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OHL Flint Firebirds

Preview: New-Look Firebirds Host Attack on Wednesday Night in Flint

January 10, 2024 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


FLINT, Mich. - The Firebirds hit the ice on Wednesday night fresh off the OHL's trade deadline and there will be several new faces wearing the Firebirds crest for the first time. Flint has made a total of seven trades in the past four days. The first test for the revised roster is a Wednesday evening tilt versus the Owen Sound Attack. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. at the Dort Financial Center.

TRADES APLENTY: Over the past week the Firebirds organization has parted ways with Braeden Kressler (OTT), Gavin Hayes (SOO), Zacharie Giroux (SBY), and Grayden Strohack (PBO). The club now welcomes overagers Oliver Peer and Roberto Mancini from Windsor, youngsters Alex Kostov and Connor Clattenburg from Soo and Gavin Ewles from Ottawa. Peer was second in scoring for the Spits with 47 points (22 G, 25 A) in 37 games. As a defenseman, Mancini was Windsor's only player with a positive (+4) +/- rating for the year. Kostov and Clattenburg are both second-year forwards and Ewles is a second-year defenseman. Peer, Mancini, Kostov and Clattenburg are each expected to make their Firebirds debuts on Wednesday.

SERIES HISTORY: Wednesday marks the third of four total meetings between these clubs this season and is the second of two to be played in Flint. The visiting team won both prior contests this year, with the Firebirds taking a 6-3 victory in Owen Sound on November 1 and the Attack evening the series with a 4-2 win at the Dort Financial Center on November 18. The Bears have exactly doubled the Birds in wins in the all-time series, as Flint's record stands at 10-20-0-0 overall and 5-10-0-0 on home ice.

SCOUTING THE ATTACK: (18-16-2-1, 4th Midwest Division) -

Owen Sound is led on the scoresheet by all three of their overagers. Forward Deni Goure (21 G, 32 A) leads the way in goals and points, well fellow winger Ethan Burroughs (17 G, 26 A)sits ten points back in second position. Defenseman Sam Sedley has the most assists on the squad (33) and sits third with 41 points in the campaign.

Rookie netminder Carter George has appeared in 31 games this season, earning 13 wins including three shutouts. His save percentage of .913 is tops in the OHL and his goals-against average sits at 3.04. Third-year goalie Corbin Votary has five wins across 13 appearances and carries a 4.52 GAA with a .872 SV%.

Owen Sound has done very well on special teams this season. They've scored on 31.0% of their power-play chances which is second-best in the league. The penalty kill is clicking at a rate of 82.8% seeding them third.

SCOUTING THE FIREBIRDS: (15-20-2-1, 3rd West Division) -

Newly acquired forward Oliver Peer steps in as the scoring leader for the Firebirds with 22 goals and 25 assists for 47 points. He's tied for the eighth-most goals scored in the OHL. Anaheim Ducks prospect Coulson Pitre ranks second with 17 goals and 20 helpers. Nolan Dann sits third with 31 total points stemming from 14 goals and 17 assists. Dann also rides an eight-game point streak (6 G, 5 A) into tonight's matchup.

Nathan Day, an Edmonton Oilers prospect, has made 32 appearances earning 13 wins and posting a 3.99 goals-against average with a .859 save percentage. Rookie Jacob Brown carries a 4.54 GAA and an .846 through nine appearances. He's credited with two victories.

The Birds rank 14th in both facets of special teams. They're scoring at a pace of 18.2% on the power play and killing penalties 77.3% of the time.

PROMOTIONS: Tonight's contest is another Buy One, Get One FREE Wednesday. Fans who purchase any ticket will receive a complimentary ticket of equal or lesser value. Season ticket holders can turn in any unused tickets for double redemption at the Dort Financial Center Box Office.

BROADCAST COVERAGE: This evening's game against the Owen Sound Attack can be heard live on the radio throughout Flint & Mid Michigan on US 103.1 FM, online at www.us103.com, or by downloading the US 103 app. Brian Gardner will call the play-by-play action on the Firebirds Hockey Network starting with the pre-game show at 6:45 p.m.

All of the Flint Firebirds home and away games throughout the 2023-24 season can be watched anywhere in the world online at https://watch.chl.ca/ohl.

COMING UP: The Firebirds depart for a three-game road trip beginning with stops in St. Catharines (Niagara) and Erie on Friday and Saturday. After a third tilt in Guelph the following Friday, the team returns home to host the Sarnia Sting on Saturday, January 20. Tickets for the 7:00 p.m. battle with the Bees are available now from ETIX.COM.

Check out the Flint Firebirds Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 10, 2024


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