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OHL Flint Firebirds

Firebirds Resume Play on Friday in Kitchener

December 29, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


KITCHENER, Ont. - The Firebirds are fresh off a two-week holiday break and ready to get back to their winning ways. That won't be an easy task, as first up is the OHL's first-place Rangers. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium.

LAST TIME OUT: In their final game before the holiday break, the Firebirds got goals from Coulson Pitre and Jimmy Lombardi in the first period but the Sarnia Sting rattled off three unanswered goals and went on to beat the Firebirds, 5-2, on December 16 at the Dort Financial Center. Lombardi's goal was his first career OHL tally and Flints loss was its sixth in a row.

SERIES HISTORY: Friday marks the third of four meetings between these clubs this season and is the first of two to be played at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium. The Rangers dominated the Firebirds 8-0 in the first week of the regular season before winning a much more tightly contested 3-1 game on November 26. Last season the Birds went 3-1-0-0 versus Kitchener including a 1-1-0-0 record at "The Aud." All-time Flint holds a close 15-14-2-0 mark in the series.

SCOUTING THE RANGERS: (24-8-2-0, 1st Midwest Division) -

Seattle Kraken prospect Carson Rehkopf leads Kitchener and the entire OHL in goals (31) and is tied for the most total points (55). He's tied for the second-most power tallies with 11. Rehkopf will not play in Friday night's game as he is currently in Sweden with Team Canada at the World Junior Championships. The Rangers are also without Filip Mesar, who is playing for Team Slovakia. Washington, Mich. native defenseman Hunter Brzustewicz, a Vancouver Canucks prospect, is tied with Rehkopf with 55 total points and leads the OHL with 48 assists and 16 assists on the power play. Matthew Sop is a native of Kitchener and he ranks third on the team and in the league with 53 points (22 G, 31 A).

In goal, Jackson Parsons has the best numbers in the OHL through 26 games played. He carries a 2.77 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage. He has 17 victories including four shutouts. Tristan Malboeuf has seven wins in 11 appearances and sports a 3.54 GAA and an .848 SV%.

Kitchener's power play is ranked fourth-best at a 28.6% conversion rate. When shorthanded they're killing off 82.4% of the penalties taken, the OHL's fifth-best.

SCOUTING THE FIREBIRDS: (13-16-2-1, 3rd West Division) -

Gavin Hayes remains in Sweden with the U.S. National Junior Team where the Americans are 2-0-0-0. Hayes has one assist through two contests. Braeden Kressler, a Toronto Maple Leafs prospect, tops the stats for the remaining Firebirds with 15 goals and 20 assists. Zacharie Giroux sits just one point back with 14 tallies and 20 helpers. Anaheim Ducks prospect Coulson Pitre ranks third, also with 14 goals and 30 total points. Flint is also without Simon Slavicek, who is on the extended roster for Team Czechia as a potential injury replacement.

Edmonton Oilers prospect Nathan Day has 11 wins in 27 appearances and carries a goals-against average of 4.00 with an .859 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 14th-best power play in the league, converting at a rate of 18.0%. The penalty kill is getting the job done 79.5% of the time which is good for 12th.

BROADCAST COVERAGE: This evening's game against the Kitchener Rangers 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 return to home ice Saturday to host the Guelph Storm. Both prior meetings with Guelph this season were settled by a single goal, with the Storm stealing both wins. Tickets are available online now from ETIX.COM.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from December 29, 2023


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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