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Source: Flint Firebirds’ coaches have been rehired

MiHockey Staff

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By @MichaelCaples –

A source close to the situation has informed MiHockey that the Firebirds’ coaching staff has been rehired after last night’s breaking news.

The team had a 1:30 p.m. meeting to address Sunday’s events, which included multiple reports of Flint’s coaching staff being fired and then the entire roster protesting and leaving the arena.

The two coaches who were rumored to have been let go were head coach John Gruden and assistant coach Dave Karpa.

TSN’s Frank Seravalli has confirmed the news, as well. He is also reporting that the coaches have received new three-year contracts.

 

Ryan Slocum, a sportscaster for ABC 12 in Flint, is confirming that the staff has been reinstated, but not the new three-year contracts.  

 

From our article last night:

According to multiple reports, the Flint Firebirds fired their coaching staff after their Sunday night home game.

Per both ESPN’s John Buccigross and Yahoo Sports’ Sunaya Sapurji, the Firebirds’ team has walked out on the club after ownership fired the entire coaching staff.

This all comes after the Firebirds won their Sunday night game over Oshawa 4-3 in a shootout. The club, purchased by IMS Hockey Corp. (owned by Rolf Nilsen) last season from longtime Plymouth Whalers owner Peter Karmanos, Jr., is in their first year of operation in Flint.

Nilsen also has a son, 17-year-old defenseman Hakon Nilsen, on the Firebirds’ roster.

The Firebirds’ hockey operations roster, prior to these reports:

General Manager – Terry Christensen
Assistant General Manager – Joe Stefan
Head Coach – John GrudenAssistant Coach – Dave Karpa
Assistant Coach – Petr Jonak

The Firebirds’ next game is Friday, Nov. 13, at home against Sarnia. Flint is currently 7-9-0-1 on the season.

UPDATE (Monday, Nov. 9 at 12:50 p.m.): The Firebirds have asked for a previous comment to be retracted from this story, as they have no comment at this time.

It also appears as though the Firebirds have deactivated their official Facebook account.

The original tweets that broke the story: