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
League	2nd AHL
Division	1st Pacific
Conference	1st Western
2023–24 record	46–15–6–5 (103 pts)
Home record	20–10–3
Road record	26–5–3
Goals for	257
Goals against	194
Team information
General manager	Troy Bodie (de facto - VP of Hockey Operations)
Coach	Dan Bylsma
Captain	Max McCormick
Alternate captains	Gustav Olofsson Andrew Poturalski
Arena	Acrisure Arena
Average attendance	8,844
Team leaders
Goals	Max McCormick (32)
Assists	Kole Lind (48)
Points	Kole Lind (65)
Penalty minutes	Ian McKinnon (102)
Wins	Chris Driedger (24)
Goals against average	Chris Driedger (2.26)
← 2022–23 2024–25 →

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

 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

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

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

Preseason

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

2023–24 Game Log – Preseason
0–1–0–0 (Home: 0–1–0–0 ; Road: 0–0–0–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Report – October 6 Ontario – Coachella Valley Canceled due to a power outage at Acrisure Arena[4] 1 October 8 Henderson 3–1 Coachella Valley Stezka 6,239 0–1–0–0 0 Report

Playoffs

Main article: 2024 Calder Cup playoffs

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

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

Free agents acquired Date Player Former team Term Ref August 2, 2023 (2023-08-02) Jacob Hayhurst Springfield Thunderbirds 1-year [5] August 16, 2023 (2023-08-16) Kyle Jackson North Bay Battalion (OHL) [6] August 23, 2023 (2023-08-23) Jack LaFontaine Syracuse Crunch [7] September 6, 2023 (2023-09-06) Ryan Jones [8] September 13, 2023 (2023-09-13) Justin Nachbaur Ontario Reign [9] September 20, 2023 (2023-09-20) Patrick Curry Iowa Wild [10]

Free agents lost Date Player New team Ref July 1, 2023 (2023-07-01) Jimmy Schuldt Seattle Kraken (NHL) [11] Shane Starrett Providence Bruins [12] August 15, 2023 (2023-08-15) Tristan Mullin Hartford Wolf Pack [13]

Other signings

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

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.

External links

• Coachella Valley Firebirds official site