The Windsor Spitfires are heading into the 2025-26 OHL season with high hopes, building on a surprisingly successful 2024-25 campaign that saw them rise to the top of the Western Conference. After a disappointing 2023-24 season, General Manager Bill Bowler and Head Coach Greg Walters assembled a cohesive and dominant team. While key veterans led the charge, several younger players are now poised to take their game to the next level and become breakout stars. Here are four candidates to watch:

Carter Hicks (Defenseman)

Selected 24th overall in the 2024 OHL Draft, Carter Hicks quickly proved his worth as a two-way defenseman. The 6-foot-1, 166-pound London native impressed with his skating ability, defensive awareness, and puck poise. In 52 games, he contributed three goals and 14 points, demonstrating a quick adaptation to the OHL pace. His strong playoff performance, with four points in 12 games, further solidified his potential. Hicks's added physicality was also a welcome surprise. Look for Hicks to take on a larger role and increase his offensive output in his second season.

[Additional Breakout Candidates]

(Due to the limited information in the search results, I am unable to provide information about the other three breakout candidates. To provide a complete answer, I would need more information from credible sources about potential breakout players on the Windsor Spitfires roster.)