Flint Falters in Sudbury, 7-2
Published on January 16, 2026 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release
SUDBURY, Ont. - The Flint Firebirds fell in a 4-0 hole in the first period and could not overcome it as they were beaten by the Sudbury Wolves, 7-2, on Friday night at the Sudbury Community Arena. Jimmy Lombardi and Jacob Battaglia scored for the Firebirds in the loss.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Wolves opened the scoring in the first with a power play goal. Artem Gonchar hit Jan Chovan for a wrist shot that beat Mason Courville high on the glove side. They tallied another one 61 seconds later as Parker Smith slung home his first OHL goal which made the score 2-0.
Sudbury then cashed in on a Flint miscue that led to Gonchar alone in front of the net. He deked and slid the puck through Courville's legs for the third goal. The Wolves pushed the lead to 4-0 when J.C. Lemieux finished on the doorstep.
That lead swelled to five early in the second period after Genc Ula cashed in a wrist shot off the rush that beat Courville low. That would be all for Courville who was replaced by Mason Vaccari after making 13 saves on 18 shots.
Flint got on the board later in the second when Lombardi carried the puck into the attacking zone and ripped a snap shot past Bjorn Bronas on the glove side. The Firebirds then struck for another one after Battaglia gathered a rebound and fired it through Bronas to cut the lead to 5-2.
Sudbury answered though with a power play tally from Adam Nemec late in the second. Chovan picked up a second goal in the third period to push the score to its 7-2 final.
The Firebirds dropped their second straight game and fell to 29-11-2-2 while Sudbury improved to 16-25-1-0 with its win.
POSTGAME NOTES:
Flint has lost back-to-back games in regulation for only the third time this season...Kevin He recorded an assist and now has a five-game point streak. He has three goals and four assists during the streak...Jimmy Lombardi took sole possession of the team lead in goals with his 24th goal of the season.
UP NEXT:
The Firebirds will take Saturday off before heading the North Bay on Sunday afternoon. Puck drop at the Boart Longyear Memorial Gardens is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 16, 2026
- Frontenacs Extend Home Winning Streak to Six in a Row Friday Night - Kingston Frontenacs
- Spitfires Defeat Otters in Close Matchup - Windsor Spitfires
- Rangers Score Five Unanswered and Five Via Special Teams on Route to 7-4 Victory - Kitchener Rangers
- Flint Falters in Sudbury, 7-2 - Flint Firebirds
- Rausa Scores First OHL Goal, Spirit Fall in Kitchener Friday Night - Saginaw Spirit
- Generals Drop First of Triple-Header to Battalion - Oshawa Generals
- Edwards Scores Short-Handed Goal as Otters Fall in Hard-Fought Battle - Erie Otters
- Rescheduled: Guelph Storm vs. Niagara IceDogs - Niagara IceDogs
- IceDogs Announce Dog Country Fights Cancer in Support of Rankin Cancer Run - Niagara IceDogs
- OHL Announces Rescheduled Game in Brampton with Attack - Owen Sound Attack
- Game Rescheduled Between Guelph and Niagara - Guelph Storm
- OHL Announces Rescheduled Game in Brampton - Brampton Steelheads
- OHL Announces Rescheduled Games in Brampton and Niagara - OHL
- Kitchener Host Saginaw for Bell Let's Talk Game Night - Kitchener Rangers
- Fronts Looking to Get Back on Track against the Steelheads Tonight - Kingston Frontenacs
- IceDogs Shine in 2026 Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects Game - Niagara IceDogs
- Attack Prepare for Weekend Battle with Knights and Colts - Owen Sound Attack
- Game Preview: Saginaw Spirit at Kitchener Rangers - Saginaw Spirit
- Erie Otters Announce EYHA Scholarship in Partnership with ERIEBANK - Erie Otters
- Game Day, Game 44, Firebirds at Wolves - 7:05 p.m. - Flint Firebirds
- Generals Host Battalion for Third Matchup of Season - Oshawa Generals
- Colts Top Firebirds 5-3 - Barrie Colts
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.
