When Ty Dellandrea committed to the OHL’s Flint Firebirds, he did so knowing that he was stepping into a difficult situation.
When he was going through the OHL Draft process two years ago, Flint — which held the No. 5 pick — was undergoing some organizational strife. Its owner, Rolf Nielsen had been suspended for five years just days before the league’s 2016 draft, and it was only natural there might be some hesitation for a potential draftee. Dellandrea admitted as much.
But once his family’s questions were answered, that changed. He wasn’t necessarily searching for a rebuilding team, but he decided that it if Flint wanted him, he wanted to be loyal — regardless of their current situation.