The Windsor Spitfires are off to a great start opening up the 2017-18 season with a 3-1 win over the Saginaw Spirit.
Luke Kutkevicius was the hero scoring the go ahead powerplay goal with less than two minutes to go in the third period to give the Spitfires a 2-1 lead.
Kutkevicius says the home crowd was behind the team the entire game.
"It's always good to get the first win out of the way and it's even better for the young guys to get their first win at home and feel the atmosphere. It's great. The fans are great, they're so loud. The team is great, the young guys. It's just great coming back here."
Michael DiPietro had a solid night in net for the Spitfires making 26 saves for the win.
DiPietro says it felt good to get back on the ice after a long summer.
"It's was nice. It was really nice to skate out. The last time I was on that ice we hoisted the Memorial Cup. So before the game I told myself I don't want to have any jitters, but I think inevitably you're going to have at least some, but all in all I'm happy with the way I played. More importantly we got the two points."
DiPietro adds, he's excited about the team's much younger roster this year.
"I really liked our start. It was crucial, I think, with nine guys playing their first OHL game. Get the jitters out early. I thought we did a really good job. The morale in the room was pretty high in between periods. I think we kept our momentum throughout the game and we ended up on the right end of things."
Jake Smith added an empty-netter shortly after the Kutkevicius goal to seal the win for Windsor which out shot Saginaw 35-27.
Windsor is back in action Friday night as they travel to London to take on the Knights.
Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30pm.
- with files from CTV Windsor's Manny Paiva