OHL Flint Firebirds

Preview: Flint Faces Kitchener for First Time in Matinée Battle

Published on January 24, 2016 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


Kitchener Memorial Auditorium, Home of the Kitchener Rangers
Kitchener Memorial Auditorium, Home of the Kitchener Rangers
(Kitchener Rangers, Credit: Dan Hamilton, Kitchener Rangers Hockey Club)

The Flint Firebirds (14-25-3-2, 5th West Division) face off against the Kitchener Rangers (31-8-4-0, 3rd Midwest Division) for the first time this season as the two clubs meet for a matinée contest on Sunday. Puck drop is scheduled for 2 p.m. (EST) at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium (capacity, 7,131).

Radio & TV Coverage

Sunday afternoon's contest will be televised live state-wide throughout Michigan on channel 900 for Comcast Cable subscribers, on channel 20 in Kitchener for Rogers TV cable subscribers and across the province of Ontario on the OHL Action Pak on channel 455 for cable subscribers.

OHL fans with cable television 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 Sunday afternoon'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 Pack.

On the radio, fans can listen to the game 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 1:30 p.m.

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:

Three Firebirds are on two-game point streaks after the home-and-home series with the Windsor Spitfires.

Will Bitten leads the Firebirds with 20 goals and 26 assists, totaling 46 points in 44 games played this season. Bitten has earned multi-point nights 12 times this season. Ryan Moore is second on the Firebirds with 29 points in 44 games, while Nicholas Caamano is fourth on the Firebirds, behind Mathieu Henderson, with 22 points and scored the Firebirds first goal on Saturday night.

After making 10 saves last night, Matthew Menna was relieved by Brent Moran 2:50 into the second period, who was perfect in net making 21 saves. Moran (Dallas '14) holds a 3.51 goals against average (GAA) and a .890 save percentage (SAV%). In 27 games played this season, Moran has a 9-17-3-0 record in his 4th campaign in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Menna has a 4.82 GAA and a .857 SV%.

There are three players on the Flint Firebirds roster that are drafted in the National Hockey League. Firebirds' captain Alex Peters and goaltender Brent Moran were both selected by the Dallas Stars in the 2014 NHL Draft. 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.

Kitchener:

Last night, Kitchener's Ryan MacInnis scored twice and Adam Mascherin recorded three assists in the Ranger's 5-2 victory in North Bay.

MacInnis leads Kitchener with 33 points and is one game shy of tying the league's longest point streak this season of 21 games.

Along with MacInnis, Kitchener has five other players that have earned at least 30 points this season. Adam Mascherin also has 56 points, Jeremy Bracco has 44 points, followed by Gustaf Franzen with 34, Mason John with 33 and Miles Liberati, who was acquired from North Bay, with 30.

After Kitchener's victory last night in Owen Sound, Dawson Carty continues to excel in net for the Rangers as he is undefeated with a 9-0-1-0 record this season.

In net for the Rangers, Luke Opilka has a GAA of 2.55 and a save percentage of .914 in 27 games this season. Dawson Carty has .918 save percentage.

Along with Kitchener's Adam Mascherin and Connor Bunnaman being ranked in the top 100 players in the NHL's Central Scouting's Midterm Rankings for the 2016 NHL Draft, the Rangers have three players already drafted in the NHL consisting of Ryan MacInnis (Arizona), Nick Magyar (Colorado) and Luke Opilka (St. Louis).

Special Teams

The Flint Firebirds power play is 19th in the OHL converting at a 13% success-rate scoring 24 goals on 184 opportunities. On the penalty kill, the Firebirds are currently 15th in the OHL, operating at 77.5%. Flint has scored two shorthanded goals and has successfully killed 141 of 182 penalties this season. The Firebirds are recording the 12th ninth most penalty minutes in the OHL with an average of 12.6 per game.

Kitchener's power play is the 2nd best in the OHL, scoring 25% of the time and is 13th on the penalty kill at 79.6%. The Rangers have registered the 4th least penalty minutes in the OHL averaging 10.4 minutes in the box per game.

Next Home Game:

The Firebirds will return home to the Dort Federal Event Center Saturday, Jan. 30 against the Sarnia Sting with puck drop slated for 7:30 p.m. All Flint Firebirds home games in the month of January are "Food Drive" games where fans can bring in five canned or boxed food items and receive $5 off a silver ticket.

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.

Three 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 $50,000 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 $50,000 for various non-profit organizations in Genesee County. (Read More)

Bitten Selected to CHL/NHL Top Prospects game

Flint's Will Bitten is among the 40 players that were selected to compete in the 2016 BMO CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Vancouver, BC on Thursday Jan. 28.

The 40 CHL players skating in the game were chosen by all 30 NHL clubs and divided into teams by NHL Central Scouting. This season's event marks the 21st annual showcase of the CHL's top-40 NHL Draft eligible players featuring talent from the Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League competing before hundreds of NHL scouts in attendance. (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 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.

Check out the Flint Firebirds Statistics

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Images from this story

Kitchener Memorial Auditorium, Home of the Kitchener Rangers
Kitchener Memorial Auditorium, Home of the Kitchener Rangers
(Dan Hamilton, Kitchener Rangers Hockey Club)		   



Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 24, 2016


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