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Firebirds acquire Michigan native Jalen Smereck

MiHockey Staff
Photo courtesy of Terry Wilson/OHL Images
Photo courtesy of Terry Wilson/OHL Images

 

By @MichaelCaples –

The Flint Firebirds announced this morning that they have added another Michigan native to the roster.

The OHL franchise has acquired Detroit native Jalen Smereck in a trade with the Oshawa Generals.

“Jalen is a Michigan native and excited to be a Flint Firebird,” said Firebirds general manager George Burnett in a release. “He had a great relationship with current Firebirds’ Associate Coach Eric Wellwood in Oshawa last year and will be expected to be a key member of our blue line group contributing in all situations. Last season, Jalen’s game made significant improvements which earned him the opportunity and responsibility of playing against the opposition’s best players regularly.”

Smereck, 19, spent his OHL rookie season with Oshawa in 2015-16, recording five goals and 20 assists for 25 points in 63 games. A product of Little Caesars and the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies, Smereck played for new Firebirds assistant coach Eric Wellwood last season in Oshawa.

“One of the biggest positives of me coming to Flint is the relationship that I built with Coach Wellwood last season,” said Smereck in the release. “He taught me a lot last year and it’s great to have the chance to work with him again and become a Flint Firebird. Just walking past the locker room as a visitor last season, it looked like a nice facility and a nice arena and it’s an incredible place to play in.”