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Coachella Valley Firebirds

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Coachella Valley Firebirds
CityPalm Desert, California
LeagueAmerican Hockey League
ConferenceWestern
DivisionPacific
Founded2022
Home arenaAcrisure Arena
ColorsDeep sea blue, red alert, orange, ice blue[1]
       
MascotFuego
Owner(s)Seattle Hockey Partners
General managerVacant
Head coachDerek Laxdal
CaptainMax McCormick
MediaThe Desert Sun
KDGL
AffiliatesSeattle Kraken (NHL)
Kansas City Mavericks (ECHL)
Websitecvfirebirds.com
Championships
Division titles1 (2023–24)
Conference titles2 (2023, 2024)
Current season

The Coachella Valley Firebirds are a professional ice hockey team based in Southern California's Coachella Valley. They are members of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference of the American Hockey League (AHL). The Firebirds began play in the 2022–23 season.[2] The team is an owned-and-operated affiliate of the National Hockey League (NHL)'s Seattle Kraken. The team plays their home games at Acrisure Arena in the town of Palm Desert, California.

After the approval of the Kraken to join the NHL, the Kraken's ownership group had narrowed down AHL affiliate options to promoting the ECHL's Idaho Steelheads in Boise, Idaho, or a new expansion team in Palm Springs, California. On June 26, 2019, it was reported the Seattle ownership group had chosen Palm Springs as the site for Seattle's AHL affiliate.[3]

The Firebirds' inaugural season was very successful. They placed second in their division, as well as second in the league, behind only the Calgary Wranglers with 103 points.[4] During that season's Calder Cup playoffs, the Firebirds reached the Finals, before losing in overtime of game seven to the Hershey Bears.[5] They pulled a similar feat in their second season, achieving 103 points in the regular season[6] and reaching the Finals before losing to the Bears again, this time in overtime of game six.[7]

History

Establishment (2018–2022)

On December 4, 2018, the NHL Board of Governors voted unanimously to approve Seattle's NHL expansion team, the Seattle Kraken, to begin play in the 2021–22 season.[8] The new ownership group then began making plans for acquiring a minor league affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL). By early 2019, they had narrowed it down to promoting the ECHL's Idaho Steelheads in Boise, Idaho, or a new expansion team in Palm Springs, California. On June 26, 2019, it was reported the Seattle ownership group had chosen Palm Springs as the site for Seattle's AHL affiliate.[3] The expansion franchise was approved by the AHL board of governors on September 30, 2019, with plans to begin play in the 2021–22 season.[9] Delays associated with the construction of an arena in the Palm Springs area caused the team's debut to be pushed back to the 2022–23 season. In the interim Seattle affiliated with the Charlotte Checkers for the 2021–22 season, sharing the team with the Florida Panthers.[10]

On November 5, 2021, the new team revealed its name, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, as well as its logos and colors, at a ceremony held on the construction site of their new arena.[11]

First seasons (2022–present)

On June 21, 2022, Dan Bylsma was named the inaugural head coach of the Firebirds,[12] with their first free agents Samuel Bucek and Ian McKinnon being signed the next month on July 11, 2022.[13] On the day of the Firebirds' first game, October 16, 2022, Max McCormick was announced as the team's captain with Andrew Poturalski and Gustav Olofsson being named alternate captains.[14]

The Firebirds played their first game on October 16, a 6–5 win against the Calgary Wranglers, as well as winning the rematch the next day.[15] During the first stretch of the season, the Firebirds would play their home games in the Seattle metropolitan area, playing four games against the Abbotsford Canucks and the Wranglers at the Kraken Community Iceplex and Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, as well as the Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett.[16] The Firebirds' first game at Acrisure Arena would take place on December 18, a 4–3 win against the Tucson Roadrunners.[17] From December 22, 2022, to January 26, 2023, the Firebirds achieved a fourteen game points streak, the current franchise record.[18] The Firebirds finished the 2022–23 season with 103 points, good for second place of the Pacific Division, behind only the Wranglers, who captured the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy. During the 2023 Calder Cup playoffs, the Firebirds would capture the Western Conference title and advance to the Calder Cup Finals, where they faced off against the Hershey Bears.[19] Goaltender Joey Daccord recorded back to back shutouts in the first two games of the series,[20] but despite this, the Firebirds would fall short of the championship, losing in overtime of game seven.[21]

On March 23, 2024, the Firebirds clinched a playoff berth for the second consecutive season following a 4–3 shootout loss against the San Diego Gulls.[22] The Firebirds won their first Pacific Division title during the 2023–24 season, clinching the division and earning a bye in the first round of the Calder Cup playoffs following a 3–1 win on April 10, 2024, over the Ontario Reign.[23] During the 2024 Calder Cup playoffs, the Firebirds would capture the Western Conference title and advance to the Calder Cup Finals, where they once-again faced off against the Hershey Bears. For the second straight season, the Firebirds would fall short of the championship, losing in overtime of game six.

Arena

Main article: Acrisure Arena

The Firebirds play their home games at Acrisure Arena located in Palm Desert[24]. The Firebirds played four "home" games in the Seattle region in late October 2022 while awaiting the mid-December completion of the new arena: one game at Climate Pledge Arena, the home ice of the parent Seattle Kraken; one game at Angel of the Winds Arena, home of the Everett Silvertips; and two games at the Kraken Community Iceplex, official practice facility of the Kraken.[25] The Firebirds finally stepped on their home ice on December 18, 2022, in which they defeated the Tucson Roadrunners 4–3 in regulation. Cameron Hughes scored the first ever goal at Acrisure Arena, at the 8:49 mark in the 1st period.[26]

On January 6, 2024 the AHL announced that the Firebirds and Acrisure Arena would host the 2025 AHL All-Star Game.[27]


Uniforms

The Firebirds announced their inaugural season uniforms on January 24, 2022, at the Palm Springs Air Museum. They were delivered by the Seattle Kraken, the jerseys themselves in treasure chests. The Firebirds have two main uniforms, one a dark-blue color, and the other white. Both uniforms feature the Firebirds logo in the center, as well as red, orange, and light-blue stripes around the sleeves, with red and light-blue stripes in the bottom.[28]

The Firebirds announced new "Red Alert" uniforms on November 8, 2023, featuring the team's secondary logo.[29]

Mascot

The Firebirds' mascot is an orange, feathered bird named Fuego (the Spanish word for fire).[30] Fuego was announced on August 4, 2022, before the start of the season. Fuego wears a Firebirds jersey, featuring the number 22 on the back. His first game appearance was on October 16.[31]

Broadcasting

Radio

All Firebirds games are broadcast on KDGL (106.9 FM). The network broadcast all 72 games of the Firebirds' inaugural season.[32]

Television

Firebirds games are split amongst KESQ-TV, FOX 11, and CW.[33]

Season-by-season record

Main article: List of Coachella Valley Firebirds seasons
Regular season Playoffs
Season Games Won Lost OTL SOL Points PCT Goals
for 		Goals
against 		Standing Year Prelims 1st
round 		2nd
round 		3rd
round 		Finals
2022–23 72 48 17 5 2 103 .715 257 194 2nd, Pacific 2023 W, 2–1, TUC W, 3–2, COL W, 3–2, CGY W, 4–2, MIL L, 3–4, HER
2023–24 72 46 15 6 5 103 .715 252 182 1st, Pacific 2024 BYE W, 3–1, CGY W, 3–0, ONT W, 4–1, MIL L, 2–4, HER

Players and personnel

Current roster

Main article: List of Coachella Valley Firebirds players

Updated October 29, 2024.[34][35]

Team roster
No. Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace Contract
11 Canada Brandon Biro LW L 26 2024 Sherwood Park, Alberta Kraken
16 Canada Nikolas Brouillard D L 29 2024 Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec Kraken
57 Canada Jagger Firkus RW R 20 2023 Irma, Alberta Kraken
88 Canada David Goyette F R 20 2024 Saint-Jérôme, Quebec Kraken
10 Canada Luke Henman C L 24 2022 Dartmouth, Nova Scotia Kraken
20 United States Ryan Jones D L 28 2023 Crown Point, Indiana Firebirds
35 Finland Niklas Kokko G R 20 2023 Oulu, Finland Kraken
58 Canada Max Lajoie D L 26 2024 Quebec, Quebec Kraken
17 United States Max McCormick (C) LW L 32 2022 De Pere, Wisconsin Kraken
21 Canada Ian McKinnon C L 26 2022 Whitby, Ontario Firebirds
63 Canada Jacob Melanson RW R 21 2023 Amherst, Nova Scotia Kraken
39 United States Ben Meyers C L 25 2024 Delano, Minnesota Kraken
96 Canada Logan Morrison C R 22 2023 Guelph, Ontario Kraken
24 Canada Ty Nelson D R 20 2024 Toronto, Ontario Kraken
33 Finland Jani Nyman RW L 20 2024 Valkeakoski, Finland Kraken
23 Sweden Gustav Olofsson (A) D L 29 2022 Borås, Sweden Kraken
36 Finland Ville Ottavainen D R 22 2023 Oulu, Finland Kraken
18 Canada Turner Ottenbreit D L 27 2024 Yorkton, Saskatchewan Firebirds
62 Canada Tucker Robertson C R 21 2023 Toronto, Ontario Kraken
29 United States Lleyton Roed LW L 22 2024 White Bear Lake, Minnesota Kraken
12 Czech Republic Eduard Sale F L 19 2024 Brno, Czechia Kraken
67 Canada Mitchell Stephens C R 27 2024 Peterborough, Ontario Kraken
30 Czech Republic Ales Stezka G L 27 2023 Plzeň, Czech Republic Kraken
27 Canada Ryan Winterton F R 21 2023 Markham, Ontario Kraken

Owners

The team is owned by Oak View Group, the organization that also owns Climate Pledge Arena.[36] Tim Leiweke serves as their Chief executive officer (CEO).[37] Steve Fraser served as president of the Firebirds, although he resigned on February 25, 2023.[38]

Head coaches

Team captains

Inaugural Firebirds captain Max McCormick.

Team and league honors

League awards

See also

References

  1. ^ "Firebirds to take flight in Coachella Valley". American Hockey League. November 5, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  2. ^ "Coachella Valley Firebirds hockey team statistics and history at HockeyDB.com". HockeyDB. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Baker, Geoff (June 26, 2019). "NHL Seattle chooses Palm Springs as site for new AHL farm team". The Seattle Times. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  4. ^ "2022–23 American Hockey League Standings". HockeyDB. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  5. ^ Rotolo, Gina (June 25, 2023). "Bears best 'Birds' in Calder Cup Game 7". Coachella Valley Firebirds. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  6. ^ "2023–24 American Hockey League Standings". HockeyDB. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  7. ^ Powers, Shad. "Another heartbreaker: Firebirds' season ends with 'painful' Game 6 OT loss at Hershey". The Desert Sun. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  8. ^ Rosen, Dan (December 4, 2018). "Seattle NHL expansion approved by Board of Governor". NHL.com. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  9. ^ "AHL expanding to Palm Springs in 2021–22". American Hockey League. September 30, 2019.
  10. ^ "Checkers Add Seattle Kraken as NHL Affiliate". Charlotte Checkers. June 28, 2021.
  11. ^ "New Coachella Valley hockey team will be called Firebirds, with red, orange and black colors". Palm Springs Desert Sun. November 5, 2021.
  12. ^ a b "Coachella Valley Firebirds Hire Dan Bylsma as Head Coach". NBC Palm Springs. June 21, 2022. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  13. ^ Rotolo, Gina (July 11, 2022). "Coachella Valley Firebirds Sign First Two Players". Coachella Valley Firebirds. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  14. ^ a b Arredondo, Bailey (October 16, 2022). "Firebirds win first ever game over Calgary, assign team captains and roster spots". KESQ. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  15. ^ Rotolo, Gina (October 18, 2022). "Firebirds Earn Second Consecutive Win Over Wranglers". Coachella Valley Firebirds. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  16. ^ Rotolo, Gina (August 15, 2022). "Firebirds Announce Details for Seattle-Arena Game This October". Coachella Valley Firebirds. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
  17. ^ Reyes, Jesus; Arthur, Blake (December 19, 2022). "Historic home opener: Coachella Valley Firebirds win first game at sold out Acrisure Arena". KESQ. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  18. ^ Rotolo, Gina (January 27, 2023). "Kartye's Overtime Winner Extends Firebirds' Win Streak to Six". Coachella Valley Firebirds. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  19. ^ Rotolo, Gina (June 6, 2023). "Firebirds Win Western Conference Championship, Advance to Calder Cup Finals". Coachella Valley Firebirds. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  20. ^ Rotolo, Gina (June 11, 2023). "Daccord's Second Straight Shutout has Firebirds Up 2-0 in Finals". Coachella Valley Firebirds. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  21. ^ Reyes, Jesus; Arthur, Blake (June 21, 2023). "Firebirds come up short of Calder Cup championship, fall to Hershey Bears in overtime of Game 7". KESQ. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
  22. ^ Rotolo, Gina (March 23, 2024). "Firebirds Clinch Spot in 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs". Coachella Valley Firebirds. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  23. ^ Powers, Shad (April 10, 2024). "Clinched! Coachella Valley Firebirds claim Pacific Division title with win over Ontario". The Desert Sun. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  24. ^ Coulter, Tom. "Thousand Palms? Palm Desert? Cathedral City? Acrisure Arena is now open — but where is it?". The Desert Sun. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  25. ^ Powers, Shad (May 3, 2022). "Kraken GM says Firebirds will play early AHL games at Seattle's Climate Pledge Arena is completed". Palm Springs Desert Sun. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  26. ^ "TheAHL.com | The American Hockey League". theahl.com. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
  27. ^ "Coachella Valley to host 2025 AHL All-Star Classic". theahl.com. January 6, 2024. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  28. ^ "First Look: The Coachella Valley Firebirds Unveil Team Jerseys". NBC Palm Springs. January 24, 2022. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  29. ^ "Introducing Our Red Alert Jersey". November 8, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  30. ^ Team, KESQ News; Price, Miyoshi (August 4, 2022). "Meet Fuego! Coachella Valley Firebirds unveil mascot". KESQ. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  31. ^ Powers, Shad. "Meet Fuego! Coachella Valley Firebirds unveil official mascot". The Desert Sun. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  32. ^ Rotolo, Gina (October 13, 2022). "Firebirds Announce Broadcast Partners". Coachella Valley Firebirds. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  33. ^ Powers, Shad. "The Eagle 106.9 FM and KESQ TV named broadcast partners of Coachella Valley Firebirds". The Desert Sun. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  34. ^ "Coachella Valley Firebirds current roster". Elite Prospects. October 29, 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  35. ^ "Coachella Valley Firebirds current roster". Coachella Valley Firebirds. October 29, 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  36. ^ Rotolo, Gina (December 9, 2021). "Oak View Group Grows Team at Coachella Valley Arena". Coachella Valley Firebirds. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  37. ^ "Oak View Group Partnership - Coachella Valley Firebirds". Stand Together. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  38. ^ "Steve Fraser No Longer Associated with Coachella Valley Firebirds, Oak View Group". NBC Palm Springs. February 28, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  39. ^ Condor, Bob (May 28, 2024). "Bylsma Named Next Kraken Coach". NHL.com. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  40. ^ "First-year Firebirds win Western Conference crown". theahl.com. June 6, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  41. ^ "Firebirds repeat as Western Conference champions". TheAHL.com. June 8, 2024. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  42. ^ "Firebirds win Pacific Divison, earn first round bye in Calder Cup playoffs". cvfirebirds.com. April 10, 2024. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
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