Flint Firebirds -UPD: Owner suspended 5 years, fined $250k. Team forfeits 3rd OA pick

[GreenLantern2814]

Is there a more depressing thought than playing Jr hockey in Flint?

What an awful place.

Edit: seriously. The first result on Google news involving 'Flint Michigan' is a story involving an EPA investigation into Flint's drinking water for high lead levels. FROM YESTERDAY.

http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/inde...t_michiga.html

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Is there a more depressing thought than playing Jr hockey in Flint?

What an awful place.

Edit: seriously. The first result on Google news involving 'Flint Michigan' is a story involving an EPA investigation into Flint's drinking water for high lead levels. FROM YESTERDAY.

http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/inde...t_michiga.html

Playing AHL Hockey in Stockton?

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Is there a more depressing thought than playing Jr hockey in Flint?

Playing "pro" hockey in Edmonton?

[sureLoss]

News Update

Coaches were fired again

Frank Seravalli @frank_seravalli
The #OHL's Flint Firebirds have fired coaches John Gruden and Dave Karpa for the second time this season.

Players don't seem as hung up on it this time around. Held a captain's practice today.

[Split98]

Man, that team is terrible.

Saw them Monday, and the Knights didn't celebrate their goals, even the first. They'd high-five, and go right to center ice.

You know you're a terrible team when the opposition is treating it as a blow-out in the making at 1-0.

EDIT: I really dig this new [NEWS] tag btw. Will really help in the mega threads.

[V]

Must be something in the water.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

News Update

Coaches were fired again

Frank Seravalli @frank_seravalli
The #OHL's Flint Firebirds have fired coaches John Gruden and Dave Karpa for the second time this season.

Players don't seem as hung up on it this time around. Held a captain's practice today.

"for the second time this season"

"second time this season"

"this season"

[sharkov]

I guess the coaches were wrong to come back

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by sharkov

I guess the coaches were wrong to come back

Ah.. pretty sure they got new contracts when they came back. Probably going to make some decent coin.


This ownership group seems terrible. Why fire the coach now? There's 15 games left in their season and they aren't making the playoffs. Just seems like a pointless move.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

Ah.. pretty sure they got new contracts when they came back. Probably going to make some decent coin.


This ownership group seems terrible. Why fire the coach now? There's 15 games left in their season and they aren't making the playoffs. Just seems like a pointless move.

Because they wanted to before and didnt get to and now they can.

Are the FLint Firebirds in any way affiliated with the Oilers?

[saXon]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

"for the second time this season"

"second time this season"

"this season"

Is there an echo in here?

[sureLoss]

OHL looking into the 2nd firing. Looks like the way the coaches were fired and the how the players were notified is of "great concern"

[Resolute 14]

Given how the first incident went, I would investigate this one as a matter of general principle if I was the OHL.

[MarkGio]

Why would anyone want to play or coach for Flint ever again?

[Split98]

I'd be surprised if Flint plays 3 seasons. This owner is absolutely insane. If they're looking into how it was communicated, I can only imagine what was said.

[PeteMoss]

I don't know if this is an issue out west, but in Ontario junior leagues below the OHL there is a common issue where rich kid's dads will buy a team and have their kid play on it. Since their kid isn't good enough for the OHL or the BCHL/AJHL leagues that tend to get players to the NCAA. These are leagues that play in the RBC cup against the BCHL and AJHL.

This guy just seems to have taken it up a notch and bought an OHL for his kid to play on. Will be curious to see if he sticks with the team when his kid graduates.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Split98

I'd be surprised if Flint plays 3 seasons. This owner is absolutely insane. If they're looking into how it was communicated, I can only imagine what was said.

Must be something in the water.

[sureLoss]

Sounds like the players might walk out again

Ken Campbell ‏@THNKenCampbell
Flint Firebirds met for third time yesterday late at night. Feeling is they simply cannot play for interim coach Sergei Kharin.

Ken Campbell @THNKenCampbell
Flint Firebirds have an optional game-day skate scheduled for 11 this morning. Will be interesting to see whether anyone shows up for it.

http://www.thehockeynews.com/blog/fa...kJxFP0.twitter

The father of the Flint Firebirds top scorer this season said his son will not return next season if the Ontario League does not do something about Firebirds owner Rolf Nilsen. Michael Bitten, the father of Firebirds leading scorer Will Bitten, said his son would have probably left the team immediately, but has been advised by his agent to remain with the team for the rest of this season.

But Michael Bitten said there is “no way” his son will return to the Firebirds next season if Nilsen still owns the team. “If there are not changes there, my son will not go back, and I don’t think many others would as well,” Michael Bitten said. “It’s probably out of (OHL commissioner) David Branch’s control to a certain extent, but he must have the power to rectify it and I don’t know what that is. But surely they have to take this team away from that man. How can you go on long-term?”

Michael Bitten’s comments came on the heels of the news that Firebirds coach John Gruden and assistant coach Dave Karpa had been fired for the second time this season. The two men were originally fired in November by Nilsen amid reports that he was upset his son, Hakon, a defenseman on the team, was not getting enough ice time. The league stepped in and both Gruden and Karpa were given three-year contract extensions. Bitten said his son told him that Firebirds director of operations Sergei Kharin came to the dressing room to tell the team that Gruden and Karpa had been fired again. He said Kharin told the players ownership still felt the Firebirds could make the playoffs, but didn’t think that could be accomplished under Gruden and Karpa.

“And I guess after that, things got ugly,” Michael Bitten said.

The players held a captain’s practice Wednesday and said they did not want Kharin on the ice with them. The Firebirds are scheduled to play the Erie Otters at home tonight and Michael Bitten said it’s his understanding the players will show up for the game. “They know a lockout is probably not appropriate anymore and a lot of them are nervous about the perception that way,” Michael Bitten said. “And I told David Branch this: the players are putting everything into him to do the right thing.”

[TheScorpion]

Hah. What a crazy owner.

[saillias]

OHLInsiders(.com) ‏@OHLinsiders24m24 minutes ago
#BREAKING: #Firebirds Skate scheduled for 11:00am. Only player seen walking into the facility was Hakon Nilsen. Full hockey staff also there

OHLInsiders(.com) ‏@OHLinsiders17m17 minutes ago
"Unless significant change," #Firebirds players will NOT be playing tonight. #OHL

(Hakon Nilsen is the owner's kid.)