2019-20 Season Summary: Flint Firebirds

It was undoubtedly a year of achievements for the Flint Firebirds, who emerged from the 2019-2020 season as one of the league’s strongest teams. Finishing out second in the West Division with a dominant 40-21-1-1 record, they punched their ticket to the playoffs for the second time in their five-year history. The season’s abrupt ending may not have allowed for the Firebirds to drive for their first OHL championship, but their campaign was packed with positives nonetheless as they blew past a slew of team records throughout the year; notably setting seven new club marks spanning wins, points, and goals during a 12-7 victory over the division rival Sarnia Sting on Feb. 17.

Winning ways
A stark contrast from last season’s 38-point finish at the bottom of the Western Conference, the Firebirds rounded out the year with a stellar 82 points; the most in the club’s five-year history. They officially set the new club record when they hit 74 points in February, and also ended their campaign with new club records in wins (40), including an even 20 at home and on the road, as well as a new mark set for goals at 274.

The Birds were hot from the beginning, kicking off the season with their best start in club history at 10-3-0-0. As the season went on, their winning ways didn’t falter, eventually reaching a franchise record-setting 15-game win streak that ran into late February and overlapped with 12 consecutive road victories, setting another new benchmark. With their success came some well-deserved recognition behind the bench. The season saw Firebirds bench boss Eric Wellwood locked in as the club’s all-time winningest coach; a designation that officially came as of Feb. 21 in a win against over the Mississauga Steelheads.

Dellandrea remains a dependable presence
It was certainly a season to remember for captain Ty Dellandrea, who continued to stand out as a reliable strength down the middle. As the puck dropped on his fourth term in Flint, it didn’t take long for the first round Dallas Stars prospect to make club history on an individual level. With an empty net goal on Oct. 25, Dellandrea became the Firebirds’ all-time points leader with 160 to his name. Less than a month later, the 19-year-old centreman netted a hat-trick in Sarnia to climb to the top of the Firebirds’ goal scorers’ list as well. He topped off his fourth year with 32 goals and 70 points, good for second in both departments behind Evgeniy Oksentyuk’s leading production. He also tacked on to an already impressive international resume when he skated with Team OHL at the 2019 CIBC Canada Russia Series before helping Team Canada to a gold medal at the World Juniors, chipping in for three goals and five points over seven games.

Oksentyuk makes a grand entrance
Drafted fifth overall in the 2019 CHL Import Draft, Belarus native Evgeniy Oksentyuk was a fresh offensive force up front for the Firebirds. In his first year, the 19-year-old winger led the team with 33 goals, including six game winners, and a 78-point production. Oksentyuk memorably reached a 15-game point streak in January to stamp a new Firebirds point streak record, passing the former mark set by Kole Sherwood in 2016-17.

Rookie records
Okstenyuk and Dellandrea were far from the team’s sole record breakers. Coming off a GTHL and OHL Cup champion Don Mills Flyers squad that boasted a slew of future OHL talent, rookie Brennan Othmann had a strong first year showing. The 17-year-old winger notched 17 goals and 33 points over his first 55 appearances and set single-season club records for both points and goals by a rookie in mid February. His 30th point surpassed teammate Vladislav Kolyachonok‘s 29 points over the 2018-2019 campaign, while his 15th goal put him ahead of Dellandrea’s former record-setting total of 14 during his own rookie stint.

Other team accolades
It was a monumental year for much of the squad, and as the wins kept coming, so did a plethora of new records and accomplishments. The club’s highest scoring defenceman title was handed over to Riley McCourt in January when he earned his 91st career point in a Flint jersey (before capping the season off at 117), and overager Jake Durham earned recognition for the most appearances as a Firebird when he suited up for his 218th game out of what would be a record 255. St. Louis Blues prospect Tyler Tucker put up a record seven-point performance with a plus-8 rating during a game on Feb. 17, and in net, overaged Anthony Popovich also set a single season club record for wins among Flint goaltenders with 24. The former OHL champion finished out the season (and his OHL career) with 29 wins to his name.