Perani's Hockey World is a retail chain founded by Bob Perani in 1976. [1] They specialize in ice hockey. Indoor, outdoor and street hockey, and also lacrosse. With a main office in Flint, Michigan, [2] Perani's has 24 stores in North America, [3] with 14 locations in Michigan, 2 in Ohio, and one each in Illinois, Pennsylvania, New York, Tennessee, Indiana, and Texas, with three in Ontario, Canada.
Perani's Hockey World owns the naming rights to Perani Arena and Event Center in Flint, home of the Flint Firebirds, a Junior ice hockey team based in Flint, Michigan. The Firebirds play in the Ontario Hockey League.
The United Hockey League (UHL), originally known as the Colonial Hockey League from 1991 to 1997 and last known as the International Hockey League from 2007 to 2010, was a low-level minor professional ice hockey league, with teams in the United States and Canada. The league was headquartered in Rochester, Michigan, and, in its last year, consisted of seven teams. It folded in 2010, with most of its teams joining the Central Hockey League. The Central Hockey League teams still operating in 2014 were then added to ECHL. The only former CoHL/UHL/IHL teams still active as of 2022 are the Fort Wayne Komets and Kalamazoo Wings.
The North American Hockey League (NAHL) is one of the top junior hockey leagues in the United States and is in its 48th season of operation in 2022–23. It is the only Tier II junior league sanctioned by USA Hockey, and acts as an alternative to the Tier I United States Hockey League (USHL). The NAHL is one of the oldest junior hockey leagues in the United States and is headquartered in Addison, Texas.
The Dort Financial Center is a sports, entertainment and convention venue located in Flint, Michigan, United States. It opened in 1969 and is the home of the Flint Firebirds who play in the Ontario Hockey League.
The Flint Generals were a minor professional ice hockey team based in Flint, Michigan. They were a member of the International Hockey League and played their home games at Perani Arena and Event Center. The Generals won two league championship Colonial Cups in the Colonial Hockey League and United Hockey League.
Peter Karmanos Jr. is an American businessman who was most recently the minority owner and alternate governor of the Carolina Hurricanes franchise until June 30, 2021. He served as their principal owner from 1994 to 2018. He also owned the Plymouth Whalers junior ice hockey club from its establishment in 1990 until 2015, and was the majority owner of the Florida Everblades from 1998 to 2019.
John Daniel Gruden is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman. He currently serves as an assistant coach for the Boston Bruins. Prior to Boston, he most served as an assistant coach for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League (NHL) from 2018-2022. He previously served as the head coach of the Hamilton Bulldogs and inaugural head coach of the Flint Firebirds of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).
David James Karpa is a former Canadian ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League for the Quebec Nordiques, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Carolina Hurricanes and New York Rangers between 1993 and 2003. He was selected 68th overall by the Nordiques in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft from Ferris State University.
WWBN is a radio station broadcasting mainstream rock to Flint and The Thumb areas of Michigan. Syndicated shows on Banana include the morning comedy program The Free Beer and Hot Wings Show, and music programs Loudwire Nights with Toni Gonzalez and Hard Drive with Lou Brutus. It is also the home of the weekly coach's show of the Ontario Hockey League's Flint Firebirds. It is owned by Townsquare Media and is a member of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters
WQUS is a radio station licensed to Lapeer, Michigan broadcasting a classic rock music format. The transmitter is near Attica, but the studios are in Burton, east of Flint. It is owned by Townsquare Media and the home of two local sports teams: the Ontario Hockey League's Flint Firebirds and Lapeer Lightning high school football.
The Michigan Warriors were a Tier II Junior A ice hockey team based in Flint, Michigan. The Warriors played in the North American Hockey League's North Division. Previously known as the Marquette Rangers, the Warriors played their home games at Perani Arena and Event Center.
Eric Wellwood is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and current head coach for the Newfoundland Growlers in the ECHL. He played parts of three National Hockey League (NHL) seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers. He is the younger brother of Kyle Wellwood.
Ted Dent is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and the current Head Coach of the Flint Firebirds of the Ontario Hockey League. He was an American Hockey League head coach for the Rockford IceHogs.
Robert "Bob" F. Perani was a professional ice hockey goaltender for the Flint Generals in the International Hockey League. He was also the founder of Perani's Hockey World sports retail chain in 1976, and owned the naming rights for the Perani Arena and Event Center. Perani died on April 15, 2012 while traveling on an international flight from Detroit to Tokyo.
Dort Mall is a shopping mall located in Flint, Michigan. It was built in two stages in 1964 and 1965, three years before Courtland Center and five years before Genesee Valley Center, making it the oldest mall in Genesee County. It is owned by the Perani family, who also owns Perani's Hockey World, which along with Bargain Hunterz and City Market, is one of the mall's anchor tenants.
The 2015 World Minifootball Federation World Cup is the first edition of the WMF World Cup held by the World Minifootball Federation. The tournament was contested in nine cities across the United States from 21–29 March 2015.
The Flint Firebirds are a major junior ice hockey team based in Flint, Michigan. The team plays home games at the Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center, and operates as a member of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). The team began play for the 2015–16 season. In June 2019, the Firebirds announced the Leamington Flyers (GOJHL) as an affiliate.
Ty Dellandrea is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre currently playing for the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Ryan Oulahen is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and current head coach for the North Bay Battalion of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Oulahen was drafted in the fifth round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the Detroit Red Wings. He previously served as the head coach of the Flint Firebirds of the OHL.
Owen Power is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL). He played college ice hockey for the University of Michigan. Power was drafted first overall by the Sabres in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
Vili Saarijärvi is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman for Lukko of the Finnish Liiga. He was drafted 73rd overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.