Spits, Firebirds, Bulldogs
Driving in the fast lane with nine successive victories, the Flint Firebirds have moved to within two points of the pace setting Windsor Spitfires in the Western Conference of the Ontario Hockey League. Meanwhile, the Brantford Bulldogs of the Eastern Conference — with the best record among the 20 teams of the OHL — have added yet another impact player.
FIREBIRDS IN PURSUIT: Who are these guys? With their nine wins in a row, the Firebirds now have a record of 17-6-1. Flint’s 35 points are just two fewer than Windsor, which has 37 from a record of 17-5-3. The Firebirds also hold a game in hand on the Spitfires. In addition to other key personnel, both teams have been the benefactors of superb goaltending from their overage starters. Joey Costanzo of Windsor has a record of 12-3-1 to go with a 1.91 goals against average and .915 save percentage. Meanwhile, Mason Vaccari of Flint is 13-3-1 with a 2.72 goals against average and .915 save percentage. Vaccari has proven to be a valuable off season acquisition by Flint via the Kingston Frontenacs.
JETT LANDS IN BRANTFORD: The rich have become richer. Brantford Bulldogs have acquired 2006 birth year forward — and former first round National Hockey League draft pick of the Philadelphia Flyers — Jett Luchanko from the Guelph Storm in exchange for 2008 birth year forward Layne Gallacher and four future draft picks, including two seconds, a third and a fifth. Notably, only one of the draft picks — the third — originally belonged to the Bulldogs. The trade to get the world class Luchanko is the third major transaction that rookie Brantford general manager Spencer Hyman has made since the off season to acquire star player capital. Hyman previously pried overage forward Sam McCue from the Flint Firebirds and prize defensemen Ben Danford and Zackary Sandhu from the Oshawa Generals. Meanwhile, Brantford takes a league best record of 18-0-5 into play this week and is the presumptive favourite to at least make it to the OHL championship series next spring.
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