The Windsor Spitfires are facing the Kitchener Rangers Thursday night at the WFCU Centre in Game 1 of Round 2 of the OHL Playoffs.
Spitfires’ broadcaster Manny Paiva joined CTV Windsor’s Stefanie Masotti in the studio, chatting all things Spitfires.
“This is a heavyweight bout between two of the best teams, not only in the OHL, but the entire Canadian Hockey League,” said Paiva.
“The Rangers are ranked eighth in the country, the Spitfires are ranked 10th, and it pits some of the best offensive players that the Spitfires have against probably the best goaltender in the OHL, Jackson Parsons of the Kitchener Rangers.”
A strength Paiva said Windsor has heading into the series is definitely offense.
“Noah Morneau, the Windsor native, leads the OHL in playoff goals, Ilya Protas and Liam Greentree, they were two and three in the regular season in points, they’re now tied for first in points in the OHL playoffs,” he said.
“That’s Windsor’s number one line. That’s going to be a challenge for Kitchener to try to shut down that line with the Spitfires.”
As for challenges, Windsor is facing some injuries. Carson Woodall and Tnias Mathurin are not starting the series, two of their top defensive players.
Overall, Paiva predicts that Windsor will take the series in seven.
Also, in the 6 p.m. show on Thursday, CTV Windsor made a little wager with CTV Kitchener over the rivalry.
Windsor’s Stefanie Masotti, Gary Archibald, and Ricardo Veneza were joined by Kitchener’s Leighanne Evans, Will Aiello, and Tony Grace.
“We’re thinking that maybe we can send you guys some Windsor pizza if everything goes well for the Rangers,” said Veneza.
“I don’t know that that’s going to be the case though, so I think we’re going to win.”
Suggested for Windsor’s prize if the Spits take home the win was donuts or German Oktoberfest sausage.
“Do we get to choose if it’s donuts or sausage?” questioned Aiello.
“I would want to choose the worse one to be sore losers in case we lose.”
Evans chimed in, expressing her confidence that Kitchener will win some Windsor pizza.
“Ricardo introduced us to that Windsor pizza when he was here in Kitchener, by the way, how quickly they forget!” said Grace.
“All I know is that I was forced to wear the Rangers jersey back in 2023 and I do not want that to happen again,” countered Masotti.
To see the whole interaction, check out the video above after Paiva’s segment.
