OHL Flint Firebirds

Firebirds Kick off Home-And-Home with Sarnia on Valentine's Day

February 14, 2024 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


FLINT, Mich. - With 18 games remaining in the regular season, the Firebirds currently sit in ninth place in the Western Conference, trailing the eighth-place Sarnia Sting by only one point in the standings. It's Sarnia in town on Valentine's Day, for the first of a home-and-home set. Four of Flint's final 18 games are against Sarnia, including back-to-back games this week. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. at the Dort Financial Center.

WINNING WEEKEND: On Friday the Birds toppled the Oshawa Generals 7-2 at the Tribute Communities Centre. Oliver Peer and Connor Clattenburg each scored twice. Peer's two goals plus one assist pushed his total to 15 points (8 G, 7 A) in 11 games as a Firebird and it was Clattenburg's first two-goal game of the season. Nathan Day made 30 saves on 32 shots to earn the win in net.

Then on Saturday, the Birds visited Brantford for the first time since the Bulldogs relocated from Hamilton after the 2022-23 season. Rookie Jacob Brown made 23 saves on 24 shots to earn his third OHL victory and Alex Kostov scored his first two goals as a Firebird, leading Flint to a 3-1 win.

SERIES HISTORY: Wednesday's game is the fifth of eight meetings between these clubs and the third of four to be played in Flint. The next meeting is at the Progressive Auto Sales Arena on Friday night. The teams are even with two wins apiece, with the visiting team having claimed victory every time thus far. Nolan Dann (1 G, 2 A) and Simon Slavicek (3 A) lead the Birds through the four meetings while the Bees are paced by Zach Filak (2 G, 4 A), followed by Daylen Moses (2 G, 2 A) and Cole Schwindt (2 G, 2 A) with four points each. The Birds' all-time record versus Sarnia stands at 33-25-2-0 and is 18-11-1-0 on home ice.

SCOUTING THE STING: (22-27-3-0, 3rd West Division) -

Overage forward Marco Sikic leads the Sting in total points (44) and has the most assists (31) on the squad. Sophomore Tyson Doucette leads in goals with 18 and ranks second in total points with 32. Easton Wainwright sits third with nine tallies and 22 helpers. He's also on a six-game point streak (3 G, 7 A) heading into tonight's tilt.

Nick Surzycia has donned the pads in 39 games this season, picking up 13 wins. His goals-against average sits at 3.77 and he has an .877 save percentage. Rookie netminder Karsen Chartier has seven victories across 19 appearances and sports an .858 SV% with a GAA of 4.04.

The Sting rank 18th on both the power play and the penalty kill this season. They're scoring at a 16.4% clip with the man advantage and killing off 74.4% of their penalties.

SCOUTING THE FIREBIRDS: (21-25-3-1, 4th West Division) -

Oliver Peer paces the Firebirds in scoring with the most goals (30), assists (33), and total points (63) this season. Fellow overager Nolan Dann has jumped into the second spot with 20 tallies and 24 helpers for 49 points. After earning four points (1 G, 3 A) last weekend, Dann now has points in 19 of his last 20 games and rides a seven-game point streak (5 G, 7 A) into tonight's contest. Simon Slavicek holds the third position with 32 points (10 G, 22 A).

Nathan Day is credited with 18 wins through 42 appearances between the pipes. His goals-against average is 3.89 and his save percentage is .861. Jacob Brown now has a 4.43 GAA and an .846 SV% with three wins in 11 games.

The Firebirds have the 17th-ranked power play in the OHL with a 17.8% conversion rate. Their penalty kill is 15th at 77.6%.

ODDS & ENDS: The Firebirds have won two games consecutively several times this season. They've yet to extend that to win a third-straight contest... Of the remaining 18 regular-season games, the Firebirds will play 12 home and six on the road. Four of the remaining 18 games are against the Sting. Another four are against Windsor who sit nine points behind the Birds in the West Division and Western Conference standings... The Firebirds are 5-14-2-1 in home games. Sarnia's road mark is 11-12-2-0.

PROMOTIONS: Wednesday is a special Buy one, Get one FREE Valentine's Day Game, sponsored by Medawar Jewelers. Fans will receive one free ticket of equal or lesser value with every ticket purchased. The first 800 fans in the door will receive a SPECIAL voucher from Medawar for a ring refinishing, valued at $55.00. It's also another double redemption night for unused season membership tickets (at Dort Financial Center Box Office only).

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 pregame show at 3:40 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: Flint travels to Sarnia Friday to complete this week's home-and-away series with the Sting. Then the Birds return to the Dort Financial Center Saturday for Nickelodeon Spongebob Squarepants Night, sponsored by Shea Automotive. The Firebirds will wear specialty Spongebob Squarepants inspired jerseys during the game, which will be auctioned off immediately following the game to benefit the Flint Firebirds Foundation. More details are available on flintfirebirds.com and tickets are available from ETIX.COM.

Check out the Flint Firebirds Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from February 14, 2024


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