The Windsor Spitfires took a calculated risk with Ty Bergeron, and it has paid off. The 17-year-old forward from Flat Rock, Michigan, has signed an OHL scholarship and development agreement with the Spitfires for the 2026-27 season, committing to the team that drafted him in the third round of the 2025 OHL Priority Selection.
A Season in Muskegon
Bergeron had previously signed a tender agreement to play for the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the United States Hockey League for the 2025-26 season. Despite being drafted by Windsor, he honored that commitment and helped Muskegon reach the USHL final. In 55 games as a 16-year-old, he recorded six goals and 20 points, adding two goals and four points in 16 playoff contests.
However, Bergeron admitted that Windsor never left his thoughts. "Just the people I met here (in Windsor) were super accommodating for a person that was not coming here last year," he said. "It made a relationship."
International Experience
Bergeron also represented the United States at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, helping the team win a bronze medal. He was also called up for nine games with the U.S. National Team Development Program. His size at six-foot-two and 198 pounds, combined with his playmaking ability, made him a highly sought-after prospect.
Impact on the Spitfires
Spitfires general manager Bill Bowler called the signing a "real big get for our program," noting Bergeron's upside. Bergeron is expected to slot in at center and bring a power-forward style to a Windsor lineup that lost Ethan Belchetz and Jack Nesbitt to the NCAA. "He has a ton of upside," Bowler said.
Bergeron describes his game as a "power forward game, contribute offensively and defensively and be a 200-foot player. I like to find others with my playmaking and moving the puck and be strong down low."
No NCAA Commitment
Represented by former NHL goaltender and Windsor native Ed Mio, Bergeron has no NCAA commitment as he enters his NHL Draft season. "I've thought about college, but as of right now it's one step at a time," he said. He believes his development in Muskegon prepared him for the OHL. "I think I developed a lot (last season) on and off the ice. I grew so much as a player and a person. It took my game to the next level and I'm looking forward to doing that in Windsor."
