Rychel Rallies Spitfires For Comeback Victory

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Windsor overcame an incredible feat Thursday night. The Spitfires went down 4-1 in the first period. They powered through though. The boys rallied three third period goals to come from behind and win. The Spits beat the Plymouth Whalers 6-5 at the WFCU Centre.

The game began in Windsor’s favour as the Spits scored on a textbook, tic-tac-toe passing play. The players utilized the entire offensive zone; from Rychel to Nick Ebert, then Ebert to Brady Vail, and Vail to Remy Giftopoulos. He was alone in front and was able to beat Alex Nedeljkovic.

The celebration was short-lived as Plymouth retaliated 17 seconds later. Connor Chatham skated hard for a breakaway goal. After the tying goal, the Whalers skated away with three consecutive goals. Carter Sandlak found the puck in a scramble in front of Dalen Kuchmey and put it in. Sandlak sank the Spits lower with a great individual effort as he dodged checks and sticks before firing a high shot past Kuchmey. With only over four minutes remaining, Danny Vanderwiel topped off Plymouth’s scoring in the first period. The goalie made the original save off a sprawling Whaler, but Vanderwiel skated in for the rebound goal. Just like that, the Spitfires were down 4-1 after one.

In the second, captain Kerby took over. 55 seconds into the period, he faked a slap-shot before firing a wrist-shot past the goalie. The goal marked his 100^th OHL goal. With seven minutes to go, he made a similar play. He circled near the blue line then blasted a slap-shot straight in. Near the end of the period, the Spits came close to tying it upon hitting the post on a power-play. After 40 minutes, it was now a one-goal game, as Plymouth led 4-3.

The Spitfires were within one, but the visitors were determined for the win. They scored an odd goal six minutes into the third period. Ryan Hartman’s shot bounced to the corner. He recovered his own rebound and fired it to the net. The puck squeezed between Kuchmey and the post and snuck across the goal line. Down by a pair, Windsor had plenty of time – until the team took a couple of penalties. The Spits defended really well, and as the second penalty was about to end, they broke away on a 2-on-1. Slater Koekkoek skated from his own zone into the opposition’s zone, looked over but let a quick shot go to the back of the net. Again, Windsor was down by one. Less than four minutes remained when the Spitfires scored the equalizer. Giftopoulos picked up a loose puck at the top of the circle. He deked a couple of players, and even a broken stick, and found Cristiano DiGiacinto standing in front of Nedeljkovic. He swatted the puck in and evened the game at 5.

Time ticked down, but the Spits were not settling for overtime.

Kerby Rychel struck again, and with speed. He rushed hard and faked the slap-shot once more. The move faltered the goalie as the wrist-shot made its way to the back of the net. Windsor had the lead with 1:17 left to play in the game. The goal was his 100^th goal as a Spitfire.

The 4781 fans went berserk when Kerby Rychel scored the go-ahead goal late in the third.

Windsor fought off the Whalers in the dying seconds and skated away with a monumental 6-5 comeback victory.

Rychel deservingly earned the game’s first star.

Windsor’s next game is this Sunday, November 10^th against the London Knights.