- firebirdshockey.ca -
September 24/10 - Pontiac Firebirds Season Twenty-Two Recap
Season Record - 63-7-12-0 (1st POW Conference; 1st Patrick Division)
Playoffs Round 1 - defeated by Indianapolis Racers 1-4
Season Twenty-Two Leaders:
Goals – Michael Knight (30)
Assists – Risto Sinilaakso (52)
Points – Sinilaakso (81 – 10th MLD)
+/- - (tie) Sinilaakso / Rem Luuri (+83 – T8 MLD)
PP Goals - Sinilaakso (4 – T7 MLD)
SH Goals - none
PIM - Nick Rash (12)
Shots on Goal – Sinilaakso (161)
Shooting % - Knight (22.1%)
Games, Goalie - Darren Tallberg (73 – T4 MLD)
Shutouts - Tallberg (16 – 1st MLD))
Wins - Tallberg (54 – 3rd MLD)
GAA - Tallberg (1.78 – 1st MLD)
Sv% - Tallberg (87.78% - 4th MLD) - min. 20 games
MLD Trophies & Honours
Vezina Trophy - Darren Tallberg
Prince of Wales Conference All-Stars – Scot Borenius, Michael Knight, Jeff Clinton, Newsy Neveski, Howie Hamayomama, Lou Nurro, Darryl Riskala, Risto Sinilaakso, Rem Luuri, Danton Saralainen
Team Awards
Top Defenceman – Risto Sinilaakso
Top Forward – Michael Knight
MVP & Top Goaltender - Darren Tallberg
Top Rookie – Church Pugh
Most Improved Player – Vadim Stroganov
Retiring Firebirds after Season 22
RW Darryl Riskala (100/92/97/1/79)
564 games played... 117 goals... 104 assists... 221 points... +126 career rating... 24 PIM... Firebirds' first-round pick and first player drafted in Season 11 Draft... scoring winger who never quite lived up to high expectations.
LW Scot Borenius (96/100/100/1/100)
561 games played... 104 goals... 152 assists... 256 points... +133 career rating... 18 PIM... Firebirds' second-round pick in Season 11 Draft... versatile, speedy skater, top shelf penalty killer and playmaker.
C Howie Hamayomama (86/84/100/1/100)
536 games played... 78 goals... 165 assists... 243 points... +117 career rating... 36 PIM... Firebirds' third-round pick in Season 11 Draft... smallish, shifty centerman with a solid all-round game.
D Rem Luuri (92/66/66/15/100)
549 games played... 59 goals... 110 assists... 169 points... +109 rating... 44 PIM... Firebirds' first-round pick in Season 12 Draft... a shutdown rearguard who finally harnessed his booming shot in his final season to put up one of the most unexpected scoring seasons in Firebirds history.
G Darren Tallberg (100/100)
313 games played… W-L-T record 176-82-40… career GAA 1.99… 46 shutouts… career save percentage 88.9… Firebirds’ third-round pick in Season 14 draft… holds team records for games played, wins, and shutouts in a season… tied with Leo Xavier for shutouts in a career… won MLD Vezina Trophy in his final two seasons.