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Showing posts from December, 2015

Flint Firebirds (2015-16, OHL)

2015-16 Regular Season: Firebirds vs. Saginaw Spirit      The Flint Firebirds are in their first season in the Ontario Hockey League. They are the sixth hockey team to call Flint home since 1969, and the first one in the OHL. The Firebirds are owned by Rolf Nilsen, who also owns IMS, a manufacturing company based out of Florida. The team plays it's home games at the refurbished Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center (formerly the IMA Sports Arena). Terry Christiansen (former Coach/GM of the Detroit Falcons) is the general manager, while former NHL forward John Gruden is head coach.      While Flint is new to the OHL, the franchise is over 20 years old. It began as an expansion franchise in 1990 as the Detroit Compuware Ambassadors. Owned by Peter Karmanos, the Ambassadors would later become the Detroit Jr. Red Wings, Detroit Whalers, and, finally in 1997, the Plymouth Whalers.      Due to declining attendance, Karmanos put the Whalers up for sale in 2015. The original plan wa