Flint Firebirds 2015 Off-Season Thread

[TcNorth]

The OHL Firebirds will be announcing their full staff tomorrow 3/26 at a 11am press conference. Word has it that the Coach and GM have been in place for a couple of weeks. The Head Coach has NHL experience and some solid Junior Hockey experience. Some will recognize his name when announced tomorrow. Solid first coach in my opinion. Not yet sure on the GM, but I hope he works out. Some older Flint Generals fans will recognize his name. PS: With the 3rd pick, I would be thrilled with McLeod, Tippett, or Vilardi.

Click to read more...

 

[BSensFan72]

Nick Stadjuhar....Jason Woolley....Mark Major....Ian Herbers.....Jason Mussatti?

 

[bcspragu]

From Twitter

Sean Lafortune ‏@SeanLafortune 17m 17 minutes ago
Assuming it's who we think, coach is a pretty smart hire. New to the OHL but experienced in coaching elite prospects.

 

[sbpointer]

just a suggestion why not make this the Firebird's off season thread? Looks like a good start to it would only need to change the title.

EDIT: Welcome to the party Flint! The OHL is a blast have fun with your new team!

 

[TcNorth]

From Twitter

Sean Lafortune ‏@SeanLafortune 17m 17 minutes ago
Assuming it's who we think, coach is a pretty smart hire. New to the OHL but experienced in coaching elite prospects.

Hopefully, we will have some elite prospects for him to coach. I do not know much about him except what I have read and been told, , but I agree about it being a smart move.

 

[OHLFan90]

Wow, really weird coming on here knowing I won't see Plymouth Whalers anymore.

Congrats on the new team Flint. Hopefully next season goes well!

 

[PhlyerPhanatic31]

Thread edit

On the suggestion..I have made this thread into the Firebirds 2015 Off-Season thread and it will now be stickied at the top of the page.

PP31

 

[aresknights]

Nick Stadjuhar....Jason Woolley....Mark Major....Ian Herbers.....Jason Mussatti?[/QUOT

 

[TcNorth]

Nick Stadjuhar....Jason Woolley....Mark Major....Ian Herbers.....Jason Mussatti?[/QUOT

All names from the IHL/UHL's Flint Generals past.

 

[bcspragu]

Jason Woolley is a player agent for TPG Hockey. Doubt he gets involved with the team.

 

[bcspragu]

Sunaya Sapurji ‏@sunayas 6m
The Flint Firebirds have named Terry Christensen as GM & John Gruden head coach... not to be confused with Jon Gruden, who would be awesome.

 

[CBJWhaler]

I think the coaching hire is a good one he comes from the USNTDP program. So maybe he can talk the Greenaway brothers to come to flint.

 

[AnotherDimwit]

It turns out it only took a junior hockey team to lure Gruden away from ESPN.

Kidding aside it looks like two solid hires. Good job so far Firebirds!

 

[noobie1]

It turns out it only took a junior hockey team to lure Gruden away from ESPN.

Kidding aside it looks like two solid hires. Good job so far Firebirds!

I am definitely not convinced... An assistant with the USNDT to a head coach in the OHL. 2 very different games and styles. And you are not dealing with the cream of the US crop in one team (or the richest with some talent)
Christensen is gonna have his work cut out for him in the requirements of an OHL GM vs what he has been doing.
For Flints sake, hope they work out...

 

[battfan888]

While I agree that its a good idea to have this as the Flint Firebirds thread I personally think the Plymouth season thread should have been kept open a tad longer than normal seeing as it was their last year and let their fans maybe talk a bit more as opposed to just shutting it down the day after they lose their team.

 

[GFHL]

@battfan888

Here's a better looking F for your Avatar. Let's just beat those Spirit Eagles.

 

[battfan888]

What I need is a better L so I can cut London out

 

[stormfanone]

Where is your official site.

 

[TcNorth]

I am definitely not convinced... An assistant with the USNDT to a head coach in the OHL. 2 very different games and styles. And you are not dealing with the cream of the US crop in one team (or the richest with some talent)
Christensen is gonna have his work cut out for him in the requirements of an OHL GM vs what he has been doing.
For Flints sake, hope they work out...

We shall see. Not all of those with a OHL background succeed either as coach or gm. At least Flint hired hockey people. With Gruden having worked with some of the countries elite prospects the last 4 seasons, I am not too worried, particularly with some of his good work in the world championships. I applaud the hiring of Plymouth's Assistant GM and their head scout (both from Ontario and with experience) as well. This should help GM Christensen some. However, no matter who took the Flint job was going to have their work cut-out for them. Now they can concentrate on the draft and hopefully draft one of the top Ontario prospects.

 

[noobie1]

We shall see. Not all of those with a OHL background succeed either as coach or gm. At least Flint hired hockey people. With Gruden having worked with some of the countries elite prospects the last 4 seasons, I am not too worried, particularly with some of his good work in the world championships. I applaud the hiring of Plymouth's Assistant GM and their head scout (both from Ontario and with experience) as well. This should help GM Christensen some. However, no matter who took the Flint job was going to have their work cut-out for them. Now they can concentrate on the draft and hopefully draft one of the top Ontario prospects.

And just so you know, i am rooting for it to work in Flint!!!

 

[TcNorth]

And just so you know, i am rooting for it to work in Flint!!!

Yes, I know. I would hope no one is rooting for us to fail, even our long-time IHL rivals 35 minutes away in Saginaw. However, I do agree, Christensen and Gruden will have their hands full trying to rite this ship. noobie1, who is your team of choice?

 

[stormfanone]

Please, dose anyone know when you are going to have your official site up and running. Thank You Very Much, Stormfanone.

 

[Savard18]

There's one up and running now but it's not much at this point.

 

[noobie1]

Yes, I know. I would hope no one is rooting for us to fail, even our long-time IHL rivals 35 minutes away in Saginaw. However, I do agree, Christensen and Gruden will have their hands full trying to rite this ship. noobie1, who is your team of choice?

Personally, I am a long time Guelph Storm Fan... been there since the 91-92 Season apart from a few years away for University....
Most of all though, I am an OHL fan. I will go to an OHL game long before i spend money to go to an NHL, AHL, ECHL you name it game...
I find it is the most entertaining league for my money, high level of play and some serious talent!

 

[stormfanone]

There's one up and running now but it's not much at this point.

Thank you very much. Can't find it, is it possible to put a link for me. Thank You Stormfanone.