OHL Flint Firebirds

Preview: Firebirds Host Sarnia Sting Friday Evening in Flint

Published on November 13, 2015 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


The Flint Firebirds (7-9-0-1) return home to the Dort Federal Event Center this Friday, Nov. 13 to take on division rivals Sarnia Sting (10-6-2-0). Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. (ET) in Flint, Mich.

The Flint Firebirds hold a 2-0 record against the Sarnia Sting. Earlier this season, the Firebirds won 3-2 in Flint on Oct. 10 before winning 3-2 in Sarnia on Nov. 6.

This weekend is Veterans Appreciation Weekend. All veterans and active-duty military with valid ID will receive a free ticket complements of Cumulus Media to this Friday's game against the Sarnia Sting or Saturday's game against the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Not in the military? To support our veterans, bring a new clothing item to the Dort Federal Event Center to receive a free bronze level ticket to either game this weekend.

Saturday night is also "Ladies' Night." The first 1,000 ladies will be greeted with a free carnation at the door, in addition to drink specials and special treats and prizes for the ladies throughout the night. The official Firebirds' Pregame Party starts two hours prior to puck drop at the Dort Federal Event Center.

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.

Radio & TV Coverage

Fans unable to attend the game Friday can listen live on the 1330 AM WTRX Sports Radio app in addition to the iHeartRadio App. Dominic Hennig will call the play-by-play action all season long on the Flint Firebirds Hockey Radio Network. Pregame coverage will begin at 7 p.m.

Friday's game against the Sting will be televised live on Cogeco Ch. 6 in Sarnia and across the province of Ontario on the OHL Action Pak on Rogers channel 471. OHL fans with Rogers Cable 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 evening'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 Pak.

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:

The Firebirds are lead up front in scoring by Will Bitten, who is eligible to be selected in the 2016 NHL Draft in June, with 10 goals and 13 assists for 23 points in 17 games played this season. Bitten is currently 14th overall in the OHL in scoring. Vili Saarijärvi (Detroit '15) has a plus/minus of plus-10 including three goals and 14 assists in 17 games played and is tied for second in OHL defenseman with 17 points.

Goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic (Carolina '14) has a 4-4 record with a .899 save percentage and a 3.50 goals against average. Rookie goaltender Kyle Keyser has a 1-2 record and a .916 save percentage including a 2.77 goals against average.

There are five players on the Flint Firebirds roster that are drafted in the National Hockey League. Alex Nedeljkovic and Josh Wesley were both selected by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2014 NHL Draft. In the same draft, the New Jersey Devils nabbed Connor Chatham while Alex Peters was chosen by the Dallas Stars. 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.

Sarnia:

The Sarnia Sting enter the Friday evening contest in second place in the West Division of the Western Conference with a 10-6-2-0 record.

Forward Nikita Korostelev leads the Sarnia Sting in points with five goals and 10 assists in 18 games played. On the blue line, Jakob Chychrun and Jeff King have twelve points apiece while Troy Lajeunesse and Pavel Zacha each have 11 points to round out their top five producers.

In net the Sting have Justin Fazio with a 9-5-1-0 record, a .894 save percentage and 2.72 goals against average and rookie goaltender Aidan Hughes who sports a .857 save percentage and 3.20 GAA after three games played.

NHL Central Scouting has identified Sting defenseman Jakob Chychrun as a player to watch in their pre-season list for the 2016 NHL Draft.

The Sarnia Sting saw eight players attend NHL training camps this fall including Noah Bushnell (St. Louis), Hayden Hodgson (New York Rangers), Josh Jacobs (New Jersey), Nikita Korostelev (Toronto), Brandon Lindberg (New York Rangers), Connor Schlichting, (Chicago), Kevin Spinozzi (Arizona) and Pavel Zacha (New Jersey).

Special Teams

After last Sunday's game the Firebirds' power-play is 16th out of 20 teams in the OHL converting at a 14.9% success-rate scoring 10 goals on 67 opportunities. On the penalty kill, the Firebirds are currently 14th in the OHL, operating at 78.6%. Flint has scored two shorthanded goals and has successfully killed 55 of 70 penalties this season. Flint is ranked 12th in the league for penalty minutes per game with a 12.8 PIM/GM average. The Sarnia Sting record the eighth most penalties in the OHL with a 13.4 PIM/GM average.

Saarijärvi Tabbed as OHL Defenseman of the Month

Flint Firebirds 18 year-old blueliner Vili Saarijärvi was named the OHL Defenseman of the Month on Wednesday. The Detroit Red Wings prospect put together an outstanding first full month in the OHL, scoring two goals along with 9 assists for 11 points in 11 contests to go with a plus/minus rating of plus-9.

The Finnish rearguard registered points in seven of his 11 October appearances, scoring his first OHL goal as part of a two-goal effort against the Ottawa 67's on October 16th. Saarijärvi had three multi-point performances, including three assists against the Peterborough Petes on October 11th. Saarijärvi is currently tied for the lead in scoring among OHL defensemen with two goals, 14 assists and 16 points in 14 games.

Two Firebirds Selected to Play in CHL Canada Russia Series

The Ontario Hockey League in association with the Canadian Hockey League, the Owen Sound Attack and the Windsor Spitfires hockey clubs announced the Team OHL rosters for the 2015 CHL Canada Russia Series.

Flint's Will Bitten and Alex Peters (Dallas '14) were among the 36 players that will represent the OHL in the 2015 CHL Canada Russia Series. The two will suit up for Team OHL on Monday, November 16 at the WFCU Centre in Windsor, Ontario and the game will be televised nationally across Canada on Sportsnet and TVA Sports.

Stuff the Blue Goose

Meet the Flint Firebirds at Bubba O'Malley's on Wednesday, Nov. 18 between 5:30 p.m. (ET) and 7:30 p.m. as the "Firebirds stuff the Blue Goose" in an effort to support Toys for Tots. Bubba O'Malley's, the Flint Firebirds, NBC 25, The Nash 95.1 FM, Michigan State Police and ELGA Credit Union are sponsoring the event and invite all Firebirds fans to join.

Help Name Our Mascot

The Flint Firebirds have launched a "Name the Mascot" contest to give Firebirds fans the opportunity to name the organization's official mascot. The winning fan will receive a complimentary replica jersey and the opportunity to have it autographed by the Flint Firebirds team. The contest runs through Friday, November 13 at 11:59 PM.

Season Tickets

Great season seat locations are still available! For more information, call the Dort Federal Event Center Box Office at (810) 744-0580 or email Grizz Houghten at grizz@flintfirebirds.com or Shane Stout at shane@flintfirebirds.com.

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.

Check out the Flint Firebirds Statistics

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from November 13, 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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