George Sipple

Detroit Free Press

For the second time this season, the Flint Firebirds have fired head coach John Gruden and assistant Dave Karpa.

Although that hasn’t created a stable environment for Detroit Red Wings draft pick Vili Saarijärvi, Wings assistant general manager Ryan Martin said the 18-year-old defensemen has indicated he wants to remain there for the rest of the season.

Director of Hockey Operations Sergei Kharin will become the interim head coach and Petr Jonak will continue to serve as assistant coach.

Gruden and Karpa were fired for the first time in November by owner Rolf Nilsen. Gruden and Karpa were quickly rehired after all the players, including Saarijärvi and the owner’s son, Hakon, protested the decision.

The team announced the firing of Gruden and Karpa this afternoon.

“I guess whenever there is instability like there has been there this year, it’s not a great environment,” Martin said. “But saying all that, Vili is an extremely positive person.

“He’s part of a team. He’s made it clear, positive or negative, he would like to go through this experience with his teammates as a member of the Flint Firebirds. I think that says a lot about his character. He’s the type of person, if you give him lemons, he’s going to give you lemonade. He’s making the most out of the situation and finding the positive and using it as a growing experience, which I think is very mature of him and says a lot for him as a person."

Saarijärvi (5-9, 161 pounds) could wind up getting his first taste of pro hockey after his season with the Firebirds concludes. He has 10 goals and 22 assists for 32 points in 44 games this season for the Firebirds.

Martin said no decisions have been made on where Saarijärvi will play next season.

Saarijärvi, a native of Rovaniemi, Finland, decided to play for the Firebirds rather than play in a pro league in Finland after he was drafted 73rd overall (third round) by the Red Wings. That decision was based in part on a belief that he would play a bigger role on the Firebirds.

“As an organization, we’re excited to get him into Grand Rapids or Toledo at the end of the OHL season,” Martin said. “He’s indicated he wants to try to play some games. Whether he can get into the lineup in Grand Rapids remains to be seen, or whether there’s maybe a better fit for him in Toledo, we’ll just have to cross that bridge when we come to it. But we’re looking forward to watching him play some pro games at some point."

The Grand Rapids Griffins are the Wings’ American Hockey League affiliate. The Toledo Walleye are the Wings’ ECHL affiliate.

Messages seeking comment from Gruden and team president Costa Papista were not immediately returned.

OHL commissioner David Branch said in a statement: "This change, the manner in which it occurred and the way it was communicated to the players and to the league is of great concern. We have been in contact with the team captain and it is our intention to meet and communicate with all players and families in short order. The players and their playing experience is of the utmost importance to the league and we will continue to work to ensure that they are treated with respect. It is the league’s intention to immediately review the actions of the Flint Firebirds before we determine the next steps we will take to address this situation."

Contact George Sipple: gsipple@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @georgesipple. Check out our Red Wings Xtra app on Apple and Android!