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OHL Flint Firebirds

Firebirds Get Third Crack at Spirit on 'Pucks for Paws' Night

November 12, 2021 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


Flint, Mich. - The Firebirds will host their in-state rivals from Saginaw for the second time this season Friday night. Puck drop versus the Spirit is set for 7 p.m. (ET) at the Dort Financial Center. The game is the third matchup in the I-75 Divide Cup, presented by Coors Light, this year as well as 'Pucks For Paws' to benefit the Genesee County Humane Society, Sponsored by Epic Title, LLC.

The Firebirds enter Friday's contest in second place in the West Division with a record of 6-3-0-0. The Spirit sit fourth in the West, with a 5-3-1-0 record. On home ice this year, the 'Birds are 3-2-0-0 compared to Saginaw's road record of 3-1-1-0. The Firebirds and Spirit are the only two teams in the 20-team OHL who have played fewer than ten total games this season. Flint's win percentage of .667 has them tied for second-best in the league.

All-time, Flint carries a record of 14-25-0-2 against Saginaw, with a home record of 7-11-0-2. The Spirit have won the last nine meetings at the Dort Financial Center. In the shortened 2019-20 season, Saginaw won four of seven meetings. Wednesday marks the third of 12 total meetings between the clubs, and the second of six to be played in Flint. After winning the I-75 Divide Cup their first two seasons in the OHL, Flint has now surrendered the trophy to Saginaw for three straight campaigns. The first team to win seven games in the series this season will win the coveted trophy, with Saginaw holding the early lead 2-0.

The last time 'Birds and Spirit met was October 27 in Saginaw. Game two of the series went to the Spirit by a final score of 4-1. Amadeus Lombardi scored the lone goal for the Firebirds, his first of the season. For the Spirit, Dalton Duhart scored twice, his first and second of the season. Josh Bloom (Buffalo Sabres) and Dean Loukus also found twine. In net, Saginaw rookie netminder Andrew Oke made 27 saves on 28 shots for his second victory of the campaign.

Most recently, Flint knocked off the first-place London Knights at the Dort Financial Center last Saturday. The Knights entered the contest with a 9-0-0-0 record. Luke Cavallin shined in net, turning aside 24 of 26 shots for his fifth victory of the campaign. Tyler Deline, Riley Piercey, and Luca D'Amato each scored for the Firebirds. D'Amato and Deline also had an assist each, earning them second and third-star honors respectively. Piercey was the game's first star after scoring the game-winning goal late in the 2nd Period.

On special teams, the Firebirds are converting at a 12.8% rate, which ranks them 18th in the 20-team OHL. Saginaw has scored at a success rate of 17.1%, which ranks them 14th. Flint is killing penalties at an 83.8% clip, ranking sixth in the league. The Spirit's penalty-kill ranks first overall, with a 90.0% success rate.

Promotion:

It is 'Pucks For Paws' night at the Dort Financial Center to help benefit the Genesee County Humane Society, Sponsored by Epic Title, LLC. There will be a dog leash giveaway to the first 300 dogs in attendance, sponsored by Epic Title, LLC. The first 100 dogs in attendance will receive a FREE Firebirds dog bandana, courtesy of Brilliant Marketing Co. & Agency. The team is hosting a social media contest before the game, where fans are encouraged to dress their dog in Firebirds' swag and submit a photo to the Firebirds' Facebook or Twitter accounts to enter to win a Family 4 Pack and 1 dog ticket to the game. Please note: Fans can bring dogs only, no cats or other animals. Only one dog will be admitted per adult. Fans must bring current dog license paperwork with rabies vaccine shot information. Event staff will not accept just a tag. Dog seating will be in sections 16, 17, 18, and 19 only. A $10 dog ticket will be available at the door if a donation is not brought for the Humane Society of Genesee County (see details below). The dog relief area will be outside behind section 14. The in-arena music & PA announcer will not be as loud to be easier on the dog's ears. All dogs must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet, and it can't be a retractable leash. Please, no aggressive dogs. The Firebirds' 50-50 Raffle Partner will be the Humane Society of Genesee County. Please note, we hold the right to refuse any dog entry. Season ticket holders with dogs can exchange their season ticket for a seat in the dog sections (16,17, 18, or 19). Dog entry is not free for season ticket holders. Season ticket holders can bring a donation, a buddy ticket voucher, or redeem any unused ticket(s) to substitute payment for their dog's entry to the game.

Accepted donations with a $10 minimum value of the following for a FREE ticket for your dog to benefit the Humane Society of Genesee County:

Dog/Puppy Food

Cat/Kitten Food

Cleaning Supplies

Laundry Supplies

Dog/Cat Toys

Players to Watch:

Flint Firebirds (6-3-0-0, 2nd West Division):

Brennan Othmann (New York Rangers) continues to top the stats, leading the 'Birds with eight goals and four assists for 12 total points through nine games. He currently rides a five-game point streak (6 G, 3 A). Rookie Coulson Pitre ranks second with seven points (4 G, 3 A) in only seven games played. Defenseman Tyler Deline holds the third spot with seven points (2 G, 5 A) in nine contests.

In net, Luke Cavallin has appeared in eight games thus far. He carries a goals-against average (GAA) of 3.26. His save percentage (SV%) is .900. Cavallin has earned five wins, with one of them being a shutout against the Erie Otters on opening night. Rookie netminder Ian Michelone played one full game, making 32 saves on 33 shots in the victory. Nathaniel Day played the final 18 minutes of the most recent road game in Saginaw and turned aside all four shots faced.

NHL: The Firebirds have three players with NHL ties consisting of Braeden Kressler (Toronto Maple Leafs), Dmitry Kuzmin (Winnipeg Jets), and Brennan Othmann (New York Rangers). Also, Gavin Hayes was recently named to the 2021 NHL Central Scouting October Players to Watch List. More recently, defenseman Tristan Bertucci and netminder Nathaniel Day were both among the 24 OHL players named to Hockey Canada's Under-17 roster to participate at the inaugural Capital City Challenge. The Capital City Challenge is a four-team tournament featuring three men's under-17 teams and Canada's National Women's Team to take place November 26 to December 1 at TD Place in Ottawa.

Despite Flint playing in just five OHL seasons thus far, Alex Nedeljkovic (Carolina Hurricanes / Detroit Red Wings), Kole Sherwood (Columbus Blue Jackets), and Ty Dellandrea (Dallas Stars) are three former Firebirds to play in the NHL. Brennan Othmann (New York Rangers) and Firebirds' alumni Ethan Keppen (Vancouver Canucks), Vili Saarijarvi (Detroit Red Wings) and Jalen Smereck (Arizona Coyotes) have all played in NHL pre-season contests. In total, the team has produced 21 signed or drafted players into the NHL.

Saginaw Spirit (5-3-1-0, 4th West Division):

Josh Bloom (Buffalo Sabres) sits atop the leaderboard for the Spirit with 12 points (6 G, 6 A) through nine games. Calumet, Mich. native Dean Loukus is averaging a point-per-game with five tallies and four helpers through nine games played so far. Rookie forward Calem Mangone is third with four goals and four assists.

Leading from the blue line is veteran defenseman Mitchell Smith, who hails from Saginaw, Mich. with six points (1 G, 5 A) through nine games.

Between the pipes, returning goaltender Tristan Lennox (New York Islanders) has appeared in six games and earned three victories. He carries a 2.91 goals-against average (GAA) and a save-percentage (SV%) of .874. Shelby Township, Mich. native Andrew Oke has played in four contests, picking up two victories. Oke carries a 3.86 GAA with a SV% of .865.

NHL: The Spirit have two players with NHL ties, consisting of Josh Bloom (Buffalo Sabres) and Tristan Lennox (New York Islanders). Additionally, forward Matyas Sapolaliv and rearguard Pavel Mintyukov were recently named to the 2021 NHL Central Scouting October Players to Watch List. Olivier Savard and Luke McNamara were both among the 24 OHL players named to Hockey Canada's Under-17 roster to participate at the inaugural Capital City Challenge.

12 notable Spirit alumni to play in the NHL are Cody Bass, Paul Bissonnette, T.J. Brodie, Matt Corrente, Filip Hronek, Jan Mursak, Jamie Oleksiak, Dalton Prout, Tom Pyatt, Brandon Saad, Chris Thorburn and Vincent Trocheck.

Broadcast Coverage:

Friday evening's contest against the Saginaw Spirit can be heard live on the radio throughout Flint & Mid-Michigan on US 103.1 FM, online at www.us103.com, or by downloading the US 103 app here. Jack Sznewajs will call the play-by-play action on the Firebirds Hockey Network (FHN). Pregame coverage will begin prior to puck drop at 6:45 p.m. (ET) Friday evening.

The game will also be televised live across the province of Ontario on the OHL Action Pak on channel 460 (4460 HD) for both Rogers TV and Cogeco TV cable subscribers. 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. Also, all Flint Firebirds' home and away games throughout the 2021-22 regular season can be watched anywhere in the world online on https://watch.chl.ca/ohl. CHL TV is the league's new and improved video streaming platform that delivers high-quality live and on-demand coverage of all regular season and playoff games annually. The cost is $6.99 for 24-hour access, $24.99 for monthly access, $109.99 for all-access to the 2021-22 Firebirds and OHL season, or $159.99 for all-access to the entire 2021-22 CHL season.

Next Home Game: The Firebirds return to home ice Saturday night to host the Kitchener Rangers for the first time this season. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. (ET). Tickets are on sale NOW here: ETIX.

Flint Firebirds vs. Saginaw Spirit

Date | Time Friday, November 12th | 7:00p.m. (Pre-Game Show at 6:45)

Location Dort Financial Center | Flint, MI

Tickets Online | (810) 744-0580

TV Firebirds' Broadcast Coverage | Rogers/Cogeco: 460

Video Stream CHL TV

Radio WQUS 103.1 FM (Flint & Mid-Michigan)

Radio (Mobile) US 103 App: Android | iPhone/iPad

Next Home Game Saturday, November 13th, 7:00 PM | vs. the Kitchener Rangers

Check out the Flint Firebirds Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from November 12, 2021


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