Flint Firebirds hire GM, coach
Flint Firebirds — who will make their Ontario Hockey League debut in 2015-2016 from the erstwhile Plymouth Whalers franchise — have hired a general manager and a head coach.
At a press conference held in Flint earlier today, veteran minor pro coach Terry Christensen was named GM of the new Firebirds and John Gruden was introduced as head coach.
The 60-year old Christensen heads to Flint as GM of the Firebirds from the USA Selects Elite AAA junior hockey program. He was the associate head coach of the Under-18 AAA Little Caesars team this past season.
The 44-year old Gruden was most recently an assistant coach for USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program.
Gruden was granted a release from his contract with USA Hockey earlier this week to take the Flint job, according to Firebirds president Costa Papista.