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OHL Flint Firebirds

Firebirds Launch Weekend Homestand on Saturday Night vs Soo

October 28, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


FLINT, Mich. - The Firebirds return home on Saturday night, fresh off a 6-3 triumph over the Soo Greyhounds at the GFL Memorial Gardens on Wednesday. The club's had three days off since, and are fresh and ready to play in front of the home fans in Flint. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. at the Dort Financial Center on First Responder's Appreciation Night.

HOW IT'S GONE: After dropping their first four contests to start the season, the Firebirds have turned up the heat. They've won four of the last six games and three of the past four. Edmonton Oilers prospect goaltender Nathan Day has been named the first star of the game in each of the Birds' last three victories, combining for 105 saves on 114 shots in that span. Team captain Zacharie Giroux has also been red-hot of late, scoring five goals in the past three games. Both Giroux and Chicago Blackhawks prospect Gavin Hayes enter Saturday's game riding six-game point streaks.

SERIES HISTORY: Flint now holds a mark of 21-20-1-2 all-time against the Hounds, which is the closest series in Firebirds history. In total,15 games have been settled by a single goal. On home ice, the Birds hold a 10-10-1-1 mark versus Sault Ste. Marie. This season the record stands at 1-2-0-0, with Flint's lone victory being Wednesday in the Soo.

NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING: The scouts from the National Hockey League have released their October Players to Watch List, naming OHL players to keep an eye on for next year's NHL Draft. Two Firebirds made the cut; forward Kaden Pitre and defenseman Matthew Jenken.

SCOUTING THE GREYHOUNDS: (8-5-0-0, 1st Central Division) -

Overager Jack Beck leads the OHL in power-play assists (8), ranks second in total assists (15), and sits fifth in points (19). Defenseman Arttu Karki has lit the lamp a club-high ten times, tied for second most in the league, and has 14 total points. Karki's seven power-play goals are currently the most in the OHL. Marco Mignosa is third on the club with 13 points (2 G, 11 A) in 13 games.

Ottawa, Ont. native Charlie Schenkel has appeared in ten games this season, posting six wins while combining a 3.02 goals-against average (GAA) with a .877 save percentage (SV%). His six victories are tied for second-most in the league. Rookie Landon Miller has six appearances, including two wins and a 3.19 GAA plus a .878 SV%. Both Soo goalies have one shutout in the campaign.

The Greyhounds have been successful on special teams this season, ranking second on the power play (28.0%) and fourth on the penalty kill (88.6%). The Greyhounds played on Friday night in Saginaw and beat the Spirit in a shootout, 5-4.

SCOUTING THE FIREBIRDS: (4-6-0-0, 4th West Division) -

Overage forward Zacharie Giroux leads his club in scoring with six goals and four assists across ten games played. Kaden Pitre (5 G, 2 A), Chicago Blackhawks prospect Gavin Hayes (3 G, 4 A), and Anaheim Ducks prospect Coulson Pitre (2 G, 5 A), are each tied in second with seven points apiece. Hayes also leads the club with a +/- rating of +6. Rookie forward Jeremy Martin is tied for the fifth-most goals by any first-year player in OHL with three and is one of only three rookies with a shorthanded tally on the season. All four of his points this season have been scored in three games against the Greyhounds.

Nathan Day has appeared in nine contests, posting a 4.77 goals-against average and an .850 save percentage with three victories. Rookie Jacob Brown has one win in two appearances and sports a 5.68 GAA and an .800 SV%.

The Firebirds are killing penalties at a 74.4% rate, and are tied with the second-most shorthanded tallies in the league with three. The power play sits a 4.9%, the lowest mark in the league.

BROADCAST COVERAGE: This evening's game against the Soo Greyhounds 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's game will be Flint's First Responder's Appreciation Night, sponsored by Dort Financial Credit Union and supported by the DM Burr Group, ServPro of Northwest Genesee County, and MedStar. All Police, Fire, and EMS employees will receive a FREE ticket at the Dort Financial Center box office window with proof of employment, courtesy of game night sponsors & supporters (listed above). There will also be the annual Battle of the Badges Charity game (Police vs. Fire) to be played prior to the Firebirds game. This game is scheduled to be played from 4:30-5:30 p.m.

COMING UP: The Coors Light I-75 Divide Cup continues on Sunday with the rival Saginaw Spirit in town for the first time this season. The game is another Sunday Family Funday, where fans can buy one adult silver or bronze level ticket at the box office and get TWO FREE silver or bronze level kids tickets. *Please note, this offer is only available at the box office window.*

All fans are encouraged to wear Halloween costumes to the game because we have pregame trick-or-treating from 3:00-4:00 p.m. while supplies last. Game time is 4:00 p.m., for more information, contact the Dort Financial Center Box Office at (810)-744-0580.

Check out the Flint Firebirds Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from October 28, 2023


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