Firebirds Announce 2023-24 Leadership Group
FLINT, Mich – The Flint Firebirds announced on Saturday the entirety of the team’s leadership group for the 2023-24 season.
Zacharie Giroux was named the fifth captain in franchise history during the preseason. He will be joined by Gavin Hayes, Coulson Pitre, Ethan Hay and Tristan Bertucci, all of whom will wear an A as an alternate captain on a rotational basis.
Hayes and Pitre will have letters for Firebirds home games during the first half of the season and for road games in the second half. Hay and Bertucci will wear letters on the road for the first half and at home during the second.
Hayes is Flint’s leading returning scorer after putting up 41 goals and 40 assists across 66 games played in the 2022-23 season. A 2022 third-round selection of the Chicago Blackhawks, he is signed to an NHL contract with Chicago.
Pitre recorded 25 goals and 35 assists for Flint during the 2022-23 season. He was taken in the third round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft by the Anaheim Ducks and is beginning his third season as a Firebird.
Hay is in his third season with Flint and in the 2022-23 season, he recorded 17 goals and 11 assists in 64 games played. He was named a co-recipient of the Ivan Tennent Memorial Award in April, given to the OHL’s top academic high school student. Hay was selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the seventh round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.
Bertucci was a second-round selection of the Dallas Stars in the 2023 draft and is the highest draft choice on Flint’s roster. The defenseman registered 11 goals and 39 assists across 63 games played in the 2022-23 season.
Flint returns to action on Saturday night at home against the Soo Greyhounds. It’s Dort Financial Family Night and the first 3,000 fans will receive a free Firebirds jersey. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at the Dort Financial Center.
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