Flint Firebirds

Coming to Flint

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]

Team name

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 staff 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 (would be eligible to apply to be reinstated in three years) and fined him $250,000. The league also declared the franchise would forfeit their 2016 first-round draft pick. If Nilsen does get involved in hockey operations while suspended, the OHL could order Nilsen to sell 100% ownership interest in the Firebirds. The OHL placed the Firebirds under league stewardship and appointed Joe Birch as director of operations.^[20]

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]

I-75 Cup

Since coming to Flint, the Firebirds have won the I-75 Divide Cup against rivals Saginaw Spirit 2 years in a row. They first took it home during their inaugural season on March 1, 2016 with a 6-5 overtime win. They took it home in front of a home crowd at Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center. Then, again in 2017, the Firebirds won it again with a 4-1 win on February 26, 2017 at the Dow Event Center. They had a special ceremony at Dort Federal, when the Firebirds played the Spirit on home ice.

Regular season

Legend: OTL = Overtime loss, SOL = Shootout loss

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.