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OHL Flint Firebirds

Preview: Firebirds Host Owen Sound Wednesday in Flint

March 3, 2020 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


Flint, Mich. - The Firebirds look to return to their winning ways on a "Winning Wednesday" when they host the Owen Sound Attack. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. (ET) at the Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center in Flint.

After dropping a 5 - 1 decision to the Kingston Frontenacs Saturday night, Flint has now won 17 of their last 19 games. With the defeat, the Birds dropped to second place in the West Division and fourth place in the ten-team Western Conference with only eight regular-season games remaining. The Firebirds enter Wednesday's contest with a record of 39-19-1-1. The Attack is currently fourth in the Midwest Division and seventh in the Western Conference with a 28-22-4-4 record. On home ice this year, Flint has a record of 19-10-1-0 compared to Owen Sound's road record of 13-12-3-1. In their past ten games, the Firebirds have a record of 8-2-0-0 and the Attack have gone 5-3-1-1.

Wednesday marks the fourth of four meetings between these clubs and the second of two games to be played in Flint this season. All-time, the Firebirds hold a record of 6-13-0-0 versus the Attack and are 4-5-0-0 at the Dort Federal Event Center. So far this season the Birds have won two of three meetings, including the only prior contest in Flint. Both victories were settled by a single goal.

The last time these teams met was November 23 in Flint. Down 3-0 in the second period, Flint scored five-straight goals to finish with a 5 - 4 victory. Evgeniy Oksentyuk scored a goal and two assists to earn 'First Star' honors for the game. Cody Morgan was the 'Second Star' with a goal and an assist, and netminder Anthony Popovich was named the 'Third Star' for making 26 saves and picking up his second assist of the season.

On special teams this season, Flint's overall penalty-kill (PK) sits fourth-best at 81.5%. On home ice, the Birds have the league's best PK, operating at an 87.2% efficiency. Owen Sound's PK unit is ranked 12th overall in the OHL at 77.2%. With the man-advantage, the Attack rank fifth in the league converting at a rate of 23.4% and the Firebirds are 13th, scoring at a 20.8% clip.

Promotions:

Wednesday's tilt is the club's final "Winning Wednesday" in Flint! Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. (ET) against the Owen Sound Attack. If the Firebirds win, you win! All fans in attendance on March 4th will receive a complimentary ticket to the Firebirds final home regular season game vs. the Saginaw Spirit on Wednesday, March 18th! Additionally, fans can enjoy $2 beers, hot dogs, popcorn and sodas throughout the Wednesday games!

Single game tickets for all Firebirds games are $12 Bronze, $16 Silver, $20 Gold and $26 VIP seating (Seating Chart). All seats are reserved / assigned seating. Fans can purchase tickets by calling (810) 744-0580, in-person at the Dort Federal Event Center Box Office or online at ticketmaster.com here.

Players to Watch:

Flint Firebirds (39-19-1-1, 1st West Division):

Belarusian forward Evgeniy Oksentyuk ranks first on the club with 32 goals and 42 assists for 74 points in 55 contests. Earlier this season, Oksentyuk carried Flint's longest-ever point-streak at 17 games (13G, 16A).

Riley McCourt is the top-scoring defenseman in franchise history. For this season, he's third in total offense with 18 goals and 42 assists for 60 total points in 60 games. He's tied for fourth among OHL blue-liners in goals and assists, and fifth in total points. McCourt's also tied for seventh with a 1.00 points-per-game average. Fellow rearguard Tyler Tucker signed an entry-level three-year contract with the NHL's St. Louis Blues earlier this week. For the season he has 17 tallies and 38 helpers for 55 points in 52 games-played. He's tied for seventh in goals, assists, and points, and ranks sixth with a 1.06 points-per-game average. Tucker also carries the most penalty minutes of all blue-liners in the league.

Brennan Othmann continues to lead Flint's freshman class with 33 total points (17G, 16A) through 52 games. Othmann recently passed Ty Dellandrea (Dallas Stars) for the most-ever goals by a rookie for Flint, and he passed Vladislav Kolyachonok (Florida Panthers) for the most points by a rookie. Othmann ranks sixth among first-year OHL players in goals-scored and is tied for eighth in total points.

In net, Anthony Popovich has played in 44 games this season. He's earned 28 victories, which are the most by any Flint netminder in a single season and tied for fifth-most among OHL netminders this season. Popovich's goals-against average (GAA) is 3.65 and his save-percentage (SAV%) of .896 is inside the top-10 among starting goalies. Peyton Grainer was recently recalled from the Detroit Belle Tire AAA Major Midget Hockey Club for the past week, and he made six saves on seven shots in a relief effort between the pipes Saturday night.

NHL: The Firebirds have five players with NHL ties consisting of Dennis Busby (Arizona Coyotes), Ty Dellandrea (Dallas Stars), Ethan Keppen (Vancouver Canucks), Vladislav Kolyachonok (Florida Panthers) and Tyler Tucker (St. Louis Blues). Additionally, Evgeniy Oksentyuk was named to the NHL Central Scouting's Midterm Rankings for the upcoming 2020 NHL Draft.

Despite Flint being in the midst of just their fifth OHL season, three former Firebirds have already played in NHL regular-season games: Nick Caamano (Dallas Stars), Alex Nedeljkovic (Carolina Hurricanes) and Kole Sherwood (Columbus Blue Jackets). Ty Dellandrea (Dallas Stars), Ethan Keppen (Vancouver Canucks), Vili Saarijarvi (Arizona Coyotes) and Jalen Smereck (Arizona Coyotes) have played in NHL pre-season contests. In total, the team has produced an impressive 18 drafted or signed NHL players in that short time.

Owen Sound Attack (28-22-4-4, 4th Midwest Division):

Sergey Popov leads the Attack with 68 total points, including a team-leading 50 helpers through 57 games. Defenseman Brady Lyle ranks second in offense with 63 points (21G, 42A) in 58 games. He ranks third among OHL defenders in goals, points and points-per-game. He's also fourth in assists. Barret Kirwin is third in scoring with 57 points (29G, 28A) in 58 games.

Rookie Deni Goure has 11 goals and 14 assists for 25 points through 58 contests.

In goal, Mack Guzda has played in 48 of the Attack's games this campaign. He has 23 victories, including two shutouts. Guzda carries a 3.21 goals-against average (GAA) and a save-percentage (SAV%) of .898. First-year netminder Nick Chenard has played in 12 contests this season and earned five victories. Chenard has a GAA of 2.99 and a SAV% of .905.

NHL: Aidan Dudas (Los Angeles Kings) is the lone player with NHL ties on the Owen Sound roster. In addition, Igor Chibrikov was named to the NHL Central Scouting's Midterm Rankings for the upcoming 2020 NHL Draft.

The list of notable Owen Sound alumni to play in the NHL includes Sean Avery, Wayne Simmonds, Mark Giordano, Bobby Ryan, Kirk Maltby, Josh Bailey, Joel Ward, Wayne Primeau, Brad Richardson, Andrej Sekera, Trevor Lewis, Andrew Shaw, Cody Ceci, Brian McGrattan, Kevin Weekes, and Paul Bissonnette.

Broadcast Coverage:

Wednesday 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 and Jack Sznewajs will provide color commentary on the Firebirds Hockey Network. Pre-game coverage begins 30 minutes prior to puck drop at 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday's game will be televised live in the Owen Sound area on channel 53 / 510 (HD) for Rogers TV cable subscribers. The game will also be broadcast live across the province of Ontario, the contest will be aired on the OHL Action Pak on channel 467 for both Cogeco TV and Rogers 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 Wednesday's game, 65 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. Owen Sound Attack at Flint Firebirds

Date | Time Wednesday, February 4th | 7:00 p.m.

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

Tickets Ticketmaster.com | (810) 744-0580

Promotions -

TV - OHL Action Pak: Rogers TV 467 & Cogeco TV 467 Live (Ontario)

- Broadcast Information

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

Social Media @FlintFirebirds   | Facebook  | Instagram

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 3, 2020


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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