By George, Flint is in good hands
Following the fireworks of a first Ontario Hockey League season in Flint, the Firebirds are moving forward with a new general manager who what he lacks in luster makes up for in level-headed leadership.
As the Firebirds prepare for their second season in Flint following relocation and ownership transfer from nearby Plymouth, they could not be in better hands than with 54-year old George Burnett, who has literally spent half of his life in the OHL as a respectable player, coach and general manager.
An even-tempered individual and as gentlemanly as it gets at this level of hockey — rumour has it he doesn’t even swear — Burnett has coached both the Guelph Storm and Belleville Bulls into the Memorial Cup tournament and has had multiple other winning seasons at the helm of the Oshawa Generals and Niagara Falls Thunder.
Thorough and prepared as a coach, Burnett is also known for building and re-building OHL teams as a GM.
Having recently been appointed by the OHL — which oversees the hockey operations of the Firebirds with owner Rolf Nilsen on suspension from that side of his team — Burnett takes over as GM in Flint with nowhere to go but up after missing the Western Conference playoffs in 2015-2016.
As he begins the job of trying to position the Firebirds into a playoff team, Burnett has knowledge of the OHL on his side and the temperament to handle what comes his way.
Far from being full of himself and never one to stand up and take credit for the successes of his teams — he’s the antithesis of retired OHL blowhard Sherry Bassin in that regard — Burnett is just what Flint needs as a growing organization that went through baptism under fire in 2015-2016.
PHOTO: A former OHL player, George Burnett has also been coaching and managing teams in the league since 1989.
George Burnett should double as head coach and GM.
Flint has already hired a head coach, Ryan Oulahen.