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Flint Firebirds

Preview: Busby, Firebirds Wrap-Up Road-Trip Saturday in Barrie

December 10, 2016 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


Barrie, Ont. - After posting a 3-1 victory against the Sudbury Wolves Friday, the Firebirds continue their six-game road-swing Saturday night when the club faces-off against the Barrie Colts for the second time this season. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Barrie Molson Centre (Capacity 4,195).

Game 31: Flint Firebirds (15-13-0-2) at Barrie Colts (8-17-3-1)

Date | Time

Saturday, Dec. 10 | 7:30 p.m.

Location

Barrie, Ont. | Barrie Molson Centre (capacity 4,195)

Tickets

Online | (888) 655-9090

TV

- Rogers TV channel 10/510 HD (Barrie)

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

Video Stream

OHL Live

Radio

WTRX 1330-AM (Flint & Mid-Michigan) | Pregame Show: 7:00p

Radio (Mobile)

Sports Xtra 1330 App: Android | iPhone/iPad

Live Stats

Here

Next Home Game

Wednesday, Dec. 28 vs. Soo (College Night)

Social Media

@FlintFirebirds | Facebook | Instagram

With Flint's victory in Sudbury, the Firebirds improved their road record to 4-8-1-1 away from the Dort Federal Event Center. Barrie has been shut-out by identical 3-0 scores in their last two games, are winless in their last five games and are 4-8-1-0 on home ice this season. The Colts have allowed the most goals against in the OHL with 122 this season, while Flint has allowed the 9th-most with 102. The Colts own the OHL's sixth-best penalty kill, operating at 84.2%. Barrie is 2-9-2-0 against Western Conference opponents this season. Barrie's Cordell James is second best face-off taker in the OHL with 373 won draws (52.5%) this season.

Flint's Dennis Busby, who recorded two assists Friday night in Sudbury, will make his first visit to Barrie as a member of an OHL hockey club. Busby, a native of Barrie, Ont., played for the Barrie Colts Minor Midget AAA hockey team last season and was the Firebirds' second-round draft pick, 23rd overall in the 2016 OHL Priority Selection in April.

Flint and Barrie will square off for the final time of the regular season. After the Firebirds started the season 5-0 on home-ice, Barrie earned a 5-3 victory in the initial match on Oct. 15 in Flint (Highlights). Last season, the Colts won both contests, posting a 8-5 win in Barrie on Oct. 22 before grabbing a 4-1 triumph in Flint on Nov. 21.

Players to Watch:

Flint Firebirds (15-13-0-2, 8th Western Conference):

Ryan Moore has 12 points in his last 11 games and is tied for eighth among all OHL skaters with 40 points. Moore is currently in a three-way tie for second most shorthanded goals scored in the OHL with three this season. Captain Alex Peters recorded an assist Friday against the Wolves and has two goals and eight assists in 30 games played. Nicholas Caamano (Dallas Stars) has 14 goals and 18 assists in 30 games this season. Everett Clark scored his ninth goal of the season Friday night and has nine goals and 11 assists in 27 games. Kole Sherwood (Columbus Blue Jackets) has 10 goals and 17 assists in 26 games played. Mathieu Henderson leads all OHL defensemen in points and is tied for second on Flints' roster in scoring with seven goals and 25 assists. Henderson is also tied for second in game-winning goals among all OHL defenseman with two. Jalen Smereck (Arizona Coyotes) has four goals and 14 assists in 27 games played.

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

In net, Connor Hicks is 8-4-0-2 and statistically the seventh-best goaltender in the league with a 3.04 GAA and a .888 SAV%. Hicks played in the Firebirds' last game Friday against the Sudbury Wolves and made 27-of-28 saves. Hicks is 5-1-0-1 in his last seven starts. Garrett Forrest is 6-8-0-0 with a 3.55 GAA and a .883 SAV%.

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).

Barrie Colts (8-17-3-1, 10th Eastern Conference):

Anthony Stephano leads the Colts in scoring with ten goals and 21 assists in 29 games played. Second on Barrie's roster is Lucas Chiodo who has nine goals and 15 assists in 29 games. James Cordell is third on the team in points with 12 goals and 10 assists in 27 games thus far.

Between-the-pipes, rookie Christian Propp is 3-8-1-0 and played in the Colts last game. Propp made 36 saves on 39 shots in the 3-0 loss to the Windsor Spitfires and holds a 3.96 GAA with a .888 SAV%. David Ovsjannikov is 5-9-2-1 with a 4.02 GAA and a .876 SAV %.

NHL: Roy Radke (Chicago Blackhawks) is the lone player to be drafted by an NHL club from the Colts. 21 former Barrie Colts are currently playing in the NHL this season. Four notable NHL players from the Barrie organization are Andreas Athanasiou (Detroit Red Wings), Aaron Ekblad (Florida Panthers), Daniel Girardi (New York Rangers) and Alex Pietrangelo (St. Louis Blues).

Broadcast Coverage:

Saturday night's contest against the Colts 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 7 p.m. Additionally, the game will be televised live in Barrie on channel 10/510 (HD) for Rogers TV cable subscribers and throughout the province of 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.

Upcoming Home Games:

The Firebirds next home game is Wednesday Dec. 28th at 7 p.m. against the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Wednesday's game is College Night featuring $2 beers & $2 hot dogs for all fans in attendance. In addition, college student's with valid I.D. receive $2 off their tickets. Flint is then home again on Friday, Dec. 30th against the Saginaw Spirit for Star Wars Night also at 7 p.m.. Star Wars Night will feature a live jersey auction immediately following 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. Prices are unchanged from last season and 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.

Check out the Flint Firebirds Statistics

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from December 10, 2016


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