Windsor Spitfires fly by Rangers with dominant victory

Ethan Belchetz led the way for the Windsor Spitfires as they took flight in an offensive barrage, earning a 12-2 blowout win over the Kitchener Rangers at WFCU Centre on Saturday night.

Belchetz scored four goals in the victory, finishing the night with six points. The first overall pick from the 2024 OHL Priority Selection potted two goals in the first period, adding power-play and short-handed goals in the third period.

The game-winner was scored by Noah Morneau midway through the first period, when he slid by Kitchener goalie Jackson Parsons with a tip-in. The third-year forward from Windsor has two goals with five points in three games this season.

Kitchener got on the board with 7:42 left on the clock in the first, when Luke Ellinas scored his second goal of the young 2024-25 regular season. Luca Romano was credited with the Rangers’ second and final goal of the game, with his marker coming in the second frame on the power play.

After the win, the Spitfires improve their record to 2-0-1-0, while the Rangers fall to 0-2-0-0. Windsor sits in the Western Conference’s number one seat early, while the Rangers are in the bottom of the standings.

“He’s an unbelievable teammate that just cares about winning,” said Windsor Head Coach, Greg Walters, about Belchetz, while speaking with 570 News Colour Commentator Paul Fixter. “The sky is the limit for this kid.”

The Windsor Spitfires have won two of three games to start the 2024-25 regular season, and they’ll remain at home for their next game on Thursday night against the Soo Greyhounds.

After suffering defeat, the Kitchener Rangers have lost four consecutive regular season games dating back to the 2023-24 campaign. The Rangers are slated to return home for their next game, where they’ll face off against the Flint Firebirds on Oct 4, at the Aud with puck drop at 7 p.m.