Flint Generals History
The Flint Generals, proud members of the International Hockey League are celebrating 40 years of professional hockey in the Flint community.
The original Generals were founded in 1969 and wore black and gold jerseys before making the switch to royal blue, gold, and white. The Generals, members of the International hockey league, played their games at the old IMA Sports Arena (now Perani Arena and Event Center), in Flint, Michigan. Coached by Ken Hodge, the Gens went 21-39-12, missing the playoffs. They made the playoffs the next three seasons under Hodge but lost in the first round each year, with their best record coming in the 1972-73 season when they went 44-29-1. Flint was in the playoffs almost every year but was unable to make it past the second round in any of those appearances. Then in the 1983-84 season after falling out of the playoffs in the first round the year before, new head coach Dennis Desrosiers lead the team not only to its third best record in franchise history but to its first Turner Cup Championship beating the Toledo Goaldiggers. The team followed their Championship run with another disappointing loss in the first round, and a move to Saginaw, Michigan after the 1984-85 season becoming the Saginaw Generals.
With the departure of the Generals, Flint and the IMA had room for a new team. Not wanting to waste time, the Spirits were brought in for the 1985-86 season. The Spirits suffered a similar fate as the Generals when it came to playoff success. They came close in the 1987-88 season when made it to the finals under Head Coach Rick Dudley losing to the Salt Lake Golden Eagles 4 games to 2. The Spirit played five years of professional hockey in Flint (1985-1990) compiling an overall record of 162-220-28, and at one point served as the IHL affiliate of the New York Rangers. Then during the 1990 season, the Spirits were purchased by a group from Fort Wayne when the original Komets were moved to Albany, New York. The Spirits arrived in Fort Wayne in time for the new season.
Professional hockey was missing in Flint during the 1990-91 season but returned the following seaon as the Bulldogs and as part of the Colonial Hockey League. The Bulldogs lasted two seasons in Flint finishing with an overall record of 47-66-7 before relocating to Utica, New York and eventually folding in 1997.
The modern Flint Generals surfaced in the 1993-94 season when Dr. Khaled M. Shukairy was granted an expansion franchise to play in Flint following the relocation of the Flint Bulldogs. The naming of the team was put to a fan vote, and the "Generals" made their return to Flint as part of the Colonial Hockey League. The team saw success early on with instant appearances in the playoffs. In just their third season, under first year Head Coach Robbie Nichols, the Generals finished the regular season with a 51-18-5 record and the 1995-96 Colonial Cup Championship, upsetting the Thunder Bay Senators in six games. The 1996 Championship team included Kevin Kerr (who would coach the team from 2006-07 through part of 2007-08) and Robin Bouchard. The Generals made it to the finals the following season losing to the Quad City Mallards.
The Generals moved to the United Hockey League after the 1996-97 season, making the finals their first year in the league, again falling to the Quad City Mallards. The team was not as successful the next season, going through two Head Coaches and collecting a 37-32-5 record, they were ousted in the second round. The Generals returned to glory in the 1999-2000 season with Doug Shedden at the helm. The team recorded their second best record in franchise history finishing the regular season 51-14-9. Facing the Mallards for the third straight time in the finals, the Generals made their fourth appearance in a Championship Final in five years and second Championship Title in that span and third in franchise history.
Following their success of the mid-late 1990s, the Generals started the new millennium with some disappointment. From 2000-01 through 2006-07, the Gens missed the post season four times and were ousted in the first round three others. At the end of the 2006-07 season, the franchise left the UHL and rejoined the International Hockey League for the third time. From 2007-08 through 2008-09, the Generals had three Head Coaches (including former player Kevin Kerr and current General Manager Peter South) and their third worst season in history finishing 22-47-6. With the struggles on and off the ice, it was unclear if the Generals would return for their 40th anniversary, then in August 2009 with the hiring of Peter South as GM and former NHL goaltender Jason Muzzatti as Head Coach, their return was made official.
The Generals play at Perani Arena, formerly the IMA Sports Arena.
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