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OHL Flint Firebirds

Flint Hosts Saginaw for First Teddy Bear Toss Night Friday

December 4, 2015 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


Flint Firebirds Skate against the Saginaw Spirit
Flint Firebirds Skate against the Saginaw Spirit
(Flint Firebirds)

After playing the last three games on the road, the Firebirds return home to the Dort Federal Event Center Friday evening as Flint hosts the Saginaw Spirit in the club's first Teddy Bear Toss Night at 7:30 p.m. (ET).

Fans are encouraged to bring a new teddy bear to the game. When the Firebirds score their first goal, fans are encouraged to throw their bear onto the ice. It's a great visual for a great cause. Bears will also be sold in the arena lobby prior to game time. The bears and cash donations will benefit the following local charities in Flint and Genesee County: The Ennis Center for Children, Hurley Children's Hospital, Saint Luke's N.E.W. Life Center, Teddy Bear Patrol, Whaley Children's Center and others.

Also, all fans in attendance will receive free orange Flint Firebirds rally towels and a chance to win (4) Fitbit's compliments of HAP (Health Alliance Plan).

Two red kettles will be passed through the stands to collect donations for the Salvation Army and a replica Flint Firebirds team signed jersey will be silent-auctioned at the Salvation Army table on the concourse.

Tickets are $12 for bronze, $15 for silver and $19 for corporate/gold seating and can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com, by visiting the Dort Federal Event Center Box Office Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. or by phone at (810) 744-0580.

The Flint Firebirds (13-11-1-1) are tied for second place in the West Division after a 4-3 overtime victory over the Windsor Spitfires who currently hold the second most points in the OHL. The Spirit (9-15-1-1) are currently in fifth place in the West Division and also beat Windsor in their last game played on Nov. 28, 5-3 on home ice in Saginaw.

Flint and Saginaw last played on Wednesday, Nov. 25 where the Firebirds were victorious on home ice with a 4-2 victory and earned a 3-1 series lead over the Spirit in the Coors Light I-75 Divide Cup. (Watch Highlights)

Radio & TV Coverage

Fans unable to attend Friday's game can listen live in Flint and Mid-Michigan on 1330 AM WTRX Sports Radio and around the world online on the iHeartRadio app. Dominic Hennig will call the play-by-play action on the Flint Firebirds Hockey Radio Network. Pregame coverage will begin at 7:00 p.m.

Friday's game against the Spirit will be televised live across the province of Ontario on the OHL Action Pak on cable channel 442. 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. Along with Saturday afternoon's game, 64 of the Firebirds' 68 games throughout the 2015-16 season are also scheduled to be televised live across the province of Ontario on the OHL Action Pack.

All Flint Firebirds home and away games throughout the 2015-16 season can be watched anywhere in the world online on OHL Live and on the OHL Live App. OHL Live is a league video streaming platform that delivers high quality live and on-demand coverage of all regular season and playoff games annually. The cost is $6.99 per game, $69.99 for Flint Firebirds away games only, $179.99 for all 68 home and away Firebirds games and $279.99 for all 1,360 OHL games throughout the 2015-16 season.

Players to Watch:

Flint:

Will Bitten, tied for 12th in the OHL, leads the Firebirds in goals (14) and assists (21) and has tallied points in 10 of the last 12 contests. Ryan Moore is second on the FIrebirds with 22 points in 26 games played and Vili Saarijärvi leads all Firebirds' defenseman with 19 points also in 26 games.

Goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic (Carolina '14) made 29 saves on 32 shots in the 4-3 overtime victory in Windsor last night and now has a 7-2-1-0 record in his last 10 starts. Nedeljkovic holds a .909 save percentage and a 3.13 goals against average. After recording 40 saves on 45 shots in the 6-5 victory over Erie on Nov. 22, rookie goaltender Kyle Keyser holds a 2-2 record. Keyser has a .908 save percentage including a 3.29 goals against average.

There are five players on the Flint Firebirds roster that are drafted in the National Hockey League. Alex Nedeljkovic and Josh Wesley were both selected by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2014 NHL Draft. In the same draft, the New Jersey Devils nabbed Connor Chatham while Alex Peters was chosen by the Dallas Stars. Most recently, Vili Saarijärvi was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings this past June in the 2015 NHL Draft.

In addition, Will Bitten, Nicholas Caamano, Jacob Collins, Matyáš Kantner, Dane Johnstone, and Håkon Nilsen are eligible to be selected in the 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo in June.

Saginaw:

Saginaw's Matthew Kreis has recorded the most points against Flint this season tallying three goals while adding three assists for a total of six points in four games between the two rivals.

The Spirit are lead up front in scoring by San Jose Sharks prospect Dylan Sadowy who has recorded 11 goals and 10 assists in 22 games played this season. Artem Artemov follows Sadowy with 19 points in 25 games. Markus Niemelainen leads the Spirit on the blue line in scoring with 18 points.

Evan Cormier has started between the pipes for the Spirit in all four games played against Flint this season. Cormier has a .885 save percentage including a 3.80 goals against average in 20 total games played. David Ovsjannikov has a save percentage of .873 and a 4.26 GAA with a 2-4-0-0 record this season.

NHL Central Scouting has identified Saginaw's Evan Cormier (goaltender), Keaton Middleton (defense) and Markus Niemelainen (defense) as players to watch in their November 2015 watch list for the 2016 NHL Draft.

The Saginaw Spirit saw five players attend NHL training camp this fall: Artem Artemov (New York Rangers), Marcus Crawford (Ottawa), Dylan Sadowy (San Jose Sharks), Mitchell Stephens (Tampa) and Chase Stewart (Arizona).

Special Teams

The Flint Firebirds power play ranks 14th out of 20 teams in the OHL converting at a 17% success-rate scoring 18 goals on 104 opportunities. On the penalty kill, the Firebirds are currently 15th in the OHL, operating at 77.5%. Flint has scored two shorthanded goals and has successfully killed 86 of 111 penalties this season. The Firebirds are recording the ninth least penalty minutes in the OHL with an average of 12.7 per game.

Saginaw is 15th on the power play scoring 16.2% of the time and 9th on the penalty kill at 82%.

Next Home Games:

- Star Wars Night (Saturday)

On Saturday night, the Firebirds host the Sarnia Sting at 7:30 p.m. for Star Wars Night presented by Goodwill.

The first 2,000 fans in attendance will receive a free light saber. The Firebirds will wear special Star Wars warm-up jerseys for charity. Fans will have the opportunity to bid on these jerseys in a silent auction on the concourse throughout the game.

Saturday will also feature an exclusive Star Wars movie trailer, Lucasfilm approved characters in attendance, Star Wars themed music and movie clips played throughout the game.

Also, compliments of NCG Cinemas in Grand Blanc, one lucky Firebirds' fan will receive (2) free tickets to the premiere of "Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens" on December 18th.

- Ugly Sweater Night

On Friday, December 11th, the Flint Firebirds and Old Newsboys of Flint are partnering for the team's inaugural ugly sweater jersey night as the Firebirds host the Mississauga Steelheads at 7:30 p.m. There will be a live jersey auction immediately following the game with proceeds from the auction, 50-50 raffle, Chuck-A-Puck and game program sales benefiting the Old Newsboys of Flint. Also, with Christmas right around the corner, children of all ages will have their chance to meet Santa Clause and get their picture taken throughout the duration of the game.

- College Night

Featuring $2 beers and $2 hot dogs, every home Firebirds game Monday through Thursday is college night! The Firebirds host the Hamilton Bulldogs on Tuesday, December 29th in the final home game of the 2015 calendar year at 7 p.m. All college students with valid I.D. receive $2 off their admission on college nights!

Firebirds Acquire Goaltender Johnston from Windsor

The Flint Firebirds announced that the club has completed a trade with the Windsor Spitfires for goaltender Brendan Johnston. Johnston was selected by Windsor in the fifth round of the 2013 OHL Priority Selection and has played 38 games in the OHL with the Spitfires. The Firebirds in return have traded their sixth round pick in the 2017 OHL Priority Selection.

Firebirds Give Back Throughout Holiday Season

The Flint Firebirds commitment to making an impact on the Flint and Genesee County Community is in full swing this holiday season. The Firebirds are partnering with numerous non-profit organizations to give back to the community that has showed great support for the club in its inaugural season in the OHL. Click here for more information.

Flint Firebirds Dressing Room & Facilities

Home of the Flint Firebirds, the Dort Federal Event Center received a multi-million dollar renovation in the summer of 2015 that provides the club a first class dressing room, facilities and other amenities to help the players and staff maximize their careers and goals to advance to the National Hockey League. Click here to see a photo album of the Flint Firebirds dressing room and facilities.

Group Ticket Packages

Whether you're entertaining corporate clients, celebrating a special occasion, having a fun night out with the family and friends or rewarding employees...we have a fun, easy and affordable plan for you. It's more than a ticket, it's an experience! Contact Shane Stout to book your group outing today: (810) 742-2004 or via email at shane@flintfirebirds.com.

Flint Firebirds Hockey Radio Coach's Show

Join the Voice of the Firebirds Dominic Hennig and Head Coach John Gruden from 6-7 p.m. every Tuesday night on 1330 WTRX Sports Radio and around the world online on the iHeartRadio App here. Hennig and Gruden recap the previous week of events, preview the upcoming games on the ice and take your phone calls, emails and tweets! Tune in each Tuesday from 6-7 p.m. on 1330 AM WTRX Sports Radio.

Firebirds Gear

Stop by the Flint Firebirds Merchandise Store at the Dort Federal Event Center, Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. to stock up on the best Firebirds' gear around. Jerseys, shirts, hats, hoodies, game pucks, mouse pads and other accessories and collectables are available at the Flint Firebirds Merchandise Store.

Social Media

Stay connected with the Flint Firebirds 24-7-365. Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Vine, YouTube, etc. Find all of the Firebirds social media handles online at www.flintfirebirds.com/socialmedia.

Tweet Your Seat!

Follow the Flint Firebirds on Twitter @FlintFirebirds, take a selfie in your seat then "Tweet Your Seat" at each of this weekend's home games for a chance to win four NCG movie tickets, courtesy of Dort Federal Credit Union.

Check out the Flint Firebirds Statistics




Images from this story

Flint Firebirds Skate against the Saginaw Spirit
Flint Firebirds Skate against the Saginaw Spirit
   



Ontario Hockey League Stories from December 4, 2015


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