When life is anything but normal, looking back on years gone by and reminiscing can be a nice escape. Over the last 30 years, the Windsor Spitfires have had hundreds of players, coaches, and general managers come through their organization. It makes you wonder what the future held for some of them.

In our four part of the "Where Are They Now?" series, we';ve looked at players from the Barn-crashing days of the 1990s, those involved in the biggest transition in team history during the 2000s, and the post-Memorial Cup Era of the 2010s. Now, our series finale takes us in a different direction - the coaches and general managers (GM). Some joined at the start of their career while others had seen plenty before arriving.

Let';s look at four coaches and GMs and their experiences after being behind the bench in the Rose City. Where Are They Now? Tony Curtale

When you look back at the 1990s Spitfires, several players stand out, but also a few head coaches. One of those coaches was former defenceman and OHL tough guy Tony Curtale.

A scrappy scorer, Curtale coached a similar style. He got into coaching with the Springfield Junior Blues (NAHL) from 1995-98, winning two championships. The Spitfires saw this and brought him on in 1997-98.

For two seasons, Curtale led a rough-and-tumble Spitfires'; team to a 44-72-11-9 record. They didn';t make the playoffs in either season, but they were at least entertaining. He got the most out of what he was given and he knew what the fans loved. In those days, the Windsor Arena faithful were about going to the rink, seeing a few goals, a few fights, and heading home happy. Windsor Arena in Windsor, ON - Jan 2017. (Dave Jewell/THW)

Despite the entertainment, Curtale was replaced during the summer of 1999 by long-time Spitfires'; head coach Tom Webster.

What happened to him after that?

In 1999-2000, Curtale headed down south to join the Texas Tornado (NAHL) as head coach. From 1999-2013, they were dominant, winning five league titles and reaching the finals two other times. As a result, combined with his earlier stint with the Junior Blues, he set the NAHL record for most wins (530). It also marked the most wins in the United States by a junior hockey coach.

In 2013, Curtale took a few seasons off before joining the Wichita Wildcats (NAHL) in 2016-17.

Breaking News: @WFWildcats of the #NAHL name Tony Curtale as the team's new head coach. https://t.co/YoLtJCpb9U pic.twitter.com/HCYmW4oBTX- NAHL (@NAHLHockey) July 20, 2016

Unfortunately, he was only with the Wildcats until November 2016 before being suspended by the team and ultimately let go. Following that, he joined the Chicago Fury U18 as a head coach and the U16 as an assistant in 2018-19. (from 'Curtale suspended from Wildcats indefinitely,'; Times Record News, 11/15/2016)

Now, Curtale is a Hockey Advisor and Trainer in the Chicago area. Wayne Maxner

Just mention the name "Wayne Maxner" around town and you';ll instantly bring up old Spitfires'; memories from the 1970s through the early ';90s.

After a 10-year career around various professional leagues (1963-73), including over 60 games with the Boston Bruins, Maxner got behind the Spitfires bench as their head coach from 1973-80, then again in 1983-84, and finally from 1991-93. He also had stints with the Detroit Red Wings'; system (1980-82), the Sudbury Wolves (1985-86), and the London Knights (1986-90).Wayne Maxner while with the Boston Bruins. (THW Archives)

Maxner';s clubs weren';t always the most talented but, like Curtale, they were tough, hard-working, and he got the most out of them. In his final stint with the Spitfires, the club had dynamic offensive forwards Bill Bowler and Cory Stillman, which certainly helped.

By the early ';90s, Maxner had been behind the bench for 20 years and was nearing the end of his coaching days. What happened after he left the club in 1993?

Maxner spent 1993-94 as the head coach of the St. Thomas Wildcats in the old Colonial Hockey League, which existed from 1991-2010. After that, he took some time off before getting behind the bench for the Woodstock Navy Vets in 2008-09 (now a part of Midwest Junior C league). That marked his final season as he called it a career.

For his efforts, the Halifax-native was also inducted into the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame in 1992. Maxner was an icon around the Spitfires and the City of Windsor and his name still comes up in vintage hockey talk.Mike Kelly

At the turn of the 21st Century, there were few people as respected around the rink as then-Spitfires'; head coach and GM Mike Kelly.

He was no stranger to the OHL. From 1991-96, he was the GM of the Guelph Storm before working with the Calgary Flames from 1996-99.

In 1999-2000, the Spitfires brought him on to be their new GM and, for the most part, they did well. The club made the second round five times in seven seasons, including a thrilling run to the Western Conference Final in 2001-02.

Kelly was someone that everyone enjoyed being around; professional, open, intelligent, and easy to talk to. When he talked, you listened and learned.

In 2004-05, he took over as the Spitfires'; head coach for a season, guiding them to a 26-29-6-7 record. That was his only season at coach, though, as Moe Mantha took over in 2005-06. Kelly left the club in 2006 for new adventures.

What happened to him after that?

In 2006-07, he joined the Niagara IceDogs as their head coach for a season, where they won 43 games. That';s when Europe called.

Kelly went to Italy from 2007-10 to coach HC Alleghe in the Serie A2, which is the second level of hockey in the nation.

In 2010-11, he returned to North America to briefly scout for the Carolina Hurricanes, but the OHL wasn';t done with him. The Storm wanted him as their new GM.

From 2011-17, Kelly turned the Storm into a beast, winning the OHL championship in 2013-14. However, in February 2017, he decided that was his final season. Family comes first and he wanted to spend more time with his sons and grandchildren.

Mike Kelly stepping down as GM of Guelph Storm https://t.co/LS1IdL2LJI pic.twitter.com/liRxWjB5Jr- GuelphToday (@GuelphToday) February 22, 2017

Kelly, 68, was a class act until the end! Moe Mantha

Replacing Kelly on the Spitfires'; bench was Mantha, who was well versed in the hockey circles. A former NHL defenceman, Mantha joined the coaching ranks in 1993 and spent time at various levels until 2004.

After a short time as the interim head coach of the Saginaw Spirit in late 2004, the Spitfires signed him to a three-year contract, starting in 2005-06. Unfortunately, Mantha didn';t even last until Christmas. In early September 2005, there was a hazing incident on the team bus following a pre-season game. This led to an on-ice altercation during a practice three weeks later between veteran Steve Downie and rookie Akim Aliu.

The OHL investigated and, on Oct. 18, Mantha was given a one-year suspension as GM and 40 games as head coach (25 for bus incident, 15 for fight in practice). The team was also fined $35,000.

A month later, Riolo fired Mantha after reviewing his contract and finding a number of incidents that were detrimental to the players. Spitfires'; assistant coaches D.J. Smith and Bill Bowler took over. Bill Bowler became the Spitfires'; GM in 2019. (Dave Jewell/THW)

What happened to Mantha after he left the Spitfires?

In 2006-07, he joined the AHL as an assistant coach with the Rochester Americans. However, that only lasted one season.

In 2010, Mantha returned, becoming the head coach of the Michigan Warriors (NAHL) and he stayed until 2015. Following that, he spent time with the French River Rapids (NOJHL) and the Saginaw Spirit (as a scout), becoming the Spirit';s head coach for a brief time in early 2016. Moe Mantha as head coach of the Saginaw Spirit. Photo courtesy of Saginaw Spirit

In 2017-18, he made his return to the NAHL becoming the head coach of the (now) St. Cloud Norsemen, where he stayed until announcing his retirement earlier this year.

Despite the Spitfires'; chaos, Mantha was a successful coach who not only developed players on the ice, but off it, too. Drive Down Memory Lane

With so much uncertainty right now, it';s fun to sit back and just think about the days of the past. The times when we would sit in the arena with thousands of others, cheering on our team and enjoying a night out with friends and family.

We hope you enjoyed this look back at Spitfires from the past. The organization has seen many changes over the years and it';s always interesting to see what happened to the players, coaches, and management after they left the Rose City.

The post Where Are They Now? Windsor Spitfires'; Series - Part 4 - Coaches/GMs appeared first on The Hockey Writers.

      

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