Big points for Flint defender
Overage defenseman Mathieu Henderson has played a main role in the early-season showing of the Flint Firebirds.
In 16 games this Ontario Hockey League season, the 6-foot, 180-pound defender has 6 goals, 12 assists, 18 points and is third in scoring on a Flint team that has an 8-7-1 record.
Through the month of October, Henderson led all OHL defensemen with 17 points in 13 outings from 5 goals and 12 assists — and had a plus-minus rating of +9.
For his efforts, Henderson — who has never been drafted by a National Hockey League team — was named OHL defenseman of the month for October.
After missing the Western Conference playoffs in 2015-2016 with a record of 20-42-6, Flint has been a nice surprise thus far this 2016-2017 campaign led by the likes of Henderson and high-scoring forwards Ryan Moore, Nicholas Caamano, Luke Kirwan and and Kole Sherwood.
Buoyed by several helpful trades made by general manager George Burnett and riding the effective coaching of rookie bench boss Ryan Oulahen and his assistants, the seventh-place Firebirds are only four points out of top spot in the hotly-contested Western Conference.
PHOTO: Flint Firebirds defenseman Mathieu Henderson. (Photo by Getty Images.)