Skip to main content

Flint Firebirds (OHL, 2025-26)

2025-26 Regular Season
Firebirds vs. Saginaw Spirit
      This is the second online program I have in my collection. I think this is the future of hockey programs, as teams can cut out the cost of printing thousands of copies of yearbooks and programs and just have a QR Code posted throughout the arena.

     2025-26 is the eleventh season of Flint Firebirds hockey. The franchise actually dates back to 1990-91, when they joined the OHL as the Detroit Compuware Ambassadors. Currently (as of January 26, 2026), the team is tied for first place with the Windsor Spitfires in the Western Division, with a 31-12-2-2 record. They are six points ahead of the third-place Soo Greyhounds. The Firebirds are currently averaging 3,139 per game at the Dort Financial Center (originally the IMA Sports Arena). The Flint Firebirds are the sixth franchise to call Flint, Michigan, home since 1969.

     I'll do an in-depth review of the season this offseason. For now, let's look at the program. It's much smaller than the yearbook/programs that I have posted in the past. It clocks in at 24 pages and has numerous advertisements along with stats, player bios and articles. Owner Rolf Nilsen is featured on pages 5-7. and the article talks about his contributions to the team, the arena and to hockey in Flint. The OHL is featured on pages 9-10, and it discusses things such as OHL alumni, player education and how to follow the Firebirds and other OHL teams. Ryan Fellinger and Jimmy Lombardi are featured on pages 12-14. Goaltender Mason Vaccari is featured on pages 18-20. Overall, it's a pretty good program.

     Local advertisements include Dort Financial Credit Union, Maxi Quality Meats, Inc., Elite Imaging Systems, and View Newspaper Group.


To view the 2025-26 Flint Firebirds program, click here

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Port Huron Hockey: Flags/Wings (1962-81)

Now, on to Port Huron.      Port Huron has had a long, yet checkered, history of pro hockey. The most successful franchise, by far, was the Port Huron Flags (also called Wings for a few years) of the IHL. The Flags were, for the most part, a competitve team on the ice, making the Turner Cup Finals seven times and winning the Cup on three occasions. For three years, (1971-74), the franchise was a farm team of the Detroit Red Wings, and sent numerous players on to the NHL in it's existence. However, the team had problems drawing big enough crowds. While the Flags lasted for nearly 20 years, former GM Morris Snider later admitted that the franchise could have folded three years before it actually did, due to declining attendance. I've found some Flags/Wings programs online over the years, and here's what I have. 1963-64 Regular Season--Flags vs. Windsor       1963-64 was the second year of existence for the Flags. After missing the...

Chatham Wheels (CoHL, 1993-94)

1993-94 Regular Season Wheels vs. Detroit Falcons      The Chatham Wheels were in their second season of play in the Colonial Hockey League. The team was named after the Wheels Inn, a hotel/indoor amusement complex in town that closed in 2009. The Wheels were owned by a group led by Tom Kirkconnell and played their home games at the 3,300-seat Chatham Memorial Arena.       The Wheels were coming off a last place finish in 1992-93, going 24-32-4, 12 points back of 6th place Flint. Attendance was brutal as well, as the team drew just 1,174 per game to Memorial Arena. Changes were made, as longtime junior coach Tom Barrett was hired as Head Coach/GM and Governor, replacing Ron Caron. Barrett added veteran talent to the roster, including former Flint Spirits John Vecchiarelli and Brett MacDonald, and former St. Thomas Wildcats goaltender Kevin Butt, to go along with holdover Jim Ritchie.      Barrett's moves paid off, as the Wheels surged up...

Indianapolis Checkers (IHL, 1985-86)

1985-86 Regular Season Checkers vs. Flint Spirits      The Indianapolis Checkers were back for their second season in the IHL after five seasons in the defunct Central Hockey League. The Checkers remained a secondary affiliate of both the New York Islanders and Minnesota North Stars. Larry Woods purchased the Checkers after the 1984-85 season and moved the team to the 15,900-seat Market Square Arena, home of the NBA's Indiana Pacers. The team kept their Islanders-styled uniforms, but changed the logo.      Former Port Huron Flags coach Ron Ullyot was named Coach/GM of the Checkers, and his team greatly improved on their first IHL season. Indy finished with a 41-35-6 mark. They finished last in the very competitive West Division, which had all the teams win at least 40 games. The Checkers' 88 points would have easily taken fourth place in the East.     Indy scored just 296 goals that year, better than only Flint and Toledo. Longtime minor lea...