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Flint Firebirds

Six Current Firebirds Represented Flint in NHL Development Camps Last Week

July 2, 2018 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


Flint, Mich. - Six current Firebirds represented Flint in National Hockey League (NHL) Development Camps last week.

Firebirds' Dennis Busby (Arizona Coyotes), Ty Dellandrea (Dallas Stars), Fedor Gordeev (Toronto Maple Leafs), Riley McCourt (Dallas Stars), Hakon Nilsen (New York Islanders) and Connor Roberts (Pittsburgh Penguins) all recently competed in NHL camps.

Both Busby and Dellandrea made history June 22-23 as the two were the first players that were originally drafted by the Flint Firebirds and were then drafted into the National Hockey League. Dellandrea was selected in the first round (13th overall) by the Dallas Stars and Dennis Busby was tabbed in the fifth round (145th overall) by the Arizona Coyotes.

Gordeev was selected out of the Firebirds' organization by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the fifth-round (141st overall) in last year's 2017 NHL Entry Draft. He finished second among Firebirds' defenseman with 25 points (8G, 17A) in 67 games played during the 2017-18 season.

McCourt attended the Dallas Stars Development Camp as a free agent invite. He finished second among returning Firebirds' defenseman with 22 points (5G, 17A) in 56 games played. McCourt had two power-play goals, six power-play assists and one game-winning goal last season.

Nilsen was a free agent invite to the New York Islanders Development Camp last week. One of only two remaining Firebirds to play in Flint all three seasons, Nilsen recorded eight assists, two of which were on the power-play and had 57 shots on net during the 2017-18 campaign.

Roberts skated in the Pittsburgh Penguins Development Camp also as a free agent invite. Roberts finished second among all returning Firebirds last season, posting 35 points (18G, 17A) in 66 games played. He had five power-play goals and 131 shots on goal.

Since the Flint Firebirds' inception three season ago in 2015, the club has now had 15 drafted or NHL signed players on its roster consisting of Will Bitten (Montreal), Dennis Busby (Arizona), Nick Caamano (Dallas), Connor Chatham (New Jersey), Ty Dellandrea (Dallas) Fedor Gordeev (Toronto), Kyle Keyser (Boston Bruins), Nick Mattinen (Toronto), Brent Moran (Dallas), Alex Nedeljkovic (Carolina), Alex Peters (Dallas), Vili Saarijarvi (Detroit), Kole Sherwood (Columbus), Jalen Smereck (Arizona) and Josh Wesley (Carolina).

The prospect camps give NHL clubs the opportunity to evaluate some of the game's top prospects from the junior and professional levels. Players take part in daily intrasquad contests along with sessions on player development and on-ice workouts among many other things.

Both drafted players and free-agent prospects along with invitees can participate in these camps, providing the NHL teams a chance to survey player skills, abilities and growth.

Each NHL team runs its own development camp during the summer months, which includes their drafted prospects as well as a handful of players who are invited as guests.

The Firebirds' training camp will take place Monday, Aug. 27 through Wednesday, Aug. 29. The camp will be held at the Firebirds' official practice facility, Iceland Arenas, and is open to the public with free admission for all on-ice sessions.

Season ticket packages for the Flint Firebirds 2018-19 season are on sale now and can be purchased at the Dort Federal Event Center Box Office, Monday thru Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (ET). Season ticket holders receive FREE parking this season. For more information, contact the Dort Federal Event Center Box Office at (810) 744-0580 or email mary@dorteventcenter.com.

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