“Flint has pulled through a difficult journey, and is now standing on the verge of great potential and promise … Flint is a community that has been built and sustained on the fierce resilience of its residents, and we see the Firebird as a symbol of that resilience.” — Costa Papista, president of the Flint Firebirds, on the OHL team’s nickname (March 16, 2015)
Outsiders knew it. Insiders knew it. The Ontario Hockey League knew it.
Under the control of owner Rolf Nilsen, the 2015-16 Flint Firebirds were a dysfunctional mess — a gong show — and the situation wasn’t going to fix itself.