2018-19 SEASON ISSUE NO. 1
HIGH HOPES HEAD COACH BEN SIMON O F F I C I A L
M A G A Z I N E
O F
T H E
G R A N D
R A P I D S
G R I F F I N S
Vol. 23, No. 1
TABLE OF CONTENTS STARTING LINEUP 26 GREAT EXPECTATIONS Ben Simon enters his first season as the Griffins’ head coach with the challenge to continue the organization’s winning tradition.
26
32 MAKING SPIRITS BRIGHT Defensive prospect Vili Saarijarvi hopes to be dashing his way into the NHL. 42 WANTED: CAMPER IN EXCELLENT CONDITION The well-traveled Carter Camper is looking forward to his stay in Grand Rapids. 52 AHLTV: A WHOLE NEW WAY TO WATCH New video-on-demand technology allows AHL fans to follow their favorite teams both at home and on the road. 56 IN THE LAP OF THE GODS Axel Holmstrom hopes his luck will change during his second full season in the AHL.
32
ON THE BENCH 50......InfoGRIFFics 2.........Chalk Talk 4.........Scouting Report 63......Griffins Records 9.........Griffins Schedule 68......Griffins All-Stars 12......AHL Tradition 73......Penalty Calls 15......AHL Team Directory 74......Arena Map/Ticket Info 19......Detroit Red Wings 76......It All Starts Here 21......Promotional Calendar 79......Calder City Comics 24......Quite a Site 80......Parting Shot 40......Meet the Griffins
COVER: New Griffins head coach Ben Simon chats with defenseman Brian Lashoff, one of the veterans who will help mentor the Red Wings’ prospects this season.
42
Photo by Mark Newman
Griffiti magazine is published four times a year by the Grand Rapids Griffins, Van Andel Arena, 130 W. Fulton St., Grand Rapids, MI 49503. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. All contents ©2018 Grand Rapids Griffins. For advertising information, contact Griffins Sales & Marketing, (616) 774-4585; fax (616) 336-5464. Unsolicited manuscripts and other materials will not be returned.
56
Chalk WITH GRIFFINS HEAD COACH BEN SIMON
Ben Simon is excited about starting his first season as an AHL head coach after taking over the bench from Todd Nelson, now an assistant coach with the NHL’s Dallas Stars. The former assistant coach and one-time Grffins player would like nothing better than a good start. He is realistic to know that it is not a sure thing. “I think getting off to a good start is obviously important, but at the end of the day it’s not where you start, it’s where you finish.” Simon thinks back to 2015-16, his first season as an assistant in Grand Rapids, when the Griffins started their year with a 1-7 record. The team eventually qualified for the playoffs and advanced to the second round before losing to the eventual Calder Cup champion Lake Erie Monsters. “We were banging our heads against the wall,” he said. “It was almost painful, but we continued to work and stay positive until we righted the ship, because if you keep doing the little things right, eventually you’ll get back on track and then confidence can snowball. Of course, it goes both ways. Sometimes you feel like you’re in quicksand and the harder you fight, the quicker you sink.” 2 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
Photo: Sam Iannamico
Talk
Simon was encouraged by what he saw from his young Red Wings team during the annual NHL Prospects Tournament in Traverse City that preceded Detroit’s training camp and eight-game preseason slate. After dropping their opening contest of the tourney, the Wings rallied for a pair of victories to reach the championship game, eventually dropping a 7-3 decision to the Columbus Blue Jackets. “I thought they showed some resolve and character in the way that they were able to bounce back,” Simon said. “As the guys got more comfortable, they gained some confidence. You could see the progression from the first game to the fourth game in regard to the way guys were playing. I think they were settling in and they weren’t as nervous.” It was Simon’s first turn behind the bench as the prospects’ head coach and he took a rather honest perspective of how things went. In retrospect, he wonders whether he didn’t throw too much at his young players. “We tried to teach as much as we could in a short amount of time,” he said. “Moving forward next year, we might not give them
as much information because it seemed like some guys were thinking too much instead of playing instinctively. It might have led to some confusion and delay in their thought process on the ice.” Even so, he came away impressed by the young talent that the Red Wings have assembled in recent drafts. “All in all, it was a good experience for our youngest guys to play against some of the older pros on other teams,” he said. “It was also a good measuring stick for our scouts to see where our prospects stand. Even in the championship game, we did a lot of good things and I thought the final score wasn’t indicative of the closeness of the game. “From a coaching standpoint, it was good for us to see all these kids, whether some of them end up in Grand Rapids or Toledo this year or even in two or three years down the road. We’re building relationships as we go, and as they come down the pipeline, it will be a little easier for them to assimilate into the culture of this organization.” As the Red Wings pulled together an impressive string of preseason victories, Simon was doing his best to temper his excitement heading into the season, unsure which players with NHL contracts would end up in Grand Rapids to play at Van Andel Arena. And yet no matter the mix of players under his tutelage, Simon is confident that he will have a good group thanks to Detroit’s
ability to sign veteran players to mentor their young prospects. “The Detroit management team has done a great job of bringing in good character players who have had success in other organizations as well as keeping people who have had success in our own organization,” he said. Winning, Simon contends, is a skill. Creating an environment that fosters good habits is a good first step. “It starts with being around good people who work hard,” he said. “It’s doing the little things right and doing them every day on a constant and consistent basis so they become habits, and the habits eventually become who you are. The more you’re doing things right, the more likely you will have success.” Simon has high hopes that his first Griffins team will quickly develop a winning attitude. He is a stickler for details and he knows that it’s the little things that can spell the difference between winning and losing. “When you can improve the little things, the greater chance that bigger and better things will happen,” he said. “There’s a fine line between developing players and winning. This organization has a tremendous track record for doing both and I’m well-aware of the expectations that come with his job. Both of the coaches that preceded me (Nelson and Jeff Blashill) won Calder Cups, so I have big shoes to fill. I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
2018-19 GRIFFINS HOCKEY OPERATIONS STAFF
General Manager
Ryan Martin
Video Coach
Bill LeRoy
Head Coach
Assistant Coach
Ben Simon
Matt Macdonald
Athletic Trainer
Assistant Athletic Trainer
John Bernal
Anthony Polazzo
Assistant Coach
Assistant Coach
Goaltending Coach
Brad Tapper
Mike Knuble
Brian Mahoney-Wilson
Equipment Manager
Assistant Equipment Manager
Strength-Conditioning Coordinator
Brad Thompson
Charlie Kaser
Marcus Kinney
Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 3
SCOUTING
REPORT
HERSHEY
• Grand Rapids is 7-1 all time facing the Bears, who are in their 81st AHL season. Hershey earned its first victory against the Griffins last Oct. 21, in what was the Bears’ first visit to West Michigan since Dec. 22, 2005.
OCT. 12
• The Griffins and Bears are matching up in back-to-back seasons for the first time since the 2001-02 and 2002-03 campaigns. • Hershey’s NHL affiliate, the Washington Capitals, claimed the franchise’s first Stanley Cup last June. Fourteen players on Washington’s playoff roster previously played in Hershey, including 10 former Bears who dressed in the Cup-clinching Game 5 win over the Vegas Golden Knights.
TEXAS STARS
TEXAS
PRIMARY MARK
OCT. 17
• Former Griffins head coach Todd Nelson, who led Grand Rapids for the last three seasons and won the 2017 Calder Cup, was hired by Texas’ NHL affiliate in Dallas to be an assistant under first-year head coach Jim Montgomery. • As part of the league’s realignment this summer, Texas and San Antonio joined the Central Division, while Cleveland moved to the Eastern Conference’s North Division. The Griffins and Stars, who lost to Toronto in Game 7 of the Calder Cup Finals, will match up eight times this season.
PANTONE 3425 C
METALLIC SILVER 877
PANTONE 877 C
PROCESS BLACK
WHITE
• Givani Smith, the 46th overall selection in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft by Detroit, is the younger brother of Gemel Smith, who has logged 63 career games with the Dallas Stars entering 2018-19.
4 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
2015-16
CHICAGO
OCT. 20, NOV. 28
• Chicago has won back-to-back regular season Central Division titles. However, from 201618, the Wolves combined to post a 69-36-11-8 record (0.633) against division foes, while the Griffins framed a 71-37-2-8 mark (0.644) during that stretch. Grand Rapids finished 10-7-0-1 against Chicago during the past two seasons. • Griffins first-year head coach Ben Simon and assistant coach Brad Tapper won the Calder Cup as players with the Wolves in 2002, their second consecutive season capturing a league championship together after hoisting the IHL’s Turner Cup with the Orlando Solar Bears in 2001.
IOWA
• Tim Army begins his first season as Iowa’s head coach. He takes over from Derek Lalonde, who was named an assistant coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning in July.
NOV. 2
• Grand Rapids finished 6-4 against Iowa in 2017-18, as seven games were decided by one goal, including four in a shootout. • The Griffins won 20 of the first 24 all-time meetings against the Wild, but are 9-6-0-1 since. • More than 50 skaters have played a game for the Iowa Wild and Minnesota Wild during the five-year affiliation between the clubs. MILWAUKEE ADMIRALS
MILWAUKEE
• Grand Rapids’ all-time goaltending leader in wins (123), games played (263), saves (6640) and minutes (14900:25), and the franchise’s only four-time AHL Man of the Year nominee, Tom McCollum signed a one-year contract with the Admirals in July.
PRIMARY MARK
NOV. 3, NOV. 23
• Entering this season, Grand Rapids posts a 33-15-2-0 (0.680) regular season mark against the Admirals since 2013-14, including a 17-7-1-0 (0.700) record in 25 games at Van Andel Arena. • Karl Taylor is in his first campaign behind Milwaukee’s bench after serving the last four seasons as an assistant with the Texas Stars. Taylor’s time in Texas was highlighted by a trip to the 2018 Calder Cup Finals. PANTONE 292 C
PANTONE 282 C
PANTONE COOL GRAY 4 C
2015-16
WHITE
ROCKFORD
• Since the start of the 2012-13 season, the Griffins are 21-4-1-1 (0.815) against the ‘Hogs at the Van, including wins in eight of the last nine.
NOV. 14
• When Rockford comes to town on Nov. 14, it will mark Grand Rapids’ 18th annual School Day Game, as the Griffins have hosted a weekday game with an early start time every year since the 2001-02 season. Grand Rapids owns an 11-5-1-0 record (0.676) in home matinee games. In last season’s rendition, the Griffins scored five unanswered goals to erase a twogoal deficit and defeat San Antonio 7-4. • Rockford won seven straight games to open the Calder Cup Playoffs last spring but ultimately lost to Texas in six games in the conference finals.
ONTARIO REIGN PRIMARY MARK
ONTARIO
• Ontario’s fourth-year head coach Mike Stothers makes his first return to Van Andel Arena since serving as Grand Rapids’ bench boss during the 2007-08 campaign. During his one season with the Griffins, Stothers coached future Red Wings Jonathan Ericsson, Darren Helm, Jimmy Howard, Jakub Kindl and Kyle Quincey.
NOV. 16
• After Nov. 16’s clash in West Michigan, the Griffins will have faced all five of California’s AHL teams. Bakersfield, Ontario, San Diego, San Jose and Stockton began play in 2015-16. • Nine different players appeared in at least one game with both the Reign and Los Angeles Kings in 2017-18. PANTONE 429 C
PROCESS BLACK
2015-16
WHITE
• Ontario was selected in September to host the 2020 AHL All-Star Classic. MANITOBA MOOSE
MANITOBA
NOV. 17
PRIMARY MARK
• Manitoba, making its first postseason appearance since rejoining the AHL in 2015-16, defeated Grand Rapids in a decisive Game 5 of the Central Division Semifinals last spring to end the Griffins’ incredible run of five straight seasons advancing to at least the second round of the Calder Cup Playoffs. • Since Manitoba rejoined the AHL in 2015-16 following a four-year break, Grand Rapids is 12-4 (0.750) against the Moose, including 6-2 at Van Andel Arena. • Rookie skaters accounted for 71 of Manitoba’s 253 goals (28.1%) during the 2017-18 season.
PANTONE 282 C
PANTONE 2945 C
PANTONE COOL GRAY 11
PANTONE 429 C
WHITE
2015-16
Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 5
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Dear Griffins Fans, They say that good things come in threes. Jeff Blashill’s three-year tenure as head coach of the Griffins began with capturing our franchise’s first Calder Cup championship in 2013 and concluded with his hiring as bench boss for the Detroit Red Wings. He was succeeded by the “original Griffin,” former defenseman Todd Nelson, who during his own three years at the Griffins’ helm captured our second Calder Cup in 2017. Over the summer he made his well-deserved return to the National Hockey League, as an assistant coach with the Dallas Stars. Now, our head coaching baton passes to a man we’ve come to know very well through the years. Ben Simon, who as a player won a pair of championships at our expense before eventually lacing up his skates for us 12 years ago, embarks on his third role with our organization. He served at Nelson’s right hand as an assistant coach over the last three seasons, forging a reputation as a thorough, detail-oriented workhorse who rarely saw a sunrise; he was typically already at his desk, deep in the bowels of Van Andel Arena.
2013
The challenge for Simon, his new pair of assistant coaches, Matt Macdonald and Brad Tapper, and our returning staff is to build upon our remarkable six-year run of success while integrating more than the usual number of new players into the Griffins’ lineup and culture. While our championship memories from June 2017 remain vivid, no more than 10 players whose names are found on the Calder Cup will find a place in our lineup this season. That’s life in a developmental league, of course, but with it comes the excitement and anticipation of getting to know the next wave of Red Wings prospects who are tasked with maintaining our tradition.
LETTER FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER — DAN DEVOS GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS
10 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
And if this mix of familiar and new faces ultimately succeeds in our quest to bring a third AHL championship to Grand Rapids, Simon would join a select trio of men who’ve achieved the rare trifecta of winning a Calder Cup as a player, an assistant coach and a head coach – a feat most recently accomplished by Nelson with the 2017 Griffins. That three-of-a-kind is hard to beat. Along with these changes around the locker room this season, we’re excited about two new and improved ways that you can follow the Griffins. Be sure to check out our completely redesigned website at griffinshockey.com, and never miss a single Griffins game by subscribing to the league’s new video streaming platform, AHLTV. We look forward to everything this new season promises. Sincerely,
Dan DeVos Chief Executive Officer Grand Rapids Griffins
2018 - 2019 SEASON
Dear Fans, It is my pleasure to once again welcome you to a new American Hockey League season, the latest chapter in a tradition of excellence that dates back to our founding in 1936.
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT —— DAVID A. ANDREWS PRESIDENT & CEO, AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE
The AHL remains proud of its role in developing the vast majority of players, coaches, executives, trainers, broadcasters and officials who you see throughout the National Hockey League. Since 1936, our great fans have been able to cheer for blossoming NHL stars, future Stanley Cup champions, and more than 100 eventual members of the Hockey Hall of Fame. We are coming off of a record-setting year on and off the ice, capped by the Toronto Marlies’ memorable run to the Calder Cup championship. And the 2018-19 season is sure to be another exciting one, as we drop the puck in an all-time high of 31 cities across North America. Welcome to our new fans in Colorado, and thank you to all of you for your continuing support of the AHL. Sincerely,
DAVID A. ANDREWS
TheAHL.com
PRESIDENT & CEO | AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE
Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 11
BY THE NUMBERS
87%
A TRADITION OF
Percentage of all NHL players in 2017-18 who were graduates of the AHL
29
AHL graduates led their NHL team in goaltending wins
THE BEGINNINGS Marking its 83rd season of play in 2018-19, the American Hockey League is continuing a tradition of excellence that began in 1936 when the Canadian-American Hockey League merged with the International Hockey League to form what is today known as the AHL. Eight teams hit the ice that first season, playing in Buffalo, Cleveland, New
12
Haven, Philadelphia,
recent championship
Pittsburgh,
was captured by
Providence,
the Toronto Marlies
Springfield and
last spring.
Syracuse. From those roots, Frank Calder, the
the American Hockey
National Hockey
League has grown into
League’s president
a 31-team league that
at the time, was
provides fans with
instrumental in the
exciting, high-level
forming of this new
professional hockey
league, and his name
while preparing
would be given to its
thousands of players,
championship
coaches, officials,
trophy. The first
executives, trainers,
Calder Cup was won
broadcasters and more
by the Syracuse Stars
for careers in the NHL
in 1937; the most
328
AHL players who also played in the NHL in 2017-18
229
Former 1st- and 2ndround NHL draft picks who skated in the AHL in 2017-18
22
AHL Graduates led their team in rookie scoring
LEFT TYLER PEKKA FFROM ROM L E F TTO T ORIGHT: R I G HBRADEN T: B R A DHOLTBY, E N H O LT B Y, TJOHNSON, Y L E R J O HJAKE N S O GUENTZEL N , J A K E G,UCLAUDE E N T Z E LGIROUX, , CLAUD E G I RRINNE OUX, PEKKA RINNE
THE PLAYERS
THE LEGENDS
THE COACHES
In today’s National
For the past eight
At the start of the 2018-19 season, the National Hockey
Hockey League
decades, the American
League featured 23 head coaches who were former
nearly 90 percent of
Hockey League has
AHL bench bosses, including 2018 Stanley Cup winner
the players are AHL
been home to some of
alumni, including 2018
the greatest players in
Hart Trophy recipient
the history of our sport.
Taylor Hall of the New
In fact, more than 100
Jersey Devils, Vezina
honored members
Trophy winner Pekka
of the Hockey Hall
John Tortorella also spent time in the AHL before
Rinne of the Nashville
of Fame have been
making the jump.
Predators and Lady
affiliated with the AHL
Byng Trophy winner
during their careers.
William Karlsson of the
All-time greats like
Vegas Golden Knights.
Johnny Bower, Toe
The 2018 Stanley Cup
Blake, Gump Worsley,
champion Washington
Terry Sawchuk, Glenn
Capitals were stocked
Hall, Brad Park, Ken
with AHL graduates,
Dryden, and Brett
including former Calder
Hull came through
Cup winners Braden
the AHL ranks and
Holtby, John Carlson
now find themselves
and Jay Beagle.
enshrined in Toronto,
Barry Trotz, two-time champion Mike Sullivan and 2016 Calder Cup winner Jared Bednar. Tampa Bay’s Jon Cooper, Detroit’s Jeff Blashill, Minnesota’s Bruce Boudreau, Toronto’s Mike Babcock and Columbus’s
and the coveted Calder During the 2017-18
Cup is inscribed with
season, a total of 856
the names of legendary
AHL alumni played in
AHL alumni like Patrick
the National Hockey
Roy, Larry Robinson,
League. There were
Gerry Cheevers, Andy
328 players who skated
Bathgate, Tim Horton,
in both leagues last
Al Arbour, Emile
year alone, including
Francis, Doug Harvey,
Nashville’s Juuse Saros,
and Billy Smith.
Philadelphia’s Travis Sanheim, Toronto’s Travis Dermott and Vegas’s Shea Theodore. In addition, nearly 230 former first- and secondround NHL draft picks developed their skills in the AHL last season, including Dylan Strome, Alex Nylander,
“I WISH EVERY PLAYER COULD PLAY IN THE AHL... I WOULDN’T TRADE IT FOR THE WORLD.” -
- P. K . S U B B A N
N A S H V I L L E P R E D AT O R S
Filip Chytil, Colin White, Luke Kunin and Jack Roslovic.
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2018-19 AHL DIRECTORY EASTERN CONFERENCE
HARTFORD WOLF PACK
NHL AFFILIATION: New York Rangers HOME ICE: XL Center (15,635) GENERAL MANAGER: Chris Drury HEAD COACH: Keith McCambridge ENTERED AHL: 1997-98 CALDER CUPS: One (2000) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 15 of 21 2017-18 RECORD: 34-33-6-3, 77 pts./0.507 WEBSITE: hartfordwolfpack.com
ATLANTIC DIVISION: Bridgeport, Charlotte, Hartford, Hershey, Lehigh Valley, Providence, Springfield, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton NORTH DIVISION: Belleville, Binghamton, Cleveland, Laval, Rochester, Syracuse, Toronto, Utica
BELLEVILLE SENATORS
NHL AFFILIATION: Ottawa Senators HOME ICE: CAA Arena (4,350) GENERAL MANAGER: Pierre Dorion HEAD COACH: Troy Mann ENTERED AHL: 2017-18 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 0 of 1 2017-18 RECORD: 29-42-2-3, 63 pts./0.414 WEBSITE: bellevillesens.com
HERSHEY BEARS
NHL AFFILIATION: Washington Capitals HOME ICE: Giant Center (10,500) GENERAL MANAGER: Bryan Helmer HEAD COACH: Spencer Carbery ENTERED AHL: 1938-39 CALDER CUPS: 11 (1947, 1958, 1959, 1969, 1974, 1980, 1988, 1997, 2006, 2009, 2010) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 67 of 80 2017-18 RECORD: 30-37-4-5, 69 pts./0.454 WEBSITE: hersheybears.com
BINGHAMTON DEVILS
NHL AFFILIATION: New Jersey Devils HOME ICE: Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena (4,897) GENERAL MANAGER: Tom Fitzgerald HEAD COACH: Mark Dennehy ENTERED AHL: 2006-07 (as Lowell Devils) CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 4 of 12 2017-18 RECORD: 25-38-9-4, 63 pts./0.414 WEBSITE: binghamtondevils.com
LAVAL ROCKET
NHL AFFILIATION: Montreal Canadiens HOME ICE: Place Bell (10,062) GENERAL MANAGER: John Sedgwick HEAD COACH: Joel Bouchard ENTERED AHL: 2017-18 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 0 of 1 2017-18 RECORD: 24-42-7-3, 58 pts./0.382 WEBSITE: rocketlaval.com
BRIDGEPORT SOUND TIGERS
NHL AFFILIATION: New York Islanders HOME ICE: Webster Bank Arena (8,412) GENERAL MANAGER: Chris Lamoriello HEAD COACH: Brent Thompson ENTERED AHL: 2001-02 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 8 of 17 2017-18 RECORD: 36-32-5-3, 80 pts./0.526 WEBSITE: soundtigers.com
LEHIGH VALLEY PHANTOMS
NHL AFFILIATION: Philadelphia Flyers HOME ICE: PPL Center (8,420) GENERAL MANAGER: Bill Downey HEAD COACH: Scott Gordon ENTERED AHL: 1996-97 (as Philadelphia Phantoms) CALDER CUPS: Two (1998, 2005) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 12 of 22 2017-18 RECORD: 47-19-5-5, 104 pts./0.684 WEBSITE: phantomshockey.com
CHARLOTTE CHECKERS
NHL AFFILIATION: Carolina Hurricanes HOME ICE: Bojangles’ Coliseum (8,300) GENERAL MANAGER: Derek Wilkinson HEAD COACH: Mike Vellucci ENTERED AHL: 2010-11 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 4 of 8 2017-18 RECORD: 46-26-1-3, 96 pts./0.632 WEBSITE: gocheckers.com
PROVIDENCE BRUINS
NHL AFFILIATION: Boston Bruins HOME ICE: Dunkin’ Donuts Center Providence (11,075) GENERAL MANAGER: John Ferguson CLEVELAND MONSTERS HEAD COACH: Jay Leach PRIMARY MARK ENTERED AHL: 1992-93 CALDER CUPS: One (1999) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 21 of 26 2017-18 RECORD: 45-26-3-2, 95 pts./0.625 WEBSITE: providencebruins.com
CLEVELAND MONSTERS
NHL AFFILIATION: Columbus Blue Jackets HOME ICE: Quicken Loans Arena (18,277/9,447 lower bowl) GENERAL MANAGER: Bill Zito HEAD COACH: John Madden ENTERED AHL: 2007-08 (as Lake Erie Monsters) CALDER CUPS: One (2016) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 2 of 11 2017-18 RECORD: 25-41-7-3, 60 pts./0.395 WEBSITE: clevelandmonsters.com
PANTONE 209 C
ROCHESTER AMERICANS
PANTONE 1235 C
PANTONE 1395 C
PANTONE 429 C
PANTONE 647 C
WHITE
PROCESS BLACK
NHL AFFILIATION: Buffalo Sabres HOME ICE: Blue Cross Arena at the Rochester War Memorial (10,662) GENERAL MANAGER: Randy Sexton HEAD COACH: Chris Taylor ENTERED AHL: 1956-57 CALDER CUPS: Six (1965, 1966, 1968, 1983, 1987, 1996) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 45 of 62 2017-18 RECORD: 37-22-11-6, 91 pts./0.599 WEBSITE: amerks.com 2018-19
Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 15
2018-19 AHL DIRECTORY SPRINGFIELD THUNDERBIRDS
UTICA COMETS
SYRACUSE CRUNCH
WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON PENGUINS
NHL AFFILIATION: Florida Panthers HOME ICE: MassMutual Center (6,793) GENERAL MANAGER: Eric Joyce HEAD COACH: Geordie Kinnear ENTERED AHL: 2016-17 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 0 of 2 2017-18 RECORD: 32-37-5-2, 71 pts./0.467 WEBSITE: springfieldthunderbirds.com NHL AFFILIATION: Tampa Bay Lightning HOME ICE: War Memorial Arena (6,110) GENERAL MANAGER: Julien BriseBois HEAD COACH: Benoit Groulx ENTERED AHL: 1994-95 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 14 of 24 2017-18 RECORD: 46-22-3-5, 100 pts./0.658 WEBSITE: syracusecrunch.com
TORONTO MARLIES
NHL AFFILIATION: Vancouver Canucks HOME ICE: Utica Memorial Auditorium (3,917) GENERAL MANAGER: Ryan Johnson HEAD COACH: Trent Cull ENTERED AHL: 2013-14 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 3 of 5 2017-18 RECORD: 38-26-8-4, 88 pts./0.579 WEBSITE: uticacomets.com NHL AFFILIATION: Pittsburgh Penguins HOME ICE: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza (8,050) GENERAL MANAGER: Bill Guerin HEAD COACH: Clark Donatelli ENTERED AHL: 1999-00 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 17 of 19 2017-18 RECORD: 45-22-6-3, 99 pts./0.651 WEBSITE: wbspenguins.com
NHL AFFILIATION: Toronto Maple Leafs HOME ICE: Coca-Cola Coliseum (7,851) GENERAL MANAGER: Laurence Gilman HEAD COACH: Sheldon Keefe ENTERED AHL: 2005-06 CALDER CUPS: One (2018) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 10 of 13 2017-18 RECORD: 54-18-2-2, 112 pts./0.737 WEBSITE: marlies.ca
WESTERN CONFERENCE CENTRAL DIVISION: Grand Rapids, Chicago, Iowa, Manitoba, Milwaukee, Rockford, San Antonio, Texas PACIFIC DIVISION: Bakersfield, Colorado, Ontario, San Diego, San Jose, Stockton, Tucson
COLORADO EAGLES
NHL AFFILIATION: Colorado Avalanche HOME ICE: Budweiser Events Center (5,289) GENERAL MANAGER: Craig Billington HEAD COACH: Greg Cronin ENTERED AHL: 2018-19 WEBSITE: coloradoeagles.com
BAKERSFIELD CONDORS
GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS
CHICAGO WOLVES
IOWA WILD
NHL AFFILIATION: Edmonton Oilers HOME ICE: Rabobank Arena (8,751) GENERAL MANAGER: Craig MacTavish HEAD COACH: Jay Woodcroft ENTERED AHL: 2015-16 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 0 of 3 2017-18 RECORD: 31-27-9-1, 72 pts./0.529 WEBSITE: bakersfieldcondors.com NHL AFFILIATION: Vegas Golden Knights HOME ICE: Allstate Arena (16,692) GENERAL MANAGER: Wendell Young HEAD COACH: Rocky Thompson ENTERED AHL: 2001-02 CALDER CUPS: Two (2002, 2008) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 12 of 17 2017-18 RECORD: 42-23-7-4, 95 pts./0.625 WEBSITE: chicagowolves.com 16 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
NHL AFFILIATION: Detroit Red Wings HOME ICE: Van Andel Arena (10,834) GENERAL MANAGER: Ryan Martin HEAD COACH: Ben Simon ENTERED AHL: 2001-02 CALDER CUPS: Two (2013, 2017) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 12 of 17 2017-18 RECORD: 42-25-2-7, 93 pts./0.612 WEBSITE: griffinshockey.com NHL AFFILIATION: Minnesota Wild HOME ICE: Wells Fargo Arena (8,356) GENERAL MANAGER: Tom Kurvers HEAD COACH: Tim Army ENTERED AHL: 2013-14 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 0 of 5 2017-18 RECORD: 33-27-10-6, 82 pts./0.539 WEBSITE: iowawild.com
2018-19 AHL DIRECTORY MANITOBA MOOSE PRIMARY MARK
MANITOBA MOOSE
SAN JOSE BARRACUDA
NHL AFFILIATION: Winnipeg Jets HOME ICE: Bell MTS Place (8,812) GENERAL MANAGER: Craig Heisinger HEAD COACH: Pascal Vincent ENTERED AHL: 2001-02 (played through 2010-11; re-entered 2015-16) CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 10 of 13 2017-18 RECORD: 42-26-4-4, 92 pts./0.605 WEBSITE: moosehockey.com
PANTONE 429 C
PANTONE COOL GRAY 11
PANTONE 2945 C
PANTONE 282 C
NHL AFFILIATION: San Jose Sharks HOME ICE: SAP Center at San Jose (6,123, curtained) GENERAL MANAGER: Joe Will HEAD COACH: Roy Sommer ENTERED AHL: 2015-16 CALDER CUPS: None MILWAUKEESEASONS ADMIRALSIN PLAYOFFS: 3 of 3 PRIMARY MARK 2017-18 RECORD: 34-26-4-4, 76 pts./0.559 WEBSITE: sjbarracuda.com
STOCKTON
2015-16
WHITE
MILWAUKEE ADMIRALS
PRIMARY MA
STOCKTON HEAT
NHL AFFILIATION: Nashville Predators HOME ICE: UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena (9,450) GENERAL MANAGER: Scott Nichol HEAD COACH: Karl Taylor ENTERED AHL: 2001-02 CALDER CUPS: One (2004) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 14 of 17 2017-18 RECORD: 38-32-4-2, 82 pts./0.539 WEBSITE: milwaukeeadmirals.com
PANTONE 282 C
PANTONE 292 C
PANTONE COOL GRAY 4 C
NHL AFFILIATION: Calgary Flames HOME ICE: Stockton Arena (6,705) GENERAL MANAGER: Brad Pascall HEAD COACH: Cail MacLean ENTERED AHL: 2015-16 CALDER CUPS: None ONTARIO REIGN IN PLAYOFFS: 1 of 3 SEASONS PRIMARY MARK 2017-18 RECORD: 34-28-2-4, 74 pts./0.544 WEBSITE: stocktonheat.com 2015-16
WHITE
TEXAS STAR PRIMARY MARK
PANTONE 186 C
PANTONE 425 C
PANTONE 110 C
PANTONE 142 C
PROCESS BLACK
TEXAS STARS
ONTARIO REIGN
NHL AFFILIATION: Los Angeles Kings HOME ICE: Citizens Business Bank Arena (9,491) GENERAL MANAGER: Richard Seeley HEAD COACH: Mike Stothers ENTERED AHL: 2015-16 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 3 of 3 2017-18 RECORD: 36-25-4-3, 79 pts./0.581 WEBSITE: ontarioreign.com
NHL AFFILIATION: Dallas Stars HOME ICE: H-E-B Center at Cedar Park (6,863) GENERAL MANAGER: Scott White HEAD COACH: Derek Laxdal ENTERED AHL: 2009-10 CALDER CUPS: One (2014) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 7 of 9 2017-18 RECORD: 38-24-8-6, 90 pts./0.592 WEBSITE: texasstars.com PANTONE 3425 C
PANTONE 429 C
PROCESS BLACK
ROCKFORD ICEHOGS
PROCESS BLACK
WHITE
NHL AFFILIATION: Arizona Coyotes HOME ICE: Tucson Arena (6,521) GENERAL MANAGER: Steve Sullivan HEAD COACH: Jay Varady ENTERED AHL: 2016-17 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 1 of 2 2017-18 RECORD: 42-20-5-1, 90 pts./0.662 WEBSITE: tucsonroadrunners.com
SAN ANTONIO RAMPAGE
NHL AFFILIATION: St. Louis Blues HOME ICE: AT&T Center (6,374, lower bowl) GENERAL MANAGER: Kevin McDonald HEAD COACH: Drew Bannister ENTERED AHL: 2002-03 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 4 of 16 2017-18 RECORD: 35-31-10-0, 80 pts./0.526 WEBSITE: sarampage.com
THE ROAD TO THE CALDER CUP Eight teams in each conference will qualify for the 2019 Calder Cup Playoffs. The SAN DIEGO GULLS
top four teams in each division, ranked by points percentage (points earned divided by points available), will qualify for the postseason.
PRIMARY MARK
SAN DIEGO GULLS
PANTONE 1655 C
PANTONE 877 C
TUCSON ROADRUNNERS
NHL AFFILIATION: Chicago Blackhawks HOME ICE: BMO Harris Bank Center (5,895) GENERAL MANAGER: Mark Bernard HEAD COACH: Jeremy Colliton ENTERED AHL: 2007-08 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 6 of 11 2017-18 RECORD: 40-28-4-4, 88 pts./0.579 WEBSITE: icehogs.com
NHL AFFILIATION: Anaheim Ducks HOME ICE: Valley View Casino Center (12,920) GENERAL MANAGER: Bob Ferguson HEAD COACH: Dallas Eakins ENTERED AHL: 2015-16 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 2 of 3 2017-18 RECORD: 36-28-3-1, 76 pts./0.559 WEBSITE: sandiegogulls.com
METALLIC SILVER 877
2015-16
WHITE
PANTONE MEDIUM BLUE C
PANTONE 5455 C
PROCESS BLACK
WHITE
The division semifinals will be bestof-five series, with the first-place team playing the fourth-place team and the second-place team facing the third-place team. The division finals, conference finals and Calder Cup Finals will be best-of-seven series. 2015-16
Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 17
WHITE
DETROIT RED WINGS TOP AFFILIATE Grand Rapids Griffins 17th Season
ARENA
Little Caesars Arena Seating Capacity: 19,515
CONTACT
(313) 471-7000 detroitredwings.com
STANLEY CUPS
1936, 1937, 1943, 1950, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2008
MANAGEMENT
Photo: Getty Images
EXECUTIVE VP/ GENERAL MANAGER: Ken Holland ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER: Ryan Martin
COACHING STAFF
G
riffins alumni led the Red Wings in every significant statistical category in 2017-18, highlighted by Anthony Mantha’s 24 goals and nine power play goals, along with Dylan Larkin’s 47 assists and 63 points. In all, 23 former Griffins wore the Winged Wheel last season, energizing a Grand RapidsDetroit affiliation that will continue until at least 2022.
HEAD COACH: Jeff Blashill ASSISTANT COACHES: Dan Bylsma, Doug Houda, Pat Ferschweiler ASST. COACH/VIDEO: Adam Nightingale GOALTENDING COACH: Jeff Salajko STRENGTH & CONDITIONING COACH: Mike Kadar
GRIFFINS WHO HAVE EARNED THEIR WINGS Justin Abdelkader, 2008-09 Adam Almquist, 2013-14 Joakim Andersson, 2011-12 Andreas Athanasiou, 2015-16 Sean Avery, 2002-03 Ryan Barnes, 2003-04 Tyler Bertuzzi, 2016-17 Patrick Boileau, 2002-03 Darryl Bootland, 2003-04 Fabian Brunnstrom, 2011-12 Mitch Callahan, 2013-14 Ty Conklin, 2011-12 Chris Conner, 2011-12 Jared Coreau, 2016-17 Danny DeKeyser, 2013-14 Aaron Downey, 2008-09 Patrick Eaves, 2013-14 Matt Ellis, 2006-07 Cory Emmerton, 2010-11 Jonathan Ericsson, 2007-08 Landon Ferraro, 2013-14
Valtteri Filppula, 2005-06 Martin Frk, 2017-18 Luke Glendening, 2013-14 Mark Hartigan, 2007-08 Darren Helm, 2007-08 Joe Hicketts, 2017-18 Jimmy Howard, 2005-06 Jiri Hudler, 2003-04 Matt Hussey, 2006-07 Doug Janik, 2009-10 Nick Jensen, 2016-17 Tomas Jurco, 2013-14 Jakub Kindl, 2009-10 Tomas Kopecky, 2005-06 Niklas Kronwall, 2003-04 Marc Lamothe, 2003-04 Josh Langfeld, 2006-07 Dylan Larkin, 2015-16 Brian Lashoff, 2012-13 Brett Lebda, 2005-06 Ville Leino, 2008-09
Matt Lorito, 2016-17 Joey MacDonald, 2006-07 Donald MacLean, 2005-06 Anthony Mantha, 2015-16 Alexey Marchenko, 2013-14 Darren McCarty, 2007-08 Tom McCollum, 2010-11 Derek Meech, 2006-07 Drew Miller, 2016-17 Kevin Miller, 2003-04 Mark Mowers, 2003-04 Petr Mrazek, 2012-13 Jan Mursak, 2010-11 Anders Myrvold, 2003-04 Andrej Nestrasil, 2014-15 Kris Newbury, 2009-10 Tomas Nosek, 2015-16 Gustav Nyquist, 2011-12 Xavier Ouellet, 2013-14 Teemu Pulkkinen, 2013-14 Kyle Quincey, 2005-06
* not including conditioning stints for Curtis Joseph (2003-04), Chris Osgood (2005-06), Manny Legace (2005-06), Chris Chelios (2008-09), Andreas Lilja (2009-10), Jonas Gustavsson (2012-13), Carlo Colaiacovo (2012-13) and Stephen Weiss (2014-15).
Dan Renouf, 2016-17 Mattias Ritola, 2007-08 Jamie Rivers, 2003-04 Nathan Robinson, 2003-04 Stacy Roest, 2002-03 Robbie Russo, 2016-17 Riley Sheahan, 2011-12 Brendan Smith, 2011-12 Ryan Sproul, 2013-14 Garrett Stafford, 2007-08 Ben Street, 2016-17 Evgeny Svechnikov, 2016-17 Eric Tangradi, 2015-16 Tomas Tatar, 2010-11 Jordin Tootoo, 2013-14 Dominic Turgeon, 2017-18 Jason Williams, 2002-03
Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 19
0111 0000 0000 1111 0001 1111 0010 1111
111 000 000 111 001 111 010 111
01101111 01101110 01101101 01101101 00100000 01111001 01101011 00100000
01110010 01101111 01100001 01100101 01100100 01100001 00100000 01110000
01101011 00100000 01101011 01110010 01110101 01101100 01100001 01101100
Does your bank understand your business?
01100001 00100000 01110000 01100101 01101001 01101100 01101100 01101110 01100001
01101111 01101110 01101101 01101101 00100000 01111001 01101011 00100000
01110010 01101111 01100001 01100101 01100100 01100001 00100000 01110000
01101011 00100000 01101011 01110010 01110101 01101100 01100001 01101100
01101100 01100001 01101100 01110011 01100011 01101100 00100000 01100100 01111001
01100001 00100000 01110000 01100101 01101001 01101100 01101100 01101110
01101100 01100001 01101100 01110011 01100011 01101100 00100000 01100100
01101100 01101110 01100001 00100000 01100001 00100000 01110111 00100000 00100000
01101100 01101110 01100001 00100000 01100001 00100000 01110111 00100000
00100000 01100100 01111001 01100011 00100000 01100010 01101111 01101110
00100000 01100100 01111001 01100011 00100000 01100010 01101111 01101110 01101101
01110111 00100000 00100000 01101111 01100001 01101111 01110010 01101111
01101111 01101110 01101101 01101101 00100000 01111001 01101011 00100000
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08/18
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
011 011 011 011 011 011 001 011
MARK YOUR
2018GR 19 PRO IFFI
SCHMEODTIONNASL ULE
CALENDAR Nov. 17
Princess Night/Lunch Box Giveaway presented by Chick-Fil-A
Oct. 12
Opening Night presented by Huntington Bank/ Magnet Schedule Giveaway
Nov. 19
12th Annual Tip-A-Griffin at Uccello’s Restaurants, benefiting the Griffins Youth Foundation
Oct. 20
2019 Calendar Giveaway presented by Fox Motors
Nov. 2
Hockey Fights Cancer presented by Michigan First Credit Union/Jersey Auction
Nov. 3
Tumbler Giveaway presented by Centennial Securities
Nov. 23 Nov. 14
18th Annual School Day Game presented by Rebounderz 11 a.m. start
19th Annual Teddy Bear Toss presented by J&H Family Stores, benefiting Hug-A-Bears of Kent County
Nov. 30
Fourth Annual Red Kettle Game presented by The Salvation Army/Red Kettle Jersey Auction
Dec. 1
Social Media Night/Power Bank Giveaway presented by DTE Energy
Dec. 15
Arcade Night/Athletic Socks Giveaway presented by Fifth Third Bank
Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 21
Dec. 29
Jan. 25
Bluetooth Speaker Giveaway presented by Adventure Credit Union/FanDesigned Jersey Auction #1
Y2K Night presented by MedExpress Urgent Care
Jan. 26
Bobblehead Giveaway #1 presented by Michigan Office Solutions
Feb. 9
Superhero Night/Third Annual Comic Book Giveaway/ Bobblehead Giveaway #2 presented by Lake Michigan Credit Union
Feb. 15 Dec. 31
Fan-Designed Jersey Auction #2
22nd Annual New Year’s Eve Celebration presented by Farm Bureau Insurance/Post-Game Fireworks/6 p.m. start
Jan. 12
Plaid Hat Giveaway presented by Comerica Bank
Jan. 19
Toy Night/Rubik’s Cube Giveaway presented by Eikenhout/Toy-Themed Jersey Auction
Jan. 19-20
16th Annual Great Skate Winterfest at Rosa Parks Circle, benefiting the Griffins Youth Foundation
22 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
Feb. 16
Star Wars Night presented by DTE Energy
Feb. 26
14th Annual Griffins & Sled Wings Sled Hockey Game, benefiting the Grand Rapids Sled Wings and the Griffins Youth Foundation
March 8
Eighth Annual Purple Community Game presented by Van Andel Institute/Purple Jersey Auction
March 12
Eighth Annual Hockey, Hops & Hope, benefiting Easterseals Michigan
March 15
‘90s Night presented by Spectrum Health Stroke Awareness
March 31
Jake Engel Memorial Dog Game presented by Nestlé Purina
April 12
Season Finale presented by Huntington Bank/ Friday Night Jersey Auction
SEASON-LONG PROMOTIONS $2 Beers and $2 Hot Dogs: Every Friday, enjoy $2 domestic drafts and $2 hot dogs from 6-8 p.m., while supplies last. Get in the D-ZONE: Presented by Coppercraft Distillery, every Friday night is a Griffins D-Zone night. Avoid the concession lines and get your $2 beers and $2 hot dogs served to you in your seats. Call (616) 774-4585 ext. 2 or visit griffinshockey. com/dzone today to purchase a package of four or more D-Zone tickets for any Friday night game. Military Nights: Every home game, current members of our military can purchase up to four Upper Level Faceoff tickets for $14 each, four Upper Level Center Ice tickets for $17 each or four Lower Level Faceoff tickets for $20 each with a valid military ID. The offer also extends to veterans who present a VA ID or discharge papers. College Nights: Presented by Michigan First Credit Union, college students can show their ID at every Friday game to purchase an Upper Level Faceoff ticket for $13 (or $12 in advance at The Zone) or an Upper Level Center Ice ticket for $16 (or $15 in advance at The Zone). Limit one ticket per ID. Free Ride Friday on The Rapid: Ride the Rapid to and from any Friday game and enjoy a complimentary fare by showing your ticket to that night’s game. Visit ridetherapid.org for schedule information, routes and maps. Winning Wednesdays: Presented by Farm Bureau Insurance, every time the Griffins win at home on Wednesday, each fan in attendance will receive a free ticket to the next Wednesday game. To redeem a Winning Wednesday ticket, please visit
the box office following the Winning Wednesday game, The Zone during normal business hours, or the Van Andel Arena box office prior to the next Wednesday game beginning at 5:30 p.m. Fans who exchange their Winning Wednesday ticket at The Zone on a non-game day will receive 20% off the purchase of one item (excluding jerseys). One discount per person present. Post-Game Parties at Peppino’s: After every Wednesday game, join Griffins players and staff for the official post-game party at Peppino’s Sports Grille downtown. Big E’s Score 4 for More: If the Griffins score four or more goals during a home game, take your ticket from that game to Big E’s Sports Grill in Grand Rapids or Holland within four days to receive 50% off any food item. Dine in only. Library Nights: For all Wednesday and Sunday games, fans can present their Grand Rapids Public Library card or Kent District Library card at the Van Andel Arena box office on the night of the game or at The Zone anytime during the store’s regular business hours to purchase either an Upper Level Faceoff ticket for $14 (regularly $16 advance and $19 day of game), an Upper Level Center Ice ticket for $17 (regularly $19 advance and $22 day of game) or a Lower Level Faceoff ticket for $20 (regularly $22 advance and $25 day of game). Limit four tickets per card per person, subject to availability. Friends & Family 4-Packs: Presented by Big E’s Sports Grill and available for all Saturday games, each pack includes four tickets and $12
in concession cash for a great low price. Visit griffinshockey.com/f4p or call (616) 774-4585 ext. 2. Continuing this season, fans may use their concession cash to purchase healthy choice menu options at the stand located outside of section 125, including low-fat yogurt, apples, oranges, granola bars and smoothies. Pepsi Reading Goals: Children with Griff’s Reading Goals bookmarks who have completed the required three hours of reading can redeem their bookmark for two free Upper Level tickets to any of the following games: Bookmark #1 – Nov. 23 and 28; Dec. 5 and 19; Bookmark #2 – Feb. 10; March 6 and 31; April 10. Post-Game Open Skates: Oct. 12, Nov. 3, Dec. 15, Feb. 9, March 31 Huntington Bank Post-Game Autograph Sessions: Oct. 20, Nov. 17, Dec. 1, Jan. 12, Feb. 16 MOS Corner Office: Presented by Michigan Office Solutions, this section, located on the terrace level above section 118, provides the best seats in the house for groups of up to 30 people, with La-Z-Boy chairs and an array of unprecedented amenities. Call (616) 774-4585 ext. 4. J. Gardella’s Sliders Special: Available on select tickets, take your used Griffins ticket to J. Gardella’s Tavern to buy one slider and get one of equal or lesser price free. Refer to the back of select tickets for details. All promotions and dates subject to change. For more information, visit griffinshockey.com.
ALL PROMOTIONS AND DATES SUBJECT TO CHANGE. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT GRIFFINSHOCKEY.COM. Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 23
QUITE For the first time in a long time, fans who visited the Grand Rapids Griffins’ website in mid-September experienced an improved look and feel to it. Officially re-launched on Sept. 18, griffinshockey.com was designed and developed by locally based Eden Creative. Updated aesthetics and navigation ease were among the features at the forefront when the Griffins teamed with Eden to overhaul the franchise’s main public vehicle. “Eden sought out to strategically design and develop a website for the Griffins that was truly next-level in all areas,” Eden partner and design lead Zach Grantham said. “Considering fans, content administrators, project goals, and current technologies, we focused on creating an experience that is as top-class as the Griffins organization itself.” Through a totally revamped and secure home page, fans can quickly search the latest news, videos, social media posts and ticket promotions, all while keeping up with the upcoming schedule and viewing the all-new live score feed for games in progress. The Griffins’ website remains a top destination for fans looking to purchase tickets. In addition to the ticket links featured on the home page, updated ticketing pages assist fans in quickly finding information regarding exactly what they are looking for in terms of single-game, full-
24
season, select-season, group or D-Zone tickets and securing their seats. “In order for us to have a clear direction on the design concepts for the various pages of the website, we needed to have a thorough understanding of the content living on those pages,” Grantham said. “Content is king, and once we knew which pieces we needed to build around, we thought of effective layouts for displaying the content in the correct order.” A number of prominent elements remain on the website, albeit in new and improved fashion. An updated roster page complements the in-depth individual player biography pages that incorporate a player’s social media outlets, action shot and recent media links, in addition to all the relevant career stats and history factoids. A rebuilt schedule page showcases promotions for each game and allows fans to toggle between home and away contests. A new Griffins Features page links to top articles from across the web regarding the Red Wings’ top prospects. “The biggest benefit to the new site is how simple it is to navigate,” Grantham said. “There was a real emphasis on simplicity in terms of navigation and layout with the new website.” Fans will observe a more uniform branding to
A SITE the pages within the navigation menus. Keeping with the consistency theme, griffinshockey.com boasts not only an impressive display whether it’s on desktop, tablet or mobile, but also the same functionality. Throughout the design, development and implementation process that spanned several months, the Griffins’ public relations and digital marketing teams conferenced weekly with Eden to present new ideas and discuss ongoing progress. This was not the first time the Griffins had united with Zach and fellow Eden partner and development lead Seth Douwsma on a massive digital undertaking. Following the club’s second Calder Cup championship in the summer of 2017, the Griffins collaborated with the duo to build the Griffins’ state-of-the-art mobile app, which received resounding reviews both internally and externally. “We were absolutely thrilled with the outcome and unmatched quality of the mobile app,” Griffins president Tim Gortsema said. “When the opportunity presented itself for us to again join forces with Zach and Seth and redesign our website through a local company, Eden Creative, it was an easy choice as we were excited about continuing our relationship.”
Eden’s client base, which continues to expand and is open to organizations both in and out of sports, includes AHL counterparts Ontario and San Diego, in addition to Howie’s Hockey Tape and Arcadia Bluffs Golf Club. With Eden hosting and supporting both the app and website, streamlined synchronization and paired content are among the advantages to having all the digital inventory housed under one roof. “The benefits of using one company for both your app and website is, without a doubt, an understanding of the objectives,” Grantham said. “We know what the fans are looking for, we know what the Griffins organization is looking for, and we understand both technologies and how they work together to form a seamless, cohesive experience.” Both Eden and the Griffins are ecstatic with the website’s display and utility, which further strengthens Grand Rapids’ standing as a digital trend-setter in the league. “With an emphasis on the ticket purchasing experience, a major focus on news content, and by ensuring a superior mobile browsing experience for fans, the new Griffins website is up there with the absolute best in sports and rivals any team, anywhere,” Grantham said. “The significant upgrade to our website, combined with the already outstanding reputation of our app, gives us one of the best digital and userfriendly experiences in all of pro sports,” Gortsema echoed.
Ben Simon enters his first season as the Griffins’ head coach with the challenge to continue the organization’s winning tradition.
Story and photos by Mark Newman
GREAT EXPECTATIONS 26 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
At the press conference where he introduced Ben Simon as the new head coach of the Griffins, Red Wings assistant general manager Ryan Martin spoke about how the Shaker Heights, Ohio, native first came to his attention. At the time, Martin was an agent and Simon was playing hockey at the University of Notre Dame. Martin said he came away impressed by the man who was a fifth-round draft pick of the Chicago Blackhawks, citing qualities as “extremely hardworking,” “competitive” and “great detail to the game” as traits that he thought were notable. “Those qualities were very evident every time that Ben played,” Martin said. “It is clear that not a lot has changed since then. Ben has continued to make his mark and enjoy success as a coach, utilizing many of the same attributes that served him well as a player.” Martin mused that Simon had been part of “one of the longest interviews in AHL head coach history – three years.” “Since the day that Ben was hired as an assistant coach (in 2015), he’s proven to be an invaluable member of the coaching staff,” Martin said. “I believe he is one of the best young coaches in professional hockey. As he transitions from assistant to head coach, I’m sure that success will follow Ben.” Simon steps into a role that could impact the future of the Red Wings franchise, especially given that the team is undergoing a transformation after 25 consecutive years of playoff appearances ended in 2017. “The AHL head coach is one of the most important people in an NHL organization,” Martin said. “As the Red Wings continue to rebuild, developing players for the NHL is going to be paramount to that rebuild, and the AHL coach is going to be fundamental to that process.” The new coach is ready for the challenge. “I’m excited to put my stamp on the organization here,” Simon said. “There are high expectations, but the challenge of maintaining the winning culture that’s been here so long is one that I will embrace.” Simon is thankful that Todd Nelson gave him the chance to become an assistant coach three years ago, when a changing of the guard in the Toronto Maple Leafs organization put his future there in doubt.
“Nellie took a gamble and gave me the opportunity, and I can’t thank him enough for the responsibilities that he gave me,” Simon said. “I can say that I’ve worked with the best in this league. He’s a fantastic coach and I’ve learned a ton from him. “He was very beneficial for my personal growth as a coach because he did a great job of delegating and trusting me to handle a lot of the responsibilities, whether it was menial tasks relating to travel, pre-scouting our opponents, or breaking down our game plan.” Just as players often take something from every coach for whom they play, so do coaches learn from their counterparts. Simon said that what most impressed him about Nelson was the way that the Griffins’ former head coach approached the job. “The biggest thing I took from Nellie is that it’s not always about the Xs and Os,” Simon said. “His biggest strength is just that he’s a genuine person. You could walk into his office and whether we won or lost, whether it was a good game or bad game, he was so even-keeled. He didn’t let little things bother him. I think it speaks to his character and his patience, which of course is huge in a developmental league like the AHL.” Simon also came to appreciate Nelson’s willingness to experiment – one example being the use of five forwards on the power play. “Nellie wasn’t afraid to try new things, whether it was a drill in practice or a tweak to a system,” he said. “He wasn’t afraid to try something and fail. If you fail, it’s no big deal because you can learn from it. If it works, you look like a genius. And if things weren’t working, he wasn’t afraid to change things up.” In his new role, Simon doesn’t expect a drastic overhaul of what is being taught on the ice. “The core philosophy is staying the same. The Red Wings want to win. They believe that players will develop better habits in a winning environment,” he said. “Grand Rapids has historically done a good job of balancing development and winning.” Even so, the organization’s desire to rebuild the team with young talent is likely to have an impact. “With today’s salary cap, it’s tough to build a team from free agent signings, so you have to develop your talent from within the Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 27
Simon played four seasons at Notre Dame (1996-2000), where he served as captain during his senior year. 28 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
organization,” Simon said. “That being said, the development process might be expedited a bit. There’s a huge onus on us to develop some of these younger guys a little quicker than in the past. “I think the organization still has the resolve that they’re not going to sacrifice development for the sake of time. They’re not going to rush a kid to Detroit at the expense of his long-term development. Players still have to earn their call-up, but it’s possible that the opportunity may come a little quicker now. But I don’t think the underlying philosophy has changed.” In his first stint as a head coach in North America, Simon helmed the Cincinnati Cyclones during the 2013-14 season. He guided the team to a 41-23-4-4 record, then became the second head coach in ECHL history to reach the Kelly Cup Finals in his first year. This, though, is the first time that he has transitioned from an assistant’s position to the bench boss within the same organization. “When I accepted the offer, I talked to a few people who had been in that position and discussed what problems they faced,” he said. “I know there’s going to be an adjustment period. I think the core group of guys we have returning already understand who I am, and I would hope there’s a level of mutual respect that will lessen the adjustment period. “I’m not going to change who I am. In the same breath, I’m wearing a different hat now. I still want to be approachable. I still will care about them, both as hockey players and as people, but I know it’s going to be a little different. It’s tough to explain.” How Simon approaches the job will reflect a lot upon his past. “All of your experience – as a player, as a coach, as a person – is something you draw on,” Simon said. “You absolutely draw for better or worse from everything you’ve done in your life. I’ve been blessed to play with and work with a lot of good coaches.” One of the most influential coaches in Simon’s career was Dave Poulin, a 13-year NHL veteran who was the head coach at Notre Dame back when Simon served as a captain at the school. “He was a fantastic resource for me and a great teacher about the game,” he said. “I learned a lot of good habits
from him that I’ve been able to translate into my program.” Now with several years of his own coaching experience, Simon has found his own satisfaction in the teaching aspect of the job. “The coolest thing for coaches in our position is to be able to tell a kid for the first time that he’s going to the NHL,” he said. “To see the look on their face, whether it’s for one game or for the next 10 years of their life, and to watch them on TV, you’d like to think that you might have helped them in some way. That’s the most rewarding part for us. “At the same time, even if they don’t make it to the NHL, you hope they take something away from you as a person. Whether it’s a 19-yearold rookie or a 32-year-old veteran, you hope to have a positive influence on them further on down the road.” It’s that ability to mold players, to help them reach their full potential as they come together as a unit, that drives the detail-oriented Simon. “For me, it’s about the journey with these guys and going through the whole process of development,” he said. “I played for coaches who treated guys the exact same way and held them to the same accountability, but I don’t think that works. Yes, you have to hold guys accountable, but different players come with different expectations. “Each player has to play up to the expectation within the role that he’s assigned. Some young guys are going to make more mistakes than others. Some old guys make mistakes, too, but it’s a fine line between making mistakes and being afraid to fail. If you make a mistake and you learn from it and move forward, you’re better for it.” Psychology is a significant part of coaching, according to Simon. “Some players don’t react as well to being yelled at. Some players need to be shown video. Others will watch video and don’t get it. There are different ways to achieve the same goal. As a coaching staff, we have to get to know the players and their little idiosyncrasies and what makes them tick. The quicker we can learn those things, the quicker we can help them develop.” Simon believes it’s important to develop a trust with the players. “You not only want to put them in a position to succeed but, as the season progresses, give them more opportunity
Simon became the head coach of the Griffins after three seasons as an assistant with Grand Rapids.
in different situations to help them expand their role. If they become more versatile, they become even more useful as a player.” Winning the Calder Cup in 2017 was the first championship for Simon in the coaching ranks after winning a Turner Cup (Orlando Solar Bears) in 2001 and a Calder Cup (Chicago Wolves) in 2002 as a player. “It was a lot different on the coaching side,” he said. “As a player, you’re celebrating with your buddies. You’re going through walls, you’re sweating, you’re bleeding with your teammates. You respect every one of them.” “As a coach, seeing behind the scenes, you’re staying up until 4 in the morning. You’re watching lots of video, and in the end all those long hours are well worth it. Winning the Cup puts everything in perspective. Watching the players celebrate, you like to think that you had something to do with it. “All the time, effort and work – whether it’s as a coach, a player, a GM or a staff member in the ticket office – everyone is working long hours, and those are the sacrifices you and your family make. It’s a grind, but when you enjoy those moments of celebration, you kind of forget Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 29
about all that because it makes all the work worth it. Of course, it’s your job, but it’s nice when it all comes together in the form of a championship.” Simon is looking forward to drawing on the advice of his two assistant coaches: Matt Macdonald, who was head coach of the Cincinnati Cyclones, and Brad Tapper, who was head coach of the Adirondack Thunder. Simon had worked with Macdonald previously in Cincinnati while Tapper was a teammate in Orlando, Chicago and Germany. “As a rookie AHL head coach, I wanted to make sure I hired assistants who had some head coaching experience,” he said. “I wanted them to get the job on their own accord, but the fact that I know them is a bonus. I know that when push comes to shove, they’ll be in the trenches alongside me and we’ll be a solid team.” Simon knows his players will be a mix of prospects and veterans. He is confident that there will be a good combination of talent and skills. “The roster is the everyday challenge of the American Hockey League,” he said. “Your
roster can change with one phone call. It can change with guys earning the right to be called up or with someone being sent down. It could change with a couple of injuries in Detroit. It’s a revolving door and it keeps players and coaches on their toes.” Getting everyone on the same page will be a challenge. Simon said that “attitude” and “effort” will be key values within his locker room. “The makeup of your team will help build the identity, but it’s the work ethic and the resolve of the organization that will help define it,” he said. “I would like to think that our teams will be very well prepared and ready to go. I think our work ethic will speak for itself.” No matter how the roster shakes out, Simon is ready for his first season as the Griffins’ head coach. “I’m very excited,” he said. “I don’t take the opportunity lightly to work for an organization like Detroit that has had so much success. It’s a challenge I want to embrace. Over the years, a lot of talent has come through Grand Rapids. We want to maintain a winning environment while developing these players as quickly as we can.”
Simon logged a total of 81 career NHL games with Atlanta (2001-04) and Columbus (2005-06).
30 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
Photo: Getty Images
Simon played part of the 2006-07 season with the Griffins.
Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 31
MAKING Defensive prospect Vili Saarijarvi hopes to be dashing his way into the NHL. 32 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
SPIRITS BRIGHT
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C
hristmas comes only once a year, but “When I played forward, I always wanted for Vili Saarijarvi, hockey is the gift to score,” he said. “I wanted to play with the that keeps on giving. puck and make plays. Now that I’m playing Long before Santa Claus left street hockey defense, I still have the same abilities, so it’s gear under his tree, he remembers the joy of fun. Learning the defensive game was the skating with a puck on his stick and how it hardest part, but it was a pretty easy transition, would bring an elfish smile to his young face. because being a good skater allowed me to get Saarijarvi hails from Rovaniemi, Finland, out of bad situations defensively.” which, although some 1,600 miles from the During his teen years, Saarijarvi was North Pole, is the official hometown of Santa often skating with players who were two and his reindeer. Located in the Arctic Circle, or three years older. Most of the time, he its winters provided the perfect setting for played on teams older than his age group, boys dreaming of playing in the NHL. although he was happy to play whenever or “With long wherever he could. winters, I played a “If we didn’t have lot of hockey,” he a game, I would play “If we didn’t have said. “We used to with guys my age,” live right next door he said. “I was always a game, I would play to an outdoor rink asking if I could play. and when it got dark, When I got called up with guys my age,” they’d put on the big to play with guys who he said. “I was always outdoor lights and were even older, it was we’d be good to go good experience for asking if I could play. until 10 p.m. That’s me. I loved it.” When I got called literally what I did Not only was he my whole childhood, was maturing quickly up to play with guys starting at age 3 as a hockey player, he who were even when I first put on was also growing into my skates. I’ve been a young man. “When older, it was good in love with hockey I was 15, I moved to ever since.” play for the junior experience for me. Long hours at team in Oulu,” he said. I loved it.” the rink enabled “We don’t have host Saarijarvi to become families in Finland, so an exceptional skater. I just lived on my own As a boy, he always played forward, which from the time I was 15 to age 17.” allowed him to use his skating ability to speed He came to the U.S. before he was 18, past slow-to-react defensemen and create starting his junior career with the Green Bay scoring chances. Gamblers in the USHL. Then fate – or perhaps it was destiny “When I signed a contract with my Finnish – stepped in. team, I had an option that I could play “When I was about 14, one of our overseas,” he said. “I took the option and I defensemen got sick,” he recalled. “The coach was very happy for the opportunity to come said, ‘Vili, you’re a defenseman today.’ I was so play here. I didn’t have any problems other upset. And, well, he never let me play forward than language. again. But I’m thankful for him now because “I knew very little English: yes, no, maybe, it’s worked out pretty well so far.” and I did a lot of smiling. We had English As a defenseman, Saarijarvi soon became in school, but it’s so different here. I knew a a top prospect. Scouts were intrigued not few basic words, but when I heard the guys only by his skating but also his hockey talking, the words came so fast that I had no smarts, passing and scoring potential, many idea what was going on.” projecting him as a promising offensive Saarijarvi brushed up on his language skills D-man with the skill to run a power play. by watching both English and Finnish movies
34 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
Story and photos by Mark Newman
Saarijarvi lives in Rovaniemi, Finland, which has been declared the official hometown of Santa Claus.
Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 35
with subtitles, in addition to getting a helping “It’s a pretty special thing to be a member hand from his billet family and his roommate of your national team because you get to Grant Frederic, who now plays hockey for play against the best players from different Miami (Ohio). countries in your age group,” he said. “There’s After the Red Wings selected Saarijarvi in nothing better than getting to wear your the third round (73rd overall pick) of the 2015 country’s colors. You have to be proud of NHL Entry Draft, he was unsure of whether the experience. he would stay in the U.S. or go back to Finland “Winning the gold medal in Helsinki made to continue his junior hockey career before it so much more special because it was home. turning pro. “We talked about it and made the I had a couple of friends who flew down to decision to stay, which everyone felt would be attend the party that we had afterwards. It was better for my development,” he said. “It’s been a lot of fun and something I’ll never forget. good. I love it and I wouldn’t change anything.” That’s for sure.” Those words Finland marked make Saarijarvi grin, the golden moment especially when he by creating a “There’s nothing thinks back on the commemorative season that followed. He postage stamp featuring better than getting to spent 2015-16 playing Saarijarvi and a pair wear your country’s for the Flint Firebirds, of his teammates in an organization that celebration. “My family colors. You have fired former Griffins bought a bunch,” he to be proud of the defenseman John said. “I don’t know if Gruden as its head people are still using experience. Winning coach not once but twice them, but it was pretty the gold medal in in the same season. cool that my face Gruden was fired a was flying all over Helsinki made it so month into the team’s the country.” much more special inaugural season, Saarijarvi himself because it was then was reinstated flew to Grand Rapids and given a three-year at the conclusion of the at home.” contract extension 2015-16 season before after a successful player the Red Wings assigned walkout, only to be him to Toledo where dismissed again three months later. (The OHL he made his pro debut, tallying a goal and subsequently suspended the Firebirds’ owner three assists in five games with the Walleye. for five years and took over the organization.) “What happened to John was terrible. He deserved so much better,” Saarijarvi said. “He was one of the greatest coaches I’ve played for and he was a great guy off the ice, too. I was very thankful to play for him and assistant coach Dave Karpa because they helped me transition from the USHL to the OHL and take the next step in my junior career. “It wasn’t fun when all that stuff was happening, but we made it through the season and I’m proud of my teammates. You think back, ‘Did that actually happen?’ That’s insane, to get fired twice in a season.” In January 2016, Saarijarvi helped Finland Saarijarvi appeared on a Finnish postage stamp win the gold medal at the World Junior after helping the national team win the gold Championship in Helsinki. medal at the 2016 World Junior Championship. 36 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
Saarijarvi was Detroit’s second choice (third round) in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.
Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 37
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“I was happy that I got the opportunity to go to Toledo and play those five games,” he said. “They gave me confidence when I went back to juniors for my last year.” He finished his junior career with the OHL’s Mississauga Steelheads after requesting a trade. “I’m a big competitor so I wanted to be part of a team that had a good chance to win,” he said. “I want to win.” Saarijarvi helped the Steelheads win the Central Division title as well as the Eastern Conference playoff title before advancing to the OHL finals. Although Mississauga fell short of winning the championship, he was able to watch the Griffins capture their conference crown on the way to winning the 2017 Calder Cup. Last season, which marked his first full year in the pros, saw him notch 11 assists in 42 games with the Griffins while adding two goals and four assist in 10 games with the Walleye. After struggling to crack the Grand Rapids lineup early in the season, he helped build his confidence with his play in the ECHL. “When I went to Toledo, I was a little frustrated and not so happy, but I had conversations with (Wings director of player
development) Shawn Horcoff and I felt better about it,” he said. “I was able to get the ice time that I needed there, and when I got called back up, I think I played good hockey.” Knowing that he has a lot to learn, Saarijarvi is thankful that he can draw lessons from the NHL experience of Griffins teammates Brian Lashoff and Dylan McIlrath. “It’s great to have veterans like them,” he said. “They know what it takes and they want to help us, so it’s huge for me and the other young defensemen.” He admits that he had to battle through his share of ups and downs during his first pro season. “I was used to being the go-to guy and now I was one of the younger players,” he said. “I don’t think I was quite ready when the season started, but everything happens for a reason. Mentally, it was a tough year, but I think it will be helpful in the future.“ Saarijarvi feels this will be an important year in his development. He knows that it is crucial for him to establish himself as a top prospect in the Red Wings’ organization. “I think – I know – it will be a big year for me,” he said. “I had a great summer and I feel confident and ready to roll. I’m looking forward to it.”
Saarijarvi made his debut with the Griffins last season.
Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 39
2018
2019
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27
COLIN CAMPBELL
CARTER CAMPER
Forward 6-1, 200 lbs. Born: 4/17/91 Toronto, Ont.
17 MARCUS CRAWFORD Defenseman 5-11, 190 lbs. Born: 3/21/97 Ajax, Ont.
2 JOE HICKETTS
40 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
Defenseman 6-2, 185 lbs. Born: 3/8/91 Chicago, Ill.
TURNER ELSON
MATTHEW FORD
Forward 6-0, 195 lbs. Born: 9/13/92 New Westminster, B.C.
AXEL HOLMSTROM
Forward 6-1, 200 lbs. Born: 6/29/96 Arvidsjaur, Sweden
DENNIS CHOLOWSKI Defenseman 6-1, 195 lbs. Born: 2/15/98 Langley, B.C.
14
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10 Defenseman 5-8, 180 lbs. Born: 5/4/96 Kamloops, B.C.
JAKE CHELIOS
Forward 5-9, 175 lbs. Born: 7/6/88 Rocky River, Ohio
15
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Forward 6-1, 210 lbs. Born: 10/9/84 West Hills, Calif.
13
TREVOR HAMILTON
Defenseman 6-0, 198 lbs. Born: 3/17/95 Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich.
18 FILIP HRONEK
Defenseman 6-0, 178 lbs. Born: 11/2/97
Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
BRIAN LASHOFF Defenseman 6-3, 221 lbs. Born: 7/16/90 Albany, N.Y.
matt
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DYLAN
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22 DYLAN McILRATH
WADE MEGAN
Defenseman 6-4, 235 lbs. Born: 4/20/92 Winnipeg, Man.
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12
PATRIK RYBAR
Goaltender 6-3, 190 lbs. Born: 11/9/93 Skalica, Slovakia
54 Forward 6-2, 206 lbs. Born: 2/27/98 Toronto, Ont.
VILI SAARIJARVI
25 CHRIS TERRY
Forward 5-10, 195 lbs. Born: 4/7/89 Brampton, Ont.
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Forward 6-2, 203 lbs. Born: 2/25/96 Pointe-Claire, Que.
Forward 5-11, 180 lbs. Born: 4/18/93 Pinckney, Mich.
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MACKENZE STEWART
DOMINIC TURGEON
DOMINIK SHINE
Goaltender 6-0, 207 lbs. Born: 12/29/89 Toijala, Finland
4
23
Forward 6-1, 205 lbs. Born: 1/24/93 Essex, Ont.
HARRI SATERI
Defenseman 5-10, 178 lbs. Born: 5/15/97 Rovaniemi, Finland
Defenseman 6-3, 228 lbs. Born: 8/10/95 Calgary, Alta.
MATT PUEMPEL
Forward 6-3, 194 lbs. Born: 9/27/94 Edmonton, Alta.
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5 GIVANI SMITH
DAVID POPE
Forward 6-1, 194 lbs. Born: 7/22/90 Canton, N.Y.
9
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LIBOR SULAK
EVGENY SVECHNIKOV
Pelhrimov, Czech Republic
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Russia
Defenseman 6-2, 207 lbs. Born: 3/4/94
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Forward 6-3, 208 lbs. Born: 10/31/96
11 TREVOR YATES
Forward 6-2, 203 lbs. Born: 3/6/95 Beaconsfield, Que.
FILIP ZADINA
Forward 6-0, 196 lbs. Born: 11/27/99 Pardubice, Czech Republic Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 41
The well-traveled Carter Camper is looking forward to his stay in Grand Rapids. 42 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
WANTED:
CAMPER IN EXCELLENT CONDITION Story and photos by Mark Newman
Carter Camper believes he still has plenty of miles left in the tank. The AHL veteran was on the move once again last season, his best yet in the pros in terms of points. Splitting the season between Cleveland and Tucson, Camper recorded 61 points in 68 games before being traded to Grand Rapids last June. Now, at age 30, Camper will be playing for his ninth team in nine years – a rather remarkable number for a player who has been a prominent point producer for the better part of a decade. He has 330 points (87 goals and 243 assists) in 443 regular season AHL games, as well as 45 points (18 goals and 27 assists) in 51 career Calder Cup Playoff games. Camper admits that he was stunned to learn that he had been dealt by Tucson to the Griffins, just four months after the Roadrunners had acquired him from the Monsters. “When I got the call that I was traded again, I was shocked a second time,” he said. “Once the shock wore off, I realized I was going to an organization that is focused on winning. The Griffins have a storied franchise that has won Calder Cups and I’ve been really impressed by
the team and the way they play.” He would like nothing better than to settle down in one place for a time. He’s been bouncing around almost since the day he turned pro. Born in Rocky River, Ohio, a western suburb of Cleveland, he is the middle of three hockeyplaying brothers. Ben, the eldest, attended Colgate University while Jay, the youngest, played at the University of New Hampshire. Camper chose to go to Miami (Ohio), the same school where his parents, Rick and Heidi, had met more than two decades earlier. “When I stepped on campus at Miami for my visit and started talking to the coaches, it seemed so different from everywhere else,” he said. “Obviously I was familiar with the school, but it had nothing to do with my parents. I just felt like it was the right place.” One of the RedHawks’ assistant coaches his freshman year was Jeff Blashill, who was in his sixth season at the school and would soon leave to become a head coach in the USHL (Indiana) and CCHA (Western Michigan University) before taking charge of the Griffins and later the Red Wings. Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 43
“The coaches let us play and I was given every opportunity to succeed,” he said. “We had strong teams all four years (two Frozen Four appearances) and I’m still great friends with a lot of the guys. I try to go back there for a week to train every year before the season starts.” Camper was a perennial Hobey Baker Award candidate – a finalist his senior year – and he finished his collegiate career as the active scoring leader. He finished second on the school’s all-time list for points and assists and was tied for seventh in career goals. Following graduation, he signed a free agent contract with the Boston Bruins and started his pro career in Providence. He had been overlooked in the annual NHL Entry Draft, so he came into the AHL with a chip on his shoulder and something to prove. “It’s been the story of my career,” he said. “I’ve always been considered too small or not fast enough or not flashy enough, but I’ve always been able to find a way with every team at every level and I’ll continue to play that way.” He earned a call-up to the defending Stanley Cup champion Bruins during his first full season (2011-12) in the pro ranks. He appeared Camper has played for nine different teams in his nine pro seasons.
44 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
in three games, scoring his first and only NHL goal against Alex Auld of the Ottawa Senators. “I won a battle down low and went to the front of the net,” he recalled. “Matt Carkner, who was a big, strong D-man, tried pushing me and the puck squirted out to my backhand. I managed to get enough wood on the puck that it trickled across the goal line, but a goal is a goal. It’s something I’ll never forget.” The date was Feb. 20, 2012, and it was the last time that he played in the NHL. “The Bruins were in a playoff push, so they made some moves and I lost my spot and never returned,” he said. “Their roster was strong from top to bottom, so it was tough to earn a spot. “Unfortunately, if you don’t earn a spot early, you get pushed behind and eventually you get passed by other prospects. It was frustrating at the time, but now I realize it’s just part of the game.” Camper played the next two seasons in Providence before the Bruins traded him to the Columbus Blue Jackets and assigned him to the Springfield Falcons. He spent a year with the Binghamton Senators before signing with
At 5-foot-9, Camper makes the most of his size, thanks to solid playmaking skills.
Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 45
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the Washington Capitals organization for the 2015-16 season. He struggled for most of his season with the Hershey Bears, but found his groove during the playoffs when he led the Capitals’ minor league affiliate in scoring and helped the AHL’s oldest franchise reach the Calder Cup Finals against his hometown Lake Erie Monsters. “Hershey is a great place to play, but Cleveland is obviously my hometown and I thought the atmosphere there was close to the best I’ve ever played in,” he said. “We lost in four games (two in overtime), but getting that little taste helped change my attitude. Now all I want is to win.” Camper played the 2016-17 season with the Albany Devils, then signed a two-year deal with the Monsters before last season. “Cleveland was still home and I was excited because I thought I was going to be there a couple of years,” he said. “Needless to say, I was shocked when I was traded.” He’ll never forget his final game in a Monsters jersey. It happened to be Carter Camper Bobblehead Night. “I was driving downtown and I saw the banner on the Q (Quicken Loans Arena) with my picture and teammates,” he said. “Here I am and I’m playing in my hometown in the same building where LeBron James plays and it’s my bobblehead night. “I scored two goals and it was like I was on cloud nine. Then two days later, I’m traded. I know it’s a business, but it’s crazy how things work out sometimes.” A bad case of the flu caused him to delay his subsequent debut with his new team, but he
was on the ice when Tucson faced his old team a few days later. He set a Roadrunners franchise record by tallying five assists in his first game, a 5-1 victory in Cleveland. “If the game had been anywhere else, I might have taken another night off because I was hurting, but I was not going to miss that game,” he said. “Any time you’re traded, you have something to prove, a little extra motivation. You want to show the team that they made a mistake, so it was fun to be able to score five points. Hopefully I sent a message.” Camper played well with the Roadrunners, but he found it difficult being so far from home. He and his wife (Erika) have two sons: Braydon, 4, and Wyatt, 1-1/2. “To be so far away from my family was super tough,” he said.
Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 47
“They came and visited me twice, but I went a whole month without seeing my little boys, which was really hard.” He admits that he has become accustomed to changing addresses over the years, but that doesn’t mean that he likes it any better. “In a way, I guess I’m used to it,” he said. “At the same time, there are always new challenges with each city.” The most recent trade, he admitted, made him feel a little guilty about where his chosen profession has taken him. “My wife has been a real trooper,” he said. “With two kids in the mix, she’s been through a lot. I don’t know how she does it 24-hours straight when I’m not there.” Becoming a father altered Camper’s view of the game. “It definitely changes the way you look at things,” he said. “I know that just being able to share this ride with them is special. Hopefully I can continue to play and create those memories that they’ll have for the rest of their lives. “Words can’t even begin to express the amount of love that you have for your children. I would do anything for my boys. I always thought that I would want my kids to be superstars in hockey, but all I truly care about is that they’re happy and healthy.” Camper said he is anxious to play for the Griffins. “I’ve heard nothing but good about Grand Rapids and the guys there,” he said. “When I saw the players the team added in free agency, I was pretty excited. The team here seems solid on paper and I know the organization is committed to winning, and for an older guy who hasn’t won a Cup yet, that’s exciting.” With his NHL dreams disappearing in the rearview mirror, he is focusing on what he hopes lies ahead. “Now I want to be the best American Hockey League player I can be,” he said. “That’s where I am in my career and I’ll take pride in being my best. If I’m not going to be in the NHL, I want to win the Calder Cup. That’s now my focus.”
Camper scored a career-high 61 points in 68 games last season. 48 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
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Under the guidance of Jeff Blashill (2012-15) and Todd Nelson (201518), the Griffins franchise achieved unrivaled success over the last six AHL seasons. As Grand Rapids takes aim at team-record seventh consecutive playoff berth, it does so under the leadership of new head coach Ben Simon, who served as an assistant throughout Nelson’s tenure, including the 2016-17 championship season.
GRIFFICS
Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 51
52 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
Story by Mark Newman
A Whole New Way To Watch NEW VIDEO-ON-DEMAND TECHNOLOGY ALLOWS AHL FANS TO FOLLOW THEIR FAVORITE TEAMS BOTH AT HOME AND ON THE ROAD.
In a move to bolster hockey fans’ ability ability for fans to capture and save their own to follow the fortunes of future NHL stars, highlight clips to share with other AHLTV users the American Hockey League has introduced within the platform, as well as a fan-controlled a brand-new streaming platform for the game camera that will allow viewers to interact 2018-19 season. with the action like never before. AHLTV is an all-new service that features In addition to the standard video feeds, live streaming of every game in high definition AHLTV games will feature HockeyTech’s on desktop, laptop, tablet and mobile devices, ViPr system of video production, with every as well as over-the-top (OTT) platforms such as arena outfitted with a camera that will capture Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast the entire sheet of ice in one high-definition, and Android TV. undistorted, panoramic view that lets AHLTV will provide mobile viewers control what they The creation of AHLTV marks the latest expansion see by pinching, zooming and tilting an innovative, of the AHL’s long-standing their phone. multimedia viewing relationship with HockeyTech, The new streaming service makes which also provides real-time it easy for fans to catch the thrills and experience that scoring and statistical services excitement of AHL action at a very integrates data and affordable price. for the AHL and its 31 teams in addition to the AHL’s official a full AHLTV subscription, video in a way that is fansWith website and mobile app. can watch every team and any “We are extremely unique to each user. game during the season for $79.99. excited to introduce AHLTV The price to watch all the games for beginning this fall,” said David Andrews, AHL only one club drops to $59.99. If you want only president and chief executive officer. “AHLTV all the home games or all the away games for a reflects the high standards that our fans and team, either option is $39.99. All AHL games stakeholders have come to expect from the for one month is $19.99, while one day with all American Hockey League, and HockeyTech AHL games is $6.99. Viewers can chose home shares our vision of bringing the excitement of or away audio feeds. AHL hockey as an enhanced digital experience Fans can visit watchtheahl.com to sign up to fans who can’t make it to the rink.” for a free AHLTV account and to purchase Using the most advanced, cutting-edge subscriptions for the 2018-19 season. AHLTV is digital technologies, AHLTV will provide an supported for PC/Mac and iOS/Android devices innovative, multimedia viewing experience that as well as the aforementioned OTT platforms. integrates data and video in a way that is unique HockeyTech, the worldwide leader in to each user. Game feeds will be combined with providing hockey-related technologies, the AHL’s statistical database from LeagueStat, analytics, and information services, was providing real-time scoring updates for fans founded by Stu Siegel, former managing as they watch. partner, CEO and NHL governor of the continued on next page New state-of-the-art features include the Florida Panthers. Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 53
continued from previous page
Greg Cronin
When the NHL added the Vegas Golden Knights as the circuit’s 31st team for the 201718 season, discussions began for expansion of the American Hockey League to match the number of teams in the top league. The result was the introduction of the Colorado Eagles for 2018-19. Based in Loveland, Colo. – less than 50 miles north of Denver – the Eagles compete in the Pacific Division of the AHL’s Western Conference and play their home games in the city’s Budweiser Events Center. The Eagles are the new primary development affiliate of the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche. The San Antonio Rampage, who were the previous farm team of the Avalanche, entered into an affiliation agreement with the NHL’s St. Louis Blues. Originally founded in 2003, the Colorado Eagles franchise has won four league championships, as members of the Central Hockey League (2005, 2007) and the ECHL (2017, 2018). Colorado hired Greg Cronin, 55, to be head coach of its new affiliate. Cronin, who was an associate coach with the New York Islanders last season, has nearly 30 years of experience at both the collegiate and pro levels. After starting in 1987-88 as an assistant at Colby College, his alma mater, Cronin spent nearly a decade as an assistant coach at the University of Maine and Colorado College. He also served as interim head coach at Maine following a scandal that banished head coach Shawn Walsh from the bench for one year. He worked a year with the USA Hockey program in 1997-98 before becoming an assistant coach for the Islanders for the next four years. He was the head coach of the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers for two seasons (2003-05), then spent six years heading the program at Northeastern University. 54 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
Photo: Getty Images
MILE HIGH EXPECTIONS
Cronin returned to the NHL in 2011 to become an assistant with the Toronto Maple Leafs. After three years in Toronto, he returned to the Islanders, with whom he has worked the past four seasons. Even with his impressive resume, Cronin stresses what he has done to alter his coaching techniques over the past three decades. “If you don’t change and adapt to today’s generation of kids, you won’t succeed because the message 30 years ago was very direct, and lot of times it was blunt,” he said during a Q&A with the media prior to his public introduction as the Eagles’ new head coach. Aaron Schneekloth, 40, a defenseman who played a total of 58 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins from 2002-04, will be one of the Eagles’ assistant coaches. He led the team to back-to-back Kelly Cup championships in 2017 and 2018 while serving as the club’s head coach. Schneekloth, who retired after the 2012-13 season, played his final seven seasons with the Eagles, finishing second all time in games played with 382 and fifth in points with 356. He has high expectations for the Eagles this season despite their jump to the AHL.
Aaron Schneekloth
Photo: John Babitz
“This organization puts the work in, they’ve had a standard since Day 1 and they continue to work hard to meet that standard and expectation, and it’s going to be no different,” Schneekloth told the Loveland Reporter-Herald. “We want to have a great product on the ice and continue to have a strong relationship within the community of Northern Colorado. “I’ve been with the team a long time and seen us transition from the Central Hockey League to the ECHL and now the American Hockey League. The staff and organization has worked extremely hard to get to this point. We’ve been very open and resourceful, and it’s gonna continue to be that way so everyone – not only staff, but players – can have success.”
Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 55
IN THE LAP OF THE GODS
Story and photos by Mark Newman
Axel Holmstrom hopes his luck will change during his second full season in the AHL. 56 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
Axel Holmstrom may not have been born with ice in his veins, but fate would test his ability to weather the cold reality of adversity. Born and reared in the far northern reaches of Sweden in the area known as Lapland, Holmstrom remains resolute in his desire to play hockey at the highest level despite nature’s best efforts to slow his athletic rise. As a boy, his earliest recollections are frozen in memories of growing up in a winter wonderland that afforded him every opportunity to pursue his dreams. “I come from a small city (Arvidsjaur) where there were not a lot of people, but it’s an area with all the stuff I need,” he said. “It’s all about friends, family, fishing, hunting and snowmobiling. It’s just nature all over – and a lot of snow.” He recalls riding with his parents on a kicksled, a type of snowbound chair mounted on metal runners that is popular in Scandinavia. He was skating on his own by the age of 2 or 3. “They tied up my skates for the outdoor rink and I would just skate around the net for so long,” he said. “They would put in some (extra) padding because I was always falling over, but apparently I liked it a lot.”
Holmstrom was introduced to the game of hockey by his father, Urban Wikberg, a former player who became his coach during his youth. (Axel took the last name of his mother, Story and photos by Viveka Holmstrom.) Mark “He was never hard on me,” HolmstromNewman said. “The only thing was that he would try to pay more attention to the other guys instead of me. When I started growing up, I told him that I didn’t want him as a coach anymore because if I played more, people would wonder. I didn’t want that, and he respected it.” Holmstrom and his father moved to Skelleftea, where his skills could be further developed in his early teens. His talent would catch the eye of the Detroit Red Wings, who saw the potential in a player who shared the same last name – but not the same bloodlines – as their fearless, front-ofnet leader, Tomas Holmstrom. The Wings chose Axel in the seventh round (196th pick overall) of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. During the playoffs the following spring, he helped Skelleftea reach the SHL Finals. He led the league in postseason scoring with seven goals and 11 assists in 15 games, breaking the record for playoff points by a junior player, previously held by Daniel and Henrik Sedin. Holmstrom was chosen by the Red Wings in the seventh round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.
Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 57
Detroit signed Holmstrom to a three-year entry-level contract. “When you’re young, the only thing you see about the NHL are the highlights or what you read in the newspapers because the games are played when you’re sleeping. I thought it was cool that a player on the Red Wings had my last name – or maybe I had his,” Holmstrom said with a chuckle. “It was cool because he was from northern Sweden just like me. I was actually born in the hospital in Pitea, which is where he grew up.” Holmstrom planned to play one more year in Sweden after signing with the Wings, but then he tore his ACL. When he tried to return, he re-injured his knee and a long rehab became even longer. “Everyone involved felt it was best if I stayed in Sweden and worked on the knee and took things carefully,” he said. “When you first get the news, you realize you have to accept it. It’s your ACL, but you try to rehab and train and make the best of it. I stayed positive for about six months, but when I got injured again and again, things got tough. When you’re young, you look at it in a different way. It felt like everything was going against me.” Nevertheless, Holmstrom battled his way back. “At first, it was like I was feeling sorry for
myself,” he said. “It was a tough time, but I think I learned a lot and grew by accepting it. Sometimes things don’t always go the way you would like. I learned that I had to put in extra work and, in the long run, I think it helped me.” One of his teammates in Skelleftea was former Griffins winger Mattias Ritola, who not only told him about the city but advised him to go to Grand Rapids earlier than later in order to acquaint himself with the organization and the league, as well as life outside Sweden. Holmstrom joined the Griffins after the completion of the 2016-17 season in Sweden. “I thought it was time,” he said. “By coming over, I felt like I could learn a lot, both as a person and a hockey player. I don’t know if you have to be super-ready. You can learn by watching and growing into it. Being here and seeing how everything works helped me. Just getting to know everyone – the team, the management, and the players – made me feel more calm about things.” He saw action in seven regular season games, then appeared in a total of four games during the first two rounds of the Calder Cup Playoffs. Although he did not play in the final Holmstrom’s first AHL goal was an overtime game-winner against Manitoba in April 2017.
58 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
Holmstrom is entering his second full season with the Griffins.
two rounds, he was able to witness the Griffins’ ascent to the championship title. “I got to see how hard everyone worked and how they competed and how difficult it was to actually win the Calder Cup,” he said. Even so, last season – his first full campaign in North America – did not go quite as well as he might have hoped. “Last year was like a rollercoaster,” he said. “I went into the year with the mindset that I first – and most of all – wanted to stay healthy for the whole season. I just wanted to get minutes and play hockey. “At certain times, I wasn’t really happy about how I played. Things went good for a couple of games and then it went not so good. But overall I think it was a good season for learning and gaining experience.” Holmstrom tallied eight goals and 11 assists in 66 games a year ago. Although his confidence lagged at various points last season, he maintains a sunny disposition while keeping a positive attitude heading into the 2018-19 season. “Confidence is super big,” he said. “I’ve talked to a lot of people, and I think self-confidence might be half of it. You see players who explode
and you can’t explain it except to say it’s confidence. Once you feel everything works, things start rolling. You can make a mistake, but you don’t care. “You have to have the mindset that you’re going to make mistakes whether you like it or not. You have to have the self-confidence to be able to shake off the mistakes and move forward instead of going into a game nervous and about what you might do.” To be successful, Holmstrom knows he must play a simple game. “I want to be gritty, but I also want to have the confidence to make plays when I should make plays,” he said. “I want to know when to hang onto the puck and I want to make good decisions all over the ice, both offensively and defensively. Of course, I like going into the dirty areas and being in front of the net, but I want to be a player who does the right thing all over the ice.” Holmstrom hopes his play will be more aggressive and less tentative during the upcoming season. “When you get the chance and the coach gives you the opportunity, you want to be able Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 59
to just play your game. If you sit back or if you worry about what might happen if you fail, you might have to wait another 10 games for another opportunity,” he said. “I feel like I’m at a point where I can grab the opportunity when it comes.” Some might argue that Holmstrom was still slowed by the aftereffects of his ACL issues, but he isn’t buying it. “I wasn’t thinking about the knee,” he said. “I don’t want to use the knee as an excuse. Other people have torn their ACLs and played really well after they returned. Everybody has a different road back. I just want to get to know myself as a player and find my role on the team.” Even with two good knees, he knows he would not be the best of skaters. It is a Holmstrom trait. Tomas Holmstrom’s skating was so poor that former Red Wings head coach Scotty Bowman said that he wouldn’t last a season in the NHL. “It’s always been about skating from the time I was a little kid,” he said. “It didn’t matter whether it was hockey or soccer, I always had problems moving my feet fast enough. I’ve been working my entire life to improve my skating, but it’s a long road. I’ll work to get faster and quicker as
long as I play. I know I’ll never be the fastest guy out there, but I can get better every year so that I can be fast enough.” Holmstrom continues to receive encouragement from his father, although their discussions go beyond the rink. “We both love hockey, but when we talk, whether we meet or call, it’s not always about hockey. We usually talk about a lot of other stuff. Hockey usually comes last.” His voice becomes more animated when he contemplates what his second full season might bring. “I feel like this year is going to be a lot of fun,” he said. “Coming to Grand Rapids last year I didn’t know what to expect. In Sweden, you hear a lot of stories about the AHL, but it’s a tough league. A lot of the guys are playing for a spot in the NHL, so there’s competition every game and even every day on your own team. You want to put yourself in a position to be called up to the NHL.” He is thankful that he is being given the chance to prove himself with the Griffins. “My girlfriend and I really like Grand Rapids,” he said. “We like the organization and the people here. I just hope this year my hockey is better.” Holmstrom had a team-high three shootout goals last season, tied for most among AHL rookies.
60 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
Holmstrom was a member of the Griffins’ 2017 Calder Cup championship team. Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 61
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GAMES PLAYED
FILIP HRONEK
All-Time
Travis Richards
655
Active Leader
Brian Lashoff (2nd)
400
Single-Season
5 players tied
*82
2017-18
Corey Elkins/Dylan McIlrath GOALS
76
All-Time
Michel Picard
158
Active Leader
Matthew Ford (43rd)
36
Single-Season
Donald MacLean (2005-06)
*56
2017-18
Eric Tangradi ASSISTS
31
All-Time
Michel Picard
222
Active Leader
Brian Lashoff (T37th)
63
Single-Season
Jiri Hudler (2005-06)
60
2017-18
Ben Street POINTS
44
All-Time
Michel Picard
380
Active Leader
Brian Lashoff (T54th)
84
Single-Season
Michel Picard (1996-97)
101
2017-18
Ben Street PLUS/MINUS
65
All-Time
Travis Richards
Active Leader
Colin Campbell/Filip Hronek (T32nd)
+25
Single-Season
Ivan Ciernik (2000-01)
*+41
Filip Hronek PENALTY MINUTES
+24
2017-18
Darryl Bootland
Active Leader
Brian Lashoff (37th)
194
Single-Season
Darryl Bootland (2005-06)
390
Dylan McIlrath GOALIE GAMES PLAYED
119
1,164
All-Time
Tom McCollum
263
Single-Season
Joey MacDonald (2004-05)
66
2017-18
MIKE FOUNTAIN
+131
All-Time
2017-18
Jared Coreau GOALS AGAINST AVERAGE
38
All-Time
Martin Prusek
1.83
Single-Season
Martin Prusek (2001-02)
*1.83
2017-18
Jared Coreau WINS
2.52
All-Time
Tom McCollum
123
Single-Season
Joey MacDonald (2004-05)
34
Mike Fountain (2000-01)
*34
2017-18
Jared Coreau SHUTOUTS
21
All-Time
Joey MacDonald
20
Single-Season
6 players tied
6
2017-18
Jared Coreau SAVES
2
All-Time
Tom McCollum
6,640
Single-Season
Joey MacDonald (2004-05)
1,785
2017-18
Tom McCollum SAVE PERCENTAGE
JOEY MacDONALD
TOM McCOLLUM
987
All-Time
Martin Prusek
0.930
Single-Season
Joey MacDonald (2003-04)
0.936
2017-18
Jared Coreau
0.913
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Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 63
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GRIFFINS
2018 AHL All-Star Matt Puempel
ALL STARS 1996-97 1997-98 1998-99 1999-00 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18
Jeff Nelson, Michel Picard, Pokey Reddick Ian Gordon, Kerry Huffman, Michel Picard Robert Petrovicky, Maxim Spiridonov John Gruden, Jani Hurme, Kevin Miller, Petr Schastlivy Mike Fountain, Joel Kwiatkowski, Travis Richards, Todd White, Bruce Cassidy (co-coach) Chris Bala, John Gruden, Kip Miller, Martin Prusek, Petr Schastlivy, Bruce Cassidy (head coach), Gene Reilly (asst. coach) Marc Lamothe, Mark Mowers Jiri Hudler, Niklas Kronwall, Travis Richards (captain), Nathan Robinson Niklas Kronwall, Joey MacDonald Valtteri Filppula, Jiri Hudler, Donald MacLean Derek Meech, Kip Miller (captain) Jonathan Ericsson, Jimmy Howard Jakub Kindl, Daniel Larsson Patrick Rissmiller Ilari Filppula, Brendan Smith Gustav Nyquist Chad Billins, Petr Mrazek, Gustav Nyquist Alexey Marchenko, Jeff Blashill (co-coach) Xavier Ouellet, Teemu Pulkkinen Jeff Hoggan (captain), Xavier Ouellet Matt Lorito, Robbie Russo, Todd Nelson (head coach) Matt Lorito, Matt Puempel
2016 AHL All-Stars Jeff Hoggan and Xavier Ouellet Photo by Scott Thomas/AHL
2013 AHL All-Star Chad Billins
Photo by Alan Sullivan/AHL
68 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
2013 AHL All-Star Petr Mrazek
Photo by Alan Sullivan/AHL
2018 AHL All-Star Matt Lorito
2015 AHL All-Star Teemu Pulkkinen
2014 AHL All-Star Alexey Marchenko
Photo by Lindsay A. Mogle/AHL
Photo by Jeff Parsons/AHL
2013 AHL All-Star Gustav Nyquist
2012 AHL All-Star Gustav Nyquist
Photo by Paul Yacovone III/AHL
Photo by PhotoGraphics/AHL
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PENALTY CALLS
BOARDING Called for any action which causes an opponent to be thrown violently into the boards.
HIGH STICKING Making contact with an opponent while carrying the stick above shoulder hight.
MISCONDUCT 10-minute or disqualification penalty for excessive or additional misbehavior on the ice.
CHARGING Taking a run at an opposing player using more than three strides to build up speed.
HOLDING Clutching an opposing player’s body with the hands, arms or legs.
ROUGHING Called for engaging in fisticuffs or shoving.
CROSS CHECKING A check or block delivered by a player with both hands on the stick and no part of the stick on the ice.
HOOKING The use of the stick or blade to impede the progress of an opponent.
SLASHING Striking an opposing player with the stick.
DELAYED PENALTY Referee extends his arm and points to the penalized player until the penalized team regains possession of the puck.
INTERFERENCE When a player impedes the progress of an opponent who is not in possession of the puck.
SPEARING Called for using the stick like a spear.
ELBOWING Called when a player uses an elbow to impede an opponent.
KNEEING Called when a player uses a knee to impede an opponent.
TRIPPING Called for using the stick, arm or leg to cause an opponent to trip or fall.
UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT Called for unsportsmanlike actions such as disputing an official’s decision, grabbing the face mask of a player, etc.
WASH-OUT When used by the referee, it means goal disallowed. When used by linesmen, it means there is no icing or no offside.
Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 73
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2018-19 AHL TEAM LANDSCAPE 2018-19 AHL TEAM LANDSCAPE BAKERSFIELD CONDORS BELLEVILLE SENATORS BINGHAMTON DEVILS BRIDGEPORT SOUND TIGERS CHARLOTTE CHECKERS CHICAGO WOLVES CLEVELAND MONSTERS COLORADO EAGLES GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS HARTFORD WOLF PACK HERSHEY BEARS IOWA WILD LAVAL ROCKET LEHIGH VALLEY PHANTOMS MANITOBA MOOSE MILWAUKEE ADMIRALS ONTARIO REIGN PROVIDENCE BRUINS ROCHESTER AMERICANS ROCKFORD ICEHOGS SAN ANTONIO RAMPAGE SAN DIEGO GULLS SAN JOSE BARRACUDA SPRINGFIELD THUNDERBIRDS STOCKTON HEAT SYRACUSE CRUNCH TEXAS STARS TORONTO MARLIES TUCSON ROADRUNNERS UTICA COMETS WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON PENGUINS
74 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
GRIFFINS IN THE NHL
Joe Hicketts
Dominic Turgeon
Kyle Criscuolo
IT ALL STARTS HERE
Since their inception in 1996, the Griffins have sent 168 players to the National Hockey League, 16 of whom have gone on to win the Stanley Cup. In fact, a Griffins alumnus has had his name engraved on Lord Stanley’s chalice in six of the last 11 years and in eight of the last 14 seasons. In chronological order, here are the 21 goalies and 147 skaters who have worn an NHL sweater after playing for Grand Rapids, along with the dates of their NHL debuts/returns. 1............Pavol Demitra............................3/17/97 STL at PHX 2............Kevyn Adams...........................10/1/97 TOR vs. WSH 3............Tyler Moss................................10/28/97 CGY vs. PIT 4............Michel Picard..................................1/6/98 STL at SJ 5............Jeff Nelson.............................10/10/98 NSH vs. FLA 6............Patrick Traverse.......................10/10/98 OTT at COL 7............Mark Greig...................................1/7/99 PHI vs. NYI 8............Radim Bicanek............................2/1/99 OTT at VAN 9............Robert Petrovicky........................2/15/99 TB at NYI 10..........Andrei Vasilyev...........................3/5/99 PHX vs. DET 11..........Todd Hlushko...............................4/25/99 PIT vs. NJ 12..........Patrick Lalime............................10/2/99 OTT at PHI 13..........Glen Metropolit......................10/2/99 WSH at FLA 14..........Kevin Miller.............................10/31/99 OTT at ATL 15..........Karel Rachunek.......................10/31/99 OTT at ATL 16..........Erich Goldmann....................11/11/99 OTT vs. NSH 17..........Yves Sarault...............................11/20/99 OTT at NJ 18..........John Gruden...........................11/30/99 OTT vs. CHI 19..........Mike Fountain..............................12/3/99 OTT at NJ 20..........Dave Van Drunen....................12/13/99 OTT at TOR 21..........Petr Schastlivy..............................1/3/00 OTT vs. NJ 22..........John Emmons............................1/6/00 OTT vs. PHX 23..........Slava Butsayev..........................1/28/00 OTT at BUF 24..........Aris Brimanis.............................2/13/00 NYI at NYR 25..........Dieter Kochan............................3/28/00 TB vs. DAL 26..........Jani Hurme....................................4/9/00 OTT vs. TB 27..........Shane Hnidy.............................10/5/00 OTT at BOS 28..........Donald MacLean...................10/14/00 TOR vs. OTT 29..........David Oliver...............................11/4/00 OTT vs. CBJ 30..........Jamie Rivers............................11/12/00 OTT at CAR 31..........Sean Gagnon.........................11/26/00 OTT at NYR 32..........Joel Bouchard........................11/29/00 PHX at COL 33..........Mike Crowley..........................12/8/00 ANA at MIN 34..........Ivan Ciernik.................................1/23/01 OTT at NYI 35..........Darren Rumble..............................2/6/01 STL at COL 36..........Joel Kwiatkowski......................2/19/01 OTT at BUF 37..........Todd White................................2/19/01 OTT at BUF 38..........Chris Neil....................................10/3/01 OTT at TOR 39..........Toni Dahlman..........................1/3/02 OTT vs. WSH 40..........Steve Martins............................1/11/02 OTT at FLA 41..........Kip Miller.......................................1/17/02 NYI at SJ 42..........Jody Hull.........................................2/4/02 OTT at TB 43..........Dmitry Afanasenkov.......................2/6/02 TB at FLA 44..........Simon Lajeunesse..........................3/7/02 OTT at SJ 45..........Martin Prusek...........................3/23/02 OTT vs. ATL 46..........Chris Bala....................................3/27/02 OTT at NYI 47..........Neil Little...................................3/28/02 PHI at CAR 48..........Josh Langfeld..............................3/30/02 OTT vs. TB 49..........Gaetan Royer...............................4/1/02 TB vs. NYR 50.........Jason Spezza...................10/24/02 OTT at BOS 51..........Sean Avery................................10/29/02 DET vs. SJ 52..........Jason Doig.................................12/3/02 WSH at PIT 53..........Jason Williams.........................12/5/02 DET at PHX 54..........Patrick Boileau......................12/19/02 DET vs. DAL 55..........Stacy Roest.............................2/20/03 DET vs. EDM 56..........Wade Brookbank..................10/9/03 NSH vs. ANA 57..........Julien Vauclair........................10/25/03 OTT at MTL 58........ Jiri Hudler............................10/29/03 DET vs. STL 59..........Curtis Joseph..........................10/30/03 DET at NSH 60..........Darryl Bootland......................11/8/03 DET vs. NSH
61..........Mark Mowers........................11/19/03 DET vs. CBJ 62..........Nathan Robinson..................11/28/03 DET vs. NYI 63..........Blake Sloan.................................12/4/03 DAL at LA 64.........Niklas Kronwall...............12/10/03 DET at BUF 65..........Ryan Barnes...........................12/15/03 DET vs. FLA 66...... Chris Kelly..................... 2/5/04 OTT vs. TOR 67..........Marc Lamothe.........................2/23/04 DET at EDM 68..........Anders Myrvold........................2/26/04 DET at CGY 69..........Mathieu Chouinard...................2/29/04 LA at ANA 70..........Brett Lebda..................................10/5/05 DET vs. STL 71..........Mark Eaton..................................10/5/05 NSH vs. SJ 72..........Chris Osgood.............................10/29/05 DET at CHI 73.........Kyle Quincey...................11/25/05 DET at ANA 74.........Jimmy Howard.................11/28/05 DET at LA 75.........Valtteri Filppula................12/15/05 DET at FLA 76..........Rob Collins..............................12/17/05 NYI vs. COL 77..........Manny Legace............................1/5/06 DET vs. STL 78..........David Gove...............................1/31/06 CAR at MTL 79..........Tomas Kopecky..............................2/28/06 DET at SJ 80..........Alexandre Giroux........................3/25/06 NYR at TB 81..........Joey MacDonald........................10/19/06 DET at SJ 82..........Derek Meech...............................12/7/06 DET vs. STL 83..........Matt Ellis...................................12/18/06 DET at CBJ 84..........Matt Hussey...............................1/26/07 DET at STL 85..........Sheldon Brookbank.......................2/6/07 NSH at PIT 86..........Danny Syvret..........................2/27/07 EDM vs. PHX 87..........Mark Hartigan.........................11/29/07 DET vs. TB 88..........Drew MacIntyre........................12/13/07 VAN at SJ 89..........Peter Vandermeer..................2/10/08 PHX vs. NSH 90.........Jonathan Ericsson.............2/22/08 DET at CGY 91..........Garrett Stafford.........................2/23/08 DET at VAN 92.........Darren Helm.......................3/13/08 DET vs. DAL 93..........Mattias Ritola..........................3/15/08 DET vs. NSH 94..........Clay Wilson................................3/25/08 CBJ at NSH 95..........Darren McCarty..........................3/28/08 DET vs. STL 96..........Krys Kolanos.................................11/4/08 MIN at SJ 97..........Landon Wilson.....................11/22/08 DAL vs. ANA 98..........Bryan Helmer.....................11/28/08 WSH vs. MTL 99..........Chris Chelios ..........................12/13/08 DET at PHX 100........Aaron Downey.........................1/29/09 DET vs. DAL 101......Justin Abdelkader..........1/31/09 DET at WSH 102........Ville Leino................................1/31/09 DET at WSH 103........Aaron Gagnon......................10/16/09 DAL vs. BOS 104........Scott Parse................................10/24/09 LA at PHX 105........Doug Janik...............................11/3/09 DET vs. BOS 106.........Ryan Keller................................11/25/09 OTT at NJ 107........Jakub Kindl.............................12/3/09 DET vs. EDM 108........Kris Newbury........................12/14/09 DET vs. PHX 109.........Darren Haydar...........................2/10/10 COL vs. ATL 110........Andreas Lilja................................3/1/10 DET at COL 111.........Jeremy Williams......................10/24/10 NYR vs. NJ 112........Jan Mursak..............................12/27/10 DET at COL 113........Chris Mueller.........................12/28/10 NSH vs. DAL 114........Tomas Tatar......................12/31/10 DET vs. NYI 115........Cory Emmerton........................1/22/11 DET vs. CHI 116.........Patrick Rissmiller......................2/23/11 ATL at BUF 117 .......Tom McCollum .........................3/30/11 DET vs. STL 118 ......Gustav Nyquist ...............11/1/11 DET vs. MIN 119 ........Fabian Brunnstrom....................11/5/11 DET vs. ANA 120.......Brendan Smith..................11/17/11 DET at SJ
121......Mark Cullen.................11/29/11 FLA at CAR 122........Chris Conner..............................12/2/11 DET at BUF 123........Joakim Andersson.................12/27/11 DET vs. STL 124.......Ty Conklin ..........................3/21/12 DET at NYR 125.......Riley Sheahan......................4/7/12 DET vs. CHI 126.....Brian Lashoff................. 1/21/13 DET at CBJ 127........Mike Knuble...............................1/26/13 PHI at FLA 128........Jamie Tardif.................................2/2/13 BOS at TOR 129........Petr Mrazek ...........................2/7/13 DET at STL 130........ Jonas Gustavsson...................2/19/13 DET at NSH 131........Carlo Colaiacovo.........................4/1/13 DET vs. COL 132.......Danny DeKeyser..............10/2/13 DET vs. BUF 133.......Luke Glendening...........10/12/13 DET vs. PHI 134.......Xavier Ouellet....................10/21/13 DET vs. SJ 135........Adam Almquist .....................11/4/13 DET at WPG 136........Chad Billins...............................11/5/13 CGY at MIN 137.......Patrick Eaves....................12/14/13 DET vs. PIT 138.....Tomas Jurco..................12/15/13 DET vs. TB 139........Jordin Tootoo..........................12/19/13 DET vs. CGY 140........Alexey Marchenko......................1/4/14 DET at DAL 141........Teemu Pulkkinen ..................3/14/14 DET vs. EDM 142.....Landon Ferraro.............3/18/14 DET vs. TOR 143.......Calle Jarnkrok....................3/21/14 NSH at CGY 144........Mitch Callahan...........................3/25/14 DET at CBJ 145.....Ryan Sproul................... 4/13/14 DET at STL 146........Andrej Nestrasil.......................10/9/14 DET vs. BOS 147........Stephen Weiss.......................11/24/14 DET vs. OTT 148.....Mattias Janmark............10/8/15 DAL vs. PIT 149.......Dylan Larkin.....................10/9/15 DET vs. TOR 150...... Kevin Porter...........................10/10/15 PIT at ARI 151.......Andreas Athanasiou......11/8/15 DET vs. DAL 152.....Tomas Nosek...............12/26/15 DET at NSH 153........Eric Tangradi...............................1/25/16 DET at NYI 154.......Anthony Mantha..............3/15/16 DET at PHI 155.....Alan Quine.......................4/9/16 NYI vs. PHI 156.......Martin Frk.......................10/18/16 CAR at EDM 157.....Tyler Bertuzzi.................11/8/16 DET at PHI 158........Jared Coreau...............................12/3/16 DET at PIT 159.......Nick Jensen........................12/20/16 DET at TB 160........Drew Miller...............................2/28/17 DET at VAN 161........Robbie Russo..............................3/7/17 DET at TOR 162........Dan Renouf.............................. 3/27/17 DET at CAR 163........Ben Street..................................3/28/17 DET at CAR 164.....Evgeny Svechnikov.........4/3/17 DET vs. OTT 165........Matt Lorito.................................4/8/17 DET vs. MTL 166.......Kyle Criscuolo.............11/17/17 BUF at DET 167.... Dominic Turgeon.......1/14/18 DET at CHI 168.... Joe Hicketts................ 1/22/18 DET at NJ Bold = Played in the NHL during the 2017-18 season Italics = Had name engraved on the Stanley Cup after playing for Grand Rapids All photos by Getty Images
Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 77
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PARTING SHOT
The Griffins will get one final admonition before heading onto the ice for the 2018-19 season at Van Andel Arena. Whether they win or lose, it will be as a team. 80 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
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