OHL Hands Flint Firebirds Owner A Five Year Suspension and Takes Teams Draft Pick

The Flint Firebirds owner, Rolf Nilsen, has been given a five year suspension by OHL officials for violating his contract agreement with the OHL.

The OHL commissioner also announced that the Firebirds will forfeit their first round draft pick, which was the third overall pick, in the upcoming 2016 draft.

The news gets worse for the Firebirds owner as the official statement from the OHL goes on to say,

A fine be paid by Rolf Nilsen to the League in the amount of Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00); If it is determined by the League that Rolf Nilsen has violated this Order, the League may order Rolf Nilsen to sell one hundred percent (100%) of the ownership interest of the Flint Firebirds.

So far there havent been any specific details on what terms Nilsen violated, but the Firebirds did have their share of controversy this season.

The good news is that the Firebirds are going to stay in Flint, for now.  The league will be appointing a new GM, and coaching staff shortly.

You can read the entire statement from OHL Commissioner, David Branch, here.