Flint Firebirds
CityFlint, Michigan
LeagueOntario Hockey League
ConferenceWestern
DivisionWest
Founded1990 (1990)
Operated2015–present
Home arenaDort Financial Center
ColorsNavy Blue, White, Orange and Silver
       
Owner(s)Rolf Nilsen
General managerDave McParlan
Head coachPaul Flache
AffiliateLeamington Flyers (OJHL)
Websitewww.flintfirebirds.com
Franchise history
1990–1992Detroit Compuware Ambassadors
1992–1995Detroit Junior Red Wings
1995–1997Detroit Whalers
1997–2015Plymouth Whalers
2015–presentFlint Firebirds

The Flint Firebirds are a major junior ice hockey team based in Flint, Michigan. The team plays home games at the Dort Financial Center, and operates as a member of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). The team began play for the 2015–16 season. In September 2022, the Firebirds announced the Leamington Flyers (GOJHL) as an affiliate.[1]

History

The Firebirds trace their roots back to the 1990–91 season, when the Detroit Compuware Ambassadors were added as an expansion team in the OHL. Since then, the franchise has been the Detroit Junior Red Wings, the Detroit Whalers and the Plymouth Whalers. On January 14, 2015, it was announced that longtime Whalers owner Peter Karmanos had sold the team to IMS USA, Inc., with the intention to move the franchise to Flint and the Perani Arena.[2][3] The purchase and relocation was approved by the OHL on February 2, 2015.[4][5]

Although there was sentiment towards resurrecting the Flint Generals nickname that had been used by two past teams in the city, the OHL quickly nixed that idea because of the Oshawa Generals using that name.[6] Likewise, a popular suggestion was the Flint Tropics, after the fictional American Basketball Association team of that name in the 2008 movie Semi-Pro.[7] However, after various others voiced their displeasure at their team possibly being named after a comedy movie's protagonist team, and the chance of the novelty wearing off after a while, the name did not make the list of finalist choices.[8][9][10]

The nine finalist nicknames were Firebirds, Force, Fury, Nationals, Pride, Spark Plugs, Sparks, United, and Vikings.[11]

Coaching controversies

The Firebirds garnered international attention in November 2015 when, following an overtime victory over the Oshawa Generals, owner Rolf Nilsen fired the team's entire coaching staff for failing to adequately increase the playing time of his son, Håkon Nilsen, a Firebirds' defenseman described by one NHL player agent as "a borderline OHL player".[12] Prior to the game against Oshawa, the entire team with the exception of Hakon Nilsen met with head coach John Gruden and his staff and were informed that the owner had insisted that his son receive more playing time, and indeed Nilsen ultimately played 17 minutes, including power-play time, in the subsequent game.[12] However, head coach John Gruden has denied that this was the reason for his dismissal.[13] In response to the firings, the entire team, including Håkon Nilsen, stormed into the team's front office, threw their jerseys on the floor, and quit the team in a show of solidarity with the coaching staff.[14]

The player revolt proved to be successful, as less than 24 hours later the coaching staff was not only rehired, but given three-year contract extensions.[15] Following a meeting with OHL commissioner David Branch, Firebirds' owner Rolf Nilsen stated publicly that he had made an "irresponsible mistake" and apologized to the players.[16]

On February 17, 2016, Rolf Nilsen again fired head coach John Gruden and assistant coach Dave Karpa.[17] The next day, OHL Commissioner David Branch suspended Nilsen, as well as his appointees on the management and coaching staff, from hockey operations until further notice. The league also ordered counseling be provided to players, at Nilsen's cost. Nilsen and his staff were then ordered to cooperate with a league investigation and comply with its findings.[18][19] On April 6, 2016, the OHL suspended Nilsen for five years, with no requests for reinstatement to be entertained for three years. He was also fined $250,000. The league also stripped the Firebirds of their 2016 first-round draft pick. Had Nilsen attempted to get involved in hockey operations while suspended, the OHL could have forced him to sell the Firebirds. The OHL placed the Firebirds under league stewardship and appointed Joe Birch as director of operations.[20] After the five-year suspension passed, the OHL reinstated Rolf Nilsen on April 6, 2021.

Recent history

The Flint Firebirds Locker Room

In May 2016, the OHL named George Burnett, former head coach and general manager of the Belleville Bulls, as the new general manager. The OHL then appointed Ryan Oulahen as head coach and Eric Wellwood as an assistant.[21] On October 12, 2018, Ryan Oulahen stepped down as head coach.[22] On October 18, former associate coach Eric Wellwood was named head coach.[23]

On February 21, 2020, the Firebirds won their 15th consecutive game, setting a new franchise record. It was their 37th win of the season, another club record.[24]

Head coaches

List of coaches with multiple seasons in parentheses.

  • 2015–2016 – John Gruden
  • 2016–2017 – Ryan Oulahen
  • 2017–2018 – Ryan Oulahen, Eric Wellwood
  • 2018–2021 – Eric Wellwood (3)
  • 2021–2023 – Ted Dent (2)
  • 2023–present – Paul Flache

General managers

List of general managers with multiple seasons in parentheses.

  • 2015–2016 – Terry Christensen
  • 2016–2017 – George Burnett
  • 2017–2021 – Barclay Branch (4)
  • 2021–2022 – Terry Christensen
  • 2022–2023 – Ted Dent
  • 2023–present – Dave McParlan

Players

Team captains

List of team captains:

  • 2015–2017: Alex Peters
  • 2017–2018: Ryan Moore / Jalen Smereck
  • 2018–2020: Ty Dellandrea
  • 2021–2022: Brennan Othmann
  • 2023-2024 Zacharie Giroux

NHL alumni

List of Firebirds alumni who played in the National Hockey League (NHL):

Season-by-season results

Season-by-season results for the regular season and playoffs:

Regular season

Legend: OTL = Overtime loss, SOL = Shootout loss

SeasonGamesWonLostOTLSOLPointsPct %Goals
For		Goals
Against		Standing
2015–166820424246.3381842795th West
2016–176832283572.5292292423rd West
2017–186820433245.3311943165th West
2018–196816466038.2792123505th West
2019–206340211182.6512742432nd West
2020–21000000.00000Season cancelled
2021–226842211489.6542862382nd West
2022–236835284175.5512912784th West

Playoffs

  • 2015–16: Out of playoffs
  • 2016–17: Lost to Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals
  • 2017–18: Out of playoffs
  • 2018–19: Out of playoffs
  • 2019–20: Playoffs cancelled
  • 2020–21: Season cancelled
  • 2021–22: Defeated Owen Sound Attack 4 games to 3 in conference quarter-finals.
    Defeated Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 4 games to 1 in conference semi-finals.
    Lost to Windsor Spitfires 4 games to 3 in conference finals.
  • 2022–23: Lost to Saginaw Spirit 4 games to 3 in conference quarter-finals

Radio and television

Brian Gardner is the play-by-play voice of the Firebirds.[25] On radio, games are broadcast live on WQUS (103.1 FM).[26] Telecasts are streamed online via CHL TV in the U.S. and Canada and aired on Rogers Cable and Cogeco via the OHL Action Pak in Canada.[27]

References

  1. ↑ "Firebirds announce affiliation with Leamington Flyers".
  2. ↑ McMann, Aaron (January 14, 2015). "Ontario Hockey League's Plymouth Whalers moving to Flint in 2015-16 season". MLive.com. The Flint Journal. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Whalers announce relocation plans". Ontario Hockey League. January 14, 2015. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  4. ↑ McMann, Aaron (February 2, 2015). "It's official: Ontario Hockey League approves Plymouth Whalers' move to Flint". MLive.com. The Flint Journal. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  5. ↑ "OHL Board of Governors Approve Transfer of Ownership and Relocation to Flint". Ontario Hockey League. February 2, 2015. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  6. ↑ McMann, Aaron (January 21, 2015). "Hoping for a return of the Flint Generals name? OHL commissioner says it's not happening". MLive.com. The Flint Journal. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  7. ↑ McMann, Aaron (March 2, 2015). "Name expected soon for Flint's OHL team; you still like 'Flint Tropics'". MLive.com. The Flint Journal. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  8. ↑ Heller, Andrew (February 11, 2015). "Come Heller high water: Please don't call the hockey team the Flint Tropics". MLive.com. The Flint Journal. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  9. ↑ McMann, Aaron (February 13, 2015). "Anti-'Tropics' crowd growing as naming contest for Flint's new OHL team ends". MLive.com. The Flint Journal. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  10. ↑ Everybody panic! Flint Tropics to take to the ice
  11. ↑ TSN.ca Staff (November 8, 2015). "Poll: Which of the 10 registered names do you like best for Flint's new OHL team?". TSN.ca. The Sports Network. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  12. 1 2 How Flint Firebirds firestorm came about http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/juniors/how-flint-firebirds-firestorm-came-about/
  13. ↑ "Seidel: Firebirds players risk it all to save coaches". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
  14. ↑ TSN.ca Staff (November 8, 2015). "Report: Firebirds fire coaches, players walk out". TSN.ca. TSN. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  15. ↑ Frank Seravalli (November 9, 2015). "#MondayMustRead: Flint Firebirds re-hire coaches after player protest". TSN.ca. TSN. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  16. ↑ Flint Firebirds coaches reinstated, owner admits he made 'irresponsible mistake' http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/branch-to-meet-with-firebirds-brass-after-reported-firings-and-team-revolt-343758692.html
  17. ↑ Sipple, George (February 17, 2016). "Flint Firebirds fire coaches for second time this season". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  18. ↑ Sipple, George; Jahnke, James (February 18, 2016). "Flint Firebirds owner suspended; OHL investigating". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
  19. ↑ "OHL suspends Flint owner, appoints interim coaches". The Detroit News. February 18, 2016. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
  20. ↑ Sipple, George (April 6, 2016). "Flint Firebirds' owner suspended 5 years, team now under OHL control". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved April 6, 2016.
  21. ↑ "Flint Firebirds Name Coaching Staff". OurSports Central. May 20, 2016.
  22. ↑ "Ryan Oulahen Steps Down as Flint Firebirds Head Coach". Ontario Hockey League. October 12, 2018. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  23. ↑ "Eric Wellwood appointed Flint Firebirds Head Coach". Ontario Hockey League. October 18, 2018. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
  24. ↑ Flint Firebirds continue to set team records with 15th consecutive victory The Flint Journal via MLive.com, February 22, 2020
  25. ↑ Flint Firebirds hire Brian Gardner as Director of Communications and Play-by-Play Announcer BVM Sports, September 15, 2023
  26. ↑ Firebirds Hockey, Townsquare Media Announce Multi-Year Radio Broadcast Partnership MLive.com, February August 21, 2017
  27. ↑ OHL UNVEILS 2021-22 REGIONAL TELEVISION BROADCAST SCHEDULE DETAILS OHL Writers, September 21, 2021
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