Just over three months after scoring the Memorial Cup winning goal, Spitfires centre Aaron Luchuk plans on taking a leadership role with the team this season.
The 20-year-old Kingston, Ontario native is entering his fourth full year with Windsor (it's technically his 5th year with the team but only played 3 games in 2013-2014 when he split time between the Jr. B LaSalle Vipers and the Spits).
"I've shown in this league in the past that I'm a strong player," says Luchuk. "And with the guys coming back this year will be role models for the guys coming in and be really important for the guys moving forward. It's kind of weird being back here — kind of surreal at the same time. So, it's been short and a quick turnaround but I'm excited to be back and see a lot of familiar faces."
Aaron Luchuk of the Windsor Spitfires (Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images)
Luchuk notched 28 goals and 60 points in 68 games last season.
"It's a completely different team coming in here this year compared to last year — I think there's only like 12 guys returning from last year," says Luchuk. "Obviously there's still a lot of talent in this camp — just younger — and I think with tremendous coaching and solid play this team can still do a lot of things."
Today marks day two of training camp for the Spitfires with roughly 50 players vying for jobs. The annual Blue-White game goes tomorrow night at the WFCU Centre with puck drop set for 7pm. Admission is free.