Hamza Havusic and Charlie Moskowitz will get a chance to grow.

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Hamza Havusic and Charlie Moskowitz will get a chance to grow.

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The Windsor Spitfires are hoping the two can develop and contribute at some point for the club after taking the duo in Wednesday’s Ontario Hockey League U18 Draft.

“They are guys that might, with the right development, you might see them in an OHL lineup,” said Frank Evola, who is the Spitfires’ director of scouting and hockey operations.

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Havusic had modest offensive numbers a year ago with eight goals and 14 points in 33 games for the Toronto Nationals U16 team and was not selected. However, he showed signs of growth this season with the Vaughan Kings U18 team with 11 goals and 23 points in 35 games and the Spitfires were quick to grab him in the first round with the 18th pick overall on Wednesday.

“I thought he would go higher,” Evola said. “He went to the regional championship and was a big part of their team. He does have some offensive ability and plays with some jam.”

At six-foot-three and 180 pounds, Havusic has added nearly 20 pounds to his frame from a year ago and said he’s learned to use that size better this season.

“I think I play the whole ice and was a 200-foot player,” the 16-year-old Havusic said. “Offensively, I created a lot of chances and I’ve gotten more physical than U16 and learned to use my body.”

 Havusic said he had no idea he was on on Windsor’s radar, but was thrilled to get the call.

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“Honestly, I had no clue they were interested,” Havusic said. “I’m super excited and it’s nice.

“I’ve grown and gotten a lot better than last season. It’s unfortunate (I didn’t get drafted a year ago), but it’s just motivation to do better and this is a great opportunity.”

Moskowitz, who was taken in the second round with the 38th pick overall, is a late bloomer, who only got to AAA hockey this past season after playing in AA.

“I was cut from the AAA team five years in a row,” the 18-year-old Moskowitz said.

He made the jump to AAA this season and spent the year with the Don Mills Flyers U18 team while also getting into a couple of games with the North York Rangers in the Ontario Junior Hockey League.

“Sometimes you sneak under the radar and there’s a diamond in the rough,” Evola said. “He plays with an edge and sticks up to his teammates.”

Moskowitz only made the move from forward to defence at the age of 14 and he could follow in the footstep of current Spitfire two-way man Tanner Winegard or former Spitfire James Jodoin, who bounced from defence to forward.

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“I was expecting to go in the first or second round to Brantford,” the six-foot-five, 220-pound Moskowitz said. “Brantford passed on me and Windsor took me with the next pick. It’s a great organization and I’m happy to be part of it.”

In order to have three picks in Wednesday’s draft, the Spitfires needed to take a goaltender in the first two rounds.

However, the club already has Joey Costanzo, Carter Froggett, Michael Newlove and Jake Windbiel signed. The Spitfires also took goalies Gunner Wolfe and Hudson Cicchelli in the past weekend’s draft.

“We want to really focus on what we have here,” Spitfires’ general manager Bill Bowler said. “With four goalies already signed and two more taken in (Saturday’s) draft, we’re OK at this time.”

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