Flint is fired up for a reason
At times, a win can be just a win. But when the win comes against a team’s arch rival — and on the road in their barn, in front of more than 4.900 fans — then the win has extra meaning. Take the Flint Firebirds, for example.
The Firebirds skated into a hostile environment in Saginaw this past weekend and returned to Flint with an improbable win. Trailing 3-0 and then 4-1 before the game was seven minutes old, Flint shrugged off the deficit and the deafening noise at the Dow Event Center to eventually prevail with a stunning 6-5 overtime win over Saginaw.
Notable performances by the Firebirds included a hat trick by third year forward — and 2023 Ontario Hockey League priority selections first round draft pick — Jeremy Martin, who scored only seven times last season. Rookie forward Chase Hull — a fourth round pick by the Firebirds in the same 2023 OHL draft who spent the past two seasons in the British Columbia Hockey League — added a pair of goals in his Flint debut, including the overtime winner with just 15 seconds left on the clock.
Not to be out done, overage goalie Mason Vaccari — who was acquired in on off season trade with the Kingston Frontenacs — overcame a sluggish start and made 43 saves to pick up the hard earned win for Flint.
HOME OPENER: The Firebirds will be within the friendly confines of the Dort Financial Center for their home opener this Saturday night against the Niagara IceDogs. The first 2,500 fans will receive a free rally towel courtesy of Dort Financial Credit Union and puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.