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OHL Flint Firebirds

Firebirds Host IceDogs on Teddy Bear Toss Night in Flint

November 25, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


FLINT, Mich. - The Firebirds will face the Central Division's Niagara IceDogs for the first time this season on Saturday night in Flint. The Birds have points in six of their last ten games and on the other side, the Dogs have gone 1-8-0-1 in that span. When facing Central Division foes this season Flint's record sits at 3-1-0-0. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. at the Dort Financial Center on Teddy Bear Toss Night.

LAST TIME OUT: Saginaw extended their lead in the I-75 Divide Cup series with a 6-3 win over the Firebirds on Wednesday night at the Dort Financial Center. Flint staged a late comeback effort, but the Spirit's five-goal first period was too much to overcome. Blake Smith netted his first goal of the year and first as a member of the Firebirds to cut the deficit to 5-1 through 20 minutes. Chicago Blackhawks prospect Gavin Hayes and rookie Jeremy Martin both lit the lamp in the third but time ran out as Flint fell to 10-10-1-1 on the season. Simon Slavicek picked up a pair of helpers to extend his point streak to 11 games, which stands as the second-longest active streak in the OHL currently.

SERIES HISTORY: Saturday is the first of two meetings between the Birds and the Dogs this season, and is the only game they'll play in Flint. A season ago Niagara won both meetings. Flint's all-time mark is 3-8-1-0 with the IceDogs and stands at 2-3-1-0 on home ice. Entering Saturday's tilt, Niagara carries a road record of 2-4-1-1 while the Firebirds have gone 2-5-1-1 on home ice.

SCOUTING THE ICEDOGS: (4-12-4-1, 5th Central Division) -

Niagara has two players tied with 14 points each, followed by two with 13 points each to round out their top four in scoring. Second-year forward Kevin He has ten goals and four helpers and veteran center Gavin Bryant has a balanced seven of each to top the stats. Mathieu Paris and Michael Podolioukh each have five tallies and eight assists.

Antioch, IL native Owen Flores has three wins including one shutout across 14 appearances in goal this season. His goals-against average stands at 3.45 with a .903 save percentage. Marcus Vandenberg is credited with one victory in nine appearances, and he carries a 4.20 GAA with a .881 SV%.

The Dogs have the league's 19th-best power play, converting at an 11% rate. Their penalty kill sits 17th with a 76.9% rate of success.

SCOUTING THE FIREBIRDS: (10-10-1-1, 3rd West Division) -

Hayes, a Chicago Blackhawks prospect, and team captain Giroux top the three-way race for the scoring lead for Flint. Hayes has a team-high 15 goals plus ten assists while Giroux has ten goals and leads the team with 15 helpers. Braeden Kressler, a Toronto Maple Leafs prospect on the club, trails them by two points with 23 on 10 goals and 13 assists.

Between the pipes, Edmonton Oilers prospect Nathan Day has eight wins through 18 appearances. His goals-against average is now 4.06 while his save percentage sits at .860. Rookie Jacob Brown has two wins in six appearances and his GAA sits at 4.32 with an .855 SV%.

The Birds rank 16th on the power play with a 14.4% success rate. The penalty kill is clicking at a 79.0% clip, the OHL's 13th-best.

BROADCAST COVERAGE: This evening's game against the Niagara IceDogs 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. Brian Gardner will call the play-by-play action on the Firebirds Hockey Network starting with the pre-game show at 6:45 p.m.

All of the Flint Firebirds home and away games throughout the 2023-24 season can be watched anywhere in the world online at https://watch.chl.ca/ohl.

PROMOTIONS: Saturday is Flint's annual Teddy Bear Toss game! Fans are encouraged to bring a new or gently used teddy bear or stuffed animal to the game. When the Firebirds score their first goal, throw it onto the ice! All of the stuffed animals will be collected and donated to local charities! Tickets are available now from ETIX.COM here.

COMING UP: The OHL-leading Kitchener Rangers come to town for a 4 p.m. matinee contest on Sunday, which is the club's annual Princesses and Superheroes Night. The game is also another Family Funday Sunday, meaning the purchase of one adult silver or bronze level ticket at the box office will earn you up to two kids tickets for free.

Check out the Flint Firebirds Statistics

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