OHL appoints Burnett as GM of Flint Firebirds hockey team

FLINT, Mich. (AP) The Ontario Hockey League has appointed George Burnett to serve as general manager of the Flint Firebirds.

The OHL made the move Tuesday, three months after suspending Firebirds owner Rolf Nilsen. He fired coach and general manager John Gruden twice last season. The first time Nilsen fired Gruden in November, the coach was reinstated the next day after the players, including the owner's son, responded in a unified protest.

Burnett and assistant general manager Joe Stefan signed three-year contracts. Burnett was the coach and GM of the OHL's Hamilton Bulldogs.