By Aaron Bell
The Windsor Spitfires closed out one chapter of their history in style and are looking forward to turning the page on a brand new chapter next week.
Dale Mitchell and Conor O’Donnell scored goals to help the Spitfires skate to a 2-1 win over the Guelph Storm on Thursday in their final game at Windsor Arena.
The win left them with a perfect 12-0-0-0 at Windsor Arena this season. They are opening the new Windsor Family Credit Union Centre next Thursday against the Belleville Bulls.
On Thursday, Matt Kennedy opened the scoring for the Storm midway through the first period before Mitchell tied the game less than a minute later. O’Donnell scored what proved to be the game-winner later in the first and will go into the history books after scoring the last OHL goal in the Windsor Arena.
After the game, the Spitfires lowered the banners of honoured players Marcel Pronovost, Gord Haidy, Joel Quennville, Ernie Godden, Scott Miller, Adam Graves and Mickey Renaud as well as their OHL championship banner from the 1987-88 season.
The banners will be raised in the WFCU Centre before the game next Thursday.
The players also presented their game-worn jerseys to lucky season ticket holders that won them in a draw after the game.
The Spitfires’ management said that it was important to involve the fans in the closing ceremonies.
“We as an organization would like to thank you,” Spitfires’ co-owner, governor and treasurer Peter Dobrich told the capacity crowd during the post-game ceremonies. “Thank you for your unwavering support in the good years and most importantly in rougher years. The support of the Spitfires in this barn is simply unbelievable. Thanks also needs to go to the original group of owners who made this effort to ensure that this team was here to celebrate.”
Windsor Arena was built in 1924 and is the oldest arena in the Canadian Hockey League.
