Firebirds Seek Back-To-Back Wins on the Road at Niagara
Published on October 15, 2022 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release
St Catharines, Ont. - The Firebirds began the 2022-23 season with a loss on home ice at the hands of the Niagara IceDogs. Tonight, the setting moves to St. Catharines, Ont. where the Dogs get home ice advantage. Flint looks to settle the score on the road, and puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. (ET) at the Meridian Centre.
Brennan Othmann (New York Rangers) scored both Flint goals in this season's home opener. The IceDogs eventually won 3-2 that night off scoring from Kevin He, Aidan Castle, and Brenden Sirozzotti. Will Cranley (St. Louis Blues) stopped 27 of 30 shots in his debut for the Firebirds, and it was Josh Rosenzweig who earned the victory with a 40-save performance across the ice.
The Firebirds played last night in Erie, Penn. and skated to a decisive 8-1 road-game triumph. Othmann scored twice and assisted once and was rewarded with 'First Star' accolades for the effort. That brings Flint's record to 3-2-0-0 for the season. The Dogs have been off for a week, most recently dropping a 5-2 decision to the Guelph Storm in St. Catharine's last Saturday. Niagara's record stands at 2-3-1-0.
Tonight's game is the second of two meetings with Niagara this season, and the only meeting in St. Catharine's in the campaign. All-time, Flint holds a record of 3-7-1-0 versus Niagara, and a 1-4-0-0 record at the Meridian Centre in the series.
On special teams, the Firebirds have converted on 19.1% of their power-play chances, ranking 10th best in the league. The IceDogs have found success 27.8% of the time, which is currently third-best. Flint has killed off 78.3% of their penalties, the 11th-best rate in the OHL. Niagara has the 18th-ranked penalty kill at 73.3% efficiency.
Players to Watch
Flint Firebirds (3-2-0-0, 4th West Division):
Brennan Othmann (New York Rangers) leads the Birds on the scoresheet with six goals and five assists for 11 points in five games. Riley Piercey sits second with seven points (4 G, 3 A) thus far in the season. Amadeus Lombardi (Detroit Red Wings) ranks third with a pair of tallies and four helpers.
Among the rearguards, Dmitry Kuzmin (Winnipeg Jets) and sophomore defender Tristan Bertucci are tied for the lead with three points each. Bertucci has a goal and two assists, and Kuzmin has a trio of assists.
Flint carries a trio of netminders, led by overage veteran Will Cranley (St. Louis Blues). Cranley comes in with a 2.77 goals-against average (GAA) and a .919 save percentage (SV%) with two wins so far. Second-year goalie Nathaniel Day has played one game this season, posting 29 saves on 32 shots in the victory. Rookie goaltender Boe Piroski was acquired via trade prior to preseason play and carried a 3.07 GAA and a .923 SV% through one preseason game.
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 Brennan Othmann (New York Rangers).
Despite Flint playing in just seven OHL seasons thus far, Alex Nedeljkovic (Detroit), Kole Sherwood (Columbus), and Ty Dellandrea (Dallas) are three former Firebirds to play in the NHL. Brennan Othmann (NY Rangers), Riley Piercey (Detroit), and Gavin Hayes (Chicago) all 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.
Despite Flint playing in just five OHL seasons thus far, Alex Nedeljkovic (Carolina/Detroit), Kole Sherwood (Columbus), and Ty Dellandrea (Dallas) are three former Firebirds to play in the NHL. Brennan Othmann (NY Rangers), Riley Piercey (Detroit), and Gavin Hayes (Chicago) all played in NHL Pre-Season 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.
Niagara IceDogs (2-3-1-0, 5th Central Division):
Pasquale Zito (Detroit Red Wings) sits atop the stats for the Dogs with six points (1 G, 5 A) through five games played. Aidan Castle ranks second with three goals and a pair of helpers for five points in six contests. Brendan Sirozzotti has two goals and three assists for five points in six games. From the blue line, Rodwin Dionicio has chipped in three tallies in five games to date.
Niagara carries a pair of goaltenders, featuring third-year goalie Josh Rosenzweig and sophomore Owen Flores. Each has appeared in three games this season, and they both have one victory so far. Flores carries a 3.97 GAA with a SAV% of .888. Rosenzweig's lone win was against the Firebirds in Flint on opening night, and now sports a 4.00 GAA and a .904 SV%.
NHL: Pasquale Zito (Detroit Red Wings) is the lone player on Niagara's roster with NHL ties.
Notable IceDogs' alumni to play in the NHL include Alex Pietrangelo, Ryan Strome, Dougie Hamilton, Tom Kuhnhackl, Jamie Oleksiak, Brett Ritchie, and Philip Tomasino.
Broadcast Coverage:
Tonight's contest against the Niagara IceDogs 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 air live across the province of Ontario on the OHL Action Pak on channel 468 for both Rogers TV and Cogeco TV cable subscribers. 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 2021-22 Firebirds and OHL season, or $179.99 for all-access to the entire 2021-22 CHL season.
Next Up: The Firebirds will play their final game of the three-games-in-three-days weekend at Kitchener versus the Rangers on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. (ET) on Sunday. They'll return to Flint for their next home game on Wednesday, October 19, as they host the Sarnia Sting. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. (ET) in Flint and tickets are available now from Etix HERE. Members of Dort Financial Credit Union can get up to four tickets for free to Wednesday's game.
Ontario Hockey League Stories from October 15, 2022
- Preview: Rangers Face Flint Sunday Afternoon at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Complex - Kitchener Rangers
- Pitre Brothers Net a Pair of Goals, But Firebirds Fall 7-3 in Niagara - Flint Firebirds
- Spitfires Fall to Owen Sound in Overtime 5-4 - Windsor Spitfires
- Mancini Scores Twice; Otters Slip Past Spirit in Overtime - Saginaw Spirit
- Juan IceDog Too Many - Niagara IceDogs
- Spence & Cohen's Multi-Goal Heroics, Gibbons' Starting Debut Give Erie OT Win - Erie Otters
- Firebirds Seek Back-To-Back Wins on the Road at Niagara - Flint Firebirds
- Montréal Canadiens Assign Filip Mešár to Kitchener - Kitchener Rangers
- Spirit Face Otters Saturday Night in Erie - Saginaw Spirit
- IceDogs Game Day Preview - Niagara IceDogs
- Kitchener Rangers Partner with Sun Life, Kids Help Phone as Official Helmet Sponsor - Kitchener Rangers
- Chenard Stops 28 to Propel Attack Friday - Kitchener Rangers
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.
