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OHL Flint Firebirds

New Quest for the Coors Light I-75 Divide Cup Begins on Wednesday in Saginaw

October 11, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


Saginaw, Mich. - The Firebirds will visit their in-state rivals for the first time this season tonight. These teams last met in the first round of the 2023 OHL Playoffs, the first ever postseason matchup between two teams from Michigan in the history of the league. The best-of-seven series went to Game 7 before Saginaw punched its ticket to the next round. Now, these clubs begin their quest for the I-75 Divide Cup, presented by Coors Light. Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. at the Dow Event Center.

Each of these teams had won the season series three times prior to the 2022/23 season. The Birds went 3-4-1-0 versus the Spirit a year ago, thus returning the I-75 Divide Cup to Saginaw. At the Dow Flint's record was 1-3-0-0. Their all-time mark in the series stands at 26-32-1-3.

KRESSLER RETURNS: Flint received a boost to its lineup during the week when center Braeden Kressler was re-assigned to the Firebirds by the Toronto Maple Leafs. Kressler recorded 25 goals and 27 assists in 47 games played during the 2022-23 season. His average of 1.11 points per game was the fourth-highest on the Firebirds. Kressler signed with the Maple Leafs as an undrafted free agent in October of 2021. He is in his final year of OHL eligibility.

SCOUTING THE SPIRIT: Saginaw is led by a trio of players pacing at two points per game. Center Hunter Haight has four goals and two assists across three games. Calem Mangone has one goal plus five helpers. Defenseman Zayne Parekh earned his six points from all assists, including four on the power play. Goaltender Andrew Oke, who hails from Shelby Township, Mich., has played the duration of all three games this season. He sports a 2.37 goals-against average and a save percentage of .909. In a trade made on Tuesday, Saginaw has added veteran goalie Nolan Lalonde, who is signed to an NHL contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Lalonde is one of only three signed netminders in the OHL, and the only one playing for a team in the Western Conference.

The Spirit rank first on both the power play and penalty kill at this point in the season. With the extra man, Saginaw's scored five times on eight chances, or 62.5% of the time. When shorthanded, they've gone a perfect 12-for-12.

NHL: The Spirit have five players with NHL ties now, including forwards Joey Willis (Nashville Predators), Matyas Sapovaliv (Vegas Golden Knights), and Haight (Minnesota Wild), as well as defenseman Braden Hache (Florida Panthers) and newly acquired netminder Lalonde (CBJ).

SCOUTING THE FIREBIRDS: Rookie Jeremy Martin is averaging a point per game, netting two goals and adding an assist across the three games to date. Second-year forwards Kaden Pitre (2 G) and Daks Klinkhammer (1 G, 1 A) have two points a piece. Nathan Day (Edmonton Oilers) has backstopped the Birds in all three games this season. He's made 65 saves and first-year backup Jacob Brown made 14 stops in his 35 minutes of action so far.

On special teams, Flint has two shorthanded markers which are tied for the most in the league. Their penalty-kill units are operating at a 64.3% efficiency. The power play has yet to light the lamp.

NHL: The Birds carry seven players with NHL ties on the current roster. This includes defenseman Tristan Bertucci (Dallas Stars), goaltender Nathan Day (Edmonton Oilers), and forwards, Ethan Hay (Tampa Bay Lightning), Coulson Pitre (Anaheim Ducks), Braeden Kressler (Toronto Maple Leafs) and Gavin Hayes (Chicago Blackhawks).

BROADCAST COVERAGE: This evening's game against the Saginaw Spirit 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 6:50 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. CHL TV is the league's video streaming platform that delivers high-quality live and on-demand coverage of all regular season and playoff games annually. Wednesday night's game is the CHL Game of the Week and is available for free at watch.chl.ca.

COMING UP: On Friday the team heads to Sarnia, Ont. for a battle with the Sting. Flint's next home game will be one week from tonight when they host the Guelph Storm on Hockey Fights Cancer Night, sponsored by the McLaren Flint Foundation. The team will be wearing specialty Hockey Fights Cancer jerseys during gameplay, with a live jersey auction following the contest. All proceeds will benefit the McLaren Flint Foundation. Tickets are available online at ETIX.com or at the Dort Financial Center Box Office.

Check out the Flint Firebirds Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from October 11, 2023


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