OHL 20 in 20: Flint Firebirds
The Memorial Cup celebrations raged on up the road in Saginaw, and the Flint Firebirds got busy preparing for their shot in 2024-25. It was a busy summer for Firebirds GM Dave McParlan, who brought in a number of veterans that set them up to be a competitive force this coming season. Of course, it’s always hard to forecast how adding a bunch of vets into the mix from different places across the league will work in the early going, so keep an eye on Flint and second-year head coach Paul Flache to see how things take shape.
| NOTABLE DEPARTURES | KEY ADDITIONS |
| F Nolan Dann (U. Guelph) | F Gage Brandon (3rd Rd. ’24) |
| D Gavin Ewles (Trade SBY) | D Nolan Collins (Trade SBY) |
| F Daks Klinkhammer (Trade SBY) | D Christian Colosimo (4th Rd. ’24) |
| D Roberto Mancini (U. New Brunswick) | F Josh Colosimo (Trade SBY) |
| F Oliver Peer (U. New Brunswick) | F Brendan Cooke (8th Rd. ’23) |
| F Coulson Pitre (ANA)* | F Ryland Cunningham (2nd Rd. ’24) |
| F Markas Samenas (Maryland, NAHL) | F Karlis Flugins (2nd Rd. ’24 Import) |
| F Simon Slavicek (Czechia) | D Artem Frolov (Trade NIAG) |
| F Evan Konyen (Trade SBY) | |
| D Matthew Mania (Trade SBY) | |
| D Urban Podrekar (Trade NIAG) | |
| F Xavier Tessier (2nd Rd. ’24) | |
| F Christopher Thibodeau (Trade KGN) | |
| F Cole Zurawski (6th Ov. ’24) |
*- Coulson Pitre is a 2004-born player signed to an entry-level NHL contract, but is currently listed on Flint’s preseason roster
Five Questions Heading Into 2024-25:
1. Are the Firebirds West Division favourites?
There’s a team or two in the West Division you might expect to take a step back. Does that open the door for a new look Firebirds team to ascend the standings? Up the road in Saginaw the defending champion Spirit still have some core pieces including stars Zayne Parekh, Michael Misa and goaltender Andrew Oke, so Flint fans should circle their calendars for another season of intense battles between the Firebirds and the Spirit. Flint will be one of the older teams in the Western Conference this year with solid pieces at all three positions, no doubt raising the expectation within the organization.
2. How well do the new guys come together?
Flint made a lot of moves over the summer. General manager Dave McParlan moved a lot of picks, and put the Firebirds into a position where contending for a championship this season is certainly in the conversation. The start of the season will be important as enough new regulars to count on two hands try and get familiarized with one another and develop winning habits on the ice under head coach Paul Flache. It will help that the “Sudbury three”, Nolan Collins, Evan Konyen and Matthew Mania, are all coming from the same organization. The trio came up short with a high-powered Wolves team in last year’s playoffs, perhaps providing a little incentive to try and get the job done in the Western Conference next spring.
3. Will the powerplay improve?
Fint’s powerplay was nothing to write home about in 2023-24, finishing 17th in the 20-team league. The Firebirds moved powerplay quarterback Tristan Bertucci, who eventually found his way to the Barrie Colts for this season, but added LA Kings prospect Matthew Mania along with a pair of other mobile defenders in Urban Podrekar and Artem Frolov from Niagara to eat up those minutes. Finding more powerplay consistency would be a step in the right direction if Flint plans on climbing the standings this season.
4. Is Day ready for another busy season in the crease?
After being drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the sixth round in the 2023 NHL Draft, Nathan Day returned to Flint and played 54 games during his third OHL season. Expect that workload to be replicated in the Flint crease as the Firebirds continue to rely on the 19-year-old for stability after 25 wins a year ago. He’ll try and improve upon an .868 save percentage in an effort to earn an entry-level deal with the Oilers this season.
5. What can Kaden Pitre do with a full season?
While older brother Coulson will have an opportunity to make the jump to the AHL this fall, former Firebirds first round pick and newly drafted Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Kaden Pitre takes the baton in Flint. Pitre missed roughly half of the 2023-24 season to injury, producing 30 points (10-20–30) over 35 games. The Lightning liked what they saw out of Pitre and selected him in the sixth round this past summer. He’ll have some veteran teammates to play with in his third season with the addition of Sudbury Wolves winger Evan Konyen and Kingston Frontenacs flank Christopher Thibodeau to Flint’s forward corps.
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