Windsor's own miracle on ice
By Tanya Quaglia
Lance Writer
June 3, 2009
Almost 30 years ago, Al Michaels famously yelled out, “Do you believe in miracles? Yes,” as the underdog 1980 U.S.A. hockey team defeated the ever-powerful Soviets. The game was dubbed the “Miracle on Ice.”
This year, the city of Windsor experienced their very own “Miracle on Ice.” The 2008-2009 Windsor Spitfires proved to people across Canada, that no matter how tough times can get, it is possible to turn things around, one win at a time.
Not too long ago, the Spitfires were a struggling team who could barely win a game. Attendance was down and fans were questioning their faith in the team. Ownership changed hands, and the trio of Warren Rychel, Bob Boughner, and Peter Dobrich took over. For Windsor, it was the best thing that could have happened.
Smart draft picks and better coaching slowly turned this struggling team around. Just as things started to look better for the Spitfires and their fans, tragedy struck again, this time, hitting the hearts of the players, the coaching staff, and fans around the league.
On February 18, 2008, Spitfire captain and hometown favourite, Mickey Renaud suddenly passed away from an unknown heart condition. People everywhere were in shock. For the remainder of the season, the Spitfires played with the memory of their captain in their thoughts, but lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Sarnia Sting. They vowed that they would win it all for Mickey the coming season.
The 2008-2009 season got underway spectacularly for the Spitfires. While the city of Windsor was struggling economically and thousands of jobs were being lost, the Spitfires were beacons of hope. They could not lose. A new arena, an all-star cast, and a winning spirit that the team learned from the late Renaud, paved they way for a perfect year.
Goalie Andrew Engelage set a league record for wins in a season. Ryan Ellis was one of the top defensemen in the league. Tecumseh-native, Harry Young became the ultimate leader both on and off the ice. The Spitfires were living up to their promise of winning the season for Renaud.
After sweeping the first round of the OHL playoffs, the Spits lost only two games to the Plymouth Whalers in round two. Round three had them facing their archrivals, the London Knights, but despite every game going into overtime, the Spitfires only lost once. The OHL final pitted them against the Brampton Battalion, where they won the OHL title in overtime of game five.
The Spitfires flew off to Rimouski, Que. to fight for the greatest trophy in CHL hockey, the Memorial Cup. They were the favourites to win.
The odds quicky turned on them, they lost their first two games, putting them on the brink of elimination. No team in Memorial Cup history had done this and gone on to win the Cup.
The Spitfires weren’t ranked the best team in Canada without reason. Something in the team. The Spitfires fought their way from the bottom up and won their next couple of games. Dale Mitchell played the hero in a 6-4 win over the host team, Rimouski Oceanic, when he scored three goals in three minutes to give the Spitfires the lead.
The Spitfires went on to defeat the Drummondville Voltigeurs in overtime of the semi-final game. Back in Windsor, fans forgot the woes of the city, as they prepared to watch their team in the Memorial Cup final. Mickey Renaud’s winning spirit was smiling down upon his team.
The Spitfires took on the Kelowna Rockets in the final game. After scoring three goals on their first three shots, they never looked back. The Spitfires skated their way to a 4-1 victory over the Rockets, and history was made. No team had lost their first two games and won the Memorial Cup; no team that is, except for the Windsor Spitfires.
The Spitfires brought the city of Windsor something that was lost long ago; hope. Hope for better times. Hope, that no matter how bad the situation may get, it is possible to turn it around for the better. Hope, that with hard work and determination, the city can rise to the top again. The Spitfires brought Windsor something special; their very own “Miracle On Ice.”
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