Metro Flint News/Talk Radio

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LAS VEGAS (CCN) — Three Flint Firebirds were selected on Saturday afternoon (June 28, 2024) at the 2024 NHL Draft. Hearing their names called were Nathan Aspinall, Connor Clattenburg and Kaden Pitre

Aspinall became the first Firebird selected during the 5th round when the New York Rangers took him with the 159th overall pick. The 6-foor-7 winger tallied 18 goals and 16 assists in 65 games during the 2023-24 season — his second as a Firebird. Aspinall was originally selected by Flint in the 2nd round of the 2022 OHL Priority Selection and recorded one goal and three assists in his rookie season.

One pick later, the Edmonton Oilers took Clattenburg. He had 13 goals and 16 assists in 60 games during the 2023-24 season, combined between the Firebirds and the Soo Greyhounds. He was acquired in January at the OHL trade deadline. In 30 games as a Firebird, the left wing/center scored 9 goals and had 8 assists.

Clattenburg was in his second season of draft eligibility; he went undrafted during the 2023 NHL Draft.

Pitre became the final Firebird selected when he was taken in the 6th round by the Tampa Bay Lightning with the 181st overall pick. Pitre’s 2023-24 season was hampered by injuries, but he recorded 10 goals and 20 assists in 35 games, improving upon the 7 goals and 11 points he put up in the 2022-23 season. The center was Flint’s 1st round pick in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection.

The trio of draft picks continued a streak for the Firebirds who have had at least one player taken in every NHL Draft since 2015 after moving to Flint from Plymouth.

It was the most drafted from a Flint team since last year when four were selected from the Firebirds.

 The Firebirds have now had 18 players drafted since 2015 and now have 33 players in franchise history who have been drafted or signed by an NHL team. 

 (CCN) — The Flint Firebirds made two selections on Wednesday afternoon (July 3, 2024) during the 2024 CHL Import Draft. Flint used its 1st round pick (No. 18 overall) on Finnish defenseman Mitja Jokinen and then selected Latvian winger Karlis Flugins with its 2nd round pick

“We are excited to add both Mitja and Karlis to our organization,” Firebirds General Manager Dave McParlan said. “Our staff feels we have found two good hockey players who will fit in with what we are building in Flint and we are excited to see what they can do in the North American game.”

Jokinen played during the 2023-24 season with TPS Turku U20 in the SM-Sarja U20 league in Finland. He recorded 6 goals and 15 assists and was plus 14 across 41 games.

 The 2006-born defenseman also played for Team Finland at the 2024 U18 World Championships where he had a goal and 4 assists in 5 games.

“Jokinen is highly skilled. When we saw him at U18 Worlds, the Finnish team seemed to have a defensive corps that was above everybody else in skill in that tournament,” Firebirds Head Scout Mike Oliverio said. “He has great edges, is shifty and smart with the puck. He’s a good, 200-foot defender with a high IQ and is able to move the puck with both his skating ability or with a quick pass out of the zone.”

Flugins spent the 2023-24 season playing in Sweden for UK Oskarshamn J18 and IK Oskarshamn J20. For the J18 team, he scored 14 goals and had 12 assists in 14 games and in 12 games for the J20 team he notched two goals and two assists. A 2007-born forward, he also appeared for Team Latvia at the 2024 U18 World Championships.

“Flugins plays a North American style game,” Oliverio said. “He has an aggressive style in how he moves pucks, is strong on the puck, good in all zones and was able to create offensively with his Latvian team. He fits the Flint Firebirds mold. And since he is an ’07, he will have the chance to grow and develop with our core group."

The CHL Import Draft is an annual event during which every club in the Canadian Hockey League (the OHL, WHL and QMJHL), can draft players from outside of North America. The two-round draft took place online on Wednesday with the order of selection rotation between the clubs of each of the CHL’s three member leagues.

 Through the CHL Import Draft, each CHL team is permitted to dress and play a maximum of two import players each season.

  (CCN) —Xavier Tessier has signed a contract to play next season with the Flint Firebirds in the Ontario Hockey League. He was a 2nd round pick in this year's 2024 OHL Priority Draft.

The announcement was made on Tuesday (June 11 2024) that Tessier has committed to play in Flint and said: “I’m incredibly excited and honored to join the Flint Firebirds. This team has such a bright future, and I can’t wait to contribute to our success on and off the ice.”

Tessier was selected by the Firebirds with the 33rd overall pick in April's draft. He becomes the fourth player from the draft to sign a contract. The others  were 1st round pick Cole Zurawski, fellow 2nd round pick Ryland Cunningham and 3rd round pick Gage Brandon. 

 Tessier played the last three seasons for the Ottawa Myers Automotive AAA program and most recently for the U16 AAA team in the 2023-24 season. He appeared in 30 games last winter with 15 goals and 21 assists He also played two games for the U18 team and had one assist.

Flint’s passionate fan base and strong community support will make it such a special place to play,” Tessier said. “I’m ready to give it my all for this city, my coaches and my teammates. Let’s go Firebirds!”

Firebirds' Head Scout Mike Oliverio said in a scouting report about Tessier: "Xavier uses his size to his advantage and is difficult to handle when he combines his speed and strength. He has the ability to make something positive happen every time he is on the ice due to his compete level. Xavier is a smart, 200-foot player who seems to rise as the games became more important."

 PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is  Xavier Tessier who will play next season in Flint with the Firebirds. 

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