The Windsor Spitfires can move up in the OHL West Division standings with a win at home over the Flint Firebirds Thursday night.
The Spitfires (5-3-1) are two points behind the Saginaw Spirit (6-4-1), while the Firebirds (5-2-0) are just one point back of Windsor.
Rookie defenceman Ruben Rafkin is tied with Tyler Angle for the team scoring lead with nine points.
The 17-year-old native of Turku, Finland, scored his first Ontario Hockey League goal in last Saturday's 8-5 win against the Sarnia Sting.
"It was something I really wasn't worried of. I was just let it come to me and I wasn't really forcing or thinking about scoring but obviously I'm happy I got it and now I really don't have to think about it, so I'm happy that it happened," says Rafkin.
Rafkin played for the Tri-City Storm of the U-S-H-L last season and says his biggest adjustment to playing in the OHL has been the speed of the game.
"Some one-on-ones, forwards who are drafted high and super good, you really need to look out for them because they can make some slick plays. I feel like defending against some really good guys is something I want to work on a bit more," says Rafkin.
Rafkin adds the Spitfires got off to a solid start this season, but there's more work to be done, especially on the defensive side of the game.
"We were so much better than Sarnia but we still let up five goals. Good teams don't give up five goals. I feel good teams only give up two max, if they're really good," says Rafkin.
AM800's coverage of Thursday's game against the Flint Firebirds begins with the pre-game show at 6:30 p.m.