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OHL Flint Firebirds

Preview: Firebirds Play the Soo for Final Road Game this Season

March 18, 2016 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


The Essar Centre, Home of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
The Essar Centre, Home of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
(Flint Firebirds)

The Flint Firebirds head north for a Friday night battle against the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds for the Firebirds final road trip of the 2015-16 inaugural season in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Friday marks the sixth and final game between the two clubs this season. Puck drop is set for 7:07 p.m. (EST) at the Essar Centre (capacity 4,928).

The Greyhounds (31-27-7-1, 7th Western Conference) are currently leading the season series with a 3-1-1 record over the Firebirds (20-40-4-2, 9th Western Conference). The two teams met for the first time on Oct. 7 where Flint's come-from-behind attempt was not enough, falling 4-3. On Nov. 14, Flint received their first overtime loss of the season at home to the Greyhounds also by a 4-3 score. Flint's Jacob Collins, Vili Saarijärvi and Ryan Moore gave the Firebirds an early 3-0 lead in the first period, however, the Greyhounds would respond by scoring two goals in the second period and one in the third to tie the contest at 3. Boris Katchouk scored the game winning goal on a Greyhound power play to earn the Soo the OT victory.

The Firebirds and Greyhounds met for the third time against the Greyhounds on home ice in Flint on Jan. 3. Dane Johnstone picked up the first goal of the game, but the Firebirds trailed the rest of the contest 4-1. Gabe Guertler scored twice, Zachary Senyshyn and Bobby MacIntyre each added a goal as well. While the Firebirds were on a power play in the 3rd period with 0:42 left in the game, Mathieu Henderson found the back of the net past goalie Joseph Raaymakers to make the score 4-2, but it was not be enough for Flint to make a comeback. (Watch Highlights).

The two clubs then split the final home-and-home series on the season. The Firebirds rallied for a 5-3 victory in Sault Ste. Marie on Wednesday, Feb. 24 but the Greyhounds earned revenge posting a 5-2 victory Friday, Feb. 26 in Flint.

Radio & TV Coverage

Fans unable to attend the game Friday can listen live in Flint and Mid-Michigan on 1330 AM and online on the 1330 AM WTRX Sports Radio app or the iHeartRadio App. Dominic Hennig will call the play-by-play action on the Flint Firebirds Hockey Radio Network with pregame coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Although Friday's contest marks only the fourth game all season that will not have live television coverage, OHL fans with cable television in Ontario can add the OHL Action Pak to their television plan to catch the Firebirds in action for the majority of games, home or away all season long. 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:

Will Bitten leads the Firebirds with 65 points in 65 games and has tallied five points in the last five games. Bitten has earned multi-point nights 16 times in this campaign and is considered a top prospect heading into the NHL Draft this June.

Ryan Moore is second on the Firebirds in points, scoring 24 goals and adding 23 assists for a total of 47 points in 66 games. Moore has three points in the last four games.

Stephan Seeger earned his first three-point game in Wednesday night's contest against London. Seeger was one goal shy of recording his first OHL hat-trick, racking up two goals and an assist in his most recent game.

Defenseman Vili Saarijärvi (Detroit '15) is third on the team with 12 goals and 43 points in 47 games this season. He is currently ranked 8th among all the defenseman in the OHL in points.

In net, Brent Moran (Dallas '14) holds a 3.86 goals against average (GAA) and a .881 save percentage (SAV%). Moran has a record of 13-25-4-0 in his 4th campaign in the OHL.

Flint's rookie netminder Kyle Keyser has a 4.31 GAA and a .881 SAV%. Rounding out the Firebirds' crease is rookie netminder Matthew Menna. Menna has a 4.57 GAA and a .866 SV%.

In addition, Will Bitten, Nicholas Caamano, Jacob Collins, Dane Johnstone, Matyáš Kantner, Luke Kirwan, Håkon Nilsen and Keenan Reynolds are eligible to be selected in the 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo in June.

Sault Ste. Marie

Blake Speers (New Jersey '15) leads the Greyhounds in points with 68 points, including 23 goals and 45 assists in 66 games played. Speers has acquired the most points against Flint this season with eight in the five games played between the two clubs.

Gabe Guertier follows closely behind with 66 points, 26 goals and 40 assists in 66 games. Zachary Senyshyn (Boston '15) is the leading scorer for Sault Ste. Marie with 45 goals, 19 assists and 64 points in 65 games played this season. Senyshyn's 45 goals makes him fifth most among all skaters in the OHL.

Defenseman Gustav Bouramman (Minnesota '15) is one of four players that have a perfect 100% record in shootouts this season, scoring three goals on three opportunities. Bouramman is currently ranked 16th among all the defenseman in the OHL with five goals, 35 assists and 40 points in the 66 games that he has played in this season.

Boris Katchouk is fourth among all OHL rookie's in scoring with 24 goals and 51 points in 63 games. Katchouk also has the most amount of game-winnning goals as a rookie with 6 this season.

Both of the Greyhounds goaltenders have seen a high level of time between the pipes this season. Brandon Halverson (New York Rangers '14) holds a 19-17-4-0 record and is 15th in the OHL with a 3.00 goals against average. Halverson is ranked 7th among all OHL netminders with a .908 save percentage. Joseph Raaymakers has a 12-10-3-1 record including a .888 save percentage and a 3.71 GAA.

Sault Ste. Marie has five players that are drafted by NHL clubs consisting of Gustav Bouramman (Minnesota), Brandon Halverson (New York Rangers), Zach Senyshyn (Boston), Blake Speers (New Jersey) and Colton White (New Jersey).

The Greyhounds have six players that are listed in the NHL Central Scouting's Midterm Rankings for the 2016 NHL Draft: Timothy Gettinger (#28), Boris Katchouk (#32), Jack Kopacka (#33) and Hayden Verbeek (#164). Joseph Raaymakers is the #4 listed goaltender in North America.

Special Teams:

Despite being a perfect one-for-one on the man-advantage vs. the London Knights on Wednesday, Flint is 20th in the OHL on the power play and is converting at a 14.1% success-rate, scoring 37 goals on 262 opportunities. On the penalty kill, the Firebirds are 19th in the OHL, currently operating at 76.1%. Flint has scored four shorthanded goals and has successfully killed 185 of 247 penalties this season. The Firebirds are near the middle of the pack with the 11th least minutes in the OHL recording an average of 11.9 minutes per game.

Sault Ste. Marie's power play is ranked 12th in the OHL, scoring 17.8% of the time and is 15th on the penalty kill at 79%. The Greyhounds have registered the least amount of penalty minutes being 20th in the OHL averaging 8.8 minutes in the box per game.

Next Home Game:

The Firebirds return home to the Dort Federal Event Center for the final game of the 2015-16 season tomorrow night, Saturday, Mar. 19. The Firebirds are hosting the Guelph Storm at 7:30 p.m. for billet, fan and sponsor appreciation night.

Single game tickets are $12/Bronze, $15/Silver, $19/Gold and $25/VIP and can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com or by visiting or calling the Dort Federal Event Center Box Office Monday thru Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. at (810) 744-0580. Saturday and Sunday game day box office hours begin at 10 a.m.

Firebirds Listed in NHL Draft Rankings

Three Flint Firebirds players are listed on the NHL Central Scouting's Midterm list which ranks North American skaters eligible for the 2016 NHL Draft this June in Buffalo, NY.Flint's Will Bitten is ranked #42 among North American skaters. Nicholas Caamano is listed #148 and Luke Kirwan is the third current Firebirds player at #166. (Read More)

Firebirds Raise Over $100,000 For Non-Profit Organizations

Since the Firebirds first major event in Flint, Michigan on February 20th (Detroit Red Wings & Flint Generals Alumni Event), Flint's newest hockey team, in just their first year in the region has raised over $100,000 for various non-profit organizations in Genesee County. (Read More)

Flint Firebirds Dressing Room & Facilities

Home of the Flint Firebirds, the Dort Federal Event Center received a multi-million dollar renovation in the summer of 2015 that provides the club a first class dressing room, facilities and other amenities to help the players and staff maximize their careers and goals to advance to the National Hockey League. Click here to see a photo album of the Flint Firebirds dressing room and facilities.

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 the Dort Federal Event Center Box Office at (810) 744-0580 for more information today

Flint Firebirds Hockey Radio Coach's Show

Join the Voice of the Firebirds Dominic Hennig from 6-7 p.m. for the FINAL coach's show this Tuesday night on 1330 WTRX Sports Radio and around the world online on the iHeartRadio App here. Hennig will recap the previous week of events, preview the upcoming games on the ice and take your phone calls, emails and tweets! Tune in 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.

Check out the Flint Firebirds Statistics




Images from this story

The Essar Centre, Home of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
The Essar Centre, Home of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
   



Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 18, 2016


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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