The Windsor Spitfires face three tough opponents this weekend.
Coming off a weekend series in which they split a home-and-away with the Kitchener Rangers, the Spits will face two of the OHL's stronger teams back-to-back. Thursday night, Windsor hosts the Owen Sound Attack, which was the surprise success story last season. On Friday, the Spitfires travel to Sarnia to take on a Sting team that has best record in the league at 16-4-1 and a number-one ranking in the CHL. Windsor returns home on Sunday for a matinee against rival London.
The Attack, for starters, boasts high-octane scorer Nick Suzuki with 31 points on the season so far. Owen Sound also has a defensive scoring threat in Sean Durzi, with 30 points.
Spitfires head coach Trevor Letowski says they can't afford to be complacent against any of those opponents.
"It'll be three of the best teams in the league," says Letwoski. "Obviously London's record doesn't show that but we have a lot of respect for that team, especially with all of their players back."
The Knights have struggled so far this season and they currently sit in last place in the OHL West Division with a 7-10-2 record for 16 points, but Letowski says with any rivalry game, the records get thrown out.
Letowski says the team had a productive week of practice since he's been back from acting as head coach for the OHL team in the annual Canada-Russia series. The OHL team split their two games with the Russian squad with a loss last Thursday in Owen Sound, then a win Monday at Sudbury.
As far as coaching an all-star team is concerned, Letowski calls the experience rewarding.
"It was just a little change of scenery for me," says Letowski. "I think it was a real good experience there just getting to know some of the top players in our league, being able to coach them and getting to know them a little bit better."