OT: Flint OHL team quits after coaching staff fired (SN)

[SoldiersOfFilth]

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/juniors/reports-players-walk-out-on-ohls-flint-firebirds/

Players on the OHL’s Flint Firebirds have walked out on the team following the firing of its coaches, according to various reports.

As first reported by OHL Insiders, after the Firebirds rallied back from a 3-1 deficit to defeat the Oshawa Generals on Sunday, the club let go of its coaches prompting players to “march†up to the management offices and quit.

The website asserts that the root of the firings come from the lack of playing time head coach John Gruden allotted to Hakon Nilsen, son of club owner Rolf Nilson.

According to Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek, the players and organization are in a “stalemate,†with the Firebirds’ next game scheduled for Friday.

Click to read more...

 

[talkinaway]

Saw this on the main board too, and it had me lurking in the OHL forum for the very first time.

Totally silly question, probably, but do we have prospects playing there? I looked through the roster on their site, and didn't see any names that rang a bell except for someone named DiCarlo, but that was because of Brandon Carlo. Wikipedia didn't show any prospects that we drafted, either.

Did a little investigating, and the site says that Rolf Nilsen is the governor. Don't know if that means he's the "owner" that the article talks about. But according to the Firebirds' site as well, someone named HÃ¥kon Nilsen plays there.

Pretty amazing story, and sounds like a stand-up kid to me, if he's essentially saying, "Dad, shut up, you don't need to fire coaches to get me more ice time; I'm happy as-is."

 

[Pia8988]

The website asserts that the root of the firings come from the lack of playing time head coach John Gruden allotted to Hakon Nilsen, son of club owner Rolf Nilson.

According to Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek, the players and organization are in a “stalemate,†with the Firebirds’ next game scheduled for Friday.

At least he won't have issues getting playing time now.

 

[kytem2]

Saw this on the main board too, and it had me lurking in the OHL forum for the very first time.

Totally silly question, probably, but do we have prospects playing there? I looked through the roster on their site, and didn't see any names that rang a bell except for someone named DiCarlo, but that was because of Brandon Carlo. Wikipedia didn't show any prospects that we drafted, either.

Great site...
Bruins dfraft history:
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/teams/dr00004919.html
Sample entry:
2015 Entry 13 1 Jakub Zboril D Saint John Sea Dogs [QMJHL]
2015 Entry 14 1 Jake DeBrusk L Swift Current Broncos [WHL]
2015 Entry 15 1 Zachary Senyshyn R Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds [OHL]
2015 Entry 37 2 Brandon Carlo D Tri-City Americans [WHL]
2015 Entry 45 2 Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson C Omaha Lancers [USHL]
2015 Entry 52 2 Jeremy Lauzon D Rouyn-Noranda Huskies [QMJHL]
2015 Entry 75 3 Daniel Vladar G Kladno Jrs. (Czech Rep.)
2015 Entry 105 4 Jesse Gabrielle L Regina Pats [WHL]
2015 Entry 165 6 Cameron Hughes C U. of Wisconsin [Big-10]
2015 Entry 195 7 Jack Becker C Mahtomedi (Minn. H.S.)

Hockey 'Morning Report' -- standings / stats for all major leagues:
http://www.hockeydb.com/scoreboard/

 

[mislysBB]

They should have never moved from Plymouth.

 

[GloryDaze4877]

Saw this on the main board too, and it had me lurking in the OHL forum for the very first time.

Totally silly question, probably, but do we have prospects playing there? I looked through the roster on their site, and didn't see any names that rang a bell except for someone named DiCarlo, but that was because of Brandon Carlo. Wikipedia didn't show any prospects that we drafted, either.

Did a little investigating, and the site says that Rolf Nilsen is the governor. Don't know if that means he's the "owner" that the article talks about. But according to the Firebirds' site as well, someone named HÃ¥kon Nilsen plays there.

Pretty amazing story, and sounds like a stand-up kid to me, if he's essentially saying, "Dad, shut up, you don't need to fire coaches to get me more ice time; I'm happy as-is."

Did you read the post above yours?

 

[sarge88]

Pretty sure I'm confusing him with someone else, but is the coach --- John Gruden, a former Bruin?

 

[Fenway]

Pretty sure I'm confusing him with someone else, but is the coach --- John Gruden, a former Bruin?

Had a cup of coffee in Boston 20 years ago

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=2051

 

[neelynugs]

Pretty sure I'm confusing him with someone else, but is the coach --- John Gruden, a former Bruin?

same guy.

 

[GarbageGoal]

I'd say more than a cup of coffee in Boston. they were high enough on him to start playing him right out of college at the end of his senior season like Krug.

Always got him confused with Jon Rohloff. Another questionable d-man.

 

[BostonBob]

Some of the Coaching staff have been rehired.


from tsn.ca:

Less than 24 hours after players handed in their jerseys and walked out in support of their fired coach, the OHL's Flint Firebirds are slowly being pieced back together.

Head coach John Gruden and assistant Dave Karpa were re-hired by owner Rolf Nilsen on Monday and given new three-year contracts, team sources confirmed. The news was first reported by @OHLinsiders on Twitter.

Nilsen's about-face came on the heels of a meeting with OHL commissioner David Branch, who was also scheduled to meet with players later on Monday.

Nilsen fired Gruden and Karpa on Sunday night almost immediately after a stirring comeback win over the defending Memorial Cup champion Oshawa Generals because his son was not receiving adequate playing time.

Even Nilsen's son, defenceman Hakon Nilsen, revolted against his father's decision. According to sources, Hakon could be heard making phone calls to his father, saying "What the (bleep) are you doing?" and "You can't do this!" Hakon, who appeared in all three games over the weekend, then joined his teammates in solidarity and returned his jersey.


Full story here: http://www.tsn.ca/mondaymustread-flint-firebirds-re-hire-coaches-after-player-protest-1.390508

 

[EverettMike]

Big weekend for athletes realizing they literally have all the power if people care about watching you play.

 

[HockeyMomx2]

Saw this on the main board too, and it had me lurking in the OHL forum for the very first time.

Totally silly question, probably, but do we have prospects playing there? I looked through the roster on their site, and didn't see any names that rang a bell except for someone named DiCarlo, but that was because of Brandon Carlo. Wikipedia didn't show any prospects that we drafted, either.

Did a little investigating, and the site says that Rolf Nilsen is the governor. Don't know if that means he's the "owner" that the article talks about. But according to the Firebirds' site as well, someone named HÃ¥kon Nilsen plays there.

Pretty amazing story, and sounds like a stand-up kid to me, if he's essentially saying, "Dad, shut up, you don't need to fire coaches to get me more ice time; I'm happy as-is."

There are 5 draft picks that were playing there but none of them are ours. The CHL really needs to put something in place preventing fathers from owning the team their son plays for and/or drafting their own son. These are kids livlihoods, literally, that are being played with.

 

[BostonBob]

Totally silly question, probably, but do we have prospects playing there?

There are 5 draft picks that were playing there but none of them are ours.

from tsn.ca:

Five NHL draft picks dotted Flint’s roster, including winger Connor Chatham (New Jersey Devils), defencemen Josh Wesley (Hurricanes), Vili Saarijarvi (Detroit Red Wings) and Alex Peters (Dallas Stars), and goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic (Hurricanes). Wesley, 19, is the son of former Hurricanes defenceman Glen Wesley. Saarijarvi, a Finnish blueliner, is a point-per-game player this season and third-round pick (73rd overall). Forward Will Bitten is a 2016 draft eligible forward in the top 20 in OHL scoring.

 

[BostonBob]

Big weekend for athletes realizing they literally have all the power if people care about watching you play.

Anybody that watches the NBA on a regular basis has known this for years.

 

[BigGoalBrad]

There are 5 draft picks that were playing there but none of them are ours. The CHL really needs to put something in place preventing fathers from owning the team their son plays for and/or drafting their own son. These are kids livlihoods, literally, that are being played with.

The guy probably only owns the team because he has a son that age and he wants to make sure he gets playing time in a good league. Owning an OHL team isn't really a profitable endeavor especially this particular vagrant team.

Basically the dude is probably paying for all this just so his kid can play and he isn't playing enough so the owner isn't getting his money worth.

 

[HockeyMomx2]

The guy probably only owns the team because he has a son that age and he wants to make sure he gets playing time in a good league. Owning an OHL team isn't really a profitable endeavor especially this particular vagrant team.

Basically the dude is probably paying for all this just so his kid can play and he isn't playing enough so the owner isn't getting his money worth.

Yah, I think that much is clear at this point. Fortunately the kid seems to have a better head on his shoulders & a better seat in reality than Dad does.

These kids have already been through so much, them having to go through this on top of it is just a shame. It's not like these are 20 something's with NHL contracts. These are babies. Literally. Some as young as 15. Left home, left everything and everyone they knew for their shot and they ended up going somewhere where the owner is a freaking whack job who only cares about his own kid. I bet every single one of these kids parents thought they left that crap behind once their kid moved out of town level hockey.

 

[Kosikarzzz]

There are 5 draft picks that were playing there but none of them are ours. The CHL really needs to put something in place preventing fathers from owning the team their son plays for and/or drafting their own son. These are kids livlihoods, literally, that are being played with.

Believe Dale Hunters kid played for London back in the day. Drafted by Buffalo iirc.

Warren Rychel owns Windsor Spitfires with Bob Boughner and Kerby Rychel played for Windsor.

 

[Terrier]

Pretty sure I'm confusing him with someone else, but is the coach --- John Gruden, a former Bruin?

Wow, I heard about the story and didn't realize the coach was the former Bruin. Pretty fast skater, if I remember correctly.

 

[Morris Wanchuk]

Coaches got 3 year contracts out of this? Not bad

I am sure they wouldn't mind getting fired again soon.

 

[DominicT]

Dave Branch met with the owners and then a group of 5 players who represented the players.

The owner signed a letter of agreement saying he would not meddle in the operations of the team and was given a warning that next time he will be punished.

 

[HockeyMomx2]

Dave Branch met with the owners and then a group of 5 players who represented the players.

The owner signed a letter of agreement saying he would not meddle in the operations of the team and was given a warning that next time he will be punished.

Excellent news. Very happy for those kids.