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OHL Flint Firebirds

Firebirds Extend Contracts of Hockey Operations Leadership

February 21, 2024 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


FLINT, Mich. - The Flint Firebirds announced on Wednesday that Head Coach Paul Flache and General Manager Dave McParlan have each received multi-year contract extensions.

"We are excited to have Paul and Dave remain at the helm of our organization," Firebirds Owner Rolf Nilsen said. "I strongly believe they have done a great job. We have seen our players develop both as athletes and as young men, which is a credit to their leadership. We are committed to building a championship organization and Paul and Dave are key components to achieving our goals."

McParlan was promoted to General Manager in June of 2023. He had previously been Flint's Assistant General Manager during the 2022-23 season. McParlan had been a part of the Firebirds organization previously from 2015-19 as the team's Director of Scouting, a position he had also held with the Plymouth Whalers prior to their relocation to Flint. He has over 20 years of hockey operations experience including 18 in the OHL.

"I'm thrilled to continue to be a part of the organization moving forward," McParlan said. "I'm grateful to Rolf and the team management for their confidence in our group, and I'm excited to continue working with Paul moving forward."

Flache took over as Head Coach of the Firebirds early in the 2023-24 season. Through 51 games at the helm has guided the Firebirds to a record of 24-23-3-1 and currently has the team on a season-high five-game winning streak. Working around a litany of games lost to injury, Flache has helped the team to a 17-11-1-0 record on the road, the fourth-best road record in the OHL.

"Paul has worked through an immense amount of adversity this season and the way he has handled it has been remarkable," McParlan said. "When you look at the injuries he has dealt with and the drastic change of personnel to the roster, to have the team in the position it is in right now is impressive. He has us where we hoped we would be when we made our moves at the trade deadline, firmly in the playoff race. We feel we have a team that will be a tough out come playoff time.

Flache joined the staff as an Assistant Coach during the offseason for his second stint with the team. He was an Associate Head Coach for the Firebirds during the 2017-18 season.

"I'm thankful to Rolf, Dave and the organization for the opportunity to be in this position," Flache said. "Our coaching staff, support staff and the entire team has been great to work with. To have the chance to continue in this position is something my family and I are grateful for. Without the support of my family none of this would be possible."

Flache played 190 games in the OHL for the Brampton Battalion during his junior career. He was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft and again by the Atlanta Thrashers in the 2002 draft. The Peterborough native went on to play a combined 535 professional games in 10 seasons which included stops in the AHL, ECHL and DEL, the top professional league in Germany.

"We have a great group of guys, a group that has completely bought in to what we are trying to build," Flache said. "I'm both excited for where we are with our group this season and for what the future holds over the upcoming years."

The Firebirds will put their season-high five-game winning streak on the line on Wednesday night in Saginaw against the rival Saginaw Spirit. The game will be televised nationally on NHL Network and puck drop at the Dow Event Center is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from February 21, 2024


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