Hockey roundup: Flint headed to Game 7 after OT loss; U.S. women select new head coach

The Flint Firebirds had a chance to win the Wayne Gretzky Trophy as Western Conference champions in the Ontario Hockey League on Tuesday night but lost 3-2 in overtime against the Windsor Spitfires at the Dort Financial Center in Flint.

The series is tied 3-3 with Game 7 at the WFCU Centre in Windsor on Wednesday.

Andrew Perrott scored the winning goal with 1:18 left in overtime, Daniel D'Amico had Windsor's two other goals and Detroit native Xavier Medina made 31 saves.

Ethan Keppen and Riley Piercey replied for Flint and Luke Cavallin made 54 saves.

Wroblewski named U.S. women's coach

John Wroblewski was named the head coach of the U.S. national women’s hockey team on Tuesday after recent success guiding the men’s development program.

Wroblewski’s hiring is currently limited to coaching the American women at the world championships in Denmark in August. He replaces Joel Johnson, who is stepping down after one year as part of his commitment to coach the University of St. Thomas women’s program.

Wroblewski takes over an aging U.S. team that’s in transition after settling for silver medals following losses to Canada at both the Beijing Winter Games in February and the world championships in August. The Americans struggled in matching the Canadians’ speed and up-tempo style of play in having lost four straight in international play over the past year.

Wroblewski has spent the past two seasons coaching the Los Angeles Kings’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Ontario Reign.

From Neenah, Wisconsin, the 41-year-old Wroblewski is best known for his four years at the National Team Development Program.

From 2016-2020, he oversaw teams which produced 29 NHL draft picks, including 11 first-round picks led by Jack Hughes, who was selected No. 1 in by New Jersey in 2019. Under Wroblewski, the NTDP enjoyed a 33-game winning streak in international play and made its first USHL conference final appearance in 2018.