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OHL Flint Firebirds

Preview: Firebirds Welcome Saginaw for 'star Wars Night' Friday

December 30, 2016 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


Flint, Mich. - The Flint Firebirds begin the second half of the 2016-17 season when the Saginaw Spirit visit Flint for the fourth of eight total games between the two club's this season. Puck drop for the second annual "Star Wars Night" is set for 7 p.m. at the Dort Federal Event Center Friday.

Despite the Firebirds winning four of the last five games against Saginaw, the Spirit pulled out a 3-1 victory in the most recent contest on Dec. 14 in Saginaw (Highlights). Flint holds a 2-1 series lead in the I-75 Divide Cup race this season and have won seven of 11 total contests since the rivalry was renewed last September.

The Firebirds hold an impressive 11-6-0-0 record at the Dort Federal Event Center this season while Saginaw is 4-10-1-2 on the road. Flint has scored four power-play goals in the past three games against the Spirit. On the penalty kill, the Firebirds have killed 42 of their last 46 penalties, operating efficiently at 91.3% while down-a-man in the last ten games.

Through the past 10 games between the two clubs, more than 33,500 fans have experienced the renewed Flint & Saginaw rivalry, averaging 3,360 spectators each contest.

Promotions:

The first 1,000 fans through the doors will receive free light sabres as Friday's contest against the Saginaw Spirit is the second-annual "Star Wars Night" at the Dort Federal Event Center. The Firebirds will be wearing special Chewbacca themed jerseys throughout the game that fans in Flint and around the world will have the opportunity to bid on to own through the DASH mobile auction app. The bidding process will end on Friday, Dec. 30 at 11:59 p.m. (Watch Video Tutorial)

To download the free DASH mobile app, log on to dashapp.io and download the app through either Google Play or the Apple App Store. Fans can also locate the free app through their respective app store by searching "DASH Auction."

Additionally, the Firebirds will have added TV's on the arena concourse showing the University of Michigan Football game that fans can also watch on the video board following the Firebirds' game. Also, parking at the Dort Federal Event Center has been reduced to $5 for the remainder of the season and one lucky fan will always have the chance to shoot for $10,000 during the second intermission at all Firebirds' home games.

Single game tickets for the Flint Firebirds 2016-17 season are $12 for Bronze, $15 for Silver, $19 for Gold and $25 for VIP seating. Prices are unchanged from last season and all seats are reserved / assigned seating. Parking has been reduced to $5 dollars which is new this season. Fans can purchase tickets at the Dort Federal Event Center Box Office or online by clicking ticketmaster.com.

Players to Watch:

Flint Firebirds (16-16-0-2, 8th Western Conference):

Ryan Moore has 12 points in the last 14 games and is 11th among all OHL skaters with 42 points. Moore is currently in a tie for second most shorthanded goals scored in the OHL with three this season. Mathieu Henderson is tied for the most points by an OHL defensemen with Darren Raddysh (Erie Otters) and is second on Flints' roster in scoring with seven goals and 28 assists. Kole Sherwood (Columbus Blue Jackets) didn't record a point in the last game against the Greyhounds, but has scored three goals in his last three games and scored the only goal for Flint against Saginaw on Dec. 14. Sherwood has 13 goals and 17 assists in 30 games played. Nicholas Caamano (Dallas Stars) is third on Flint's roster with 33 points (15G, 18A) in 34 games this season. Jalen Smereck (Arizona Coyotes) has four goals and 15 assists in 30 games played. Everett Clark has earned points in 10 of the last 16 games and has 20 points (9G, 11A) in 31 games.

Samuel Duchesne, Jake Durham, Fedor Gordeev and Jack Phibbs are first-time eligible players to be selected in the NHL Draft in June 2017.

In net, Connor Hicks is 9-7-0-2, and statistically the ninth-best goaltender in the OHL with a 2.98 GAA and a .889 SAV%. Hicks made 23 saves on 28 shots in the previous game against the Greyhounds and has started in the last five consecutive games. Garrett Forrest is 6-8-0-0 with a 3.46 GAA along with a .884 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).

Saginaw Spirit (13-16-4-2, 9th Western Conference):

The Spirit are led up front by Hayden Hodsgon who has 36 points (19G, 17A) in 34 games this season. Hodgson recorded two points (1G, 1A) Thursday night in Saginaw's 3-2 loss to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Kris Bennett has notched an assist in the last two games and is third on the Spirit roster with 23 points (8G, 15A) in 35 games.

Saginaw is without Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Mitchell Stephens (Canada) and Detroit Red Wings' prospect Filip Hronek (Czech Republic) who are competing for their respective countries at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Montreal and Toronto.

In net, Evan Cormier is 11-9-3-2 and statistically the 10th-best goaltender in the OHL with a 3.20 GAA and a .904 SAV%. Brendan Bonello started in Thursday night's 3-2 loss to the Greyhounds and now has a 2-5-1-0 record with a 4.16 GAA and a .865 SAV%.

NHL: Saginaw has five players that have been drafted by NHL clubs consisting of Evan Cormier (New Jersey Devils), Filip Hronek (Detroit Red Wings), Keaton Middleton (Toronto Maple Leafs), Markus Niemelainen (Edmonton Oilers) and Mitchell Stephens (Tampa Bay Lightning).

Eight notable NHL players from the Saginaw organization are Paul Bissonnette (Arizona Coyotes), T.J. Brodie (Calgary Flames), Ben Chiarot (Winnipeg Jets), Dalton Prout (Columbus Blue Jackets), Tom Pyatt (Ottawa Senators), Brandon Saad (Columbus Blue Jackets), Chris Thorburn (Winnipeg Jets) and Vincent Trocheck (Florida Panthers).

Broadcast Coverage:

Friday night's contest against the Spirit can be heard live on 1330 AM WTRX Sports Radio in Flint & Mid-Michigan and around the world online on the Sports Xtra 1330 Radio app here. Pregame coverage with Dominic Hennig & Jim Duhart will begin 35 minutes prior to puck drop at 6:30 p.m. Additionally, the game will be televised live throughout the province of Ontario on the OHL Action Pak on channel 461 for Rogers TV cable subscribers and channel 492 for Cogeco TV subscribers. (Broadcast Information). Fans can also watch the game live online at www.ohllive.com or on the OHL Live App.

Check out the Flint Firebirds Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from December 30, 2016


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