The Windsor Spitfires dominated from start to finish and blanked the Erie Otters 5-0 to get back in the OHL win column.
Colton Incze stopped all 22 shots he faced for his first career OHL shutout at the WFCU Centre Thursday night. He celebrated after the final buzzer by motioning and throwing the monkey off his back.
"It's been a long time coming, first shutout in a few years and first one in the league so I was glad i was finally able to get that off my back," says Incze. "It felt good."
The 19-year-old Incze in his his fourth season in the Ontario Hockey League, and admits there were butterflies in the final seconds of the third period.
"Not gonna lie, I was pretty nervous there, especially in the last 30 seconds," says Incze. "There were a couple of close calls, a couple of turnovers at the end, but I think the boys really worked hard to help me get that one."
"You know it was really hard to keep the emotions under control," admits Incze. "As a little kid, those are the dreams you have, your first OHL shutout, you hear that last minute to play in the third, so the heart rate goes up a little bit but it felt good to close it out."
With the win, the Spitfires snapped a two game losing skid.
Jean Luc Foudy and Colton Incze celebrate a Windsor Spitfires 5-0 victory over the Erie Otters on January 17, 2019. ( photo by Tim Cornett )
Rookie Jean Luc Foudy had four assists while Curtis Douglas scored twice to lead Windsor's offence.
Will Cuylle, Cole Purboo and Daniel D'Amico each had a goal and an assist for the Spitfires (20-21-2-1) who now sit in sixth place in the Western Conference with 43 points.
The Spitfires travel to Kitchener to take on a Rangers team that is four points behind Windsor in the standings.
Game time is 7:30 p.m. Friday and you can listen to the game on AM800 CKLW.