Firebirds Enter Break with 7-1 Victory in Kingston
December 16, 2018 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release
Kingston, Ont. - The Firebirds concluded the first half of the OHL season with a 7-1 triumph against the Kingston Frontenacs Sunday. Five different players scored for the Firebirds and nine earned at least one point. Flint killed all four penalties while scoring three times on the man-advantage. The Firebirds also outshot the home team 31-28. Jack Wismer and Jake Durham each had three-point nights, logging two goals and one assist. Ethan Keppen, Riley McCourt and Ty Dellandrea (Dallas Stars) each had two points in the contest. Goaltender Emanuel Vella made 27 saves on 28 shots, earning his second victory of the year.
Flint found the back of the net on an early power-play opportunity. Vladislav Kolyachonok made the set-up pass to Jacob Winterton along the left-wing boards in the offensive zone. Winterton turned and skated to the top of the left circle before firing far-side, connecting for his seventh goal of the season just 3:16 into the contest. Then, Kingston's first-year forward Anthony Aguanno tied the game from the slot at 16:20. The goal was his first in the OHL, assisted by Tyler Burnie and Ryan Cranford. First-period shots were 11-9 in favor of the Frontenacs.
The Firebirds reclaimed the lead just 3:10 into the second period. Kyle Harris lifted the puck out of the defensive zone along the right wall. Ethan Keppen corralled the bouncing puck at the offensive blue line and carried into the right circle. He fired a wrist-shot toward the netminder's far right pad from the right face-off dot. The save was made and the rebound went right to Jack Wismer on the doorstep. Wismer lifted the puck into the top left corner for his third of the campaign. Riley McCourt was credited with the second assist.
The 'Birds found twine again exactly 10 minutes later. Flint captain Ty Dellandrea won an offensive zone face-off back to Jake Durham at the right point. Durham passed to McCourt on the left point. McCourt passed back to Durham centered high between the circles. Durham fired a low, hard wrist-shot that was tipped into the back of the cage through goaltender Brendan Bonello's five-hole. The marker was credited to Hunter Holmes, his fourth of the season, scored at 13:10. Durham and McCourt picked up the assists. Shots in the middle frame were 13-12 to the Front's advantage.
Flint scored four unanswered in the third period. First, Wismer centered the puck from the right wall and Keppen redirected it past Bonello up high, far side. It was Keppen's ninth of the season scored just 30 seconds in to the final frame. McCourt was credited with his second helper on the play. At 1:16, Jake Durham scored his first of the night. Dellandrea backhanded a neutral-zone pass that hit Durham in-stride streaking along the right-side boards. Durham's wrister from the right circle hit the far corner, top-shelf. Bonello was replaced by first-year netminder Ryan Dugas.
At 2:52, Durham scored his second consecutive goal, again assisted from Dellandrea. This time, the pass came from the right point and found Durham all alone in the left circle for a one-timer. Finally, Wismer scored his second of the game and fourth of the season at 14:13. He carried the puck from his defensive blue line up ice into the left offensive circle. There, he made a forehand to backhand move before lifting a wrist-shot off the back-bar, unassisted. The game concluded with very chippy play that resulted in players from both sides being sent to the dressing rooms early. Final shots on net were 31-28 in Flint's favor.
Next Home Game: After the mid-season break, the Firebirds will return to the Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center for a pair of games during the holiday break. The first of the two back-to-back contests is Scout Night on Friday, Dec. 28. The following night, the Firebirds host the Windsor Spitfires on Saturday, Dec. 28 for Superhero Night.
Single game tickets for all Firebirds games are $12 Bronze, $16 Silver, $20 Gold and $26 VIP seating (Seating Chart). All seats are reserved / assigned seating. Fans can purchase tickets by calling (810) 744-0580, in-person at the Dort Federal Event Center Box Office or online at ticketmaster.com.
Ontario Hockey League Stories from December 16, 2018
- Gens Enter Break with 8-5 Setback - Oshawa Generals
- Knights Head to Holiday Break with a Win - London Knights
- Petes Finish First Half with Win over First Place 67's - Peterborough Petes
- Firebirds Enter Break with 7-1 Victory in Kingston - Flint Firebirds
- Fronts Head into the Holiday Break After 7-1 Loss to Flint - Kingston Frontenacs
- Torrid Brazeau Paces Troops - North Bay Battalion
- Steelheads Muzzle Wolves - Brampton Steelheads
- Brazeau and Troops Sweep Home and Home with 5-4 Victory - Barrie Colts
- Spirit Earn Point in First Half Finale in Windsor - Saginaw Spirit
- 67's Close out Pre-Holiday Schedule with Loss to Petes - Ottawa 67's
- Otters Lose to Knights 5-3 in London - Erie Otters
- Game Preview: Gens Finish Weekend at Home Tonight against Storm at 6:05pm - Oshawa Generals
- Spirit Play Final Game Before Holiday Break in Afternoon Tilt against Windsor - Saginaw Spirit
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