Flint locked up an important piece for the upcoming season by signing Xavier Tessier to a standard player agreement earlier this week.
Ottawa native Xavier signed a standard player agreement with the Flint Firebirds for next season. The question remains, what exactly can Flint fans expect form the young forward?
"Tessier's style of play is characterized by his physicality in all three zones," said Myers U16 Coach Phil Bergeron. "Overall, you can look forward to seeing a committed forward with a lot of potential.
Flint selected Tessier 33rd overall in the second round of the 2024 OHL draft. The only player from Hockey Eastern Ontario drafted ahead of him was Maximus Crete who was selected 30th overall by the Niagara Ice Dogs.
The young forward's stats while playing for Myers Automotive last season were impressive. In 30 games played, he recorded 15 goals and 21 assists.
More impressive however, were his playoff statistics. In only 12 games played, Tessier recorded an unbelievable 8 goals and 12 assists.
As is evident from his stats, Tessier possesses an elite shot that allowed him to score 27 goals between the regular season and the playoffs.
In this regard, Tessier could be an important addition in terms of depth scoring for Flint. Last season, only four teams scored fewer goals in the regular season than the Firebirds.
However, as is the case for all young players, Tessier will need to adjust to the OHL style of play.
"Tessier will need to focus on being patient and learning the details of the game," said Bergeron. "While he already works hard on the ice, continuing to improve his speed will be crucial."
One of the largest adjustments at the OHL level is playing against the increased physicality brought by older players.
At 6'1 Tessier is not afraid to play a physical game. Part of his success last season was based on his ability to use his size around the net and in the corners.
While many will focus on Tessier's scoring ability he also possesses a very versatile skill set that he puts to use in all three zones. His 200-foot game is well developed for a 2008-born player.
If developed correctly, Tessier has the ability to make significant strides and become an effective long term player in the OHL according to his former coach.
While we will have to wait until next season to discover exactly what Tessier will be capable of, Flint fans can rest assured that their second round pick shows a lot of potential coming into the season.