OHL Windsor Spitfires

Windsor Spitfires Host Captains Luncheon, Unveil Wall of Captains

December 1, 2010 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Windsor Spitfires News Release


Earlier today, the Windsor Spitfires were proud to host the inaugural Spitfire Captains Luncheon in the Media/Scout Room at the WFCU Centre. The Captains Luncheon brought together seven Spitfire captains including current captain Ryan Ellis and past captains such as Scott Miller (1975-1976), Ernie Godden (1980-1981), Bill Bowler (1994-1995), Spitfires Associate Coach D.J. Smith (1996-1997), Craig Mahon (1999-2002) and Ryan Donally (2004-2005). Mark and Jane Renaud, parents of Mickey Renaud also joined the team for the luncheon on behalf of Mickey (2007-2008) with Rick and Jolayne Young, parents of Harry Young (2008-2010) also attending the luncheon on his behalf.

As part of the luncheon, the Windsor Spitfires also unveiled their newly created Spitfire Wall of Captains, complete with six plaques from specific Spitfire eras which list the names of each captain starting from the 1946-1947 season to the current 2010-2011 campaign. 46 captains are listed in total on the six plaques with 16 pictures from this group also being included on the Wall, commemorating some of the team's finest leaders to have ever worn the "C" with the Spitfires.

The Spitfire Wall Captains includes the only four Spitfires to have their numbers retired in club history with #9 Adam Graves, #15 Ernie Godden, #18 Mickey Renaud and #23 Scott Miller listed on the wall. Spitfire great #6 Joel Quenneville is also listed, with his number having been honoured by the team.

Windsor Spitfires Vice-President and General Manager Warren Rychel served as the keynote speaker for the luncheon. He offered his thoughts on today's event, "it's an honour for the Spitfire organization to welcome back so many of the team's leaders in past seasons. We have a rich history of developing character people on our team and our captains have led this charge. Today's unveiling of the Spitfires Wall of Captains recognizes and celebrates the contributions that each and every single captain has made to the Windsor Spitfires. I'm so very pleased to have our newly created wall serve as a constant reminder of who our captains were and what they meant to the team."

The Windsor Spitfires also had the privilege of speaking with Scott Miller, Ernie Godden and Craig Mahon following the luncheon and unveiling. Here's what they had to say.

Scott Miller, captain of the Spitfires in team's first OHL season (1975-1976) and the first Spitfire to have his number (23) retired by the team: "In becoming captain of the team, I was in the right place at the right time. I was flattered and surprised to be named as the captain of the Windsor Spitfires and my head coach Wayne Maxner was instrumental in making this happen. I was also privileged to play with Mark Renaud and Joel Quenneville in this season, which was special. I still have people come by my store in Essex and mention that they've seen my picture up in the rafters, it's been an honour being both a captain and having my number retired here.

Ernie Godden, captain of the Spitfires in the 1980-1981 season during which he set the still current OHL single-season record for goals (87). He was also second Spitfire to have his number (15) retired by the team: Anytime you can play for the Spitfires and be named the captain, it's truly an honour. My head coach, Ron Harris appointed me as captain of the team and gave me an opportunity to devlop my game offensively and I really broke out in the 1980-1981 season. I scored many goals before joining the Spits in minor hockey and Harris allowed me to use my talents at the OHL level, the experience of being captain with the Spitfires was also helpful to my development.

Craig Mahon, captain of the Spitfires from 1999-2002, he was one of only two players along with Paul Maurice in Spitfires history to serve as captain for three seasons: "Today's event was a classy move by the organization, everything was done right and I'm proud to be a Spitfire for life. It was part of my job to help lead the team and being a three-year captain of the Windsor Spitfires was an honour and privilege. I'm proud to now be part of the Spitfire Wall of Captains."

The Windsor Spitfires would like to thank Bob Murray, Bob Duff, Bob Boughner Sr., Valerie Boughner and Felicia Krautner for their contributions in helping make this project possible.

The complete list of Spitfire captains is as follows:

Spitfire Captains History

1946-53 - Spitfire IHL and OHA Era

1946-47 Paul Monforton

1947-48 Max Quackenbush

1948-49 Bert Giesebrecht

1949-50 Glen Skov

1950-51 Irwin Gross

1951-52 Elmer Skov

1952-53 Al Arbour

1971-75 - Spitfire SOJHL Era

1971-72 Brian Thorne

1972-73 Nick Natyshak

1973-74 Hugh Mitchell

1974-75 Hugh Mitchell

1975-1984 - Spitfires Inaugural OHL Era

1975-76 Scott Miller/Mark Perras

1976-77 Joel Quenneville

1977-78 Joel Quenneville

1978-79 Blair Barnes

1979-80 Claude Julien

1980-81 Ernie Godden

1981-82 Darwin McCutcheon; Greg Gravel

1982-83 Greg Gravel; Claude Loiselle

1983-84 Mike Neill

1984-1989 - Spitfires Compuware OHL Era

1984-85 Todd Gill

1985-86 Paul Maurice

1986-87 Paul Maurice

1987-88 Paul Maurice; Paul Hampton; Adam Graves

1988-89 Peter DeBoer

1989 - 2008 - Spitfires Shield Logo - OHL Era

1989-90 Peter Liptrott

1990-91 Jason York

1991-92 Cory Stillman

1992-93 Cory Stillman; Craig Lutes

1993-94 Craig Lutes

1994-95 Bill Bowler

1995-96 Mike Martin

1996-97 D.J. Smith

1997-98 D.J. Mando; Peter Sarno; Jeff Martin

1998-99 Jason Ward; Jeff Martin

1999-2000 Craig Mahon

2000-01 Craig Mahon

2001-02 Craig Mahon

2002-03 Tim Gleason

2003-04 Craig Kennedy

2004-05 Ryan Donally; Mitch Maunu

2005-06 Paul McFarland

2006-07 Mike Weber

2007-08 Mickey Renaud

2008-Present - OHL Era

2008-09 Harry Young

2009-10 Harry Young

2010-11 Ryan Ellis

Check out the Windsor Spitfires Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from December 1, 2010


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