{"id":859405,"date":"2025-07-01T19:13:32","date_gmt":"2025-07-02T00:13:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/01\/spicer-becomes-eighth-player-from-2024-ohl-draft-class-to-sign-with-spitfires\/"},"modified":"2025-07-01T19:13:32","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T00:13:32","slug":"spicer-becomes-eighth-player-from-2024-ohl-draft-class-to-sign-with-spitfires","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/01\/spicer-becomes-eighth-player-from-2024-ohl-draft-class-to-sign-with-spitfires\/","title":{"rendered":"Spicer becomes eighth player from 2024 OHL Draft class to sign with Spitfires"},"content":{"rendered":"<article aria-labelledby=\"articleTitle\" data-wcm-id=\"588aecd9-a5e8-4f01-b193-620309c0a3b5\">\n<header aria-label=\"Beginning of Article\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>Author of the article:<\/p>\n<p><span> <a href=\"https:\/\/windsorstar.com\/author\/jim-parker-windsor-star\/\">Jim Parker<\/a> <\/span> \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 <span> Windsor Star<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><span>Published Jun 10, 2025<\/span> \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 <span>Last updated Jun 10, 2025<\/span> \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 <span>2 minute read<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure data-aqa=\"featured-image\"><picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1200px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image0_296098617-1.png?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=564&#038;h=423&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=T8SVcLcMbpGeDGsOyW7DYQ, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image0_296098617-1.png?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=1128&#038;h=846&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=g2GzOy1aqpI45QFJAO-dNA 2x\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1200px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image0_296098617-1.png?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=564&#038;h=423&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=pZaWyI5zEIiI0wLPTY02Tw, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image0_296098617-1.png?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=1128&#038;h=846&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=nj5FH_YVtfCgHu1UfhtioA 2x\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image0_296098617-1.png?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=472&#038;h=354&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=PgyQfIlwSZHWze16fGeEVw, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image0_296098617-1.png?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=944&#038;h=708&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=tXK2egTTtvkoE8q148Ba5A 2x\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image0_296098617-1.png?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=472&#038;h=354&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=5F2Yhwiuu8I5GQheN5L8Rw, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image0_296098617-1.png?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=944&#038;h=708&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=KYp3F9HlYhVwxChiHsFycg 2x\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image0_296098617-1.png?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=288&#038;h=216&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=3S4TBzD8nyzQbyNi1TAT-Q, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image0_296098617-1.png?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=576&#038;h=432&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=lhwLWP5AqYhwAN9XcvRppg 2x\" type=\"image\/webp\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Defenceman Grady Spicer has officially signed on with the Windsor Spitfires for the 2025-26 season.\" src=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image0_296098617-1.png?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=288&#038;h=216&#038;sig=KVkZNaQDxG7Fv-jEV58N1Q\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image0_296098617-1.png?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=288&#038;h=216&#038;sig=KVkZNaQDxG7Fv-jEV58N1Q,\n                    https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image0_296098617-1.png?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=576&#038;h=432&#038;sig=bCiGdNbMu03CEKpxWs_YAg 2x\" height=\"750\" width=\"1000\"><\/picture><figcaption><span>Defenceman Grady Spicer has officially signed on with the Windsor Spitfires for the 2025-26 season. <\/span> <span>Photo by Ken Hornick<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<section>\n<p>It\u2019s a draft that just keeps giving to the Windsor Spitfires.<\/p>\n<p>Defenceman Grady Spicer officially signed on with the Spitfires on Tuesday as he inked his Ontario Hockey League scholarship and development agreement.<span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was awesome and a big relief to get that out of the way,\u201d Spicer said of the deal.<span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>The 16-year-old Spicer is now the eighth player from the 2024 OHL Draft to sign with the Spitfires joining first overall pick Ethan Belchetz, J.C. Lemieux, Carter Hicks, Max Brocklehurst, Andrew Robinson, Jake Windbiel and Ethan Garden.<span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section data-aqa=\"identity-sign-in\" data-async id=\"article-block\">\n<header>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Windsor Star\" height=\"37\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/18.9.5\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-ws-new.svg\" width=\"280\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n<p>Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.<\/li>\n<li>Get exclusive access to the Windsor Star ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.<\/li>\n<li>Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.<\/li>\n<li>Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.<\/li>\n<li>Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n<p>Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.<\/li>\n<li>Get exclusive access to the Windsor Star ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.<\/li>\n<li>Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.<\/li>\n<li>Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.<\/li>\n<li>Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n<p>Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Access articles from across Canada with one account.<\/li>\n<li>Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.<\/li>\n<li>Enjoy additional articles per month.<\/li>\n<li>Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n<p>Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Access articles from across Canada with one account<\/li>\n<li>Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments<\/li>\n<li>Enjoy additional articles per month<\/li>\n<li>Get email updates from your favourite authors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div data-auth-component id=\"auth-screen-form\" aria-live=\"assertive\">\n<h2>Sign In or Create an Account<\/h2>\n<p><span><\/span><span>or<\/span><span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWindsor\u2019s got such a bright future ahead,\u201d Spicer said.<\/p>\n<p>The Spitfires selected Spicer in the fourth round with the 71st pick overall from the Upper Canada Cyclones U16 squad.<\/p>\n<figure data-aqa=\"embed-image\"><picture><source data-srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/spicer-grady.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=564&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=HCm_D__jPuBFfaOj7BhDFg, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/spicer-grady.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=1128&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=BX-X8RIYgPlBLt23DUNcxQ 2x\" media=\"(min-width: 1200px)\"  type=\"image\/webp\"><source data-srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/spicer-grady.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=564&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=uBO5y3NYN0Of4L0yqByZdg, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/spicer-grady.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=1128&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=ozMlByXxRvfa0NmoVboOAw 2x\" media=\"(min-width: 1200px)\"  type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source data-srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/spicer-grady.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=472&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=Oc08met2Yv-xWNEjM6s2Gw, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/spicer-grady.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=944&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=71XQ3putJGQOBZlciGNe-Q 2x\" media=\"(min-width: 768px)\"  type=\"image\/webp\"><source data-srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/spicer-grady.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=472&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=KmnuZo9lMQqUhF36_CHSyw, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/spicer-grady.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=944&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=if8XJE8jt343NX5n0gzNmA 2x\" media=\"(min-width: 768px)\"  type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source data-srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/spicer-grady.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=288&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=o2IFRqHjwA5MLop_YiJEeg, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/spicer-grady.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=576&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=ZgA8hJpTBmmc0Vne0YYjcQ 2x\" media=\"(max-width: 767px)\"  type=\"image\/webp\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Windsor Spitfires selected defenceman Grady Spicers from the Upper Canada Cyclones minor midgets in the 2024 Ontario Hockey League Draft in the fourth round with the 71st pick overall.\" src=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/spicer-grady.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=288&#038;sig=XJoXpdSWfw6uWQLGiGJjCw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/spicer-grady.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=288&#038;sig=XJoXpdSWfw6uWQLGiGJjCw,\n                https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/windsorstar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/spicer-grady.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=576&#038;sig=hXkCkAcKK4wPPDLhlw_r2w 2x\" height=\"750\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1000\"><\/picture><figcaption><span> The Windsor Spitfires selected defenceman Grady Spicers from the Upper Canada Cyclones minor midgets in the 2024 Ontario Hockey League Draft in the fourth round with the 71st pick overall.<\/span> <span>Dan Hickling\/OHL Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cAgain, this is another signing that we know he\u2019s an OHL player,\u201d Spitfires\u2019 general manager Bill Bowler said. \u201cHe\u2019s got an edge to him and a real intensity to his game. He brings a style of play, with a little physicality, that\u2019s always welcome.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>While he was a fourth-round pick, Spicer was actually the third defenceman taken by the Spitfires in that draft behind Hicks, who was taken in the second round, and Robinson, who was taken in the third round.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey\u2019re both great players, but they\u2019re two different players from what I am,\u201d Spicer said of Hicks and Robinson. \u201cI\u2019m more the big, stay-at-home defenceman.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Spicer spent last season playing junior A with his hometown Brockville Braves in the Central Canada Hockey League.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div aria-labelledby=\"Ryan\" data-account-id=\"b9d3df2fccd108b5eff3c44f573b2cd6\" data-aqa=\"widget-newsletter\" data-newsletter=\"single\" data-newsletter-component data-target-list=\"OHL_Newsletter\" data-widget=\"newsletter\">\n<p>By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was huge, especially since Brockville is my hometown,\u201d the six-foot-three, 197-pound Spicer said. \u201cIt was huge to stay home and get to play a lot of minutes. Going to Brockville helped me a lot because you\u2019re playing with bigger guys.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Spicer held his own and posted eight goals and 21 points in 52 games along with 100 penalty minutes.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPlaying in Brockville showed me the things I needed to work on,\u201d Spicer said. \u201cGet a little faster, make quicker decisions and a little more puck management.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>With injuries ravaging the Spitfires in the playoffs, the club opted to recall Spicer after his season ended in Brockville and he appeared in six games.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was good to get to know everyone,\u201d Spicer said. \u201cWhen I come to camp, I won\u2019t be nervous.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A once promising catcher in baseball before focusing solely on hockey, Spicer has a verbal commitment to Clarkson University for the 2027-28 season. However, he says he plans, if the school is willing, to play the next three seasons in the OHL before moving on to the NCAA.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>With Spicer\u2019s signing, the Spitfires now have eight defencemen in the mix for next season along with Hicks, Robinson, overager Wyatt Kennedy, Anthony Cristoforo, Carson Woodall, Conor Walton and Jonathan Brown, who signed on last week.<\/p>\n<p>Bowler also would not rule out potential overagers Josef Eichler and Tanner Winegard from the mix.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen we drafted Grady in the fourth round, we thought he would be an OHLer,\u201d Bowler said. \u201cHe had a great season last year and, watching him develop, it was a no-brainer to get him up at the end of the year and lock him up.<span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re trying to get as many OHL-caliber players as we can, get depth and let the players sort it out at camp.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><span><span \n                data-original-string='AKKp4BYTqEjerK\/zl4orIw==7f45u4yfa+smOv0aqL94pq7LgyCqYGPIaijJJ4uLN2e35k='\n                class='apbct-email-encoder'\n                title='This contact has been encoded by Anti-Spam by CleanTalk. Click to decode. To finish the decoding make sure that JavaScript is enabled in your browser.'>jp<span class=\"apbct-blur\">******<\/span>@<span class=\"apbct-blur\">*******<\/span>ia.com<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>twitter.com\/winstarparker<\/span><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<p> Jim Parker<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/windsorstar.com\/sports\/spicer-becomes-eighth-player-from-2024-ohl-draft-class-to-sign-with-spitfires\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Author of the article: Jim Parker \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Windsor Star Published Jun 10, 2025 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated Jun 10, 2025 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 2 minute read Defenceman Grady Spicer has officially signed on with the Windsor Spitfires for the 2025-26 season. Photo by Ken Hornick It\u2019s a draft that just keeps giving to the Windsor Spitfires. Defenceman Grady<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":859406,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1603,1794],"tags":[6554,13896],"class_list":{"0":"post-859405","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-becomes","8":"category-spicer","9":"tag-becomes","10":"tag-spicer"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/859405","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=859405"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/859405\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/859406"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=859405"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=859405"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=859405"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}