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OHL Flint Firebirds

Preview: Flint Hosts Defending Memorial Cup Champions on Sunday

November 8, 2015 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


The Flint Firebirds (6-9-0-1) are back on the ice for the third time in three nights Sunday afternoon as the club hosts the defending CHL Memorial Cup Champions, Oshawa Generals. Puck drop is scheduled for 5 p.m. (ET) at the Dort Federal Event Center in Flint, Mich.

The Generals (9-8-2-0) enter the contest Sunday afternoon in fifth place in the Eastern Conference after dropping a 4-3 decision to the Saginaw Spirit at the Dow Event Center on Saturday night.

The Sunday afternoon match-up between Flint and Oshawa is Dort Federal Credit Union Family Night. The first 2,000 fans in attendance will receive free thunderstix! In addition, there will be face painters, balloon twisters and a bounce house for the kids. Fans will also have the opportunity to skate with the Firebirds after the game.

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 game on Sunday afternoon can listen live in Flint and Mid-Michigan on 1330 AM WTRX Sports Radio and worldwide online on the iHeartRadio App. Dominic Hennig will call the play-by-play action all season long on the Flint Firebirds Hockey Radio Network. Pregame coverage will begin at 4:30 p.m.

Sunday's game against the Generals will be televised live on Rogers Ch. 10 in Oshawa 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 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.

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:

The Firebirds are lead up front in scoring by Will Bitten, who is eligible to be selected in the 2016 NHL Draft in June, with nine goals and 11 assists for 20 points in 15 games played this season. Vili Saarijärvi (Detroit '15) has two goals and 14 assists in 16 games played.

Goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic (Carolina '14) has a 3-4 record with a .896 save percentage and a 3.60 goals against average. Rookie goaltender Kyle Keyser has a 1-2 record and 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.

Oshawa:

Prior to the Generals' 4-3 loss to the Saginaw Spirit Saturday night, Oshawa won the previous four games.

Forward Kenny Huether leads the Generals in points with 18 in as many games played this season. Huether has netted eight goals and 10 assists for the Generals thus far while only collecting two penalty minutes. Matt Mistele, Joe Manchurek and Anthony Cirelli are in a three way tie for second place on the Generals roster with 15 points each this year.

In net the Generals have Jeremy Brodeur who boasts a 9-4-1-0 record with a .913 save percentage and a 2.29 goals against average heading into the weekend. However, Logan Gauthier started in goal last night in Saginaw and has a .867 save percentage and a 3.35 GAA in three games played.

The Oshawa Generals saw eleven players attend NHL training camps this fall: Ken Appleby (New Jersey), Cole Cassels (Vancouver), Anthony Cirelli (Tampa), Michael Dal Colle (NY Islanders), Stephen Desrocher (Toronto), Tobias Lindberg (Ottawa), Lukas Lofquist (Florida), Michael McCarron (Montreal), Matt Mistele (Los Angeles), Hunter Smith (Calgary) and Mitchell Vande Sompel (NY Islanders).

Special Teams

After not scoring on the man-advantage for five consecutive games, Flint has scored a power-play goal in each of the last two contests. The Firebirds' power-play is converting at 13.8%, tallying nine goals on 65 opportunities which ranks 18th out of 20 teams in the OHL. On the penalty kill, the Firebirds are currently 14th in the OHL, operating at 78.8%. Flint has scored two shorthanded goals and has successfully killed 52 of 66 penalties this season. Flint is averaging the 9th fewest penalty minutes per game with a 13 PIM/GM average.

Seeger Becomes Newest Firebird

The Flint Firebirds have signed forward Stephan Seeger. A Mississauga, Ont. native, Seeger played last season with the BCHL's Merritt Centennials, the Des Moines Buccaneers of the USHL, along with the OHL's Oshawa Generals.

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.

Two Firebirds Selected to Play in CHL Canada Russia Series

The Ontario Hockey League in association with the Canadian Hockey League, the Owen Sound Attack and the Windsor Spitfires hockey clubs announced the Team OHL rosters for the 2015 CHL Canada Russia Series.

Flint's Will Bitten and Alex Peters (Dallas '14) were among the 36 players that will represent the OHL in the 2015 CHL Canada Russia Series. The two will suit up for Team OHL on Monday, November 16 at the WFCU Centre in Windsor, Ontario and the game will be televised nationally across Canada on Sportsnet and TVA Sports.

Next Home Game

Flint returns back to the Dort Federal Event Center for a pair of games next weekend as the Firebirds host the Sarnia Sting on Friday, Nov. 13 and the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds on Saturday, Nov. 14. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. (ET) both nights.

In addition, the Firebirds will be honoring veterans at both games next weekend. All veterans and active duty military will receive a complimentary ticket to either game. In addition, fans can receive a complimentary bronze level ticket by bringing in a new clothing item, which will be donated by the Firebirds organization to those in need.

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.

Help Name Our Mascot

The Flint Firebirds have launched a "Name the Mascot" contest to give Firebirds fans the opportunity to name the organization's official mascot. The winning fan will receive a complimentary replica jersey and the opportunity to have it autographed by the Flint Firebirds team. The contest runs through Friday, November 13 at 11:59 PM.

Season Tickets

Great season seat locations are still available! For more information, call the Dort Federal Event Center Box Office at (810) 744-0580 or email Grizz Houghten at grizz@flintfirebirds.com or Shane Stout at shane@flintfirebirds.com.

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



Ontario Hockey League Stories from November 8, 2015


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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