Preview: Firebirds Host North Bay Battalion Friday
| Game 57: Flint Firebirds (28-23-1-4) vs. North Bay Battalion (21-31-3-1) | |
| Date | Time | Friday, Feb. 24 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Location | Flint, Mich. | Dort Federal Event Center (Directions) |
| Tickets | Ticketmaster.com | (810) 744-0580 |
| Promotions | – Talk Today / Mental Health Awareness Night |
| TV | – Cogeco cable ch. 12 / 700 (HD) (North Bay) – OHL Action Pak: Rogers TV ch. 460 & Cogeco TV ch. 491 Live (Ontario) |
| Video Stream | OHL Live |
| Radio | WTRX 1330-AM (Flint & Mid-Michigan) | Pregame Show at 6:30p |
| Radio (Mobile) | Sports Xtra 1330 App: Android | iPhone/iPad |
| Live Stats | Here |
| Game Notes | Here |
| Social Media | @FlintFirebirds  | Facebook  | Instagram  |
Flint, Mich. – The Flint Firebirds get set to play three games in three days, facing off first against the North Bay Battalion on Friday night in Flint. Puck drop is slated for 7 p.m. at the newly renovated Dort Federal Event Center, where the Firebirds are 4-0-0-1 in their last five games.
Flint is now 7-2-0-1 in their last 10 games, earning 15 out of a possible 20 points in that span. The Firebirds are currently in seventh place in the Western Conference, which is arguably the most competitive conference in the CHL, with 61 points but are only five points behind the Kitchener Rangers who are in sixth place. Flint also has played one less game than Kitchener.
Along with being undefeated in regulation in their past five home games, the Firebirds hold a 17-8-1-1 record in Flint this season. North Bay owns an 11-14-1-1 record on the road this season and lost their previous contest, 6-1, against the Barrie Colts. The Battalion are 1-3-0-1 in their previous five road games and have allowed a combined total of 24 goals, averaging 4.8 goals against in each of their last five road games. Despite the Firebirds having the 19th-ranked power-play in the OHL at 13.2%, Flint has lit-the-lamp five times with the man-advantage in their past six contests. The Firebirds’ penalty kill now ranks ninth in the OHL at 81.2%. North Bay’s power-play is 17th in the OHL, clicking at 16.3%.
The two clubs will battle for the second and final time this season after the Battalion won the prior contest 6-0 on Dec. 8 at the North Bay Memorial Gardens (Highlights). North Bay is coached by Stan Butler who is in his 19th season with the Battalion. His 648 victories are the most among all active coaches in the OHL today.
Promotions:
The Firebirds are teaming up with Talk Today – The Canadian Mental Health Association and locally with Genesee Health System and the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Genesee County (NAMI) for “Mental Health Awareness Night.” Additionally, Friday is also UM-Flint Night where $10 discounted tickets are available for all faculty, staff and student’s with valid identification.
Single game tickets for the Flint Firebirds 2016-17 season are $12 for Bronze, $15 for Silver, $19 for Gold and $25 for VIP seating. All seats are reserved / assigned seating. Parking has been reduced to $5 dollars which is new this season. Fans can purchase tickets at the Dort Federal Event Center Box Office or online by clicking ticketmaster.com.
Players to Watch:
Flint Firebirds (28-23-1-4, 7th Western Conference):
Nick Caamano (Dallas Stars), Ryan Moore and Kole Sherwood (Columbus Blue Jackets) are three Flint Firebirds to watch Friday night.
After recording three assists against Guelph Monday, Kole Sherwood has racked-up 37 points (16G, 21A) in his past 18 games. Sherwood recorded a 14-game point-streak from Dec. 30, 2016 to Feb. 12, 2017 and is 12th among all OHL Skaters with 67 points in 48 games this season.
Ryan Moore is fifth in OHL scoring and leads the Firebirds with 75 points (33G, 40A). Moore has 15 goals in the last 18 games and is currently in a tie for third most shorthanded goals scored in the OHL with three this season. Nicholas Caamano (Dallas Stars) has 18 points (12G, 6A) in the last 18 contests and has eight goals in his past 12 games. Caamano is third on the Firebirds’ roster with 27 goals and 24 assists in 55 games played.
Additionally, former Battalion member Maurizio Colella tallied two points against the Storm on Monday and has 13 goals and 17 assists in 53 games. Ty Dellandrea has six points (4G, 2A) in his previous six contests and has 10 goals and eight assists in 45 games thus far. Dennis Busby has four points (1G, 3A) in his last two games and has 14 points in 50 games this journey. Hunter Holmes netted his fifth goal of the season and has 13 points in 56 games this season.
C.J. Clarke, Samuel Duchesne, Jake Durham, Fedor Gordeev and Jack Phibbs are five first-time eligible players to be selected in the NHL Draft in June 2017.
In net, Garrett Forrest is 12-11-1-2 and is statistically the 11th-best goaltender in the OHL with a 3.24 GAA along with a .894 SAV%. Forrest made 29 saves on 30 shots in the Firebirds’ 5-1 victory in Guelph Monday.Connor Hicks is 15-11-0-2 and is statistically the ninth-best goaltender in the OHL with a 3.19 GAA and a .882 SAV%.
NHL: The Firebirds currently have two players that have signed contracts with NHL clubs. Forward Kole Sherwood signed a three-year NHL contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets (July 2015) and defenseman Jalen Smereck signed a three-year NHL contract with the Arizona Coyotes (October 2016). Flint’s Nicholas Caamano was drafted by the Dallas Stars in the most recent NHL Draft in June 2016. Along with Caamano, Sherwood and Smereck, four more Flint Firebirds competed in NHL training camps this fall: Everett Clark (St. Louis Blues), Connor Hicks (Detroit Red Wings), Luke Kirwan (Detroit Red Wings) and Alex Peters (Carolina Hurricanes).
North Bay Battalion (21-31-3-1, 8th Eastern Conference)
Brett McKenzie (Vancouver Canucks) leads the Battalion in scoring and has four points (3G, 1A) in his past three games. McKenzie has 27 goals and 32 assists in 55 games thus far. Steve Harland is in the midst of a four-game point-streak where he has tallied six points (2G, 4A) and has 55 points in 56 games this season. Justin Brazeau is third on the Battalion’s roster with 18 goals and 12 assists in 55 games this journey.
Two Battalion players are also ranked among the top North American skaters for the upcoming 2017 NHL Draft which takes place June 23-24. Brady Lyle (#53) and Adam Thilander (#59).
Between-the-pipes, former Firebird Brent Moran (Dallas Stars) is 16-19-2-0 and played in North Bay’s last game. Moran made 13 saves on 17 shots against the Barrie Colts and holds a 3.51 GAA and a .892 SAV%. Julian Sime is 2-10-0-1 with a 3.31 GAA along with a .892 SAV%. Sime made 11 saves on 13 shots after relieving Moran against Barrie on Saturday. Sime also recorded his first career shutout against the Firebirds on Dec. 8.
NHL: Five players on the Battalions’ roster have been drafted by NHL teams consisting of Riley Bruce (Calgary Flames), Cam Dineen (Arizona Coyotes), Brett McKenzie (Vancouver Canucks), Brent Moran (Dallas Stars) and Mark Shoemaker (San Jose Sharks).
Eight notable Battalion alumni to play in the NHL are Brent Burns (San Jose Sharks), Matt Duchene (Colorado Avalanche), Cody Hodgson (Buffalo Sabres), Jay McClement (Carolina Hurricanes), Thomas McCollum (Detroit Red Wings), Jason Spezza (Ottawa/Dallas), Raffi Torres (Edmonton/San Jose) and Wojtek Wolski (Florida Panthers).
Broadcast Coverage:
Friday evening’s contest against the Battalion can be heard live on 1330 AM WTRX Sports Radio in Flint & Mid-Michigan and around the world online on the Sports Xtra 1330 Radio app here. Pregame coverage with Dominic Hennig will begin 35 minutes prior to puck drop at 6:30 p.m. Additionally, the game will be televised live in North Bay on channel 12/700 (HD) for Cogeco TV cable subscribers and province-wide throughout Ontario on the OHL Action Pak on channel 460 for Rogers TV subscribers and 491 for Cogeco TV cable subscribers. Fans can also watch the game live online at www.ohllive.com or on the OHL Live App.
Also, as part of the Firebirds agreement with Xfinity / CN900, Monday’s 5-1 victory in Guelph will be re-broadcast state-wide throughout Michigan for Comcast Cable subscribers on channel 900 this Sunday, Feb. 26 at 3 p.m. and Monday, Feb. 27 at 6 p.m.
Next Home Game:
The Flint Firebirds are on home-ice this Saturday, Feb. 25 vs. the Sarnia Sting. The Firebirds are teaming up with the United Auto Workers (UAW) and the United Way for a fundraising night, featuring auction items on the arena concourse and 50-50 raffle’s throughout the game.
Single game tickets for the Flint Firebirds 2016-17 season are $12 for Bronze, $15 for Silver, $19 for Gold and $25 for VIP seating. All seats are reserved / assigned seating. Parking has been reduced to $5 dollars which is new this season. Fans can purchase tickets at the Dort Federal Event Center Box Office or online by clicking ticketmaster.com.
Photo Credit: Rena Laverty
For media inquiries, contact:
Dominic Hennig
Director of Broadcasting & Communications
Flint Firebirds Hockey Club
[email protected]
(810) 519-9347
