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Flint Firebirds

Firebirds Drop Puck on 2nd OHL Season vs. Saginaw Tonight

September 21, 2016 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


Flint, Mich. - The Flint Firebirds begin their second season in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) tonight when the club faces off against their in-state rival, the Saginaw Spirit. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the newly renovated Dort Federal Event Center.

Join the Firebirds for game one of the Coors Light I-75 Divide Cup and pregame festivities which will include grilling, a cash bar, live music and bounce houses for the kids. Additionally, fans can enjoy the first of six "College Nights" this season featuring $2 beers and $2 hot dogs for all weekday games, including Opening Night.

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. Prices are unchanged from last season and all seats are reserved / assigned seating. Fans can purchase tickets online here at ticketmaster.com seo_bc_name&mc_cid742b160acf&mc_eid[UNIQID]) .

After hitting the road for a game against the Kitchener Rangers on Friday, the Firebirds will return home Saturday night against the Owen Sound Attack. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Dort Federal Event Center in Flint.

Players to Watch: Ryan Moore, a native of Troy, Mich. is the leading returning goal scorer for the Firebirds after contributing 48 points in 68 games in Flint's inaugural season in the OHL. Moore scored 25 goals and added 23 assists, in addition to six power play goals last campaign. Nick Caamano, a NHL draft pick of the Dallas Stars this past June returns to the Firebirds as the second leading goal scorer from 2015-16. Caamano registered 20 goals and 17 assists, totaling 37 points in 64 games for the Firebirds last season.

New to the Firebirds this season are rookies Dennis Busby, Ty Dellandrea, Jake Durham, Hunter Holmes, Ryan Littlejohn, Michal Steinocher and Jack Phibbs. Everett Clark, Garrett Forrest and Jalen Smereck were each acquired in trades with OHL clubs during the off-season. There are five players that are participating in NHL Training Camps this week: Nick Caamano (Dallas Stars), Everett Clark (St. Louis Blues), Luke Kirwan (Detroit Red Wings), Alex Peters (Carolina Hurricanes) and Jalen Smereck (Arizona Coyotes).

Matthew Kreis, who was second on the Saginaw roster in points last season, returns the Spirit for his fourth year in the OHL. Kreis earned 41 points in 65 games a season ago and scored six power play goals. Tampa Bay Lightning draft pick Mitchell Stepehens scored 20 goals in 39 games during the 2015-16 year, finishing with a total of 38 points.

Goaltenders: Flint's Matt Menna is expected to start between-the-pipes tonight for the Firebirds. Acquired in a trade with the Sudbury Wolves on January 8^th, Menna sported an impressive 3-1 record in goal for Flint this preseason.

With Evan Cormier gone at the NHL's New Jersey Devils' training camp, Saginaw's Brendan Bonello or Cameron Lamour will be a game-time-decsision for tonight's contest in Flint.

Last season, the Firebirds captured the first ever Coors Light I-75 Divide Cup after earning a 5-3 series lead over the club's rival, the Saginaw Spirit. Mathieu Henderson scored the game-winning goal in overtime on March 2 en route to a 6-5 victory over the Spirit in Flint.

Broadcast Information The Flint Firebirds Opening Night will be heavily covered throughout the region this week. In addition to all four of the Flint market TV news stations (ABC 12 WJRT, CBS 5 WNEM, NBC 25 WEYI and FOX 66 WSMH) hosting their morning show live from the Dort Federal Event Center Monday-Wednesday from 5-7 a.m., all four will be broadcasting live again from the arena from 5-7 p.m tonight to focus on the Firebirds game day.

Fans unable to attend Wednesday's game can listen live in Flint and Mid-Michigan on 1330 AM WTRX Sports Radio and around the world online on the Sports Xtra Radio app at www.wtrxsports.com b160acf&mc_eid[UNIQID]) . Dominic Hennig will call the play-by-play action and former Flint General Jim Duhart will provide color commentary on the Flint Firebirds Hockey Radio Network. Pregame coverage will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday's game against the Spirit will be televised live across the province of Ontario on the OHL Action Pak on cable channel 464. OHL fans with cable television in Ontario can add the OHL Action Pak to their television plan to catch the Firebirds in action, home or away all season long. Along with Wednesday night's game, 64 of the Firebirds' 68 games throughout the 2016-17 season are also scheduled to be televised live across the province of Ontario on the OHL Action Pack. Additionally, fans with Comcast Cable throughout Michigan can catch the Firebirds on Xfinity channel 900 Sunday's at 3 p.m. and Monday's at 6 p.m. on a tape-delayed basis.

Check out the Flint Firebirds Statistics

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