Spitfires Sweep the Storm, Advance to Face Flint Firebirds in Round Two
Published on April 2, 2026 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Windsor Spitfires News Release
GUELPH, ON - It wasn't just a win. It was a statement. The Windsor Spitfires completed a stunning sweep of the Guelph Storm on Thursday night at the Sleeman Centre, rolling to a dominant 11-3 victory in front of 3,743 fans to advance to the second round of the OHL playoffs, where they will face the Flint Firebirds.
From the opening puck drop, Windsor was on a mission. The Spitfires exploded for a jaw-dropping 11 goals on the night, with contributions up and down the lineup in what was a total team effort under head coach Greg Walters. Ethan Garden, Liam Greentree, and Cole Davis were named the three stars of the game - a fitting tribute to a night where nearly everyone in a Windsor sweater left their mark on the scoresheet.
Greentree got the party started at 14:09 of the first, finishing off a feed from Anthony Cristoforo to open the scoring. Jack Nesbitt made it 2-0 late in the first on a goal assisted by Cristoforo and Greentree, before Guelph briefly made things interesting with two goals of their own - including a penalty shot tally from Ethan Miedema - to tie it 2-2 heading into the second.
Then Windsor turned on the jets and never looked back.
The Spitfires outscored the Storm 5-0 in the second period, effectively ending the game as a contest. The barrage began just 60 seconds into the frame when John McLaughlin beat a scrambling Zach Jovanovski, and goals from Garden, Alex Pharand, and Carson Woodall - the latter a power play marker - followed in rapid succession. Davis then added a shorthanded goal at 14:06 to cap an absolutely breathtaking middle period. Guelph was forced to pull Jovanovski after the fifth goal, but backup Colin Ellsworth couldn't slow the bleeding either.
Windsor kept their foot on the gas in the third, scoring four more times. Garden and Andrew Robinson struck just over a minute apart to push the lead to 9-2, Davis added his second of the night at 6:15, and Max Brocklehurst rounded out the scoring with the 11th goal late in the game. Tyler Hopkins added a consolation goal for the Storm at 18:13, but by that point the celebration was already well underway on the Windsor bench.
Joey Costanzo was steady as ever in goal for the Spitfires, turning aside all 24 shots he faced across 60 minutes for his fourth win of the series. Windsor finished the night going 1-for-2 on the power play and even managed a shorthanded goal - a reflection of just how thoroughly they controlled every aspect of this game.
With the sweep complete, the Windsor Spitfires move on to the OHL's second round where they will meet the Flint Firebirds. If Game 4 is any indication, Flint has been warned - this Windsor team is playing some of the best hockey in the league, and they are not slowing down anytime soon.
Ontario Hockey League Stories from April 2, 2026
- Kingston's Season Ends Due to Late Game Heroics - Kingston Frontenacs
- Toronto Jr. Canadiens, Detroit HoneyBaked to Face-Off in Saturday's OHL Cup Final - OHL
- Spitfires Sweep the Storm, Advance to Face Flint Firebirds in Round Two - Windsor Spitfires
- Kitchener Rangers Earn 5-1 Game 4 Victory to Sweep Opening Round Series - Kitchener Rangers
- Spirit Unable to Hold off Rangers in Game 4, See Season Come to an End - Saginaw Spirit
- McCallum Scores as Battalion Take 3-2 Series Lead - Peterborough Petes
- Engle Sends Bulldogs to Second Round with Series Winner - Brantford Bulldogs
- 67's to Face Steelheads in October's Seaway Shootout - Ottawa 67's
- Frontenacs to Take Part in Seaway Shootout in Cornwall this October - Kingston Frontenacs
- Seaway Shootout Brings Ontario Hockey League Action Back to Cornwall this October - OHL
- Seaway Shootout Brings Ontario Hockey League Action Back to Cornwall this October - Brampton Steelheads
- OHL Announces Finalists for Most Sportsmanlike Player of the Year - OHL
- Kieren Dervin Named Finalist for OHL's Most Sportsmanlike Player Award - Kingston Frontenacs
- Jimmy Lombardi Named a Finalist for the William Hanley Trophy - Flint Firebirds
- Round One Game Four: Kitchener Rangers vs. Saginaw Spirit - Kitchener Rangers
- Game Preview: Saginaw Spirit (8) vs Kitchener Rangers (1) - Game 4 - Saginaw Spirit
- Game 4 - April 2 - WSR at GUE - Guelph Storm
- Kingston Needs to Lay It All on the Line Tonight in Do Or Die Game Four - Kingston Frontenacs
- An End to the 2026 Playoff Season for the Owen Sound Attack - Owen Sound Attack
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