Flint Firebirds
| Flint Firebirds | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| City | Flint, Michigan |
| League | Ontario Hockey League |
| Conference | Western |
| Division | West |
| Founded | 1990 |
| Operated | 2015–present |
| Home arena | Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center |
| Colors | Navy Blue, White, Orange and Silver |
| Owner(s) | Rolf Nilsen (suspended) |
| General manager | George Burnett |
| Head coach | Ryan Oulahen |
| Website | www.flintfirebirds.com |
| Franchise history | |
| 1990–1992 | Detroit Compuware Ambassadors |
| 1992–1995 | Detroit Junior Red Wings |
| 1995–1997 | Detroit Whalers |
| 1997–2015 | Plymouth Whalers |
| 2015–present | Flint Firebirds |
The Flint Firebirds are a major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) that began play for the 2015–16 season. Based in Flint, Michigan, the Firebirds play their home games at the Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center.
The Firebirds trace their roots back to the 1990–91 season, when the Detroit Compuware Ambassadors were added as an expansion team in the OHL. Since then, the franchise has been the Detroit Junior Red Wings, the Detroit Whalers and the Plymouth Whalers.
On January 14, 2015, it was announced that longtime Whalers owner Peter Karmanos had sold the team to IMS USA, Inc., with the intention to move the franchise to Flint and the Perani Arena. The purchase and relocation was approved by the OHL on February 2, 2015.
Although there was sentiment towards resurrecting the Flint Generals nickname that had been used by two past teams in the city, the OHL quickly nixed that idea because of the Oshawa Generals using that name. Likewise, a popular suggestion was the Flint Tropics, after the fictional American Basketball Association team of that name in the 2008 movie Semi-Pro. However, after various others voiced their displeasure at their team possibly being named after a comedy movie's protagonist team, and the chance of the novelty wearing off after a while, the name did not make the list of finalist choices (however, the team will wear alternate jerseys based on the team on February 13.)
The nine finalist nicknames were Firebirds, Force, Fury, Nationals, Pride, Spark Plugs, Sparks, United, and Vikings.
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