OHL Flint Firebirds

Preview: Battle for I-75 Divide Cup Heats up Wednesday Night

Published on February 3, 2016 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


The Flint Firebirds (14-28-3-2, 5th West Division) square off against the Saginaw Spirit (20-25-2-2, 4th West Division) Wednesday night for game seven of the I-75 Divide Cup, presented by Coors Light. Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. (EST) at the Dow Event Center in Saginaw, Mich.

The battle for the I-75 Divide Cup heats up Wednesday night as the Firebirds and Spirit are tied with a 3-3 record through six games this season. The Spirit won the most recent contest in Saginaw 8-4 on December 16th. (Watch Highlights)

Tickets for Wednesday night's contest at the Dow Event Center are $15 for upper level, $17 for lower level and $19 for executive level seating and can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com or by phone at (989) 497-7747.

Radio & TV Coverage

Fans unable to attend Wednesday'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 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday's game against Saginaw will be televised live across the province of Ontario on the OHL Action Pak on cable channel 456. 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 Wednesday 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:

Flint's Vili Saarijärvi (Detroit '15) is currently on a three-game point streak and has scored three goals in the previous two contests. Will Bitten is currently on a four-game point streak recording one goal and four assists dating back to January 21st.

Will Bitten leads the Firebirds with with 21 goals and 27 assists totaling 48 points in 46 games played this season. Bitten has earned multi-point nights 12 times this season.

In net, the Firebirds have Brent Moran (Dallas '14) who holds a 3.66 goals against average (GAA) and a .885 save percentage (SAV%). In 27 games played this season, Moran has a 9-20-3-0 record in his 4th campaign in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Menna has a 4.57 GAA and a .866 SV%.

There are three players on the Flint Firebirds roster that are drafted in the National Hockey League. Firebirds' captain Alex Peters and goaltender Brent Moran were both selected by the Dallas Stars in the 2014 NHL Draft. 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:

Artem Artemov leads the Spirit in points with 16 goals and 27 assists in 43 games played this season while Connor Brown leads the Spirit with 19 goals in 49 games.

Evan Cormier is Saginaw's primary goaltender with a 3.45 goals against average (GAA) and a .895 save percentage (SAV%). Cormier has a 18-18-2-2 record through 42 games this season.

The NHL Central Scouting's Midterm list which ranks North American skaters eligible for the 2016 NHL Draft this June in Buffalo, NY has identified Saginaw's Markus Niemelainen as the #46, Keaton middleton #55, Tye Felhaber #139.

Along with Saginaw's Mitchell Stephens being drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning, three other players attended NHL training camps this fall including Artem Artemov (New York Rangers), Marcus Crawford (Ottawa) and Chase Stewart (Arizona).

Special Teams

The Flint Firebirds power play is 19th in the OHL converting at a 13% success-rate scoring 25 goals on 192 opportunities. On the penalty kill, the Firebirds are currently 17th in the OHL, operating at 77%. Flint has scored two shorthanded goals and has successfully killed 151 of 196 penalties this season. The Firebirds are recording the ninth most penalty minutes in the OHL with an average of 12.4 per game.

Saginaw's power play is the 15th in the OHL, scoring 17.6% of the time and is 10th on the penalty kill at 81.0%. The Spirit have registered the 13th least penalty minutes in the OHL averaging 11.6 minutes in the box per game.

Next Home Games:

The Firebirds will return home to the Dort Federal Event Center this Friday against the Sudbury Wolves and Saturday against the Kitchener Rangers. Puck drop is slated for 7:30 p.m. for both games at the Dort Federal Event Center.

Friday's contest against Sudbury is sponsored by the American Cancer Society (ACS) and all fans are asked to wear purple. 4,000 beaded necklaces will be given out to all fans in attendance as well.

Saturday is Military Appreciation night! All active and retired military personnel will receive a complimentary ticket with valid ID.

Single game tickets are $12/Bronze, $15/Silver, $19/Gold and $25/VIP and can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com or by visiting or calling the Dort Federal Event Center Box Office Monday thru Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. at (810) 744-0580. Saturday and Sunday game day box office hours begin at 10 a.m.

Detroit Red Wings and Flint Generals Alumni Game

The second annual Detroit Red Wings and Flint General Alumni Game is back at the Dort Federal Event Center on February 19th at 7:30 PM. All proceeds from the game will be benefiting the Kris Perani Foundation. Tickets for the game are currently on sale now at the Dort Federal Event Center Box Office. (More Info)

The Comedy Get Down Benefit Show

On Sunday, February 21, The Comedy Get Down World Tour featuring George Lopez, Charlie Murphy, Eddie Griffin, D.L. Hughley & Cedric the Entertainer will be performing at the Dort Federal Event Center. Tickets for the show go on sale today at 10:00 AM on Ticketmaster.com or at the Dort Federal Event Center Box Office! (Buy Tickets)

Flint Tropics Night

The Flint Firebirds will be wearing a special Flint Tropics jersey as they take on the Owen Sound Attack on February 13th at 7:30 PM. Be sure to stick around after the game for your chance to purchase a specialty Tropics jersey during our post-game live jersey auction. Tickets for Tropics Night may be purchased on Ticketmaster.com or at the Dort Federal Event Center Box Office. (Buy Tickets)

Three Firebirds Listed in NHL Draft Rankings

Three Flint Firebirds players are listed on the NHL Central Scouting's Midterm list which ranks North American skaters eligible for the 2016 NHL Draft this June in Buffalo, NY.Flint's Will Bitten is ranked #42 among North American skaters. Nicholas Caamano is listed #148 and Luke Kirwan is the third current Firebirds player at #166. (Read More)

Firebirds Raise Over $50,000 For Non-Profit Organizations

Since the Firebirds first major event in Flint, Michigan on February 20th (Detroit Red Wings & Flint Generals Alumni Event), Flint's newest hockey team, in just their first year in the region has raised over $50,000 for various non-profit organizations in Genesee County. (Read More)

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.

Check out the Flint Firebirds Statistics

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from February 3, 2016


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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