The Flint Firebirds are going back in time, using logos, banners and legends instead of a DeLorean.
The Firebirds will honor the Flint Generals, with players wearing Generals’ jerseys, at 7 p.m. Saturday when they take on the Sarnia Sting at Perani Arena.
“I watch my son (Saginaw Spirit defenseman Dalton Duhart) play against the Firebirds, and I see all kinds of Generals jerseys,” former General standout Jim Duhart said. “Back when I played, it was the place to be. I don’t think the fans have forgotten, with all the Generals jerseys I see and all the fans shaking my hand.
“They say, ‘I remember watching you when I was a kid.’ It makes me feel good. It also makes feel old. I’m just happy the Firebirds are acknowledging us. It’s the history of Flint.”
The Firebirds are not setting the time machine all the way back to the 1970s, when the Generals played in the International Hockey League. The focus is on the United Hockey League years from 1997 through 2007.
Jim Duhart led the Flint Generals with 285 penalty minutes in 1995-96. (MLive File Photo by Tracy Hayes)
Saturday’s game will include a pregame meet-and-greet with former Generals players, including Duhart, Ross Wilson, Robert Perani and Lorne Knauft.
The Firebirds will also play with throwback jerseys sporting the Flint Generals logo on the front and the Firebirds logo on the sleeves. The Firebirds will hold an auction for the jerseys after the game.
“It’s a nice tribute and the first time we’ve done something like this,” Firebirds communications director Jack Sznewajs said. “It’s a nice tribute. We’ve been digging through the building. We’ve gotten a lot of old trophies and banners on display.
“It’s going to be a lot of fun. We should have 10 or 11 alumni coming back for this. One of the first things I noticed when I took this job was how much the community loved the team. I have a feeling the community is going to really take a hold of this for a chance to meet all their old favorites.”
The Generals played in the Colonial Hockey League from 1993 through 1997 before joining the IHL, winning a championship and going 51-14 in the 1999-00 season under head coach Doug Shedden.
“My favorite year was when our coach was Kirk Tomlinson (2001-02), and we had a great group of guys,” Duhart said. “We had a good year (42-26) and came close. It was just a fun year.
“It’s going to be fun, seeing the guys again … a couple of guys I haven’t seen in a long time. It’ll be fun, seeing the fans who were with us through it all. I’m sure the stories are going to be crazy.”
Updated schedule
The OHL announced an updated schedule with “makeup” dates for games scheduled earlier this season.
The league will play a full 68-game schedule, with the regular season ending Sunday, April 17. Playoffs for the top eight teams in each conference begin Thursday, April 21, with the OHL champion competing in the Memorial Cup June 20-29 in Saint John, New Brunswick.
The Firebirds head into Friday’s game at Sarnia as the No. 1 team in the Western Conference with a 29-14-1-3 record and 62 points, ahead of the London Knights, who are 28-2-2 with 58 points. Mississauga is the No. 1 team in the Eastern Conference and in the OHL with a 29-13-1-5 record and 64 points.
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February 24, 2022 at 07:29PM
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Flint Firebirds to go back in time, General-ly speaking - mlive.com
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