Ryan Oulahen of the North Bay Battalion. Photo by Terry Wilson/OHL Images.

It’s official, Ryan Oulahen has been appointed the new Head Coach of the Flint Firebirds. The OHL made the announcement today (Friday).

Oulahen has spent the past six years with the Battalion as Assistant Coach.

He also played for the Troops in 2002-2005 and was captain of the team for one season.

Oulahen credits most of his success to the Battalion Head Coach saying “I would like to thank Stan Butler for supporting me through this whole process and giving me the green light to look into this and backing me through the whole thing.”

He goes on to say “Stan and I go way back to when I was 14 years old and Stan was the one that drafted me and believed in me as a player. And when I was met with a career ending injury, it was him who offered me a chance to work with him behind the bench.”

Oulahen says his best memory as a player was his second year in Brampton in Round 1, Game 7 against the 67’s. Where his team went in as the underdogs and came out the winners. He says as a couch, his best memory was winning the Eastern Conference Championship.

Oshawa Assistant Eric Wellwood is the Firebirds new assistant coach.

“Today’s announcement is a further piece in putting together a strong hockey operations staff for the Flint Firebirds,” said David Branch OHL Commissioner. “Their combined knowledge and experience will help develop the Flint Firebird players both on and off the ice.”

“Ryan and Eric are both young yet experienced, bringing tremendous enthusiasm, leadership and a strong foundation in junior hockey to the Firebirds’ bench,” said George Burnett, General Manager Flint Firebirds. “My role is to support Ryan and Eric as they lead our group of current and prospective players in delivering an exciting brand of junior hockey to Genesee County in the 2016-17 season and beyond.”