Firebirds’ Othmann to play in Switzerland until OHL season commences
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Flint, Mich. – The Flint Firebirds announced today that forward Brennan Othmann has been granted a conditional temporary transfer, as a result of the COVID-19 virus, and will return to Flint once the 2020-21 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) season commences.
Othmann, 17, has dual citizenship in Canada and Switzerland and will play for the EHC Olten Power Mice (Eishockey Club Olten Powermäuse) in the Swiss League, the second tier of the main professional ice hockey league in Switzerland, behind the National League. Of note, Othmann’s father (Gery) and uncle (Robert) also played in the Swiss League and Robert suited up for EHC Olten for five years.
The transfer will provide an opportunity for Othmann to stay in condition for the upcoming OHL season during his NHL Draft year. As per the agreement, the Firebirds will be in close contact with EHC Olten and will be monitoring Othmann’s performance throughout his stay in Switzerland.
This past season, Othmann broke the Firebirds rookie franchise records for both goals (17) and points (33) in 55 games while also recording two game-winning goals with Flint during the 2019-20 OHL campaign. The Pickering, Ont., native was selected by the Firebirds with the second-overall pick in the 2019 OHL Priority Selection. The 6-foot, 178-pound forward was recognized as an invitee to Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team Selection Camp this year.
Othmann will wear number-78 for EHC Olten.
Under the new timelines, OHL Training Camps are scheduled to commence on Saturday, January 23 in preparation for the 2020-21 Regular Season that will feature a 40-game schedule running from Thursday, February 4 through Saturday, May 8. Teams will play primarily against opponents in their geographic region in an effort to reduce travel in consideration of the health and safety of all players and staff. Details concerning the structure of team alignment will be made available upon release of the 2020-21 OHL Regular Season schedule.
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 19 NHL signed or drafted players. More than 250 scouts representing all 31 NHL clubs attended a Firebirds game in Flint throughout the 2019-20 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.
For media inquires, contact:
Dominic Hennig
Director of Broadcasting & Communications
Flint Firebirds Hockey Club
dominic@flintfirebirds.com
(810) 519-9347
