Local roundup: Former Spitfires' head coach Savard takes assistant ...

Author of the article:

Jim Parker  •  Windsor Star

Published Jun 23, 2024  •  Last updated 4 hours ago  •  2 minute read

After a season with the Calgary Flames, former Windsor Spitfires' head coach Marc Savard has reunited with Craig Berube with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Photo by Dan Janisse /Dan Janisse

Former Windsor Spitfires’ head coach Marc Savard has a new post.

A month after mutually parting ways with the NHL’s Calgary Flames, the 46-year-old Savard accepted an assistant coaching role with the Toronto Maple Leafs under new head coach Craig Berube.

Before joining the Spitfires, Savard worked as an assistant coach for one season with the St. Louis Blues under Berube after he guided the team to the Stanley Cup. Savard was brought in as a power-play specialist and helped St. Louis produce the third-most efficient power play in the NHL in 2019-20 at 24.3 per cent.

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Savard joined the Spitfires the following season and guided the Spitfires to Game 7 of the Ontario Hockey League championship in 2022 and back-to-back Western Conference regular-season titles. The club also led the league in offence in both seasons.

Savard left after two seasons with the Spitfires, where he compiled an 88-35-8-4 record (.695 winning percentage), to join the Calgary Flames as an assistant coach last June.

Ravens run wild

It was a dominant performance by the Essex Ravens’ U18 team.

The Ravens improved to 5-1 on the season with a 41-0 road win over the Burlington Stampeders on Saturday in Ontario Summer Football League action.

Running back Cole Thompson ran for 121 yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries and receiver Malachi Jackson pulled in three catches for 75 yards and another touchdown.

Defensively, Elijah Maxwell had two interceptions and returned one for a score while adding 130 yards in return yardage.

Linebacker Kevin Rakowska had eight tackles and broke up three passes. Kicker James Carlini converted all five touchdowns and added a pair of field goals to complete the Essex scoring.

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Essex’s U16 team lost for the first time in six outings this season with Burlington remained unbeaten through five games after a 22-0 win the Ravens. Meanwhile, Essex’s U14 team improved to 4-2-0 on the season with a 27-18 win over Burlington (3-2-0).

League1 Ontario soccer

It was a frustrating end for both Windsor City FC and Tecumseh United FC in League1 Ontario Championship Division soccer play on Saturday.

A two-goal lead at the half disappeared for Windsor in a 3-2 road loss to Unionville Milliken SC in men’s play. Gershom Dupuy and Kaique Mereles Paez gave Windsor (3-5-1) a 2-0 lead at the break, but Unionville (5-3-1) and got the winner a minute into stoppage time.

Olivia Corazza had Tecumseh (2-6-10) up 1-0 just nine minutes into the women’s game and it stayed that way until five minutes into stoppage time at the end of the game when Burlington (1-5-3) forced the draw.

Saints add Grondin

The St. Clair Saints women’s cross-country team has added Emersyn Grondin for the 2024-25 season.

A Vista Academy high school product, the five-foot-two  Grondin was named the school’s most determined cross-country runner and finished 16th in the senior girls’ division at last year’s WECSSAA championship and 26th at the SWOSSAA championship.

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