Flint Firebirds 2023 - 24 Off-Season Thread

[Savard18]

I didn’t see the game last night. I was gonna go but with bridge construction still going on I decided against it, so I did not actually watch the game. I should also point out that Sarnia lost the previous night, were a bit bummed and I was going to post on their board that they should totally disregard any preseason results/team play. I was gonna use the 2021 example of Erie fans getting all hyped and calling Flint garbage after beating them at EIA like 8-1 or something then getting manhandled by Flint like 8 straight games that year once the real season started. That being said, the box score doesn’t look great allowing the Sting to comeback in the 3rd to tie-it up and then lose in a SO. Especislly when they played Nathan for a full 60 with essentially their starting DCore in the lineup. There’s a slim chance I decide to head to the game today but either way, I’ll be curious to see/hear how things go. I imagine they gave Day the nod because he’ll be heading to Oilers camp soon but I’d really like to see what Sutherland has in net. Does Flint have 2 OHL level goalies right now or 3?

 

[MJ5]

I didn’t see the game last night. I was gonna go but with bridge construction still going on I decided against it, so I did not actually watch the game. I should also point out that Sarnia lost the previous night, were a bit bummed and I was going to post on their board that they should totally disregard any preseason results/team play. I was gonna use the 2021 example of Erie fans getting all hyped and calling Flint garbage after beating them at EIA like 8-1 or something then getting manhandled by Flint like 8 straight games that year once the real season started. That being said, the box score doesn’t look great allowing the Sting to comeback in the 3rd to tie-it up and then lose in a SO. Especislly when they played Nathan for a full 60 with essentially their starting DCore in the lineup. There’s a slim chance I decide to head to the game today but either way, I’ll be curious to see/hear how things go. I imagine they gave Day the nod because he’ll be heading to Oilers camp soon but I’d really like to see what Sutherland has in net. Does Flint have 2 OHL level goalies right now or 3?

Wondering if each goalie just gets a game. Tonight might be Brown, and Sutherland gets the last one.

There was too much college football on yesterday, but I had it on 1 of the screens and had a little bit of my attention. . Cunningham was wearing a cage. Might be on a B card? Wondering if they keep the younger Colosimo if that's the case? I know he played too, couldn't tell if he had a cage or not.

Mason Taylor also was wearing a cage.

 

[MJ5]

Cages Today-
J. Colosimo
C. Colosimo
B. Cooke
M. Taylor
R. Cunningham
J. D'Arcy

So who knows lol

Brown in net today tho.

 

[hockeylegend11]

Interesting re number of cage wearers, should not of Windsor's 27 skaters on exhibition roster none are wearing cages,which means all are signed players.

 

[Toldyaso]

Interesting re number of cage wearers, should not of Windsor's 27 skaters on exhibition roster none are wearing cages,which means all are signed players.

Pretty sure every one of our caged players is signed. Until they definitively make the regular season roster they stay in cages.

 

[hockeylegend11]

Pretty sure every one of our caged players is signed. Until they definitively make the regular season roster they stay in cages.

Interesting because 5 players by Windsor all are 16 and signed and none of them wore cages and I think though signed are headed for Jr B

 

[Toldyaso]

Interesting because 5 players by Windsor all are 16 and signed and none of them wore cages and I think though signed are headed for Jr B

Don't know what to tell you but that's how it has always been here for the ten years the team has been here.

 

[hockeylegend11]

Don't know what to tell you but that's how it has always been here for the ten years the team has been here.

Going to assume it's a team thinglerslthen league.
Now should be noted if any of said players go to Jr B,if they return they have wear the cage the piece of equipment his other team is mandated to use.

 

[Toldyaso]

Going to assume it's a team thinglerslthen league.
Now should be noted if any of said players go to Jr B,if they return they have wear the cage the piece of equipment his other team is mandated to use.

Well Taylor, Cooke, and D'arcy all belong to Leamington I believe, are on B cards and Taylor and D'Arcy were up for a few games last year then sent back. That would put them right in the return from junior b cage rule. J. Colosimo would also be in the same circumstance. All 4 are up from GOJHL teams on b cards so unless they make the regular season roster It would be cages under that rule. Cunningham and C. Colosimo are both in our top 5 picks from this years draft. I expect no decision has been made as of yet to keep either on the regular season roster so until then they like will belong to Leamington. Doesn't seem unusual that all would be in cages until a decision not to send them down is made. Don't know enough about Windsor's prospects to speculate on where they all sit in the final roster.

 

[Savard18]

https://chl.ca/ohl/article/ohl-20-in-20-flint-firebirds-2024/

 

[MJ5]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1833485503385014775

Wonder if this opens the door for them to keep Christian Colosimo as one of the 4 - 16 year olds on the team with his older brother.

 

[Savard18]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1833485503385014775

Wonder if this opens the door for them to keep Christian Colosimo as one of the 4 - 16 year olds on the team with his older brother.

Possibly. I don’t think it’s a good idea trying to find ice-time for 4 16yo forwards anyway. It’ll be better for his development getting solid ice-time every night with the Legionnaires as opposed to playing 4-5-6 minutes every other game in the OHL.

 

[Toldyaso]

Now that we're back on topic. Who is everyone thinking for the C this year? I'm leaning toward Clatty personally.

 

[MJ5]

Now that we're back on topic. Who is everyone thinking for the C this year? I'm leaning toward Clatty personally.

I think it's Smith or Clatty.

A to the other one, Mania and Pitre as the other A's?

 

[Savard18]

I think it's Smith or Clatty.

A to the other one, Mania and Pitre as the other A's?

I’d add Collins to the list too.

 

[MJ5]

2023 7th rounder Nathan McGuire is the backup tonight.

Sutherland not getting any preseason action, wonder if they have moved on from him.

 

[MJ5]

Stojkov turning it over at the blue line vs a 16 year old and then letting him walk in and score.

GM to Stojkov after the game........

 

[MJ5]

24-25 Roster is listed. Flint Firebirds

Coulson Pitre no listed.

LW	C	RW
Connor Clattenburg - 05 - 60 GP - 29 P	Kaden Pitre 06 - 35 GP - 30 P	Evan Konyen *04* - 55 GP - 48 P
Nathan Aspinall 06 - 65 GP - 34 P	Jimmy Lombardi 07 - 62 GP - 20 P	Christopher Thibodeau 05 - 68 GP 60 P
Matthew Wang 05 - 61 GP - 11 P	Xavier Tessier - 08 Rookie - 2nd round	Alex Kostov 06 - 66 GP - 26 P
Jeremy Martin 07 - 64 GP - 14 P	Max Anderson - 07 - 18 GP - 0 P	Cole Zurawski - 08 Rookie - 1st round
Ryland Cunningham - 08 - Rookie - 2nd round	Karlis Flugins - Import
	Joushua Colosimo - 06 - Rookie
LD	G	RD
Urban Podrekar 05 - 62 GP - 22 P	Nathan Day 05	Matthew Mania 05 - 45 GP - 23 P
Blake Smith *04* - 65 GP - 13 P	Jacob Brown 06	Nolan Collins *04* - 65 GP - 26 P
Artyom Frolov 07 - 67 GP - 12 P		Rylan Fellinger 07 - 58 GP - 4 P
Christian Colosimo 08 - Rookie - 4th round		Jack D'Arcy 07 - 4 GP - 0 P
Marko Stojkov *04*

No Longer on Roster
Brendan Cooke - 07 - Rookie
Mason Taylor 06 - 3 GP - 0 P
Gage Brandon - 08 Rookie - 3rd round
Patrick Sutherland 06

 

[MJ5]

Flint Firebirds (8):

Main Camp:
Nathan Aspinall, New York Rangers, 5th round ’24 (returned to Flint Sept. 22)
Connor Clattenburg, Edmonton Oilers, 5th round ’24 (returned to Flint Sept. 24)
Nathan Day, Edmonton Oilers, 6th round ’23 (returned to Flint Sept. 24)
Matthew Mania, Los Angeles Kings, 5th round ’23
Coulson Pitre, Anaheim Ducks, 3rd round ’23 – Signed
Kaden Pitre, Tampa Bay Lightning, 6th round ’24
Blake Smith, Detroit Red Wings, Free agent invite (returned to Flint Sept. 22)

Rookie Camp:
Nolan Collins, Columbus Blue Jackets, Free agent invite

 

[MJ5]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1839335765601624516

 

[MJ5]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1839756898742006124

 

[Savard18]

I’m sure certain HFBoards posters who reside to the south of us would vomit a bunch of numbers here and talk about how Flint dominated 5 on 5 scoring but I’m gonna instead say the PK could use a little work. London missing somewhere between 3-5 high end players. Big negative there. Flint missing Podrekar and I think 8 totally new guys in the lineup. So, small negative for Flint. Really nice start to the season in a tough building on opening night. The new acquisitions all look ready to go and contribute. Outside of the obvious star players tonight, Frolov looks really good. Good feet. Smart with the puck. Makes quick decisions but doesn’t look like he’s rushing it. Really impressed with a very small sample size in one game vs a depleted Knights squad. Which is still a pretty solid roster. I didn’t expect much out of J Colosimo when they acquired him but he looked like he can contribute tonight. I think the penalty he took was the absolute right decision and I thought Gerber sticking his leg out was dirty and dangerous there. Congrats on your first win as a team boys. See you tomorrow night.

 

[Otto]

I’m sure certain HFBoards posters who reside to the south of us would vomit a bunch of numbers here and talk about how Flint dominated 5 on 5 scoring but I’m gonna instead say the PK could use a little work. London missing somewhere between 3-5 high end players. Big negative there. Flint missing Podrekar and I think 8 totally new guys in the lineup. So, small negative for Flint. Really nice start to the season in a tough building on opening night. The new acquisitions all look ready to go and contribute. Outside of the obvious star players tonight, Frolov looks really good. Good feet. Smart with the puck. Makes quick decisions but doesn’t look like he’s rushing it. Really impressed with a very small sample size in one game vs a depleted Knights squad. Which is still a pretty solid roster. I didn’t expect much out of J Colosimo when they acquired him but he looked like he can contribute tonight. I think the penalty he took was the absolute right decision and I thought Gerber sticking his leg out was dirty and dangerous there. Congrats on your first win as a team boys. See you tomorrow night.

Big fast team though. Firebirds will do well this season.

 

[Sam14]

The new acquisitions all look ready to go and contribute. Outside of the obvious star players tonight, Frolov looks really good. Good feet. Smart with the puck. Makes quick decisions but doesn’t look like he’s rushing it.

You guys are going to be so impressed with Frolov! He was logging top pair minutes, in every situation, by the last third of the season. Artem had evolved into the IceDogs' top D as a 16 year old. An absolute steal! I can tell you Ben didn't want to see him go!

 

[dirty12]

You guys are going to be so impressed with Frolov! He was logging top pair minutes, in every situation, by the last third of the season. Artem had evolved into the IceDogs' top D as a 16 year old. An absolute steal! I can tell you Ben didn't want to see him go!

Ben is thrilled with the new look IceDogs D, seems he can’t say it enough.