Get ready, Firebirds fans — Rivalry Week is here!

From October 16–19, the OHL’s fiercest matchups take center stage, and Flint’s showdown with Saginaw is set to be one of the most intense. It’s the Coors Light I-75 Divide Cup when the temperature rises and Mid Michigan pride is on the line!

 

Check back here for Rivalry Week content all week long as we ramp up to our home-and-home set with the Spirit. It begins at the Dort Financial Center on Saturday night at 7 p.m. before we invade the Dow Event Center on Sunday at 5:30 p.m.!

MEMORABLE MOMENTS FROM THE HISTORY OF THE COORS LIGHT I-75 DIVIDE CUP

Who remembers Ty Dellandrea scoring his first OHL goal in his first career shift? On September 21, 2016, the season began with the Coors Light I-75 Divide Cup as Flint hosted Saginaw. In his first shift in the OHL, a 16-year-old Dellandrea scored his first OHL goal to get Flint off and running. Dellandrea would go on to set franchise records in points, goals and assists, be named team captain and eventually be selected in the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft. And by the way, the Birds went on to win this game, 4-0.

We track back to September 24, 2015, the first game in Firebirds franchise history. Who did it take place against? Well who else but the Saginaw Spirit. The Firebirds crashed the party on Opening Night in Saginaw and got not only the first goal in franchise history, scored by Ryan Moore, but the first win. They did it in shutout fashion, 3-0, and firmly established the newest rivalry in the OHL.

Fast forward to our inaugural game on home ice! Off the win in the first game in franchise history and that opened the Coors Light I-75 Divide Cup in Saginaw, the Firebirds *crushed their Spirit* with a shootout win in front of a sellout crowd for the first home game in franchise history on September 26, 2015. Don’t miss more moments like these with OHL Rivalry Week this weekend, on Saturday in Flint then on Sunday in Saginaw!

Back in 2023 it was LOUD when Coulson Pitre sent the first round playoff series between the Firebirds and the Spirit to Game 7 with this OT breakaway beauty. This series remains the only time the Firebirds and Spirit have met in the OHL Playoffs. Let’s get loud again on Saturday for OHL Rivalry Week and the Coors Light I-75 Divide Cup!

Who could forget the first one? Flint took the inagural Coors Light I-75 Divide Cup in dramatic fashion with this OT winner back in 2016. The Firebirds will look to extend their lead in the 2025-26 edition to 2-0 on Saturday!