Preview: Firebirds Look to Bounce Back Friday in Kingston
Published on October 28, 2016 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release
Firebirds Look to Bounce Back Friday in Kingston
(Flint Firebirds)
Kingston, Ont. - The Firebirds continue their Eastern road trip when they face off against the Kingston Frontenacs for the final time this season on Friday, Oct. 28. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. at the Rogers K-Rock Centre (capacity 5,700).
The Firebirds have fell in their past two games after dropping a 4-2 decision in Peterborough Thursday night. Prior to last night's contest, Kingston earned a 5-3 victory in Flint on Sunday despite the Firebirds outshooting the Frontenacs 38-23. Flint's record on the road is 1-4-0-1 but hold an impressive 6-2-0-0 record on home ice. Kingston has the second best penalty kill in the OHL operating at a 88% efficiency when down a man this season.
Kingston has the least goals-allowed per game in the Eastern Conference with only 36 and is third least in the OHL behind the Western Conference's London Knights and Windsor Spitfires. However, the Frontenacs have the least goals for in the Eastern Conference with 28 in 12 games, averaging just 2.33 goals-for per game this season.
After Friday night's game is Kingston, Flint will travel to Ottawa for an afternoon contest against the 67's Sunday. The Firebirds return home to the Dort Federal Event Center Saturday, Nov. 5 against the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.
Players to Watch:
Flint Firebirds (7-6-0-1, 7th Western Conference) Defenseman Mathieu Henderson scored twice Thursday night against the Peterborough Petes, extending his point streak to seven games and now has four goals in his past four games. Henderson has 15 points (5G, 10A) in 14 games this season and is third on the team in scoring. Ryan Moore (NHL draft eligible) is tied for second in the league scoring list with 23 points (11G, 12A) in 14 games played. Nicholas Caamano (Dallas Stars) is second on the team with points with six goals and 12 assists in 14 games played. Kole Sherwood (Columbus Blue Jackets) has five goals and eight assists in ten games played. Luke Kirwan is second on the team with seven goals this season and has 10 points in 11 games.
Rookies Ty Dellandrea and Dennis Busby are not with the team on the Eastern trip this weekend as the two are representing Canada at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. From Oct.27-Nov.5.
Between-the-pipes, Connor Hicks holds a 3-2-0-1 record with a 4.22 GAA and a .858 SAV%. Garrett Forrest is 3-3-0-0 and played in the Firebirds last game. Forrest saved 30 saves on 34 shots and has a 2.44 GAA, and a .920 SAV%.
NHL: The Firebirds currently have two players that have signed contracts with NHL clubs. Forward Kole Sherwood signed a three-year NHL contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets (July 2015) and defenseman Jalen Smereck signed a three-year NHL contract with the Arizona Coyotes (October 2016). Flint's Nicholas Caamano was drafted by the Dallas Stars in the most recent NHL Draft in June 2016. Along with Caamano, Sherwood and Smereck, four more Flint Firebirds competed in NHL training camps this fall: Everett Clark (St. Louis Blues), Connor Hicks (Detroit Red Wings), Luke Kirwan (Detroit Red Wings) and Alex Peters (Carolina Hurricanes).
Samuel Duchesne, Jake Durham, Fedor Gordeev and Jack Phibbs are first-time eligible players to be selected in the NHL Draft in June 2017.
Kingston Frontenacs (5-6-1-0, 8th Eastern Conference) Jason Robertson leads the Frontenacs in scoring after a two-point performance against the Firebirds Sunday night. Robertson has four goals and five assists in 12 games played. Rookie Linus Nyman is tied with Flint's Ty Dellandrea for second is rookie goals scored in the OHL with five and has eight points in 12 games. Third on the team in scoring is rookie Nathan Dunkley who put-up two points in his last game against Flint, and has three goals and five assists in 12 games played.
In net, Jeremy Helvig (Carolina Hurricanes) leads the league in shutouts with two and is the sixth best ranked netminder in the OHL with a 5-3-1-0 record so far this season. Helvig stopped 35-of-38 shots in his last game against the Firebirds and is boasting a 2.55 GAA, along with a .916 SAV%. Rookie Mario Peccia is 0-3-0-0 with a 4.03 GAA, and a .816 SAV%.
NHL: The Frontenacs have four players that have been drafted by NHL clubs consisting of Lawson Crouse (Arizona Coyotes), Stephen Desrocher (Toronto Maple Leafs), Warren Foegele (Carolina Hurricanes) and Jeremy Helvig (Carolina Hurricanes).
Broadcast Coverage: Friday night's game will be broadcast live on 1330 AM WTRX Sports Radio in Flint & Mid-Michigan and around the world online on the Sports Xtra 1330 Radio app here 88b6b77&mc_eid[UNIQID]) . Pregame coverage with Dominic Hennig will begin 30 minutes prior to puck drop at 6:30 p.m. Additionally, the game will be televised live in Kingston on channel 13 / 700 (HD) for Cogeco TV cable subscribers and throughout the province of Ontario on the OHL Action Pak on channel 460 for cable TV subscribers. Fans can also watch the game live online at www.ohllive.com (http://ohl.neulion.com/ohl/?mc_cid06988b6b77&mc_eid[UNIQID]) or on the OHL Live App.
Images from this story
 Firebirds Look to Bounce Back Friday in Kingston |
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