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OHL Flint Firebirds

Preview: Firebirds Travel to Guelph for Friday Night Tilt

November 19, 2015 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


Flint Firebirds Game Action
Flint Firebirds Game Action
(Flint Firebirds)

The Flint Firebirds (8-9-1-1) begin a three game weekend tomorrow as the club travels to Guelph, Ont. for a Friday evening tilt against the Guelph Storm. Blackstone's Pub & Grill in Downtown Flint will be hosting a watch party for Firebirds fans with puck drop slated for 7:30 p.m. (ET). Guelph enters the contest this Friday in last place in the Western Conference with 2-16-1-0 record.

The Firebirds return back home to the Dort Federal Event Center this Saturday against the Barrie Colts at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday against the Canadian Hockey League's (CHL) number one ranked team, the Erie Otters at 5 p.m.

Fans are encouraged to bring a new toy to the Firebirds Merchandise Store, valued at $10 or more, to receive a bronze level ticket to Saturday's game against the Barrie Colts compliments of Shaltz Automation. The Firebirds Store is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Throughout the game, proceeds from a 50-50 raffle, Chuck-A-Puck and program sales will benefit the campaign. Prior to the game, officers of the Michigan State Police will be in the Dort Federal Event Center lobby collecting donations and "Stuffing A Blue Goose."

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 Friday night's game can listen live in Flint and Mid-Michigan on 1330 AM WTRX Sports Radio and around the world online on the iHeartRadio app. Dominic Hennig will call the play-by-play action on the Flint Firebirds Hockey Radio Network. Pregame coverage will begin at 7 p.m.

Friday's game against the Storm will be televised live in Guelph on Rogers TV channel 20 and across the province of Ontario on the OHL Action Pak on Rogers channel 460. 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:

Firebirds' Will Bitten and Ryan Moore are currently on five game point streaks. Bitten leads the Firebirds with 10 goals and 17 assists totaling 27 points in 19 games played this season. Ryan Moore has eight goals and seven assists for 16 points in 19 games played. Vili Saarijärvi (Detroit '15) leads the Firebirds on the blue line with 17 points also through 19 games this season.

Goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic (Carolina '14) has a 5-4-1-0 record in 11 games played with a .901 save percentage and a 3.48 goals against average. Rookie goaltender Kyle Keyser has a 1-2 record through four games with 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.

Guelph:

The Storm are currently on a three game losing streak and will travel to Windsor tonight before hosting the Firebirds tomorrow night.

Forward Givani Smith leads the Storm in points with four goals and seven assists in 17 games played followed by James McEwan with seven goals and three assists in 19 games played.

In net the Guelph Storm are sporting three goaltenders this season. Bradley Van Schubert holds a .831 save percentage and a 6.80 goals against average in nine games played. Michael Giugovaz has a .895 save percentage and a 3.36 GAA with a 5-3-3-0 record this season while Justin Nichols has a 2-10-1-0 record with a .914 save percentage and a 3.31 GAA.

NHL Central Scouting has identified Storm defenseman Noah Carroll as a player to watch in their pre-season watch list for the 2016 NHL Draft. The Guelph Storm saw two players attend NHL training camps this fall: Robby Fabbri (St. Louis) and C.J. Garcia (Anaheim)

Special Teams

After last Sunday's game the Firebirds' power-play is 16th out of 20 teams in the OHL converting at a 15.6% success-rate scoring 12 goals on 77 opportunities. On the penalty kill, the Firebirds are currently 12th in the OHL, operating at 79.1%. Flint has scored two shorthanded goals and has successfully killed 68 of 86 penalties in 19 games played this season. Flint is ranked 9th in the league for penalty minutes per game with a 13.5 PIM/GM average. The Guelph Storm are sitting with the 3rd most penalty minutes in the OHL heading into the weekend with a 16.8 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.

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




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Flint Firebirds Game Action
Flint Firebirds Game Action
   



Ontario Hockey League Stories from November 19, 2015


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