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OHL Flint Firebirds

Preview: Firebirds Host Sault Ste. Marie Saturday Evening

November 14, 2015 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


Flint Firebirds vs. Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Flint Firebirds vs. Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
(Flint Firebirds)

The Flint Firebirds (8-9-0-1) are back on home ice Saturday night against the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. (ET) at the Dort Federal Event Center in an evening tabbed as Ladies' Night. Earlier this season, the Greyhounds edged Flint 4-3 at the Essar Centre in Sault Ste. Marie on Oct. 7.

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.

This weekend is also Veterans Appreciation Weekend. All veterans and active-duty military with valid ID will receive a free ticket complements of Cumulus Media to 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.

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 Saturday can listen live in Flint and Mid-Michigan on 1330 AM WTRX Sports Radio 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.

Saturday's game against the Greyhounds will be televised live 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 Saturday 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:

Nicholas Caamano is currently on a three game goal streak while 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.

Sault Ste. Marie:

The Soo Greyhounds are currently fifth in the Midwest Division with a 7-9-2-0 record.

Blake Speers leads the Greyhounds in points with four goals and 11 assists in 18 games played followed by Zachary Senyshyn who has recorded 10 goals and four assists in as many games 18 games played this season as well.

The Greyhounds have split their goaltenders to date this season. Brandon Halverson holds a 3-6-0-0 record with a .877 save percentage and 4.00 goals against average while Joseph Raaymakers has a 4-3-2-0 record with a .890 save percentage and a 3.50 GAA

NHL Central Scouting has identified the Greyhounds' Tim Gettinger and Jack Kopacka as players to watch in their preseason watch list for the 2016 NHL Draft.

The Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds saw 14 players attend NHL training camps this fall: Justin Bailey (Buffalo), Gustav Bouramman (Minnesota), Michael Bunting (Arizona), Anthony DeAngelo (Tampa), Tyler Ganly (Carolina), Brandon Halverson (New York Rangers), Tyler Hore (Chicago), Jared McCann (Vancouver), Darnell Nurse (Edmonton), Nick Ritchie (Anaheim), Zachary Senyshyn (Boston), Blake Speers (New Jersey), Sergey Tolchinsky (Carolina) and Colton White (New Jersey).

Special Teams

After Friday's game the Firebirds' power-play is 17th out of 20 teams in the OHL converting at a 13.5% success-rate scoring 10 goals on 74 opportunities. On the penalty kill, the Firebirds are currently 11th in the OHL, operating at 80.8%. Flint has scored two shorthanded goals and has successfully killed 63 of 78 penalties this season.

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.

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.

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.

Social Media

Stay connected with the Flint Firebirds 24-7-365. Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Vine, YouTube, etc. Find all of the Firebirds social media handles online at www.flintfirebirds.com/socialmedia.

Tweet Your Seat!

Follow the Flint Firebirds on Twitter @FlintFirebirds, take a selfie in your seat then "Tweet Your Seat" at each of this weekend's home games for a chance to win four NCG movie tickets, courtesy of Dort Federal Credit Union.

Check out the Flint Firebirds Statistics




Images from this story

Flint Firebirds vs. Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Flint Firebirds vs. Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
   

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