Flint firms up first rounder
Flint Firebirds have signed 2009 birth forward Charlie Murata to an Ontario Hockey League standard player agreement. Murata was taken by Flint with the eighth pick in the first round of the 2025 OHL priority selections draft from the Don Mills Flyers of the Greater Toronto Hockey League.
“I am super grateful for everything and truly honoured to play for such a caring organization,” Murata relayed after signing with Flint. “It feels like one big family from the players, coaches, staff and even the fans who showed up to watch the orientation camp.”
In 32 regular season games for Don Mills in ’24-25, Murata had 21 goals, 19 assists, 40 points. The 6 foot, right hand shooting forward then scored once and added seven assists at the 2025 OHL Cup in which Don Mills made it to the championship game.
Mike Oliverio, who is the head scout for the OHL Firebirds, took note of Murata’s attributes.
“Elite level skating and a high hockey IQ allows Charlie to play every shift with pace. He plays with a team first attitude which helps him make the players around him better. This is evident by the way he uses his vision to distribute pucks to his teammates. He has the ability to change the momentum of a game every time he hits the ice,” relayed Oliverio.
