Net gain for Flint Firebirds
Flint Firebirds have acquired a winning goalie via trade with the reigning Ontario Hockey League champion Guelph Storm.
The Firebirds, who have missed the OHL Western Conference playoffs in each of the past two seasons, have obtained overage goalie Anthony Popovich from Guelph in exchange for third and fifth round picks at the 2020 priority selections draft.
“Anthony is a proven winner, with championship experience and his veteran leadership will be a significant addition,” Flint general manager Barclay Branch said of his newly-acquired, workhorse goalie, who backstopped Guelph through four successive playoff rounds en route to winning the 2019 OHL championship.
Popovich, from his end, is happy to be headed to Flint, which Hockey News North had already been touting as a serious Western Conference contender for the coming season.
“From what I have heard from my friends who have played in Flint, is that they treat their guys like pros. I’ve only heard good things about the billets and that everything is run first-class in Flint,” said Popovich.
“I heard there’s a good group of guys there to go far this year and surprise a lot of people. I think we’re going to have a special group this year,” he added.
Popovich played in 52 of Guelph’s 68 regular season games in 2018-2019 before appearing in all 24 of its playoff matches and accounting for all 16 Storm victories en route to winning the OHL championship.
