2023–24 Coachella Valley Firebirds season

The 2023–24 Coachella Valley Firebirds season was the franchise's second season in the American Hockey League (AHL), starting on October 13, 2023, and ending on June 24, 2024, after losing to the Hershey Bears in game six of the Calder Cup Finals. They play their home games at Acrisure Arena.

2023–24 Coachella Valley Firebirds
Western Conference champions
Pacific Division champions
League2nd AHL
Division1st Pacific
Conference1st Western
2023–24 record46–15–6–5 (103 pts)
Home record20–10–3
Road record26–5–3
Goals for257
Goals against194
Team information
General managerTroy Bodie (de facto - VP of Hockey Operations)
CoachDan Bylsma
CaptainMax McCormick
Alternate captainsGustav Olofsson
Andrew Poturalski
ArenaAcrisure Arena
Average attendance8,844
Team leaders
GoalsMax McCormick (32)
AssistsKole Lind (48)
PointsKole Lind (65)
Penalty minutesIan McKinnon (102)
WinsChris Driedger (24)
Goals against averageChris Driedger (2.26)

On March 23, 2024, the Firebirds clinched a playoff berth for the second consecutive season following a 4–3 shootout loss against the San Diego Gulls.[1] They clinched the Pacific Division following a 3–1 win over the Ontario Reign on April 10.[2]

Standings

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 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

Division

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Pacific Division GP W L OTL SOL Pts Pts% GF GA
y–Coachella Valley Firebirds (SEA) 72 46 15 6 5 103 .715 252 182
x–Tucson Roadrunners (ARI) 72 43 23 4 2 92 .639 222 214
x–Ontario Reign (LAK) 72 42 23 3 4 91 .632 231 198
x–Colorado Eagles (COL) 72 40 25 5 2 87 .604 215 195
x–Abbotsford Canucks (VAN) 72 40 25 5 2 87 .604 234 210
x–Bakersfield Condors (EDM) 72 39 27 4 2 84 .583 223 202
x–Calgary Wranglers (CGY) 72 35 28 6 3 79 .549 203 212
e–Henderson Silver Knights (VGK) 72 28 36 3 5 64 .444 190 243
e–San Diego Gulls (ANA) 72 26 35 10 1 63 .438 216 245
e–San Jose Barracuda (SJS) 72 24 34 10 4 62 .431 220 260

Conference

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Central Division GP W L OTL SOL Pts Pts% GF GA
y–Coachella Valley Firebirds (SEA) 72 46 15 6 5 103 .715 252 182
y–Milwaukee Admirals (NSH) 72 47 22 2 1 97 .674 238 193
x–Tucson Roadrunners (ARI) 72 43 23 4 2 92 .639 222 214
x–Ontario Reign (LAK) 72 42 23 3 4 91 .632 231 198
x–Colorado Eagles (COL) 72 40 25 5 2 87 .604 215 195
x–Abbotsford Canucks (VAN) 72 40 25 5 2 87 .604 234 210
x–Grand Rapids Griffins (DET) 72 37 23 8 4 86 .597 208 202
x–Rockford IceHogs (CHI) 72 39 26 5 2 85 .590 215 208
x–Bakersfield Condors (EDM) 72 39 27 4 2 84 .583 223 202
x–Calgary Wranglers (CGY) 72 35 28 6 3 79 .549 203 212
x–Texas Stars (DAL) 72 33 33 4 2 72 .500 234 240
x–Manitoba Moose (WPG) 72 34 35 2 1 71 .493 225 243
e–Henderson Silver Knights (VGK) 72 28 36 3 5 64 .444 190 243
e–San Diego Gulls (ANA) 72 26 35 10 1 63 .438 216 245
e–Iowa Wild (MIN) 72 27 37 4 4 62 .431 184 245
e–San Jose Barracuda (SJS) 72 24 34 10 4 62 .431 220 260
e–Chicago Wolves (Ind.) 72 23 35 7 7 60 .417 192 253

Schedule and results

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Preseason

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The preseason schedule was released on September 14, 2023.[3]

2023–24 Game Log – Preseason

Playoffs

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2024 Game Log – Playoffs
Pacific Division Semifinals vs. (P7) Calgary Wranglers – Firebirds win series 3–1
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series Report
1 May 3 Coachella Valley 1–4 Calgary Driedger 6,067 0–1 Report
2 May 5 Coachella Valley 4-3 Calgary OT Driedger 6,097 1–1 Report
3 May 8 Calgary 5-7 Coachella Valley Driedger 7,581 2–1 Report
4 May 10 Calgary 0–3 Coachella Valley Driedger 7,936 3–1 Report
Pacific Division Finals vs. (P3) Ontario Reign – Firebirds won 3–0
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series Report
1 May 15 Ontario 2–3 Coachella Valley Driedger 7,633 1–0 Report
2 May 17 Ontario 3-5 Coachella Valley Driedger 8,682 2–0 Report
3 May 19 Coachella Valley 3–2 Ontario Driedger 8,355 3–0 Report
Western Conference Finals vs. (C1) Milwaukee Admirals – Firebirds won 4–1
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series Report
1 May 30 Milwaukee 1–2 Coachella Valley Driedger 7,413 1-0 Report
2 June 1 Milwaukee 1–3 Coachella Valley Driedger 10,087 2–0 Report
3 June 4 Coachella Valley 5–2 Milwaukee Driedger 4,729 3–0 Report
4 June 6 Coachella Valley 2–7 Milwaukee Driedger 4,324 3-1 Report
5 June 8 Coachella Valley 5–2 Milwaukee Driedger 6,059 4–1 Report
Calder Cup Finals vs. (A1) Hershey Bears – Bears won 2–4
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series Report
1 June 14 Coachella Valley 4–3 Hershey Driedger 10,154 1–0 Report
2 June 16 Coachella Valley 2–5 Hershey Driedger 10,507 1–1 Report
3 June 18 Hershey 2–6 Coachella Valley Driedger 9,034 2–1 Report
4 June 20 Hershey 3–2 Coachella Valley Driedger 10,087 2–2 Report
5 June 22 Hershey 3–2 Coachella Valley Driedger 10,087 2–3 Report
6 June 24 Coachella Valley 4–5 Hershey OT Driedger 11,013 2–4 Report

Legend:   Win   Loss

Transactions

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The Firebirds have been involved in the following transactions during the 2023–24 season.

Other signings

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Date Player Term Ref
July 19, 2023 (2023-07-19) Ian McKinnon 1-year [14]
July 27, 2023 (2023-07-27) Jeremy McKenna [15]
August 18, 2023 (2023-08-18) Jake McLaughlin [16]
December 11, 2023 (2023-12-11) Cale Morris PTO (25 games) [17]

References

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  1. ^ Rotolo, Gina (March 23, 2024). "Firebirds Clinch Spot in 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs". Coachella Valley Firebirds. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  2. ^ Powers, Shad (April 10, 2024). "Clinched! Coachella Valley Firebirds claim Pacific Division title with win over Ontario". The Desert Sun. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  3. ^ "2023 AHL preseason begins Oct. 3". American Hockey League. September 14, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  4. ^ "Power outage short circuits Firebirds' preseason game at Acrisure Arena". Desert Sun. October 6, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  5. ^ "Firebirds Ink Jacob Hayhurst to AHL Contract". Coachella Valley Firebirds. August 2, 2023. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  6. ^ "Firebirds Add Forward Kyle Jackson". Coachella Valley Firebirds. August 16, 2023. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  7. ^ "Firebirds Sign Goalie Jack LaFontaine". Coachella Valley Firebirds. August 23, 2023. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  8. ^ "Firebirds Sign Defenseman Ryan Jones". Coachella Valley Firebirds. September 26, 2022. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  9. ^ "Firebirds Add Forward Justin Nachbaur". Coachella Valley Firebirds. September 13, 2023. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  10. ^ "Firebirds Add Forward Patrick Curry". Coachella Valley Firebirds. September 20, 2023. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  11. ^ "Seattle Kraken Sign Jimmy Schuldt to One-Year Contract". Seattle Kraken. July 1, 2023. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  12. ^ "Providence Bruins Sign Ethan Ritchie and Shane Starrett to One-Year AHL Contracts". Providence Bruins. July 1, 2023. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  13. ^ "Wolf Pack Agree to Terms With Forward Tristan Mullin on One-Year Contract". Hartford Wolf Pack. August 15, 2023. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  14. ^ "Firebirds Re-Sign Forward McKinnon". Coachella Valley Firebirds. July 19, 2023. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  15. ^ "Coachella Valley Re-Signs Jeremy McKenna". Coachella Valley Firebirds. July 27, 2023. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  16. ^ "Firebirds Re-Sign Defenseman Jake McLaughlin". Coachella Valley Firebirds. August 18, 2023. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  17. ^ "News: The #CVFirebirds have signed goaltender Cale Morris to a professional tryout (PTO)". Tweet by Coachella Valley Firebirds on Twitter. December 11, 2023. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
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