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OHL Flint Firebirds

Firebirds Host Sting in Final Game Before Holiday Break

December 16, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


FLINT, Mich. - The Firebirds welcome the Sarnia Sting to Flint on Saturday night for the final game before a two-week holiday break. This will be the first time the Bees play in Vehicle City this season. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. at the Dort Financial Center.

LAST TIME OUT: Flint claimed a one-goal lead four different times on home ice last night, but Sudbury answered each time. Two late goals for the visitors represented the difference as the Wolves skated away with a 6-4 win. Tristan Bertucci had three assists for Flint, Braeden Kressler scored twice, and both Nolan Dann (1 G, 1 A) and Kaden Pitre (2 A) had multi-point nights in the effort. Nathan Aspinall also logged the first power-play goal of his career as Flint scored on three of seven chances with the man advantage. The teams combined for 36 penalty minutes in their final meeting of the regular season.

SERIES HISTORY: Saturday is the third of eight meetings between these clubs this season but the first time they're playing at the Dort Financial Center. The Birds won both prior meetings by final scores of 6-4 in October and 5-1 in November, both at the Progressive Auto Sales Arena. Flint's all-time record versus Sarnia stands at 33-23-2-0 and is 18-9-1-0 on home ice.

SCOUTING THE STING: (11-19-1-0, 4th West Division) -

Defenseman Jacob LeBlanc leads the Bees with 25 assists and 31 total points. In second with 28 points (10 G, 18 A) is Florida Panthers prospect Sandis Vilmanis. Overager Marko Sikic combines seven tallies with 19 helpers for 26 points, good for third.

Between the pipes, Nick Surzycia has appeared in 25 contests this season. He's earned six victories and carries a 4.08 goals-against average and a save percentage of .866. Rookie Karsen Chartier has three wins in nine appearances and sports a GAA of 3.54 and a SV% of .868.

Sarnia has the 17th-ranked power play, clicking at a 14.4% rate overall. In road games, they've converted on 9.7% of their chances. The penalty kill sits 16th operating at a 76.6% clip.

SCOUTING THE FIREBIRDS: (13-15-2-1, 3rd West Division) -

Gavin Hayes has named to the U.S. National Junior team roster on Saturday and will be away from the team as he competes in the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championships. Hayes is Flint's leader in points but Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Braeden Kressler paces the active roster. Kressler, who is expected to play in his 150th career OHL game on Saturday, has 15 goals and 20 assists including eight points (4 G, 4 A) in his last six games. Zacharie Giroux sits second with 14 goals and 19 assists. Anaheim Ducks prospect Coulson Pitre ranks third with 13 goals and 16 assists. Pitre now has points in three straight contests and four of his last five.

Edmonton Oilers prospect Nathan Day has 11 wins in 26 appearances and carries a goals-against average of 3.95 with an .861 save percentage. Rookie Jacob Brown has two victories across seven appearances with a GAA of 4.26 and an .857 SV%.

The Birds have the 13th-best power play in the league, converting at a rate of 18.4%. The penalty kill is getting the job done 78.5% of the time, good for 12th.

ODDS & ENDS: The Firebirds have scored five power-play tallies in their last two games... Flint looks to snap a five-game skid Saturday while the Sting are winless in three... Sarnia's roster contains four Michigan-born players, consisting of forwards Zach Filak (Northville) and Dennis Lominac (Commerce Township), along with defensemen Lukas Fischer (Brighton) and Hughston Hurt (Oakland Township).

BROADCAST COVERAGE: This evening's game 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. 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.

COMING UP: The Firebirds have the next two weeks off for the holiday break before resuming play with a road game in Kitchener on December 29. Flint's next home game is Saturday, December 30 when they host the Guelph Storm for a 7:00 p.m. tilt. Tickets are available online now from ETIX.COM.

Check out the Flint Firebirds Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from December 16, 2023


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