GAME DAY: Game 3, Firebirds vs IceDogs – 7 p.m.
GAME 3 – Firebirds vs IceDogs
Dort Financial Center
Flint, Michigan
7 p.m.
Watch (FloHockey) | Listen (Mixlr) | Game Center | Tickets
LAST TIME OUT: The Firebirds defeated the Windsor Spitfires, 4-2, on Friday night at the WFCU Centre. Mason Courville made 27 saves in the win for Flint.
HOME SWEET HOME: Saturday’s contest is Flint’s home opener for the 2026-27 season. The Firebirds went 22-8-3-1 at the Dort Financial Center last season, and set a franchise record for the most home wins in a season. Flint is 5-5-0-0 all-time in its home opener and has lost its last four since 2022. The last time the Birds won their first home game of the year was Oct. 9, 2021 (3-0, W vs Erie).
HATS OFF: Xavier Tessier opened the 2026-27 season with the first hat trick of his OHL career. He scored his first goal eight seconds into the contest, which broke the franchise record for the fastest goal to start a game. The previous record was set by Ethan Keppen (10 seconds) in 2022. Tessier’s three-goal performance was the second hat trick in a season opener in franchise history (Jeremy Martin, 2025-26).
TRADE PARTNERS: Since the start of last season, the Firebirds and IceDogs have had three separate trades with one another. On Sept. 19, 2025, Flint acquired Charlie Hotles and draft selections from Niagara in exchange for Artem Frolov, Hayden Reid, and a draft selection. In December, Flint traded Chase Hull and seven draft selections to the IceDogs for Kevin He. In June, the Firebirds sent Christian Colosimo to Niagara in exchange for a fifth-round selection in 2030.
ROAD DOGS: The Niagara IceDogs are making their lone trip to the Mitten State for the season this weekend. Last night, Niagara traveled to Saginaw and fell 5-3 to the Spirit. The IceDogs will remain on the road next week as well, with games in Barrie and Sudbury on Thursday and Friday.
ODDS AND ENDS: This is the fourth time that the Firebirds have had their home opener against Niagara, the most against a singular opponent. They are 1-2-0-0 against the IceDogs in the first three meetings…This is Flint’s first interconference meeting of the year. The Firebirds went 10-7-2-1 against the Eastern Conference in 2025-26.
UP NEXT: The Firebirds will return to the ice against the Soo Greyhounds on Saturday, Oct. 3. Puck drop at the Dort Financial Center is set for 7 p.m.
