When the Coachella Valley Firebirds finally took the ice in Hershey back on June 24, they had a roster full of professional experience, playoff experience, and a total that had been to the Calder Cup Finals twice.
Even before the Firebirds reached the Calder Cup final against the Bears, they knew change was coming. Head coach Dan Bylsma had been promoted to that role with the Seattle Kraken, and was ending his tenure in the Coachella Valley. And it was a logical assumption that assistant coach Jessica Campbell might be headed to Seattle after two impressive years with the Firebirds.
That night in Hershey, the Firebirds’ bid to undo some of the pain caused by a Game 7 overtime loss to the Bears in the 2023 Finals failed again. It was Game 6 in overtime when Hershey’s Matt Strome broke free before scoring past goaltender Chris Driedger to dash the Firebirds’ hopes again.
Throughout the 2023-24 season, the Firebirds have been working off the backlog left by that Game 7 overtime loss in their first matchup with Hershey. When the finals started, they were ready. Getting a second shot doesn’t happen very often, especially in an expanding 32-team league like the AHL.
So when Strome’s shot went in, the Firebirds’ pain was palpable. They gathered around their bench in silence for a few minutes as the Bears celebrated, shook Hershey’s hand, and left their locker room.
Within a week, that list had split. Cameron Hughes and Kole Lind went to the Dallas Stars. Andrew Poturalski and Jimmy Schultt left the San Jose Sharks. Driedger headed east to the Florida Panthers. Connor Carrick headed north to the Edmonton Oilers. Campbell did that assistant’s job in Seattle.
Much of what the Firebirds have built in their new home in the desert since they started playing in 2022 has been successful. In a market where hockey had little, if any, presence, they quickly built a passionate following. Playing at the brand new Acrisure Arena, they filled that building. They won a lot, too, finishing second overall in their first two regular seasons. The NHL’s fourth overall pick for Shane Wright appeared. Joey Daccord was a fan favorite with the Firebirds before going to Seattle and establishing himself as the NHL’s best goaltender.
But a lot of the AHL is about starting over. Just as the 2022-23 Firebirds built such a foundation, and the 2023-24 team reinforced that work, this 2024-25 team has a different mission. Seattle now has four draft picks, and this influx of prospects needs a place to play. Jagger Firkus tallied 61 goals last season in the WHL. Nikke Kokko and Jani Nyman were tested in the Liiga game.
This year’s Firebirds look a lot like a typical AHL roster – heavy on prospects surrounded by some quality veterans. But especially a team that will require more patience than the time-tested group the Firebirds have put on the ice in their first two seasons.
2024 Coachella Valley Firebirds vs San Diego Gulls
Eduard Sale is 19 years old. Firkus and David Goyette are 20 years old. Jani Nyman has that Liiga experience; but then again, you are 20 years old. Nikke Kokko has impressed in net in his limited Liiga time, but he, too, is 20 years old. Ty Nelson is 20 years old, and that’s usually a tough challenge for any rookie defenseman.
So the first two nights of this regular season will happen for the Firebirds. Opening night brought a 2-1 home loss to Bakersfield. On Wednesday night, the Calgary Wranglers entered the Acrisure Arena and won 3-1. There were moments of promise, moments when someone could see the potential that Seattle saw. There’s also that momentary distraction that’s just enough to call a team a game. Even the most veteran Firebirds are new – Brandon Biro (Rochester), Nikolas Brouillard (Hartford), Max Lajoie (Toronto), and Mitchell Stephens (Laval) are among the incoming players – but it takes time even for experienced players. getting used to a new team. Bright lighting, missed coverage, bad bounces, and it adds up to two losses.
All that’s left to put it all together is new coach Derek Laxdal. It’s something he’s done before, including most recently with the OHL’s Oshawa Generals. There, he took a small roster to the OHL Final last year, possibly ahead of schedule.
The end of October begins eight of nine road games for the Firebirds. There is plenty of practice time for Laxdal, however. Coachella Valley only plays five games this month and will be out on the first three Saturday nights of the season. They make the short trip to San Diego this Friday evening before a weeklong break in the program that will afford that important practice ice.
So Laxdal wasn’t worried after Wednesday’s home loss to the Wranglers. They outshot Calgary, 40-22, to start. They were holding the opening cord.
“I like the way we played,” Laxdal told local reporters via the team’s YouTube site.
But a defensive zone advantage allowed Calgary to even the game. Then the puck shot gave Calgary a 2-1 lead.
“These kids are going to make mistakes, and it ends up going into our net,” said Laxdal about the Calgary goal. “I cannot criticize our effort. We could easily get both of those wins. I know the boys are frustrated. Expectations are high.”
Laxdal made a concerted effort to diffuse any concerns.
“Once they settle down, they take a deep breath…then they gain a little confidence. In sports, when you are mentally stressed, things become difficult. You just have to play loose and let it flow. We are not there yet. I think we’re still a little off.
“We will find our way.”
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