Branch is in like Flint


By
April 17, 2017

Barclay Branch has vacated his position as general manager of the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League to take an expanded role with the Flint Firebirds, HockeyNewsNorth.com has confirmed.

The affable Branch, who spent two seasons in Sudbury after a lengthy association with the erstwhile Belleville Bulls, heads to Flint as vice president and general manager of the Firebirds.

In going to Flint, Branch takes over from his good friend, veteran OHLer George Burnett.

Another of the OHL’s good guys, Burnett has been named coach and general manager of the Guelph Storm with Mike Kelly set to formally retire as GM and Jarrod Skalde having been recently fired as bench boss.

Flint and Guelph are both regarded as two of the OHL’s up-and-coming teams.

After missing the playoffs in 2015-2016, Flint moved up to seventh place in the tough Western Conference in 2016-2017 with a record well above the .500 mark. The Firebirds then lost to the Soo Greyhounds in the first round of the playoffs.

Guelph has missed the playoffs in each of the past two seasons but has an assembly of good, young talent on the verge of blossoming.


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