OHL Flint Firebirds

Firebirds Host Sting for the Final Time this Season Tonight

December 16, 2022 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


Flint, Mich. - Last Saturday, the Sarnia Sting came to Flint and dropped four goals in the first 8:22 of the game, which ultimately led to a 6-3 win for the visitors. It was abundantly clear that a true rivalry exists between these clubs, and now the Firebirds look to seek revenge and leap over the Sting in the West Division standings, which show them separated by a single point. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. (ET) tonight at the Dort Financial Center.

Flint has gone 9-3-2-0 versus West Division opponents this season, including a 4-1-1-0 record against Sarnia. Tonight is game seven of eight between these teams, and the fourth and final meeting in Flint this season. All time the Firebirds are 31-21-2-0 in the series with the Bees, and they've gone 18-8-1-0 when facing Sarnia on home ice. In the three previous games at the Dort Financial Center between these clubs this season, the Birds have a 2-1-0-0 mark.

Flint enters tonight's tilt with a record of 16-11-2-1, seeding them fourth in the West Division and sixth in the ten-team Western Conference. Sarnia sits just one point ahead in third with a mark of 15-10-4-2 in the campaign. In their last ten contests, the Firebirds have gone 5-4-1-0 and the Sting are 4-4-1-1.

On special teams, the Firebirds have converted on 21.0% of their power-play chances, ranking them 13th in the league. The Sting have found success 18.8% of the time, which ranks 19th in the OHL. Flint has killed off 79.0% of their penalties, which is up to the ninth-best rate in the league. The Birds are tied for first with eight shorthanded goals scored this year. Sarnia has the 13th-best penalty kill, operating at 77.3% efficiency.

Promotions:

Friday's contest will feature NASCAR Cup Series driver and Michigan native Erik Jones, driver of the Petty GMS Motorsports No. 43 car made famous by Hall of Fame driver Richard Petty. The Firebirds have partnered with Jones and his Erik Jones Foundation, which is focused on three things: early cancer detection and care, advocating for literacy, and promoting animal welfare. As part of the night, Jones will be on site for various events and fans can support the Erik Jones Foundation throughout the night. The proceeds of tonight's 50/50 raffle will benefit the Erik Jones Foundation. In addition to winning the 50/50 draw, fans will have the opportunity to win a VIP experience at Michigan International Speedway on August 6, 2023, and Erik Jones swag. The No. 43 show car will be at the arena for fans to view and take photos with before and during the game. Jones will be on site for a pre-game Q&A with Flint Firebirds season ticket holders and he'll make an appearance during intermission festivities.

Players to Watch

Flint Firebirds (16-11-2-1, 4th West Division):

Amadeus Lombardi leads the Firebirds in goals (19), assists (22), and points (41) through 30 games played. He ranks fourth in the OHL in points to date. He's tied for third in total points and third for goals across the OHL. Lombardi also rides a seven-game points streak, during which he's amassed ten goals and five assists. Westland, Mich. native Gavin Hayes remains in second with 29 points, stemming from 15 tallies and 14 helpers. Defender Dmitry Kuzmin and forward Zacharie Giroux are tied for third with 26 points each. Giroux has ten tallies and 16 helpers, and Kuzmin has six goals with 20 assists.

Between the pipes, Flint's netminders are led by veteran Will Cranley (St. Louis Blues). Through 24 appearances, he's posted a 3.33 goals-against average (GAA), and his .900 save percentage (SV%) is the OHL's fifth-best. Cranley is credited with 11 victories, including one shutout. Nathan Day now has five wins across ten appearances, and he carries a GAA of 4.49 with a .838 SV%.

NHL: The Firebirds have six players with NHL ties consisting of Will Cranley (St. Louis Blues), Amadeus Lombardi (Detroit Red Wings), Gavin Hayes (Chicago Blackhawks), Braeden Kressler (Toronto Maple Leafs), Dmitri Kuzmin (Winnipeg Jets), and Artem Guryev (San Jose Sharks). Additionally, Coulson Pitre, Tristan Bertucci, Ethan Hay, and goaltender Nathan Day were listed on the NHL Central Scouting's 2023 Players to Watch List for October.

Despite Flint playing in just seven OHL seasons thus far, Alex Nedeljkovic (Detroit), Kole Sherwood (Columbus), Ty Dellandrea (Dallas), Tyler Tucker (St. Louis), and Will Bitten (St. Louis) are five former Firebirds to play in the NHL. Riley Piercey (Detroit) and Gavin Hayes (Chicago) played in NHL preseason contests this year, joining Firebirds' alumni Ethan Keppen (Vancouver), Vili Saarijarvi (Detroit), and Jalen Smereck (Arizona). In total, the team has produced 24 signed or drafted players into the NHL.

Sarnia Sting (15-10-4-2, 3rd West Division):

The Sting are led on the scoresheet by Ty Voit, who ranks first in the OHL in assists (43), points (52), and power-play assists (18) through 31 games played. Sasha Pastujov ranks second with a balanced 19 goals and 19 assists through 24 contests. His nine power-play goals are tied for third in the league. Recently-acquired defender Christian Kyrou now carries the third-most points for the Sting with 37 (9 G, 28 A) in 28 games this season. He sits fourth in the league in assists and second with 16 helpers with the man advantage.

Between the pipes, Benjamin Gaudreau has nine wins across 22 appearances. He sports a 3.62 goals-against average (GAA) and a save percentage (SV%) of .868. Nicholas Surzycia has six victories in 14 appearances and carries a 3.58 GAA with a SV% of .878.

NHL: The Sting roster features eight players with NHL ties, including forwards Sandis Vilmanis (Florida), Sasha Pastujov (Anaheim), Nolan Burke (Nashville), and Ty Voit (Toronto), defensemen Ryan Mast (Boston Bruins), Christian Kyrou (Dallas), and Chandler Romeo (Ottawa), as well as netminder Benjamin Gaudreau (San Jose). Additionally, Alexis Daviault and Angus MacDonell were named to the latest NHL Central Scouting's 2023 Players to Watch List.

Notable Sting alumni to play in the NHL include Steven Stamkos, Daniel Carcillo, Jakob Chychrun, Alex Galchenyuk, Matt Martin, Brett Ritchie, Ryan Spooner, Nail Yakupov and Pavel Zacha.

Broadcast Coverage:

This evening's contest against the Sarnia Sting 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), starting with the pre-game show at 6:45 p.m. (ET).

The game will be televised live across the province of Ontario on the OHL Action Pak on channel 466. 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.

All Flint Firebirds' home and away games throughout the 2022-23 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 $7.99 for 24-hour access, $29.99 for monthly access, $119.99 for all-access to the 2022-23 Firebirds and OHL season, or $179.99 for all-access to the entire 2022-23 CHL season.

Next Up: The Firebirds travel to London, Ontario Saturday to battle the Knights, who lead the Midwest Division. The game is slated for a 4:00 p.m. (ET) opening faceoff and Jack Sznewajs has all the play-by-play action on US 103.1 FM starting with the pre-game show at 3:40 p.m. After Saturday's tilt, the organization begins a ten-day holiday break before playing their next home game on Wednesday, December 28. The Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds will be in town and puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. (ET) at the Dort Financial Center. Tickets for the December 28 home contest are available from ETIX.

Check out the Flint Firebirds Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from December 16, 2022


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