“i think i got on a better team, i started winning, which helped my confidence, and i grew,” the six-foot-two, 171-pound newlove said.
with his deal, the spitfires now have four goalies signed in the 19-year-old costanzo, 18-year-old carter froggett, who was a 2022 pick, and 16-year-old american jake windbiel, who was taken in this year’s draft.
“i knew they had some goalies already signed,” newlove said. “i just take it every practice and every game at a time. i try to play the best i can and focus on myself.”
but it’s a very short camp window for players to make an impression and newlove admits that went through his mind as he took the ice on saturday for the final training camp event.
“you try not to, but it’s always in the back of your mind,” newlove said. “you let it be heard in your mind and you move on.
“i’ve been to a couple of junior camps and had some practices, but the main thing to focus on is yourself and how you play. there were times it wasn’t (going well), there’s obviously ups and downs, but for the most part i was happy with what i did.”
windsor spitfires’ goalie michael newlove focuses on the play as defenceman josef eichler (5) tries to hold off team white’s mickael tissier (21) during saturday’s blue and white intra-squad game at the wfcu centre.
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bowler is all about creating depth and competition throughout the windsor lineup and newlove is another potential piece to the puzzle at some point.
“we needed an ’07 birth year goaltender in the system and we took him with our first pick for a reason,” bowler said.
“we’ve always preached creating depth and here we have four goals that we feel are ohl caliber. who takes that net is up to them.