Slumping Flint Firebirds fire coaches
Mired in yet-another slump with just two wins in their last 10 outings, Flint Firebirds of the Ontario Hockey League have relieved head coach John Gruden and assistant coach Dave Karpa of their duties effective immediately.
In their first season in Flint after relocating there with new ownership following the purchase of the Plymouth Whalers franchise, the Firebirds have been a disappointment.
With 15 games to play in the regular season, the Firebirds are in ninth place in the Western Conference with 38 points from a record of 16-31-6.
Flint is eight points back of the Saginaw Spirit in the race for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Just yesterday, Saginaw fired head coach Greg Gilbert and replaced him with Moe Mantha.
With the dismissal of Gruden and Karpa in Flint, Firebirds director of hockey operations Sergei Kharin will take over as interim head coach and holdover Petr Jonak will carry as an assistant coach.
Starts at the top..start with firing the president as he most likely hired everyone..you can’t fire the owner so the only option is to fire the president. I am sure the owner was sold on hiring the hockey staff by the president..
…Where is Costa “the fixer” Papista in all this….curled up in the fetal position…?
The Ontario Hockey League should just step in and take the team away from Rolf Nilsen In my opinion.