Spitfires thin herd, deal Sirman to Ottawa

William Sirman got caught in a numbers game with the Windsor Spitfires.

Sirman, who will turn 19 in November, was one of 12 forwards with Ontario Hockey League experience on Windsor’s roster, in addition to prized rookies Kyle McDonald, Will Cuylle and JeanLuc Foudy.

To try to reduce the crowd, the Spitfires dealt Sirman, who was a 14th-round pick by the club in 2015, to the Ottawa 67’s on Tuesday. “We have to get our numbers down,” Spitfires general manager Warren Rychel said in a release. The Spitfires and 67’s flipped 14th-round picks in the 2020 OHL Draft with Ottawa also sending a conditional 15th-round pick to Windsor in 2021. The Spitfires will get that pick once Sirman plays one regular-season game with Ottawa. “It’s tough to let a guy like Will go,” Rychel said. “He’s been great for us in the room and the community and he’s a really likable kid, but we’ve got a deep group of forwards right now.”

The five-foot-10, 175-pound Sirman appeared in 66 games with Windsor last season and posted six goals and 19 points with a plus nine rating.

As well, the Spitfires recalled goalie Lucas Patton from the junior B Kitchener Dutchmen. Patton will dress for Thursday’s exhibition game against the Sarnia Sting at the WFCU Centre and for Friday’s game in Sarnia as goalie Mikey DiPietro remains in camp with the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks.

ATHLETICS ONTARIO AWARDS BESTOWED

Five area track and field athletes were recognized by Athletics Ontario as All-Ontarians based on results and performances in 2018. Brandon McBride, who set a new Canadian record in the men’s 800 metres, was recognized with the award in the open men’s division along with a pair of Border City Athletic Club teammates. Hurdler Karlie Moore was recognized in the girls’ under-18 division while jumper Jasmine Scott-Kilgo earned the honour in the women’s under-20 division. Hurdler Noelle Montcalm, of the University of Windsor Athletic Club, was recognized in the open women’s division while Windsor Legion distance runner Emma Pegg earned the honour in the girls’ under-16 division.

EXPRESS SIGN WORMELY

The Windsor Express has signed point guard Horace Wormely for the 2018-19 NBL of Canada season. The five-foot-seven, 165-pound Wormely spent the past two seasons with the Saint John Riptide. “He is one of the league’s quickest guards, who also has a lot of veteran leadership qualities we can count on both on the court and in the locker-room,” Bill Jones, who is head coach and vice-president and vicepresident of basketball operations for the Express, said in a release. In 44 games with the Riptide last season, the 33-year-old Wormely averaged 13.3 points per game.

73’S TAKE OPENER

The Essex 73’s opened Provincial Junior Hockey League play in the Bill Stobbs Division with a 6-3 win at home over the Amherstburgh Admirals on Tuesday. Dawson Winchester scored twice for the 73’s with Curtis Jackson, Quinn Fazekas, Michael Vieira and Bryce Ryan added single goals. Ty Moss, Cory Burns and Caleb Paquette replied for the Admirals.

SAINTS SOCCER SWEPT

The St. Clair Saints men’s team and women’s team both fell to the Fanshawe Falcons in OCAA soccer action on Tuesday at the Libro Centre.

The men’s team (0-2) lost 4-1 to the Falcons (2-0). Freshman Tyrone Mulder had the lone goals for the Saints in the 12th minute to tie the game at 1-1. The women’s team (1-1) fell 3-0 to the Falcons (2-0).