The Windsor Spitfires expect their reinforced defence to rise to the occasion Thursday.
The 3-1 Spitfires host the 3-1 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds at the WFCU Centre to kick off a string of three games over Thanksgiving weekend. They will be hitting the ice with another stick on the blue-line, thanks to a familiar face.
Spitfires Head Coach Trevor Letowski says the return of defenceman Sean Day from NHL training camp kicks the defence up a notch.
"It changes the look of the group, so he's going to play a ton of minutes," says Letowski. "Everybody's role will be lightened a little bit, which is probably a good thing for some of those young players."
Day returned to Windsor this week after spending with the New York Rangers organization at their training camp. The Rangers, who drafted Day, assigned him to the camp for their AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, before cutting him and returning him to Windsor. Rangers management were hoping the 19-year-old Michigan native would get the playing time he needs to develop properly.
Letowski says Day will get those minutes.
"There's going to be a little bit more competition for ice time now that Sean's there," says Letowski. "He's going to get his 25-plus minutes a night, so there's just less minutes to go around, but it's not a bad thing with a young team."
Where Day will be paired on the ice and with whom will not be determined until a few hours before Thursday's faceoff.
Turning attention to the Hounds, Letowski says with the season just starting, he's more interested in how his players are developing, but says Sault Ste. Marie has a good squad.
"In particular this early we just need to tighten up things that we're doing," says Letowski. "We have a lot of respect for the Soo, they're a good team. They should do well this year, they have a lot of talent and they're well-coached, so it'll be a good test for us at home."
Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05pm. The Spitfires then hit the road for the rest of the long weekend, stopping in Guelph Friday night and then Owen Sound Saturday.