Flint Firebirds Prepare for 18 Picks in This Weekend’s OHL Priority Selection
Flint, Mich. – The Flint Firebirds will welcome their newest group of prospects this weekend when the 2023 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Priority Selection, presented by Real Canadian Superstore, begins Friday, April 21, and will see Rounds 1-3 take place starting at 7:00 p.m. Rounds 4-15 will conclude the draft Saturday, April 22 beginning at 9:00 a.m.
- Flint Firebirds Facilities: Photo Album
- About the Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
- About Flint, Michigan
- Flint Firebirds in the NHL
The annual Priority Selection features roughly 300 picks over 15 rounds. The full list of picks can be found HERE. After this past week’s trades, the Flint Firebirds now own five picks in the first 60 and 18 picks in total. The OHL Priority Selection Draft Show will be streamed for FREE on CHL TV.
“We (The Firebirds Hockey Operations Staff) were all talking about how exciting an opportunity we have in selecting the best player available at (pick number) 15,” Head Scout of the Flint Firebirds Mike Oliverio said. “It’s exciting to think about the possibilities and prospects that are out there who can fit into the mold of the Flint Firebirds player-wise, person-wise, and character-wise. We’re really looking forward to adding a good crop of players to our organization.”
Notable current players selected by the Firebirds in the OHL Priority Selection include Chicago Blackhawks prospect Gavin Hayes (2020 1st round, #16 overall), Detroit Red Wings prospect Amadeus Lombardi (2019 13th rd, #245), Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Braeden Kressler (2019 2nd round, #28), 2023 NHL Draft prospects Tristan Bertucci (2021 1st round, #7 overall), Ethan Hay (2021 3rd round, #46) and Nathan Day (2021 3rd round, #57), and Assistant Captain Zacharie Giroux (2019 3rd round #57).
Fans are encouraged to continue the conversation on social media throughout the draft weekend using #OHLDraft. Additionally, be sure to follow the Firebirds OHL Draft Central page as well as on social media for all picks and content.
About the Ontario Hockey League:
The Ontario Hockey League is a proud member of the Canadian Hockey League which is the world’s largest development hockey league with 60 teams in nine Canadian provinces and four American states. In addition to the OHL, the CHL is made up of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the Western Hockey League. The CHL supplies more players to the National Hockey League and U SPORTS than any other league.
About The Flint Firebirds:
The Flint Firebirds are a proud member of the prestigious 20-team Ontario Hockey League. The OHL is one of three leagues that constitute the 60-team 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 five seasons ago, the team has produced 25 NHL-signed or drafted players. More than 300 scouts representing all 32 NHL clubs attended a Firebirds game in Flint during the 2022-23 season. The Firebirds average nearly 3,000 fans per game at the newly renovated Dort Financial Center, reaching over 100,000 fans each OHL season.
