First for the Flint Firebirds
1997 birth-year defenseman Jalen Smereck has become the first player from the second-year Flint Firebirds to sign a National Hockey League contract.
A Detroit native, Smereck was acquired by Flint in an off-season Ontario Hockey League trade with the Oshawa Generals.
Never drafted into the NHL, Smereck recently attended the Arizona Coyotes training camp as a free agent and was signed earlier today to a three-year, entry-level contract.
The six-foot, 195-pound blueliner returned to the OHL last weekend and made his Flint debut by totaling four assists in two games — both of which were wins by the Firebirds.
“This is an awesome day for Jalen and his family,” noted Firebirds general manager George Burnett. “This is another great example of determination and perseverance by a young man who was a late draft selection into our league and was not picked in the NHL entry draft.”
Firebirds owner Rolf Nilsen also chimed in on the NHL signing of Smereck.
“This is a tremendous accomplishment for Jalen and we are so pleased that he is our first Flint Firebird to sign an NHL contract,” said Nilsen. “When I purchased the Plymouth Whalers from Peter Karmanos Jr. and relocated the team to Flint this is what I had in mind…developing and showcasing elite level players in a great hockey town that knows and appreciates world class talent.”