When a team decides to go all-in for an Ontario Hockey League (OHL) title, moves happen that nobody saw coming. That was the case in January 2023 when the Windsor Spitfires shocked the league, acquiring one of the biggest names on the trade market.
After going to the OHL Championship in 2021-22 and losing to the Hamilton Bulldogs in Game 7, Spitfires’ general manager Bill Bowler was looking to put everything into the 2023 Trade Deadline. He showed in 2021-22 that he was willing to go for the shock factor, and this deadline was no different. With the club holding the first seed in the Western Conference, he made a pair of moves – bringing in Team Canada (2023 World Juniors) captain Shane Wright (Seattle Kraken) and a second major piece from the Eastern Conference. This one may have been even bigger, in terms of assets.
Spitfires Acquire Harrison
On Jan. 3, 2023, Bowler made the shocking move, acquiring Oshawa Generals’ offensive star Brett Harrison (Boston Bruins). The news sent ripples throughout the league that Bowler wasn’t playing around. Here’s how it looked.
To Spitfires:
To Generals:
- Generals’ second-round pick in 2023
- Generals’ second-round pick in 2024
- Barrie Colts’ third-round pick in 2024
- Sudbury Wolves’ third-round pick in 2025
- Spitfires’ third-round pick in 2026
- Spitfires’ fifth-round pick in 2026
With no conditional picks involved, each team got their assets right away. Who got what, though?
What the Spitfires Got
The Spitfires were an offensive dynamo, leading the OHL in goals since nearly the start of the season. With players like Matthew Maggio (New York Islanders), Jacob Maillet, and Alex Christopoulos, who combined for 127 goals for the season, this was a team that could beat you in multiple ways.
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Harrison was Bowler’s second acquisition of the deadline, just after they got veteran defenceman Jacob Holmes from the Sudbury Wolves. The 6-foot-3, 185-pound Dorchester native came advertised as a big scoring center, and he provided. After 33 points in 27 games for the Generals, he added another 18 goals and 36 points in 30 games for the Spitfires. He was a favourite on the ice and great with the fans off of it. However, like others, he stumbled a bit in the playoffs with just four points in four…
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