Rangers down to a dozen, but still standing — after a wild melee at the Aud. (Photo: Kitchener Rangers)

Windsor’s championship hopes may have taken a serious hit.

Windsor Spitfires forward Ethan Belchetz — the 17-year-old first overall pick in 2024 and a projected first-round NHL draft selection — could be sidelined for the rest of the season after suffering a broken left clavicle in practice Tuesday.

The 6-foot-5 power forward leads the Spits with 34 goals, and his absence leaves a significant void in a Western Conference contender’s lineup. 

With clavicle injuries potentially requiring months of recovery, the timing couldn’t be more critical. 

Writing in the Windsor Star, our Jim Parker has the story right here. The injury also comes amid a sudden surge for the veteran-laden Spits, which you can read more about here.

Matt Martin once protected a future No. 1 pick in Sarnia. Now he’s housing one.

The hard-nosed forward who carved out a junior role beside Steven Stamkos is now providing a roof for 2025 NHL first overall pick Matthew Schaefer during his rookie season.

“He’s a great kid,” Martin tells our Mark Malone. “He is full of energy, obviously, as an 18-year-old. He’s been a lot of fun for myself and my kids at the house.”

Inducted into the Sting Hall of Fame last week, a 36-year-old Martin reflects on reinventing himself in Sarnia, embracing the grinder’s role, and the unlikely journey from junior C to nearly 1,000 NHL games.

Mark Malone’s feature is a terrific read, and you can find it here.

Windsor’s Ethan Belchetz has been sidelined indefinitely after sustaining an injury in practice. (Photo: Dan Janisse/The Windsor Star)

The Kitchener Rangers didn’t exactly leave the ice in one piece.

By the end of an 8-2 romp over the Brampton Steelheads last Friday, only a dozen players were left to finish the game. 

The other eight? They’d already been sent to the showers after a third period that resembled a scene straight out of "Slap Shot."

Fisticuffs broke out across the ice, leaving a long list of ejections and several minutes of high-entertainment value for fans at the Aud.

“We weren’t looking for anything,” Rangers captain Cameron Reid told beat reporter Josh Brown. “We were just sticking up for players.”

Rangers Gabriel Chiarot and Kaden Schneider and Steelhead Manuel Amado were all slapped with two-game suspensions after the fact.

If you have a subscription to read Metroland publications, you can read all about it right here. 

The Soo Greyhounds are heading into a brutal final stretch.

Eight games remain, most against OHL heavyweights, and the team is missing its top defenceman, Chase Reid. The 18-year-old NHL draft prospect hasn’t played since Feb. 1, and his absence has left the lineup stretched thin.

“Nothing has changed, just super cautious,” coach John Dean told our Janson Duench. “Playoffs are the most important thing. We want him 100 per cent.”

Other players are stepping up — captain Brady Martin returned from injury last week — but the Greyhounds have a short runway before the post-season.

Writing in the Sault Star, Janson Duench breaks down the Greyhounds’ state of affairs right here.

Liam Greentree shows off the puck from his 315th OHL point, moving into second place on the Spitfires’ all-time points list ahead of defenceman Ryan Ellis. (Photo: Jim Parker)