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Flint Firebirds

Preview: Firebirds Face-Off vs. London in Flint Saturday

November 30, 2019 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


London Knights at Flint Firebirds

Date | Time Saturday, Nov. 30 | 7:00 p.m.

Location Flint, Mich. | Dort Federal Event Center (Directions)

Tickets Ticketmaster.com | (810) 744-0580

Promotions - Teddy Bear Toss Night

- Firebirds' branded Christmas ornament (PFCU)

TV - OHL Action Pak: Rogers ch. 468 & Cogeco ch. 468 (Ontario)

- Firebirds' Broadcast Coverage

Video Stream - TV Pregame Show (6:30pm)

- OHL Live

Radio WQUS 103.1 FM (Flint & Mid-Michigan) | Pregame Show: 6:30p

Radio (Mobile) US 103 App: Android | iPhone/iPad

Next Home Game Sunday December 1st: Santa's Family Funday

Social Media @FlintFirebirds   | Facebook  | Instagram 

Flint, Mich. - The Firebirds will host the London Knights for the first time this season Saturday night. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. (ET) at the Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center (cap. 4,400) in Flint.

London enters the contest ranked second the Midwest Division with a record of 14-5-1-1. The Knights have won nine of their past 10 games and are currently on a five-game winning streak. The Firebirds have won five of their past 10 games. Flint's record stands at 15-9-0-0, placing them in a two-way tie for second in the West Division. The Knights hold a road-record of 6-2-0-1 so far this season, and the 'Birds are 10-4-0-0 in home games.

Of note, three members of the Firebirds' team were originally drafted by the London organization: Ryan Bangs, Vladislav Kolyachonok (Florida Panthers) and Emmet Pierce. Additionally, Firebirds' Head Athletic Trainer Matt Bogart is a native of London.

Friday marks the second of four meetings between the two clubs this season, and the first of two games in Flint. All-time, Flint holds a record of 2-13-1-1 in the series, and a record of 1-6-0-1 on home ice. The last time these teams played was November 6, when the 'Birds earned their first-ever victory at the sold-out Budweiser Gardens in London by the score 6 - 1. Luke Cavallin played a stellar in net, stopping 35 of London's 36 shots to earn his fifth win. Dennis Busby (Arizona Coyotes), Jack Phibbs, Ty Dellandrea (Dallas Stars) and Jake Durham each lit the lamp once for Flint and Evgeniy Oksentyuk scored twice plus picked up an assist to earn 'First Star' honors in the triumph.

On special teams, the Knights rank second on the power play, scoring on 32.9% of their opportunities. Flint has scored on 15.1% of their chances with the man-advantage. London has the league's best penalty kill (PK), shutting the opposition down 85.7% of the time. The Firebirds are killing penalties at a 77.4% clip, which ranks 10th in the OHL. The Firebirds have the second-best PK on home ice this season, operating at an 86.0% rate of success.

Promotions:

Saturday, the Firebirds host the London Knights for the club's fifth-annual 'Teddy Bear Toss' Night. Fans are encouraged to bring new or gently used teddy bears or stuffed animals to the game and after the Firebirds score their first goal, fans can launch them onto the ice. There will also be Flint-made Teddy bears available to purchase for $10 on the Dort Federal Event Center concourse. All proceeds will benefit the Teddy Bear Patrol of Genesee County and St. Luke's North End Woman's Life (N.E.W.) Center, while supplies last.  The stuffed animals will be collected and donated to Hurley Children's Hospital - Children's Miracle Network, Whaley Children's Center, Michigan State Police and other the various local charities throughout Flint & Genesee County. Last year, the Firebirds donated more than 1,000 stuffed animals to the local charities. Fans are asked to bring and throw their stuffed animals in bags so that they stay dry and safe for the kids. Additionally, the first 800 fans through the doors will receive a Firebirds' branded Christmas ornament, compliments of PFCU.

Players to Watch:

Flint Firebirds (15-9-0-0, T-2nd West Division):

Evgeniy Oksentyuk continues to lead the Firebirds in scoring. He has 13 goals and 18 assists for 31 total points through 24 games-played, and he's on a six-game point-streak (5G, 7A). Team captain Ty Dellandrea (Dallas Stars) has 11 goals and 15 helpers for 24 points in 22 games. Defenseman Riley McCourt ranks third on the team and leads the defensive troops with nine goals and 16 assists for 25 points through 24 games. His 25 points are tied for the sixth-most of any defender in the OHL His nine goals are tied for second-most, and his 16 assists have him tied for seventh in the same category. On Monday, McCourt was named the OHL 'On the Run' Player of the Week with eight points (3G, 5A) over three games.

Jake Durham also has 11 goals, and he has 13 assists for a total of 24 points in 24 games. He is currently fourth in total goals-scored by any Flint player at 64, which is only three behind former-Firebird Nick Caamano in third with 67.

Brennan Othmann leads all first-year players for the 'Birds with 11 total points, which have him tied for the eighth-most points by any rookie in the league. His five goals are tied for seventh.

Between the pipes, Anthony Popovich carries a goals-against average (GAA) of 3.65 GAA and the seventh-best save-percentage (SAV%) at .895. His nine wins are tied for seventh-most in the OHL this season. Luke Cavallin carries a 3.77 GAA with a .896 SAV%.

NHL: The Firebirds have four players with NHL ties consisting of Dennis Busby (Arizona Coyotes), Ty Dellandrea (Dallas Stars), Ethan Keppen (Vancouver Canucks), and Vladislav Kolyachonok (Florida Panthers). In addition, Evan Vierling was named to the 2020 NHL Central Scouting November 'Players to Watch' list.

London Knights (14-5-1-1, 2nd MidWest Division):

Connor McMichael (Washington Capitals) leads the Knights on the scoresheet and ranks in the top five in the OHL in several categories. His 51 points are tied for most in the league, his 23 goals are second-most, he's tied for fourth with 28 assists, he's first with nine power-play tallies, and he's tied for fourth with 12 power-play helpers with teammate Ryan Merkley. McMichael enters Saturday night's game on an impressive 14-game point streak (15G, 22A).

Jonathan Gruden (Ottawa Senators) ranks second on the club with 28 points (9G, 19A) through 21 games. Gruden rides an 11-game point streak (5G, 13A) into Flint on Saturday. Defenseman Ryan Merkley (San Jose Sharks) ranks third on the roster and leads the London defense with 26 points (6G, 20A) in 19 contests. His 26 points are tied for fourth among the league's rearguards and his 20 helpers are fifth-most.

First-year forward Kirill Steklov tops the freshman class with one goal and two assists for three points in 21 games.

Between the pipes, first-year netminder Brett Brochu has played in 11 contests and earned seven victories. He carries a goals-against average (GAA) of 2.91 and a save-percentage (SAV%) of .895. Dylan Myskiw has seven wins in eight appearances this season, and sports a 2.20 GAA with a .930 SAV%.

NHL: London's roster features six players with NHL ties, including Connor McMichael (Washington Capitals), Liam Foudy (Columbus Blue Jackets), Jonathan Gruden (Ottawa Senators), Matvey Guskov (Minnesota Wild), Alec Regula (Chicago Blackhawks) and Hunter Skinner (New York Rangers). In addition, Plymouth, Mich. native Antonio Stranges, Luke Evangelista, Gerard Keane, Kirill Steklov, and Avery Winslow were all named to the 2020 NHL Central Scouting 'Players to Watch' list.

29 notable London Knights alumni to play in the NHL are David Bolland, John Carlson, Dino Ciccarelli, Michael Del Zotto, Max Domi, Sam Gagner, Bo Horvat, Michael Hutchinson, Nazem Kadri, Patrick Kane, Chris Kelly, Sergi Kostitsyn, Oli Maatta, Mitch Marner, Patrick Maroon, Steve Mason, Marc Methot, Vladislav Namestnikov, Rick Nash, Kyle Quincey, Brendan Shanahan, Steve Smith, John Tavares, Chris Tierney, Jarred Tinordi, Matthew Tkachuk, Austin Watson, Dennis Wideman and Nikita Zadorov. Their alumni Corey Perry recently played his 1,000th career regular-season NHL game.His first 988 games were with the Anaheim Ducks, before joining the Stars as a free agent over the summer.

Broadcast Coverage:

Saturday evening's contest 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 here. Firebirds' broadcaster Dominic Hennig will call the play-by-play action on the Flint Firebirds Hockey Radio Network. Pregame coverage will begin 30 minutes prior to puck drop at 6:30 p.m.

Saturday's game will also be televised live throughout the province of Ontario on the OHL Action Pak on channel 468 for Rogers TV cable subscribers and channel 468 for Cogeco TV cable subscribers. 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's game, 64 of the Firebirds' 68 games throughout the 2019-20 season are also scheduled to be televised live across the province of Ontario on the OHL Action Pak.

All Flint Firebirds home and away games throughout the 2019-20 season can be watched anywhere in the world online on www.ohllive.com or 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 2019-20 season.

Next Home Game:

Sunday, the Firebirds welcome the Sarnia Sting for Santa's 'Family "FUN"day.' Come enjoy the holiday spirit and get a free picture taken with Santa Claus, his elves and real-life reindeer from 1-3 p.m. There will also be a DIY ornament designing station, while supplies last. Every Sunday Firebirds' home game is a Family "FUN"day featuring up to 2 free kids tickets with the purchase of an adult ticket, as well as a post-game 'skate with Firebirds players,' and an autograph signing session with Firebirds players following the game.

Give the gift of Firebirds Hockey this year! At all Firebirds home games this week, the club is offering 2 holiday-special packages featuring 2 Gold Level flex vouchers and a $20 gift certificate to The Birds Nest for $40 or 2 Silver Level Tickets vs. the Saginaw Spirit on both Jan. 10 and Mar. 18, including an additional 2 Silver Level flex vouchers for $60. Fans can stop in Friday for the Firebirds' Black Friday sale featuring 25% off in 'The Birds Nest" merchandise store! (excluding jerseys and game used items)

Check out the Flint Firebirds Statistics

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