Hockey team season
The 2024–25 Coachella Valley Firebirds season is the franchise's third season in the American Hockey League (AHL), starting on October 11, 2024. They play their home games at Acrisure Arena .
This is the first season of Derek Laxdal being the Firebirds' head coach , as he replaced Dan Bylsma at the position on July 5, 2024. This is because Bylsma was heading to the National Hockey League (NHL)'s Seattle Kraken to replace Dave Hakstol as their head coach.
Dan Bylsma left the Firebirds in order to become the Seattle Kraken 's head coach on May 28, 2024.
The Firebirds were founded as an expansion team in the Coachella Valley as the AHL affiliate of the NHL's Seattle Kraken , and started play during the AHL's 2022–23 season . During that season, the Firebirds achieved 103 points during the regular season, and eventually climbed to the Calder Cup Finals, only to lose to the Hershey Bears . During the Firebirds' 2023–24 season , they also achieved 103 points during the regular season, climbed to the Calder Cup Finals, and lost to the Hershey Bears.[ 1]
On April 29, 2024, following the end of the Seattle Kraken 's 2023–24 season , their head coach , Dave Hakstol , was fired.[ 2] The Kraken organization made the decision to replace him with Coachella Valley Firebirds head coach Dan Bylsma on May 28.[ 3] This was important for the Firebirds because, as previously mentioned, Bylsma had coached them all the way to the Calder Cup Finals in both of their seasons.[ 1] On July 5, it was announced that Derek Laxdal was going to replace Bylsma.[ 4]
On June 30, the Kraken prepared for the upcoming free agency by re-signing four players, all of whom had contributed to the Firebirds strong efforts the previous season—John Hayden ,[ 5] Luke Henman ,[ 6] Ales Stezka ,[ 7] and Firebirds captain Max McCormick .[ 8]
On July 1, the first day of free agency, the Kraken lost six players, who had spent much of their time during the 2023–24 season with the Firebirds—Devin Shore ,[ 9] Connor Carrick ,[ 10] Kole Lind ,[ 11] Cameron Hughes ,[ 12] Jimmy Schuldt ,[ 13] and Chris Driedger .[ 14] Lind had been one of the driving forces in Coachella Valley—over their two seasons, he had the most games played (141), the most assists (80), and was tied with Max McCormick for the most points (127). Driedger was yet another factor in the Firebirds' success, as he led the Firebirds in both games played (53) and wins (33) by a goaltender .[ 15] The trend of players who had spent time with the Firebirds leaving continued on July 2, when and Peetro Seppala left the Kraken.[ 16] The Kraken made history on July 3, by hiring Jessica Campbell as an assistant coach, as she became the first woman to be in a coaching position in the NHL. She had spent the previous two seasons with the Firebirds, helping them reach the Calder Cup Finals during both of them.[ 17] Also that day, Firebirds alternate captain Andrew Poturalski left the Kraken.[ 18] To replace Campbell, the Firebirds hired Brennan Sonne to be an assistant coach for the team on July 15. The previous season , Sonne had served as the head coach of the Western Hockey League (WHL)'s Saskatoon Blades , leading them to achieve the best regular season record in the WHL with 105 points.[ 19] On July 16, the Kraken saw the departure of another player who had spent time with the Firebirds, Mitch Reinke .[ 20] On July 18, the first player who was directly under contract to the Firebirds left the team—Justin Nachbaur .[ 21]
On August 1, the Firebirds re-signed player Ian McKinnon for one year.[ 22] On August 8, the Firebirds signed their first player of free agency, Cam Morrison .[ 23] The Firebirds re-signed goaltender Jack LaFontaine , on August 15.[ 24] On August 20, the Firebirds signed Damien Giroux .[ 25] Two days later, the Firebirds re-signed Max Andreev .[ 26] During the previous season , Andreev qualified for the ECHL 's 2023–24 All-Rookie Team after achieving 72 points in 61 games.[ 27] On August 27, the Firebirds signed a former captain of the WHL's Everett Silvertips , Jackson Berezowski .[ 28] On August 29, the Firebirds signed another ECHL All-Rookie Team member, Cade Borchardt .[ 29]
On September 3, the Firebirds signed Turner Ottenbreit .[ 30] On September 5, the Firebirds re-signed Jake McLaughlin .[ 31]
y– indicates team has clinched division and a playoff spot
x– indicates team has clinched a playoff spot
e– indicates team has been eliminated from playoff contention
Standings as of June 25, 2024[ 32]
Schedule and results [ edit ]
On August 6, 2024, it was accounted that the Firebirds were going to play two games at Cable Dahmer Arena , the home of the Firebirds' ECHL affiliate Kansas City Mavericks on October 4 and 5, both games against the Milwaukee Admirals .[ 33]
2024–25 Game Log – Preseason
0–0–0–0 (Home: 0–0–0–0 ; Road: 0–0–0–0)
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
Report
1
October 4
Milwaukee
–
Coachella Valley
2
October 5
Milwaukee
–
Coachella Valley
The AHL's regular season schedule was revealed on July 11, 2024.[ 34]
2024–25 Game Log – Regular season
October: 0–0–0–0 (Home: 0–0–0–0 ; Road: 0–0–0–0)
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
Report
1
October 11
Bakersfield
–
Coachella Valley
2
October 16
Calgary
–
Coachella Valley
3
October 18
Coachella Valley
–
San Diego
4
October 25
Ontario
–
Coachella Valley
5
October 30
Coachella Valley
–
San Jose
November: 0–0–0–0 (Home: 0–0–0–0 ; Road: 5–2–2–0)
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
Report
6
November 1
Coachella Valley
–
Bakersfield
7
November 2
Coachella Valley
–
Bakersfield
8
November 5
Coachella Valley
–
Colorado
9
November 6
Coachella Valley
–
Colorado
10
November 8
Coachella Valley
–
Ontario
11
November 10
Ontario
–
Coachella Valley
12
November 15
Coachella Valley
–
Abbotsford
13
November 16
Coachella Valley
–
Abbotsford
14
November 20
Colorado
–
Coachella Valley
15
November 22
San Diego
–
Coachella Valley
16
November 26
Coachella Valley
–
Tucson
17
November 27
Coachella Valley
–
Tucson
18
November 30
Texas
–
Coachella Valley
December: 0–0–0–0 (Home: 0–0–0–0 ; Road: 0–0–0–0)
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
Report
19
December 3
Henderson
–
Coachella Valley
20
December 5
Texas
–
Coachella Valley
21
December 7
Coachella Valley
–
San Jose
22
December 8
Coachella Valley
–
San Jose
23
December 12
San Jose
–
Coachella Valley
24
December 14
Calgary
–
Coachella Valley
25
December 15
Calgary
–
Coachella Valley
26
December 18
San Jose
–
Coachella Valley
27
December 20
Ontario
–
Coachella Valley
28
December 21
Coachella Valley
–
Ontario
29
December 27
Coachella Valley
–
Bakersfield
30
December 28
Ontario
–
Coachella Valley
31
December 31
Colorado
–
Coachella Valley
January: 0–0–0–0 (Home: 0–0–0–0 ; Road: 0–0–0–0)
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
Report
32
January 4
Coachella Valley
–
Ontario
33
January 5
San Diego
–
Coachella Valley
34
January 8
Tucson
–
Coachella Valley
35
January 11
Chicago
–
Coachella Valley
36
January 12
Chicago
–
Coachella Valley
37
January 16
Henderson
–
Coachella Valley
38
January 18
Coachella Valley
–
Colorado
39
January 19
Coachella Valley
–
Colorado
40
January 22
Coachella Valley
–
San Jose
41
January 25
Coachella Valley
–
Ontario
42
January 26
Bakersfield
–
Coachella Valley
43
January 29
Abbotsford
–
Coachella Valley
44
January 31
Coachella Valley
–
Texas
February: 0–0–0–0 (Home: 0–0–0–0 ; Road: 0–0–0–0)
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
Report
45
February 1
Texas
–
Coachella Valley
46
February 7
Coachella Valley
–
San Diego
47
February 12
Coachella Valley
–
Henderson
48
February 15
San Diego
–
Coachella Valley
49
February 16
Bakersfield
–
Coachella Valley
50
February 19
Tucson
–
Coachella Valley
51
February 22
Calgary
–
Coachella Valley
52
February 23
San Jose
–
Coachella Valley
53
February 26
Coachella Valley
–
Henderson
54
February 28
Coachella Valley
–
San Diego
March: 0–0–0–0 (Home: 0–0–0–0 ; Road: 0–0–0–0)
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
Report
55
March 4
Coachella Valley
–
Calgary
56
March 5
Coachella Valley
–
Calgary
57
March 12
Colorado
–
Coachella Valley
58
March 14
Coachella Valley
–
Bakersfield
59
March 15
Henderson
–
Coachella Valley
60
March 19
Henderson
–
Coachella Valley
61
March 21
Coachella Valley
–
Calgary
62
March 23
Coachella Valley
–
Calgary
63
March 29
Coachella Valley
–
Chicago
64
March 30
Coachella Valley
–
Chicago
April: 0–0–0–0 (Home: 0–0–0–0 ; Road: 0–0–0–0)
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
Gamesheet
65
April 2
Colorado
–
Coachella Valley
66
April 4
Coachella Valley
–
Henderson
67
April 5
Coachella Valley
–
Henderson
68
April 9
San Jose
–
Coachella Valley
69
April 12
Bakersfield
–
Coachella Valley
70
April 13
San Diego
–
Coachella Valley
71
April 18
Abbotsford
–
Coachella Valley
72
April 19
Coachella Valley
–
San Diego
The Firebirds have been involved in the following transactions during the 2024–25 season.
Free agents acquired [ edit ]
Claimed via waivers [ edit ]
Player
Previous team
Date
Ref
Lost via retirement [ edit ]
^ a b "Coachella Valley Firebirds hockey team statistics and history at HockeyDB.com" . HockeyDB . Retrieved August 6, 2024 .
^ "Hakstol fired as Kraken coach, no replacement named" . National Hockey League . April 29, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024 .
^ "Bylsma hired as coach of Kraken, replaces Hakstol" . National Hockey League . May 28, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024 .
^ "Seattle Kraken Hire Derek Laxdal as Head Coach of the Coachella Valley Firebirds" . National Hockey League . July 5, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024 .
^ "Seattle Kraken Sign John Hayden to One-Year Contract" . National Hockey League . June 30, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024 .
^ "Seattle Kraken Sign Forward Luke Henman to One-Year Contract" . National Hockey League . June 30, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024 .
^ "Seattle Kraken Sign Ales Stezka to a One-Year Contract" . National Hockey League . June 30, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024 .
^ "Seattle Kraken Agree to Terms with Max McCormick on Two Year Contract" . National Hockey League . June 30, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024 .
^ "Minnesota Wild sign Devin Shore to one-year, two-way contract" . Sportsnet . July 1, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024 .
^ "Oilers sign Connor Carrick to one-year contract" . National Hockey League . July 1, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024 .
^ "Stars sign Kole Lind to a one-year, two-way contract" . National Hockey League . July 1, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024 .
^ "Stars sign Cameron Hughes to a one-year, two-way contract" . National Hockey League . July 1, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024 .
^ "Sharks sign Jimmy Schuldt to Two-Way Contract" . San Jose Barracuda . July 1, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024 .
^ "Florida Panthers Agree to Terms with Goaltender Chris Driedger on One-Year Contract" . National Hockey League . July 1, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024 .
^ "Coachella Valley Firebirds all-time player list at HockeyDB.com" . HockeyDB . Retrieved August 6, 2024 .
^ Kiiski, Jyrki (July 2, 2024). "Orebro gets more Finnish color from Peetro Seppälä" . Jatkoaika (in Finnish). Retrieved August 6, 2024 .
^ Roarke, Shawn P. (July 3, 2024). "Campbell becomes 1st woman to coach in NHL, named Kraken assistant" . National Hockey League . Retrieved August 6, 2024 .
^ "San Jose Sharks sign Andrew Poturalski to two-year, two-way deal" . Sportsnet . July 3, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024 .
^ Rotolo, Gina (July 15, 2024). "Sonne joins the Firebirds after an historic season with the Saskatoon Blades" . Coachella Valley Firebirds . Retrieved August 6, 2024 .
^ "Eisbären sign Mitch Reinke" . Eisbären Berlin (in German). July 16, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024 .
^ a b "Bears Sign Six Skaters to AHL Deals For 2024–25 Season" . Hershey Bears . July 18, 2024. Retrieved August 5, 2024 .
^ a b "Ian McKinnon Returns to Coachella Valley For Third Season" . Coachella Valley Firebirds . August 1, 2024. Retrieved August 5, 2024 .
^ Hinman, Holly (August 8, 2024). "CV Firebirds sign forward Cam Morrison for the 2024-25 season" . KESQ . Retrieved August 8, 2024 .
^ a b "Welcome back, Laffer! 👏 #LetsFly" . Tweet by Coachella Valley Firebirds on Twitter . August 15, 2024. Retrieved August 15, 2024 .
^ a b Rotolo, Gina (August 20, 2024). "Coachella Valley Signs Newcomer Giroux for 2024–25 Season" . Coachella Valley Firebirds . Retrieved August 20, 2024 .
^ a b Rotolo, Gina (August 22, 2024). "ECHL All-Star Forward Re-Signs with Coachella Valley" . Coachella Valley Firebirds . Retrieved August 22, 2024 .
^ "ECHL announces 2023–24 All-Rookie Team" . ECHL . April 10, 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2024 .
^ a b Rotolo, Gina (August 27, 2024). "Coachella Valley Inks Former Everett Silvertips Captain for 2024–25 Season" . Coachella Valley Firebirds . Retrieved August 28, 2024 .
^ a b Rotolo, Gina (August 29, 2024). "Coachella Valley Adds Kansas City Mavericks' Standout Borchardt" . Coachella Valley Firebirds . Retrieved August 30, 2024 .
^ a b "Firebirds sign Ottenbreit" . American Hockey League . September 3, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024 .
^ a b Rotolo, Gina (September 5, 2024). "Left-Handed Defenseman Returns to Firebirds" . Coachella Valley Firebirds . Retrieved September 6, 2024 .
^ "American Hockey League Standings" . American Hockey League . Retrieved August 5, 2024 .
^ "The anticipation is over, Mavs fans!" . Tweet by Kansas City Mavericks on Twitter . August 8, 2024. Retrieved August 8, 2024 .
^ "2024–25 AHL schedule unveiled" . American Hockey League . July 11, 2024. Retrieved August 31, 2024 .
^ "Firebirds fans, meet Cam 🤝 Cam, meet the best fans in the league #LetsFly" . Tweet by Coachella Valley Firebirds on Twitter . August 8, 2024. Retrieved August 8, 2024 .
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