Battalion to Firebirds
Flint Firebirds have obtained seasoned skater Maurizio Colella in an Ontario Hockey League exchange with the North Bay Battalion.
In return for the fourth-year forward, Flint sends a fifth-round draft pick in 2019 to North Bay.
“Maurizo is an experienced forward who we know very well,” said Firebirds general manager George Burnett. “He is a quality individual who will be a good asset to our program moving forward.”
Burnett also told HockeyNewsNorth.com that Colella has “good leadership qualities.”
The 6-foot, 185-pound Colella, who has a 1997 birth date, played for Burnett with both the erstwhile Belleville Bulls and Hamilton Bulldogs.
In 35 games this season, Colella has 6 goals, 10 assists, 16 points.
Flint head coach Ryan Oulahen knows what he is getting in Colella.
“He’s a veteran guy who has played a lot of games in this league,” said Oulahen. “He’s someone I’m very familiar with. He’s a versatile forward who can play in all situations and someone who will really be able to help us down the stretch.”
Colella played for Oulahen when he was an assistant coach in North Bay last season.
Colella in effect replaces 1997 birth-year forward Cullen Mercer on the Flint roster. Mercer recently departed the Firebirds to play at the Jr. B level in Listowel.
Flint is currently in possession of the eighth-and-final playoff spot in the Western Conference and with 38 points from a record of 18-17-2, is just a point back of the seventh-place Sarnia Sting.