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Flint Firebirds

Preview: Firebirds Host Sting in West Division Clash Tonight

February 25, 2017 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


Flint, Mich. - The Firebirds are back on home-ice tonight, Sat. Feb. 25, as the club hosts the Sarnia Sting for the seventh of eight games this season between the two teams. Puck drop is slated for 7:00 p.m. at the newly renovated Dort Federal Event Center in Flint.

Last night, the Firebirds topped the North Bay Battalion 6-3 in Flint. The win was the Firebirds' third-straight on home-ice and fifth-straight in Flint in regulation. The Firebirds are now 7-2-0-1 in their last 10 games and have scored a combined total of 18 goals in their past three games, averaging six goals a contest.

Game 58: Flint Firebirds (29-23-1-4) vs. Sarnia Sting (26-26-5-1)

Date | Time

Saturday, Feb. 25 | 7:00 p.m.

Location

Flint, Mich. | Dort Federal Event Center (Directions)

Tickets

Ticketmaster.com | (810) 744-0580

Promotions

- United Auto Workers (UAW) / United Way Night

TV

- Cogeco cable ch. 6 / 700 (HD) (Sarnia)

- OHL Action Pak: Rogers TV ch. 461 & Cogeco TV ch. 492 Live (Ontario)

Video Stream

OHL Live

Radio

WTRX 1330-AM (Flint & Mid-Michigan) | Pregame Show at 6:30p

Radio (Mobile)

Sports Xtra 1330 App: Android | iPhone/iPad

Live Stats

Here

Next Home Game

Friday, Mar. 3 vs. Sudbury (Buy Tickets)

Social Media

@FlintFirebirds | Facebook | Instagram

Saturday's contest is a pivotal match-up as the Firebirds hold a 5-1 record vs. Sarnia this season and are five points ahead of the Sting in the Western Conference standings, while the Flint has played one less game.

Flint won the first game, 7-4, on Oct. 1 and earned a victory in the next contest, 3-1, on Nov. 17. The Firebirds would win the next two games at the Progressive Auto Sales Arena, 3-2 in overtime on Dec. 15 and 5-4 on Jan. 4. Sarnia won their first game of the series 6-1 on Jan. 27, but the Firebirds won the most recent contest, 7-5, on Feb. 18 after Kole Sherwood buried the game-winner with 1:02 remaining in the contest (Highlights). The final game between the two clubs will be played on Mar. 1 at the Progressive Auto Sales Arena in Sarnia.

The Firebirds are 17-8-1-1 on home-ice and are 4-0-0-1 in their last five contests in Flint. Sarnia lost their previous contest, 6-5, in Sault Ste. Marie Friday. The Sting are 8-15-3-1 on the road this season and are 1-6-0-0 in their past seven games away from the Progressive Auto Sales Arena. Sarnia has scored the fifth-most goals in the league with 220, but have surrendered the third-most goals against with 236. In comparison, Flint is 12th in goals-for with 191 and 10th in goals-against with 196.

Flint sits one spot ahead of the Sting in seventh place in the Western Conference. Sarnia has 58 points in 58 games, while the Firebirds have 63 points with one game in-hand. Flint is now three points behind the Kitchener Rangers in fifth-place in the Western Conference and have one game in-hand on them as well.

Promotions:

The Flint Firebirds are teaming up with the United Auto Workers (UAW) and the United Way for a fundraising night, featuring auction items on the arena concourse and 50-50 raffle's throughout the game.

Single game tickets for the Flint Firebirds 2016-17 season are $12 for Bronze, $15 for Silver, $19 for Gold and $25 for VIP seating. All seats are reserved / assigned seating. Parking has been reduced to $5 dollars which is new this season. Fans can purchase tickets at the Dort Federal Event Center Box Office or online by clicking ticketmaster.com.

Players to Watch:

Flint Firebirds (29-23-1-4, 7th Western Conference):

Nick Caamano (Dallas Stars), Ryan Moore and Kole Sherwood (Columbus Blue Jackets) are three Flint Firebirds to watch Friday night.

Kole Sherwood has racked-up 37 points (16G, 21A) in his past 19 games. Sherwood recorded a 14-game point-streak from Dec. 30, 2016 to Feb. 12, 2017 and is 14th among all OHL Skaters with 67 points in 49 games this season.

Ryan Moore is fifth in OHL scoring and leads the Firebirds with 75 points (33G, 40A). Moore has 15 goals in the last 19 games and is currently in a tie for third most shorthanded goals scored in the OHL with three this season. Nicholas Caamano (Dallas Stars) has 21 points (13G, 8A) in the last 19 contests and has nine goals in his past 13 games. Caamano is third on the Firebirds' roster with 28 goals and 26 assists in 56 games played. Caamano earned his 100th-career OHL point last night.

Additionally, Maurizio Colella scored last night against the Battalion and has 14 goals and 17 assists in 53 games. Jake Durham tallied three points last night and now has 13 points in 55 games thus far. Everett Clark scored his 13th goal of the season on a penalty shot last night and has 32 points in 54 games this season. Michal Steinocher collected his first OHL point after scoring against North Bay. Jalen Smereck (Arizona Coyotes) gathered an assist last game and has 38 points in 54 games this journey.

C.J. Clarke, Samuel Duchesne, Jake Durham, Fedor Gordeev and Jack Phibbs are five first-time eligible players to be selected in the NHL Draft in June 2017.

In net, Garrett Forrest is 12-11-1-2 and is statistically the 12th-best goaltender in the OHL with a 3.24 GAA along with a .894 SAV%. Connor Hicks is 16-11-0-2 and is statistically the 10th-best goaltender in the OHL with a 3.19 GAA and a .883 SAV%. Hicks made 31 saves on 34 shots in the Firebirds' 6-3 victory over North Bay Friday.

NHL: The Firebirds currently have two players that have signed contracts with NHL clubs. Forward Kole Sherwood signed a three-year NHL contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets (July 2015) and defenseman Jalen Smereck signed a three-year NHL contract with the Arizona Coyotes (October 2016). Flint's Nicholas Caamano was drafted by the Dallas Stars in the most recent NHL Draft in June 2016. Along with Caamano, Sherwood and Smereck, four more Flint Firebirds competed in NHL training camps this fall: Everett Clark (St. Louis Blues), Connor Hicks (Detroit Red Wings), Luke Kirwan (Detroit Red Wings) and Alex Peters (Carolina Hurricanes).

Sarnia Sting (26-26-5-1, 8th Western Conference):

Jordan Kyrou (St. Louis Blues) is fourth in points in the OHL, leads the Sting roster in production and is in the midst of an impressive 23-game point streak where he has registered 40 points (14G, 26A) in that span. Kyrou has 27 goals and 53 assists in 56 games thus far. Drake Rymsha tallied two points against Sault Ste. Marie on Friday and has 25 goals and 26 assists in 56 games this season. Anthony Salinitri (Philadelphia Flyers) has 21 goals and 25 assists in 56 games played. Adam Ruzicka is second among all OHL rookies with 38 points (21G, 17A) in 51 games played.

Between-the-pipes, Justin Fazio is 19-17-3-1 and is statistically the 21st-ranked netminder in the OHL with a 3.67 GAA, along with a .896 SAV%. Fazio made 15 saves on 20 shots against the Greyhounds last night. Aidan Hughes is 6-7-2-0 and made 24 saves on 25 shots in a relief appearance against Sault Ste. Marie. Hughes holds a 4.32 GAA along with a .881 SAV%.

Four Sting players are also ranked among the top North American skaters for the upcoming 2017 NHL Draft which takes place June 23-24. Adam Ruzicka (#27), Ryan McGregor (#79) and Nicholas Grima (#209). Aidan Hughes is ranked at No. 28 for netminder's in North America.

NHL: Four players on the Stings' roster have been drafted by NHL teams consisting of Filip Helt (St. Louis Blues), Jordan Kyrou (St. Louis Blues), Jaden Lindo (Pittsburg Penguins) and Anthony Salinitri (Philadelphia Flyers).

13 notable Sting's alumni to play in the NHL are Reid Boucher, Eric Boulton, Daniel Carcillo, Jakob Chychrun, Alex Galchenyuk, Matt Martin, Connor Murphy, Dalton Prout, Brett Ritchie, Steven Stamkos, Ryan Spooner, Nail Yakupov and Pavel Zacha.

Broadcast Information:

Saturday night's contest against the Sting can be heard live on 1330 AM WTRX Sports Radio in Flint & Mid-Michigan and around the world online on the Sports Xtra 1330 Radio app here. Pregame coverage with Dominic Hennig will begin 35 minutes prior to puck drop at 6:30 p.m. Additionally, the game will be televised live in Sarnia on channel 6 / 700 (HD) for Cogeco cable subscribers and province-wide throughout Ontario on the OHL Action Pak on channel 461 for Rogers TV cable subscribers and channel 492 for Cogeco TV subscribers (Broadcast Information). Fans can also watch the game live online at www.ohllive.com or on the OHL Live App.

Also, as part of the Firebirds agreement with Xfinity / CN900, Monday's 5-1 victory in Guelph will be re-broadcast state-wide throughout Michigan for Comcast Cable subscribers on channel 900 this Sunday, Feb. 26 at 3 p.m. and Monday, Feb. 27 at 6 p.m.

Check out the Flint Firebirds Statistics

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