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Flint Firebirds

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Flint Firebirds
CityFlint, Michigan
LeagueOntario Hockey League
ConferenceWestern
DivisionWest
Founded1990 (1990)
Operated2015–present
Home arenaDort Federal Credit Union Event Center
ColorsNavy Blue, White, Orange and Silver
       
Owner(s)Rolf Nilsen (suspended)
General managerGeorge Burnett
Head coachRyan Oulahen
Websitewww.flintfirebirds.com
Franchise history
1990–1992Detroit Compuware Ambassadors
1992–1995Detroit Junior Red Wings
1995–1997Detroit Whalers
1997–2015Plymouth Whalers
2015–presentFlint Firebirds

The Flint Firebirds are a major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) that began play for the 2015–16 season. Based in Flint, Michigan, the Firebirds play their home games at the Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center.

History

Coming to Flint

The Firebirds trace their roots back to the 1990–91 season, when the Detroit Compuware Ambassadors were added as an expansion team in the OHL. Since then, the franchise has been the Detroit Junior Red Wings, the Detroit Whalers and the Plymouth Whalers.

On January 14, 2015, it was announced that longtime Whalers owner Peter Karmanos had sold the team to IMS USA, Inc., with the intention to move the franchise to Flint and the Perani Arena.[1][2] The purchase and relocation was approved by the OHL on February 2, 2015.[3][4]

Team name

Although there was sentiment towards resurrecting the Flint Generals nickname that had been used by two past teams in the city, the OHL quickly nixed that idea because of the Oshawa Generals using that name.[5] Likewise, a popular suggestion was the Flint Tropics, after the fictional American Basketball Association team of that name in the 2008 movie Semi-Pro.[6] However, after various others voiced their displeasure at their team possibly being named after a comedy movie's protagonist team, and the chance of the novelty wearing off after a while, the name did not make the list of finalist choices (however, the team will wear alternate jerseys based on the team on February 13th.)[7][8][9]

The nine finalist nicknames were Firebirds, Force, Fury, Nationals, Pride, Spark Plugs, Sparks, United, and Vikings.[10]

Coaching staff controversies

The Firebirds garnered international attention in November 2015 when, following an overtime victory over the Oshawa Generals, owner Rolf Nilsen fired the team's entire coaching staff for failing to adequately increase the playing time of his son, Håkon Nilsen, a Firebirds' defenseman described by one NHL player agent as "a borderline OHL player".[11] Prior to the game against Oshawa, the entire team with the exception of Hakon Nilsen met with head coach John Gruden and his staff and were informed that the owner had insisted that his son receive more playing time, and indeed Nilsen ultimately played 17 minutes, including power-play minutes, in the subsequent game.[11] However, head coach John Gruden has denied that this was the reason for his dismissal. [12] In response to the firings, the entire team, including Håkon Nilsen, stormed into the team's front office, threw their jerseys on the floor, and quit the team in a show of solidarity with the coaching staff.[13]

The player revolt proved to be successful, as less than 24 hours later the coaching staff was not only rehired, but given three year contract extensions.[14] Following a meeting with OHL commissioner David Branch, Firebirds' owner Rolf Nilsen stated publicly that he had made an "irresponsible mistake" and apologized to the players.[15]

On February 17, 2016, Rolf Nilsen again fired head coach John Gruden and assistant coach Dave Karpa.[16] The next day, OHL Commissioner David Branch suspended Nilsen, as well as his appointees on the management and coaching staff, from hockey operations until further notice. The league also ordered counseling be provided to players, at the owner's cost. Nilsen and staff was ordered to cooperate with a league investigation and comply with its findings.[17][18] On April 6, 2016, the OHL issued a five-year suspension from hockey operations to Nilsen, and fined him $250,000. He can apply for reinstatement in three years. If he does get involved in hockey operations while suspended, the league announced it may order Nilsen to sell 100% ownership interest in the Firebirds. The Firebirds also forfeit a 2016 first-round draft pick. The OHL placed the organization under league stewardship and appointed Joe Birch as director of operations.[19]

In May 2016, the OHL named George Burnett, former head coach and general manager of the Belleville Bulls, as the new general manager. The OHL then appointed Ryan Oulahen as head coach and Eric Wellwood as an assistant.[20]

Players

Current roster

Updated as of December 3rd, 2015.

Goaltenders
# Player Catches NHL rights Hometown
30 Canada Brendan Johnston L Eligible in 2016 Port Lambton, Ontario
31 Canada Brent Moran L DAL 2014 Orleans, Ontario
38 United States Kyle Keyser L Eligible in 2017 Coral Springs, Florida
Defensemen
# Player Shoots NHL rights Hometown
2 Canada Alex Peters L DAL 2014 Blyth, Ontario
3 Canada Alex DiCarlo L Eligible in 2016 Woodbridge, Ontario
4 United States Håkon Nilsen R Eligible in 2016 Cape Coral, Florida
6 Canada Samuel Duchesne L Eligible in 2017 Brampton, Ontario
9 Finland Vili Saarijärvi R DET 2015 Rovaniemi, Finland
24 Canada Mathieu Henderson L Eligible in 2016 Brantford, Ontario
77 United States Zack Pittman L Free Agent Macomb, Michigan
Forwards
# Player Position Shoots NHL rights Hometown
7 Canada Francesco Vilardi C L Eligible in 2016 Kingston, Ontario
8 Canada Dane Johnstone C R Eligible in 2016 St. Thomas, Ontario
10 Canada Nicholas Caamano LW L DAL 2016 Ancaster, Ontario
17 Canada Stephan Seeger C R Eligible in 2016 Mississauga, Ontario
18 Czech Republic Matyáš Kantner RW R Eligible in 2016 Plzeň, Czech Republic
19 Canada Cullen Mercer C R Eligible in 2016 Exeter, Ontario
23 Canada Connor Sills RW R Eligible in 2016 Thunder Bay, Ontario
40 United States Ryan Moore C R Eligible in 2016 Troy, Michigan
41 Canada Will Bitten C R MTL 2016 Gloucester, Ontario
44 United States Luke Kirwan LW L Eligible in 2016 Dewitt, New York
73 Canada Jacob Collins LW L Eligible in 2016 Renfrew, Ontario
89 Canada Zach Grzelewski LW L Eligible in 2016 Thunder Bay, Ontario

Team captains

First round NHL Entry Draft picks

Players who were drafted in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft while playing for the Firebirds franchise.

Second round NHL Entry Draft picks

Players who were drafted in the second round of the NHL Entry Draft while playing for the Firebirds franchise.

Franchise records

A complete list of team records can be found here.

Top scorers

Top scorers in the history of the franchise.

Player Years GP G A Pts PIM
Pat Peake 1990–92 162 138 181 319 162
Bob Wren 1991–94 182 115 188 303 220
Chris Terry 2005–09 253 114 175 289 352
Todd Harvey 1991–95 173 113 157 270 310
Kevin Brown 1992–94 113 102 167 269 161
Sean Haggerty 1993–96 187 131 132 263 136
John Vigilante 2002–06 254 93 153 246 107
Harold Druken 1996–99 187 123 120 243 60
John Mitchell 2001–05 258 80 150 230 158
Damian Surma 1998–02 241 105 120 225 286

Season-by-season results

Regular season

Legend: OTL = Overtime loss, SOL = Shootout loss

Season Games Won Lost OTL SOL Points Pct % Goals
For		 Goals
Against		 Standing
2015–16 68 20 42 4 2 46 .338 184 279 5th West

References

  1. ^ McMann, Aaron (January 14, 2015). "Ontario Hockey League's Plymouth Whalers moving to Flint in 2015-16 season". MLive.com. The Flint Journal. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  2. ^ "Whalers announce relocation plans". Ontario Hockey League. January 14, 2015. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  3. ^ McMann, Aaron (February 2, 2015). "It's official: Ontario Hockey League approves Plymouth Whalers' move to Flint". MLive.com. The Flint Journal. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  4. ^ "OHL Board of Governors Approve Transfer of Ownership and Relocation to Flint". Ontario Hockey League. February 2, 2015. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  5. ^ McMann, Aaron (January 21, 2015). "Hoping for a return of the Flint Generals name? OHL commissioner says it's not happening". MLive.com. The Flint Journal. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  6. ^ McMann, Aaron (March 2, 2015). "Name expected soon for Flint's OHL team; you still like 'Flint Tropics'". MLive.com. The Flint Journal. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  7. ^ Heller, Andrew (February 11, 2015). "Come Heller high water: Please don't call the hockey team the Flint Tropics". MLive.com. The Flint Journal. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  8. ^ McMann, Aaron (February 13, 2015). "Anti-'Tropics' crowd growing as naming contest for Flint's new OHL team ends". MLive.com. The Flint Journal. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  9. ^ Everybody panic! Flint Tropics to take to the ice
  10. ^ TSN.ca Staff (November 8, 2015). "Poll: Which of the 10 registered names do you like best for Flint's new OHL team?". TSN.ca. The Sports Network. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  11. ^ a b How Flint Firebirds firestorm came about http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/juniors/how-flint-firebirds-firestorm-came-about/
  12. ^ "Seidel: Firebirds players risk it all to save coaches". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
  13. ^ TSN.ca Staff (November 8, 2015). "Report: Firebirds fire coaches, players walk out". TSN.ca. TSN. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  14. ^ Frank Seravalli (November 9, 2015). "#MondayMustRead: Flint Firebirds re-hire coaches after player protest". TSN.ca. TSN. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  15. ^ Flint Firebirds coaches reinstated, owner admits he made 'irresponsible mistake' http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/branch-to-meet-with-firebirds-brass-after-reported-firings-and-team-revolt-343758692.html
  16. ^ Sipple, George (February 17, 2016). "Flint Firebirds fire coaches for second time this season". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  17. ^ Sipple, George; Jahnke, James (February 18, 2016). "Flint Firebirds owner suspended; OHL investigating". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
  18. ^ "OHL suspends Flint owner, appoints interim coaches". The Detroit News. February 18, 2016. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
  19. ^ Sipple, George (April 6, 2016). "Flint Firebirds' owner suspended 5 years, team now under OHL control". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved April 6, 2016.
  20. ^ "Flint Firebirds Name Coaching Staff". OurSports Central. May 20, 2016. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
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