OHL Flint Firebirds

Preview: Firebirds Face Defending CHL Memorial Cup Champions Friday

Published on December 18, 2015 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


The Flint Firebirds (13-15-1-2, 5th West Division) face the defending CHL Memorial Cup Champions, the Oshawa Generals (12-16-3-2, 4th East Division) Friday night for the second time of the season and first in Oshawa. Puck drop is set for 7:35 p.m. (EST) at the General Motors Centre (capacity: 6,125).

The Flint Firebirds won this first game between the two clubs in Flint, 4-3 on Sunday, Nov. 8. Will Bitten recorded a three-point night while Mathieu Henderson scored the game-winning goal in a shootout to lift the Firebirds over the Generals. (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 and SiriusXM NHL Network Radio host Mick Kern will provide color commentary. Pregame coverage will begin at 7:00 p.m.

Friday's game against the Generals will be televised live in Oshawa on Rogers TV channel 10 and across the province of Ontario on the OHL Action Pak on cable channel 462. 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 Friday'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 leads the Firebirds with 17 goals and 22 assists totaling 39 points in 31 games played this season. Bitten scored one goal and two assists including a shootout tally in the first game vs. the Generals this season on Nov. 8. Connor Chatham (New Jersey '14) has tallied points in 10 of his last 13 games and is second on the Firebirds with 25 points in 30 games this season while Ryan Moore is third with 24 points in 31 games.

Goaltender Brent Moran (Dallas '14) holds a 3.23 goals against average (GAA) and a .886 save percentage (SV%). Moran was also a member of the Canada U18 team that participated in the 2014 IIHF World Hockey Championship in Finland.

There are four 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. In the same draft, the New Jersey Devils nabbed Connor Chatham in the third round. 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.

Oshawa:

Joe Manchurek and Kenny Huether are tied for the Generals' lead with 26 points however Huether has played three less games than Manchurek. Anthony Cirelli (Tampa Bay '15) is third on Oshawa with 25 points and has won the most amount of face off's (350) this season. Oakville, Ont. native, Domenic Commisso is currently on a six-game point streak while Cirelli has seven points in the last five games.

Jeremy Brodeur holds 2.83 GAA and a .898 save percentage in 26 games played this season. In his second year with the Generals, Brodeur has an 11-10-2-2 record and has the second most amount of shutouts in the OHL with 4 this season. Rookie netminder Logan Gauthier has a 1-3-1-0 record, a .870 save percentage and 3.48 GAA.

The Oshawa Generals saw 4 current players attend NHL training camps this fall: Anthony Cirelli (Tampa Bay Lightning), Michael Dal Colle (New York Islanders), Lukas Lofquist (Florida Panthers) and Mitchell Vande Sompel (New York Islanders).

Special Teams

The Flint Firebirds power play ranks 15th out of 20 teams in the OHL converting at a 15.2% success-rate scoring 20 goals on 132 opportunities. On the penalty kill, the Firebirds are currently 15th in the OHL, operating at 77.9%. Flint has scored two shorthanded goals and has successfully killed 102 of 131 penalties this season. The Firebirds are recording the 9th least penalty minutes in the OHL with an average of 12.6 per game.

Oshawa is 4th on the power play, scoring 22.4% of the time and 13th on the penalty kill at 78.4%.

Next Home 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!

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.

Saarijärvi Named to Finnish National Team WJC Selection Camp Roster

Firebirds' defenseman Vili Saarijärvi is among the 27 players that have been selected to Team Finland's World Junior selection camp roster for the 2016 World Junior Championship to be held in Helsinki, Finland from December 26th to January 5th.

The IIHF Ice Hockey World Junior Championships (WJC), commonly known simply as the World Juniors, is an annual event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) for national under-20 ice hockey teams from around the world. It is traditionally held in late December, ending in the first week of January.

The main tournament features the top ten ranked hockey nations in the world, comprising the 'Top Division', from which a world champion is crowned. Canada is the defending champion of the tournament, after having beaten Russia to win the 2015 edition on January 5th.

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.

Check out the Flint Firebirds Statistics

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from December 18, 2015


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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