A night of firsts in Flint
First game with a new general manager. First game with a new head coach. First goal for the new first-round pick on his first shift in his first Ontario Hockey League game. First shutout for the second-year OHL goalie.
It was a good night of first impressions as the Flint Firebirds opened the 2016-2017 OHL regular season on Wednesday with a 4-0 home-ice victory over the Saginaw Spirit.
Rookie forward Ty Dellandrea, Flint’s first-round pick at the 2016 OHL Draft, scored 1:03 into the game and the Firebirds went on to the whitewash win backed by the 23-save show of goalie Matthew Menna.
Sporting a new-look hockey department led by GM George Burnett and head coach Ryan Oulahen, the Firebirds issued an opening-night statement before more than 3,250 fans at Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center.
Holdover forwards Ryan Moore and Nicholas Caamano combined for six points to spark the Firebirds.
Moore had two goals and two assists while Caamano scored once and set up one another for the Firebirds, who missed the Western Conference playoffs last season, their first in Flint.
ICE CHIPS — Second-year defenseman Hakon Nilsen, son of Firebirds owner Rolf Nilsen, not only made the opening-night lineup but was a +1 on the plus-minus chart…Flint heads to Kitchener on Friday to take on the Rangers. The game will be broadcast on 1330 AM WTRX Sports Radio with Dominic Hennig calling the action. The Firebirds then return to Flint on Saturday to play host to the Owen Sound Attack.
PHOTO: Flint Firebirds goalie Matthew Menna.
Good story in the making in Flint I due believe. Nice job giving them some positive ink in Flint RR.
Randy, does Hakon Nilsen actually have the skill to play in the OHL?
David,
Ask his coach.