Captain of the Firebirds
Northern Ontario product Zacharie Giroux will wear the ‘C’ on his jersey this season as the new captain of the Flint Firebirds of the Ontario Hockey League.
A 5-foot-6, 165 pound forward with a 2003 birth date, Giroux was picked by the Firebirds from the Sudbury Under 16 Wolves of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League in the third round of the 2019 OHL priority selections draft.
Regular season and playoffs included, Giroux has skated in 158 OHL games for the Firebirds and has put up 45 goals, 75 assists, 120 points. He was an assistant captain for the Firebirds during the 2022-2023 season.
“It is a dream come true,” Giroux said of being named captain of the Firebirds. “Every kid who grows up playing hockey wants to be captain of a team. It is truly an honour that (Firebirds head coach) Ted (Dent) and the staff believe in me for this opportunity.”
To be sure, Dent knows Giroux well from the two full seasons that they have spent together prior to this one.
“Zach and I have spent the last two seasons together and I have the utmost respect for the way he has progressed as a player in that time,” Dent said. “His compete level in all situations is unmatched and he is always on board with the coaching staff and our decisions. He is the first player to volunteer for community events and has become a recognized figure in Flint and the surrounding areas.
“His determination on the ice and relentless work ethic is what has made Zach a fan favorite here in Flint,” Dent added in further praise of Giroux. “I am really proud of Zach and our whole group is happy to have him as the fifth captain in team history.”
Giroux joins a Firebirds captain history that also includes forward Ty Dellandrea, who is now a mainstay with the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League.