Firebirds announce affiliation with Leamington Flyers
Flint, Mich. – The Flint Firebirds announced today that the club has reached an affiliation agreement with the Leamington Flyers of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL).
With the agreement, the Firebirds will be able to assign affiliated players, draft picks and prospects to play and develop in Leamington.
“We are excited about the opportunity to have the Leamington Flyers as an affiliate of the Firebirds,” said Flint Firebirds Vice President of Hockey Operations & General Manager Barclay Branch. “Leamington is well-known as a respected program in a great developmental league as the GOJHL and will provide an excellent environment for our prospects to develop and reach their hockey goals.”
The Flyers have a rich tradition of success as the club won back-to-back GOJHL Western Conference playoff champions in 2014 and 2015 and most recently were the Western Conference regular season champions this past 2018-19 season. The Firebirds will begin their fifth season in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) this coming fall. Flint and Leamington are separated by 106 Miles (170 Kilometers)
“We are thrilled to be affiliating with a first-class organization like the Flint Firebirds,” said Leamington Flyers General Manager Justin Solcz. “This partnership is a perfect fit for our organization and aligns with our goals of developing players for the next level. The entire Leamington organization is excited to learn from Barclay, Eric and the rest of the Firebirds’ staff as we start this relationship.”
The Firebirds’ training camp will take place Monday, Aug. 26 through Wednesday, Aug. 28. The camp will be held at the Firebirds’ official practice facility, Iceland Arenas, and is open to the public with free admission for all on-ice sessions. Stay tuned to www.FlintFirebirds.com for video features, off-season transactions and coverage from the 2019 NHL Draft.
About The Flint Firebirds:
The Flint Firebirds are a proud member of the prestigious 20-team Ontario Hockey League. The OHL is part of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), which is known as the world’s premiere player development league for the NHL. On NHL opening day rosters in October, 70% of NHL players were CHL alums. Since the Firebirds’ inception in Flint, Michigan four seasons ago, the team has produced 18 NHL signed or drafted players. More than 250 scouts representing all 31 NHL clubs attended a Firebirds game in Flint throughout the 2018-19 season. The Firebirds average nearly 3,000 fans per game at the newly renovated Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center, reaching over 100,000 fans each OHL season.
For media inquiries, contact:
Dominic Hennig
Director of Broadcasting & Communications
Flint Firebirds Hockey Club
dominic@flintfirebirds.com
(810) 519-9347
