Toronto, ON – The
Ontario Hockey
League today
announced the
appointment of Joe
Stefan who will
serve as interim
head coach of the
Flint Firebirds
alongside interim
assistant coach Pat
Peake beginning with
tonight’s game
against the Erie
Otters at Flint’s
Dort Federal Event
Center.
“The Ontario Hockey
League appreciates
the support from Joe
Stefan, and
distinguished OHL
alumnus Pat Peake
during this
challenging period,”
said OHL
Commissioner David
Branch. “The league
has also appointed
Joe Birch, OHL
Senior Director of
Hockey Development,
to support the
players behind the
bench tonight.”
Stefan, who
presently serves as
the Firebirds’
Assistant General
Manager, began his
OHL coaching career
with the Plymouth
Whalers as an
assistant in 2007
after joining the
club’s staff as a
scout in 2005. He
worked seven seasons
behind the Whalers’
bench also holding
the title of
associate coach. As
a player, Stefan
competed for the
OHL’s Brantford
Alexanders and the
Hamilton Steelhawks
from 1983-86 before
a minor pro career
that included four
seasons in the IHL
and more than 10
seasons in the
British National
League.
Peake, a native of
Rochester, Michigan,
had an illustrious
three-year OHL
career that began
with the Detroit
Compuware
Ambassadors in
1990-91. He holds
the Whalers’
all-time record with
319 points including
138 goals and 181
assists in 162 games
earning the Red
Tilson Trophy as the
OHL’s Most
Outstanding Player
of the Year for the
1992-93 season with
the Detroit Jr. Red
Wings. He was
selected 14th
overall by the
Washington Capitals
in the 1991 NHL
Entry Draft and
played parts of four
seasons before
retiring due to
injury in 1998. He
currently coaches in
the Detroit Little
Caesars youth
program.
Birch returned to
the OHL as the
league’s Senior
Director of Hockey
Development and
Special Events in
the 2012-13 season.
He previously spent
six years as the
OHL’s Director of
Recruitment and
Education Services
before joining
Newport Sports
Management Inc in
October, 2011.