Family fun in Flint: Firebirds hockey

This is part of an occasional series on things for families to do in Flint. All tested by my family. For better or worse. 

A Zamboni will make the day go right.

Especially with assists from a bounce house, face painting, noisemakers, balloons twisted into animals and swords, repeat appearances on the jumbotron, chucking “pucks” on the ice, four programs, four pompoms, four hot dogs, four popcorns, four pops, and three fists full of napkins to wipe up spilled pop (which was actually lemonade). 

Oh, and also a hockey game. 

For about $60 bucks we netted all that stuff and third row seats (which quickly became fourth row seats after Kid One spilled about a gallon of soda on our assigned seats) to our very first Flint Firebirds game at Dort Federal Credit Union Arena.

Let’s be clear: The hockey game in and of itself was pretty cool. 

But as one who juggles the obligations of momhood, relatively little sporting knowledge, and two “strong willed” children, the Firebirds game ended up being a winner for a last-minute adventure. 

Our family of four was lured to a 4:30 Sunday game in which the Firebirds played against another team wearing white jerseys and quite possibly from Canada. 

In our section alone, we knew no less than four families. By the second period we had met two other families through the children’s combined efforts to dance their way onto the jumbotron. 

The forced together time included only one near meltdown by Kid Two of the variety that witnesses seemed to find only slightly terrifying. (Count as a win.) The face painter also dutifully obliged Kid Two’s request for a rainbow kitty face and delighted her so much that I stopped resenting the munchkin for making me miss a Firebirds goal while we waited in line. 

Kid One loved the puck throwing—no worries; they are soft squishy puck look-a-likes. It’s part of a contest during second intermission where (in pure marketing genius) a monetary prize is promised to any who throw their “puck” into the center of the Genesee Valley Center promotion at center ice. No one won, but throwing stuff on the ice is fun and it's one of the best marketing gimmicks I've ever seen.

Almost as much fun as watching Zambonis circle the ice and seeing some all-star young people play their hearts out. 

Also of note ...

• I reached my Fitbit stairs goal going to-and-from seats to face-painting, bathroom, hotdogs and the like.

• When counting lemonade as fruit and ketchup as a vegetable, we were able to hit all four food groups with our meal. 

• The special family pack deal meant we saved enough that we splurged for Kid One to get a jersey. 

• The family enjoyed it so much that we’ve already been back for a second game, even without the family purchase pack. This time, we were able to get seats on the glass.

• There are still a few more home games (March 14 and 17 away, and March 18 at home) in the regular season—and good news: They made the playoffs, too. Check for an updated schedule here: www.flintfirebirds.com.