Firebirds name Jimmy Lombardi Captain

FLINT – The Flint Firebirds and head coach Paul Flache announced on Monday that forward Jimmy Lombardi will be the Firebirds’ captain for the 2026-27 season. Lombardi is now the ninth captain in franchise history, taking the reins from Nathan Aspinall.

“Since Jimmy became a Firebird, his competitiveness and work ethic have been second to none,” Flache said. “He leads by example every day, and his relentlessness is contagious. Combine this with the previous leaders who have influenced him, and we are in a great position with Jimmy taking on the captaincy role.”

“It means a lot to wear the ‘C’ for Flint,” Lombardi said. “It’s such an honour, and I believe we have a very special group this year.”

This will be Lombardi’s fourth season in Flint after being selected 29th overall in the second round of the 2023 OHL Priority Selection. In 190 games, Lombardi has totalled 56 goals and 81 assists in his OHL career, including 36 goals and 36 assists last year as an alternate captain for the Firebirds. The centerman was drafted 125th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the fourth round of the 2025 NHL Draft and signed his NHL entry-level contract with the Kings in December.

Lombardi joins Aspinall (2025-26), Connor Clattenburg (2024-25), Coulson Pitre (2024), Zacharie Giroux (2023-24), Brennan Othmann (2021-22), Ty Dellandrea (2018-20), Jalen Smereck (2017-18) and Alex Peters (2015-17) on the list of Firebirds captains. 

“Being here four years, I’ve gotten to learn from three great captains, and I am excited to see what I’ve learned and lead this team to a lot of great things,” Lombardi said.

Lombardi is currently at training camp with the Kings and will wear the ‘C’ for the first time with Flint once he returns.