Windsor Spitfires Sign 2024 OHL Fifth-Round Pick Sam Wathier

The Windsor Spitfires’ busy offseason continued on Thursday with a long-awaited check off their list. After a two-season wait, the club finally signed a highly-touted defenceman.

For Spitfires’ general manager Bill Bowler, the offseason has been about rebuilding the roster ahead of the 2026-27 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) season. Following heavy graduation after last season, he has signed multiple prospects, including 2025 OHL pick forward Ty Bergeron and Detroit Red Wings’ prospect forward Michal Svrcek (2025 Canadian Hockey League (CHL) Import Draft). He also had the 2026 OHL Draft on June 12 and 13. On Thursday, that preparation continued as he signed a rearguard who has been two seasons in the making and who should help the club improve right away.

Spitfires Sign Sam Wathier

On Thursday, the Spitfires announced that they have signed 2024 OHL Draft fifth-round pick defenceman Sam Wathier, 18, to an OHL scholarship and development agreement.

At the 2024 OHL Draft, Bowler drafted the (then) 6-foot-2, 143-pound Casselman, ON (just east of Ottawa) native out of the Eastern Ontario Wild U16 AAA program. However, having been born in Des Moines, IA, Wathier had the opportunity to play for the U.S. National Team Development Program (USNTDP) for two seasons. He stayed with that commitment, and the Spitfires kept in touch. Now, with that commitment over, Wathier is ready to take his talents to the OHL.

He had 14 points in 30 games for the Wild during his OHL Draft season (2023-24). In the last two seasons, he’s played with the USNTDP for their U17 and U18 clubs, along with the United States Hockey League’s NTDP Juniors team. In 2024-25, he had 13 points in 90 games, while last season he had four points in 42 games.

In a press release, Wathier, a 2026 NHL Draft prospect who is now up to 6-foot-4, 207 pounds, said he is eager to get going with the Spitfires.

“It feels great to be a Spitfire,” he said. “It is an honour to represent this historic franchise and I am excited for the opportunity. I can’t wait to play in front of the amazing fans!”

What kind of player are the Spitfires getting with him? He’s a big shutdown defenceman who covers a lot of area and has plenty of potential. Bowler said he believes the youngster has offensive upside, too.

“(Wathier) is a big body that covers a lot of ice,” he said. “He defends with a purpose and has untapped offensive upside. We welcome Sam and his family to Windsor.”

Wathier Signing Creates Options

Wathier’s addition creates an interesting logjam, but it’s a good problem to have.

Last season, the club had six regular defencemen along with veteran Anthony Cristoforo, who started as a defenceman but played well up front for much of the second half. They also had 2024 OHL pick Grady Spicer playing a few games at the end of the season.

Following the season, the Spitfires lost defencemen Carson Woodall (Boston College), Wyatt Kennedy, and Jakub Fibigr (Ohio State University) to graduation. However, Bowler has signed 2024 OHL pick Drake Gram and 2025 OHL pick Jesse Debruyn to help with those losses. Plus, the 6-foot-3, 181-pound Spicer will likely join the club full-time. That gives them six or seven potential regulars, depending on where Cristoforo plays.

Wathier signing now gives them seven (or eight). However, he’s already 18 and playing two seasons with the USNTDP should help him transition to the OHL a bit easier. If it does, he could move up the depth charts and see more ice time.

Woodall and Fibigr leaving the Spitfires is part of the new NCAA transfer rule, where players can move freely between junior hockey and college. Wathier joining the club is also in that mix. He’s currently committed to Boston College, however it’s unclear when that will start. Originally, it was supposed to be for 2026-27, but that’s been put on hold. He told the Windsor Star that he’ll be with the Spitfires for one season and will look at 2027-28 after the season is done (from ‘After a two-year wait, Spitfires finally land U.S. NTDP defenceman Wathier’, Windsor Star – 6/25/26).

Regardless of how long he’s with the Spitfires, this is a big get for Bowler. The club had a vision during the 2024 OHL Draft, and now they see it come to fruition. Having another big, physical presence on defence will be an important piece for the roster, especially in what will likely be a rebuilding season. Now, Bowler and the club will focus on the 2026 NHL Draft and get ready for the 2026 CHL Import Draft, which happens on Tues., June 30.