Skip to main content

Flint Firebirds (OHL, 2022-23)

2022-23 Regular Season:
Firebirds vs. Owen Sound Attack

      Despite bumps in the road in their first few seasons, the Flint Firebirds have become a competitive franchise in the OHL. After having the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons wiped out by the COVID-19 pandemic, Flint returned in 2021-22 with an excellent 42-21-1-4 record (2nd place in the West Division) and a run to the Western Conference Finals before falling to Windsor in 7 games. 

     Head Coach Ted Dent returned behind the bench in 2022-23 for his second season as Firebirds coach. As of today, the Firebirds sport a 25-25-4-1 record, putting them in fourth place, 23 points behind first-place Windsor. 50-goal scorer and Rangers prospect Brennan Othmann was dealt earlier in the year to Peterborough. 

     As the season is still going on, I won't go through the stats. I plan on going to at least one more Firebirds game before the season's over, maybe even a playoff game as well.

     This program is from Flint Generals Night, February 4, 2023, against the Owen Sound Attack. This was the second-annual Generals night, as the Firebirds wore throwback Generals jerseys (based on the jerseys the 1995-96 Colonial Cup Champs wore), displayed the Generals' championship banners, and had a Flint Generals-Muskegon Fury Alumni Game before the Firebirds game. The Firebirds even used the "standing General Rally" logo in place of their own emblem on the roster sheet and the scoreboard! Flint won both games that day: the Generals defeated the Fury, 12-9, and the Firebirds (Generals) defeated the Attack, 5-3, in front of a sellout crowd. 

Roster Sheet: 
General Rally Lives!

     The Firebirds always put out a great program, and this year is no different. It's 46 pages, all in color. Articles include one about ex-Firebirds in the NHL, one about the Pitre brothers, and bios about owner Rolf Nilsen, the front office, and Coach Ted Dent. Local advertisements include The Genesee Group, Dort Financial Credit Union, and Maxi Quality Meats. 

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

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...
Post a Comment
Read more

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...
Post a Comment
Read more

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...
2 comments
Read more