Windsor adds depth for playoff run

LONDON The Windsor Spitfires’ depth chart has got a little deeper.

Forward Chris Playfair has joined the team along with goaltender Lucas Patton.

Playfair was Windsor’s fourthround pick in last year’s Ontario Hockey League Draft and spent the majority of the season with the LaSalle Vipers. Patton was a free agent in camp who earned a contract with the club and spent the season with the Chatham Maroons. With LaSalle and Chatham out of the playoffs, the two can now join the Spitfires.

“He’s going to be one of our black aces,” Spitfires head coach Rocky Thompson said of Playfair. “He’s going to see how our guys are preparing, he’s going to be on them in practice.

“He’s a potential guy that could play and he’ll have to watch what it takes and learn from those guys.”

The 16-year-old Playfair had seven goals and 17 points in 30 games with the Vipers and LaSalle head coach and general manager Bill Bowler liked his development.

“He came down and it’s hard for guys like that learning different systems and different teammates,” said Bowler, who is also vice-president of hockey operations for the Spitfires. “He was a little snakebitten and couldn’t find the back of the net, but the work ethic with a kid like Chris, it’s only a matter of time before you get rewarded.”

Playfair is expected to be a regular in the Windsor lineup next season, while Patton will battle for the backup spot behind Mikey DiPietro. In 22 games with Chatham, Patton posted a 16-5 record with 3.56 goals-against average and a .902 save percentage.

ROOKIE IN STANDS

With Jeremiah Addison back in the lineup after serving a two-game suspension for cross-checking on Friday, rookie Connor Corcoran was back in the stands for Game 5.

The 16-year-old Corcoran was Windsor’s top pick last year. He has experience at forward, but the Spitfires expect him to be a regular on defence next season.

Playing two games in place of Addison at forward, Corcoran did not have a point, but was even in the plus/minus department.

AUGER SUSPENDED

Former Spitfires defenceman Kyle Auger was suspended two games by the OHL on Friday for leaving the bench during an on-ice altercation in Thursday’s 6-4 loss to the Mississauga Steelheads.

Auger was traded by the Spitfires to the Barrie Colts over the summer in the deal for Julius Nattinen and Barrie sent him to Ottawa for a draft pick.

Because Auger left the bench, Ottawa head coach Jeff Brown was also suspended for two games and the team fined $1,000.