the forward swatted at the puck, which slid all the way into the North Bay empty net. Up by two, with less than two minutes to play, the Spitfires seemingly had a sure win. The Battalion gave them a scare when they scored with 42.4 seconds remaining. Mike Amadio threw the puck out front, and it bounced off a defender and in. time quickly ticked down as the Spits fought off the Battalion and won 5-4.

Windsor returns to the WFCU Centre on December 18^th at 7:05 to face the Saginaw Spirit.