OHL 20 in 20 Futures Watch: Flint Firebirds

For the second straight year the Flint Firebirds made the second overall pick in the OHL Priority Selection, going with another forward in high-scoring Don Mills Flyers winger Brennan Othmann.

The overtime hero of the 2019 OHL Cup Powered by Under Armour, Othmann racked up 66 goals and 146 points playing on a line alongside underage phenom Shane Wright (Kingston Frontenacs) for the top team in the province.

Othmann committed to the Firebirds on June 17th and will join other promising young forwards such as 2018 second overall pick Evan Vierling in the Flint lineup this fall.

The Firebirds selected highly athletic Mississauga Senators forward Braeden Kressler with the second round (28th overall) selection before taking a trio of third round picks in defenceman Tyler Dunbar (44th overall) of the Soo Thunderbirds Midgets, speedy undersize forward Zacharie Giroux (57th overall) of the Sudbury Minor Midget Wolves and blueliner Matthew Roy (58th overall) of the York-Simcoe Express.

Kressler, who committed to the Firebirds on June 20th, recorded 30 points (12-18–30) with the Sens this past season before helping the club gain entry to the OHL Cup as a Wild Card, scoring an overtime winner against the Niagara North Stars. Kressler joined Othmann in winning an OHL Gold Cup title in May as members of Team GTHL Blue.

Giroux’s addition to the depth chart brings a new dimension to the Firebirds’ intense rivalry with the Saginaw Spirit. Older brother Damien Giroux is a Minnesota Wild prospect and current captain of the Spirit.

Over 20 days in July ontariohockeyleague.com will take a look at the future of all 20 OHL clubs.  See more from the OHL 20 in 20 series.