NHL camps full of Firebirds
While they just completed their first season in the Ontario Hockey League, the Flint Firebirds nonetheless boast five players who attended National Hockey League prospect development camps over the past few weeks.
Forwards Will Bitten (Montreal Canadiens), Nicholas Caamano (Dallas Stars) and Luke Kirwan (Detroit Red Wings) and defensemen Jalen Smereck (Arizona Coyotes) and Alex Peters (Carolina Hurricanes) all recently skated at NHL development camps.
Bitten and Caamano, who both have 1998 birth dates, were selected at the 2016 NHL draft.
Kirwan and Smereck, who have 1997 birth dates, were both free-agent invitees as was the overage Peters.
“NHL development camps provide our players a great opportunity to experience the pro environment both on and off the ice,” said Firebirds general manager George Burnett.
“These opportunities are earned through their strong play and character shown throughout the season and can help these players bring good habits and leadership to our own program moving forward,” Burnett added.