Senators Jim O'Brien checks Maple Leafs Jesse Blacker during pre-season game in Toronto September 22, 2010. Photograph by: Adrien Veczan, REUTERS, from

Joe Simon with James and Jesse Blacker

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Windsor Spitfires rookie defenceman Adam Bateman could not have scripted his homecoming any better.

By Windsor Star October 17, 2011 Be the first to post a comment

Windsor Spitfires rookie defenceman Adam Bateman could not have scripted his homecoming any better.

Bateman grew up playing his minor hockey in Brampton and Sunday came home to score his first Ontario Hockey League goal to lift the Spitfires to a 1-0 overtime win over the Battalion before 1,696 at the Powerade Centre.

“I had like 50 family and friends here,” said Bateman, who got the winner at 2: 20 of overtime. “I played (minor hockey) here until I was eight and went to a higher level. I’ve played a lot of games here and this is the happy-ending, feelgood story.”

Bateman was Niagara’s firstround pick in May’s OHL draft, but did not report and was dealt to Windsor.

It’s not often you see a 16-yearold rookie on the ice in overtime, but Spitfires head coach Bob Boughner was looking for some fresh legs with his team playing it’s third game in four days for the fourth straight week.

“I think the schedule is catching up to us a bit,” said Boughner, whose team has played a league-leading 12 games along with Owen Sound. “I thought Bateman had good legs all game and we didn’t have a lot of energy in our legs.”

After putting up a seasonhigh 49 shots in Erie Saturday, the Spitfires were limited to just 20 shots against the defensive-minded Battalion Sunday.

“It was an ugly, ugly game,” Boughner said. “We didn’t generate anything offensively.”

Windsor had just two shots in the second period and eight overall through the first 40 minutes.

The Battalion had 20 at Spits overage goalie John Cullen in that stretch and 28 overall, but the overage goalie was solid.

“This is always a tough building to play in,” Cullen said. “There’s not any energy and it’s a tough test.”

It was an impressive performance by Cullen, who was getting just his third start in the last 10 games.

“I know my starts will be limited with Jack (Campbell) playing so well, but I’m a team guy and I just have to take advantage when I get the opportunity,” Cullen said.

The club also had to lean on Cullen more when defenceman Saverio Posa had to leave the game early in the third period after sliding awkwardly into the end boards.

“Right now, we’re calling it a sprained ankle until we get further tests,” Boughner said. “Hopefully, it’s not serious.”

He made a couple of key saves down the stretch and watched Cameron Wind’s shot through a screen hit the post with 75 seconds left in regulation.

“We’ve had great goaltending all year and we’re in every game because of it,” said Boughner, whose team has won three straight and taken 13 of a possible 14 points in the last seven games.

Playing four-on-four in overtime, the puck slid back to the right point for Bateman, who threw a wrist shot at the net that went over the right shoulder of Brampton goalie Keegan Wilson.

“I was looking to go bar down and I did,” Bateman said.

The Spitfires are off until Thursday when the Kitchener Rangers come to the WFCU Centre. Game time is 7

“Not only has Joey trained me during the summers but he also coached a OHF winning team (1995 born Toronto Redwings) that I was glad to be apart of. Joey knows how to keep you thinking positive while pushing you to the limit. The drills are always high tempo and fun because your not doing the same drills day to day. He has been a big part of what I have accomplished these last few years.”

For what would become a special moment, Holland was on cloud nine. His first NHL goal was scored against Vancouver’s Roberto Luongo and it would ultimately be the game-winner in the Ducks’ 4-3 victory Friday night at Honda Center.

It really should have been the deciding goal as it gave the Ducks a 4-0 lead at the time in the second period. But the Ducks are rarely dull and turned what should have been a rout into a nail-biter by the end.

A win is a win, though, and it was one that Holland could go ahead and celebrate his first tally in his third game after being called up from Syracuse of the American Hockey League last week.

“I don’t think I could feel my legs when it went into the net,” said Holland, the Ducks’ first pick in the 2009 draft. “It was pretty cool. I kind of decided that I want to do that again. It was pretty special and something I will never forget.

“To score it on Luongo, one of the best goalies in the league, that adds to it as well.”

The Ducks can only hope that becomes the first of many, many more.

Holland, 20 (1/14/91), appeared in nine games with Syracuse this season, scoring 2-3=5 points with four penalty minutes (PIM). At the time of his recall, Holland ranked fifth on the Crunch in scoring, tied for first in games and tied for third in shots (23). He scored a season-high two goals on Oct. 28 vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and finished with points in two of his last three games (2-1=3) with Syracuse. The Toronto, Ontario native has appeared in 12 career AHL games, earning 5-6=11 points with four PIM.

Selected by Anaheim in the first round (15th overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Holland played four seasons with Guelph of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) from 2007-11. He played 257 career games with Guelph, recording 103-157=260 points with 170 PIM. The 6-3, 200-pound center helped lead the Storm to the OHL Playoffs in each of his four seasons, scoring 10-12=22 points with 22 PIM in 25 games. Holland set career highs in almost every offensive category in his final OHL season in 2010-11, including goals (37), assists (51) and points (88).

Peter Holland has been working with Joe Simon
and Powerhouse for nine years.
“Joey has been a great teacher and mentor to me. He focuses on the small things that directly improve my game on a week to week basis.” Peter Holland.