Firebirds Announce Hockey Operations Staff Update

FLINT – The Flint Firebirds announced an update to their Hockey Operations staff on Friday ahead of the 2026-27 season. 

 

Coaching Staff

Assistant Coach Reijo Ruotsalainen has stepped away after three seasons with Flint. He has decided to return home to Finland to spend more time with his family. 

 

Scott MacDonald has been promoted to Assistant Coach. This is MacDonald’s third season with the Firebirds; he spent last year as the Director of Analytics and Video. 

 

Cal Hofford has been named the Skills Development and Video Coach. Hofford joined the Firebirds before last season and has experience as a video coach at the OHL and NHL levels. 

 

Head Coach Paul Flache, Assistant Coach Justin Solcz, Goaltending Coach Rob Liddell, along with MacDonald and Hofford, have signed multi-year contract extensions, keeping them in Flint through the 2028-29 season.

 

Management

Head Scout Mike Oliverio has been promoted to Assistant General Manager. General Manager Dave McParlan, Director of Goaltending Development Luc Lobsinger, and Oliverio have signed multi-year contract extensions through the 2028-29 season.

 

Athletic Training Staff

Head Equipment Manager Kameron Bagley has stepped back after three seasons to spend more time with his family. Joe Dixon has been promoted to Head Equipment Manager after two seasons as the Assistant Equipment Manager. 

 

Head Athletic Trainer Philip Fazio, Strength and Conditioning Coach Jerry Vangilder, and Dixon have all signed multi-year contract extensions through the 2028-29 season.

 

“What this group accomplished last season was historic for the Firebirds,” Owner Rolf Nilsen said. “We’re thrilled to have the staff back to continue to build and lead this organization forward.”

 

“The entire staff has put in tremendous work, and it showed last season with our best regular season in franchise history,” McParlan said. “We wanted to reward the staff for their efforts and are excited about the direction we are continuing to head in. Thank you to Reijo and Kam for all the time and commitment they put into this organization. They both worked incredibly hard and were great friends to have in the organization.

 

“I am very thankful to Rolf, Jeremy, and Dave for allowing our staff this opportunity to work together to continue developing our players,” Flache said. “The success we enjoyed last season is a direct reflection of the work that the entire staff has put in alongside the commitment from our players. We will miss Reijo’s work ethic and knowledge of the game, but most importantly the friendship we have had the last three seasons.”

 

The Firebirds are coming off their most successful regular season in franchise history, winning a record 44 games and totaling 95 points. McParlan won the Jim Gregory Award as the OHL General Manager of the Year and Flache was a finalist for OHL Coach of the Year. Under Flache, the Firebirds have finished higher in the Western Conference standings each season, and in 2025-26, Flint advanced past the first round of the OHL Playoffs for the second time in team history.

 

The Firebirds’ regular season begins tomorrow, Sept. 19 in Saginaw against the Spirit. Flint’s home opener is set for Saturday, Sept. 26 against the Niagara IceDogs. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Dort Financial Center. Tickets for the home opener and all Firebirds home games are available now at Etix.com.

 

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