There’s a new ‘A’ in Flint
Seasoned skater Jack Phibbs has joined the leadership group of the Flint Firebirds of the Ontario Hockey League as an alternate captain.
A 1999 birth year forward, Phibbs replaces veteran defenseman Fedor Gordeev as an alternate captain in Flint. Gordeev was dealt to the Guelph Storm at the OHL trade deadline.
Both Firebirds general manager Barclay Branch and head coach Eric Wellwood commented on the selection of Phibbs to wear the ‘A’ for Flint.
“Jack is a person who every team would want inside their locker room,” relayed Branch. “He’s played an integral role for our hockey club both on and off the ice the past three years.”
And Wellwood noted that Phibbs is a players player.
“Jack is a guy who is always positive in the locker room … he comes to work every day,” said Wellwood. “We had a vote and it was unanimous throughout the guys that he was the player that deserved it. The guys spoke loudly that they wanted him.”
Phibbs joins captain Ty Dellandrea and alternate captains Dennis Busby and Jake Durham as part of the Firebirds leadership council.
Dellandrea, a forward, and Busby, a defenseman, both have 2000 birth dates while Phibbs and Durham were both born in 1999. Phibbs and Durham are two prime candidates to play as overage forwards for Flint come the 2019-2020 season.
Flint is in last place in the OHL with 19 points from a record of 8-33-3 through 44 games. But the Firebirds have shown some fire and desire over their past 10 outings with 11 points from a record of 5-4-1.
The Firebirds are now faced with the task of playing their next five games on the road.
Meanwhile, the aforementioned Branch and members of his scouting staff will be in Peterborough this weekend for the major and minor midget level, Steve Richey Tournament of Champions.
(PHOTO: Flint forward Jack Phibbs in action. Photo by Todd Boone / Flint Firebirds.)