OHL issues sanctions for Firebirds; owner and interim head coach suspended

By @MichaelCaples –

The Ontario Hockey League has announce sanctions for the Flint Firebirds. Check the image below for details of the announcement.

The team had announced yesterday that head coach John Gruden and assistant coach Dave Karpa had been fired, and that Sergei Kharin (listed above) would serve as interim head coach.

With the new sanctions, it is unclear of who will be serving as head coach of the Firebirds tonight when they host the Erie Otters in Flint.

It does appear that the players will show up for the game. When the Firebirds’ staff was fired in November, the team’s roster threatened to quit if the coaches were not reinstated. Gruden and Karpa were re-hired the next day and given extensions on their contracts.

Yesterday, the OHL issued this statement about the situation:

Toronto, ON – It has come to the league’s attention that the Flint Firebirds ownership has once again made significant changes to their coaching staff.  This change, the manner in which it occurred and the way it was communicated to the players and to the league is of great concern.

We have been in contact with the team captain and it is our intention to meet and communicate with all players and families in short order.  The players and their playing experience is of the utmost importance to the league and we will continue to work to ensure that they are treated with respect.

It is the league’s intention to immediately review the actions of the Flint Firebirds before we determine the next steps we will take to address this situation.

Stay tuned for more information…