2015-16 Griffiti - Issue #3

2015-16 SEASON ISSUE NO. 3

ROCKIN’ ROLE PLAYER

Louis-Marc Aubry

OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS

CADILLAC CHARLEVOIX CHICAGO GRAND RAPIDS MARQUETTE NEGAUNEE TRAVERSE CITY

Ambitious goals make for remarkable achievements.

Fox Motors is proud to support the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Here’s to a remarkable 2015-2016 season.

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E CITY

ls Vol. 20, No. 3

TABLE OF CONTENTS STARTING LINEUP 24 ON A ROLE — Having found his place as a regular contributor in the Griffi ’ lineup, center Louis-Marc Aubry feels comfortable saying that he has finally dis overed his niche.

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32 SAVING GRACE — The Griffins ve a long list of illustrious goaltenders who have served during their 20 seasons.

42 POISED FOR SUCCESS — A product of the U.S. National Team and University of Notre Dame hockey programs, defenseman Robbie Russo is proving to be a quick study at the pro game.

50 WORKING MEN — As Part 3 of a season-long series celebrating the organization’s 20th anniversary, Griffi caught up with a hat trick of former Griffins finding cess in careers post-Grand Rapids.

63 THREE TIMES LUCKY — Tampa Bay Lightning goalie prospect Andrei Vasilevskiy enjoyed a whirlwind end to 2015 and a terrific sta t to the New Year.

32

ON THE BENCH 2............Chalk Talk 4............Opposing Forces 6............Coming Soon 9............Griffins chedule 12.........AHL Tradition 15.........AHL Team Directory 19.........Detroit Red Wings 21.........Promotional Calendar

40.........Meet the Griffi 59.........Griffins ecords 68.........Griffins ll-Stars 69.........Penalty Calls 74.........Arena Map/Ticket Info 76.........It All Starts Here 79.........Kids Page 80.........Parting Shot

42 COVER:

Center Louis-Marc Aubry has played more career games for Grand Rapids than any active Griffi Photo by Mark Newman

Griffiti magazine is published four times a year by the Grand Rapids Griffins, Van Andel Ar 130 W. Fulton St., Grand Rapids, MI 49503. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. All contents ©2016 Grand Rapids Griffin For advertising information, contact Griffins Sales & Marketing, (616) 774-458 fax (616) 336-5464. Unsolicited manuscripts and other materials will not be returned.

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1

WITH GRIFFINS HEAD COACH TODD NELSON

W

hen the Griffins won only two of their fi st 11 games, it was unexpected; following it with a franchise-record 15-game winning streak was simply unprecedented.

Griffins head coach Todd Nelson was confide t his team would bounce back from its disappointing start, but even he did not imagine that his players would put together one of the best string of games in the AHL’s 80-year history.

Although the Griffins did not threaten the Norfolk Admirals’ unbelievable 28-game AHLrecord streak (set in 2011-12), the team played brilliantly during its winning streak, which started Nov. 18 versus Rockford and ended on Dec. 27 with a loss at Lake Erie.

The Griffins, who went 43 days between losses, were unquestionably impressive during the run, outscoring their opposition by a 66-27 margin and scoring an average of 4.4 goals per game. The competition was hardly weak: 13 of the 15 victories came against teams with a winning record.

Not surprisingly, the attitude in the Griffins’ dressing room was positively cheerful. It was a welcome change from the start of the season when things were not going so well.

“When our record was 2-8-0-1 after the fi st 11 games, I wouldn’t say panic was setting in, but it was a matter of concern,” Nelson said.

“It was difficult to be sure. But we felt we were turning the corner. We had put some good hockey games together; we didn’t get the breaks and games didn’t go our way.”

One of the biggest challenges was to get everyone on the same page. Nelson and two of his assistant coaches, Ben Simon and Bruce Ramsay, were new to the team, and they knew they had a tough act to follow after Jeff lashill’s success during his three years of guiding the Griffins.

2 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

“The working relationship between the coaches and players really came together,” Nelson said. “We knew there would be an adjustment period, and there was one, but we never expected to go 2-8-0-1. At the same time, we never expected to win 15 in a row either.”

A number of factors played in the Griffins’ favor.

“We started scoring goals, our penalty kill was a lot stronger, and our power play gave us timely goals,” Nelson said. “At the same time, our defense got better and our goalies were stronger, so when we fi ally gave them some goal support, we put ourselves in a better position to win.”

Nelson said the team took the record-setting streak in stride. “The players were very mature during the streak,” he said. “They knew we had dug ourselves into a big hole and we needed a good run to get out of it. When we started winning a few games in a row, there wasn’t any cockiness, just a quiet confide ce, and guys started to feel good about themselves.”

Much of the credit for keeping the team on an even keel can be credited to the veteran leadership. Experienced players like Dan Cleary and Eric Tangradi joined Griffins stalwarts Jeff oggan and Nathan Paetsch in keeping the younger players focused on the task at hand.

“Those are the guys who keep us from getting too high or too low,” Nelson said. “That’s why veteran leadership is so important. We’re fortunate to have a great leadership core here and our younger guys are benefiting from it.”

The Griffins continued to win, even when their lineup looked more like an emergency room waiting list than a hockey team roster. At one point, a total of seven players were out of the lineup with various ailments or injuries.

“We’ve had a lot of guys step up when given the chance,” Nelson said. “Guys like (Alden)

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Hirschfeld and (Joel) Rechlicz are a couple examples of players who have stepped up and taken advantage of the opportunities they’ve been given.

“Martin Frk has played extremely well and Tyler Bertuzzi is starting to play like he did last year during the playoffs. nthony Mantha has really improved from the start of the season. He’s put himself into a good position where a call-up is not too far away, and that’s what we want to see out of all our younger players. We want to see them grow over the course of the season.”

Of course, there are always areas for improvement. “Our power play has been streaky,” Nelson admitted. “We’ll be at 28 percent (success rate) during a five-game segment and then we’ll be at 7 percent the next.

I’d like to see us capitalize on more power play opportunities. We’re moving the puck around well and getting opportunities to score, but we’re not fin shing.”

Even so, Nelson said he doesn’t have much reason to complain. “I like where our team is at,” he said. “I like the attitude in the room and I like our effort and the fact that our guys have been working extremely hard. If you work hard and do the right things, good things will happen.”

The Griffins have shown they never quit, even when facing a defic t. During the streak, the Griffins fell behind 3-0 in the second period

on Dec. 13 at Iowa and were losing 3-1 late in the third period when they scored a pair of goals in the last two minutes to tie the game, which they eventually won in overtime.

“When you’re winning hockey games, you have that confide ce within your group that allows you to overcome adversity,” Nelson said. “Those are the type of games that build character and that’s what I liked about our players. They know the streak was nice – it was cool to become part of Griffins history – but they understood that we didn’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves.”

Nelson thinks even better things lie ahead.

“I like the way we are playing,” he said. “By no means do I think that we have peaked, but we have to keep getting better. I like that there’s an inner confide ce with this group that is evident when we are behind. No matter the score, we have the ability to pop a couple in the net and win the game, even if it’s late.”

That kind of confide ce will become important as the season progresses.

“We’re at a point in the season where we’re playing more games and it’s important to keep that confide ce going,” Nelson said. “During the streak, we gained a lot of ground on all of the teams, but there are several teams that are keeping pace with what we’re doing. We’ve got to keep winning games – that’s the bottom line.”

2015-16 GRIFFINS COACHING AND TRAINING STAFF

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Head Coach: Todd Nelson

Assistant Coach: Bruce Ramsay

Assistant Coach: Ben Simon

Assistant Coach: Mike Knuble

Goaltending Coach: Jeff alajko

Video Coach: Bill LeRoy

Athletic Trainer: John Bernal

Equipment Manager: Brad Thompson

Assistant Equipment Manager: Andrew Stegehuis

Strength & Conditioning Coordinator: Marcus Kinney

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

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OPPOSING

FORCES

The Griffins will look to continue their winning ways in the New Year by avenging a road loss to Eastern Conference rival Toronto and facing five Western Conference foes against whom they had compiled an 11-3 record during the first three months of the season.

TORONTO (Jan. 29) The Marlies like the edge of Brendan Leipsic (#19), an undersized 5-foot-9, 170-pound forward who has been dubbed “the most annoying prospect in hockey” and once drank from the water bottle of an opposing goalie. A 21-year-old native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Leipsic was traded to Toronto by the Nashville Predators organization, which had originally selected him with its third-round pick (89th overall) in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. A rolific corer in juniors, Leipsic is making the most of his opportunity in Toronto, mixing speed with tenacity.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING: “The kid is a winner. He plays hard all of the time,” Mark Seidel, North American Central Scouting director, told the Toronto Star. “He has enough skill to be able to compete for a spot in the NHL.” ROCKFORD (Feb. 6, March 2) The IceHogs hope that a change of scenery will benefit talented right winger Richard Panik, who was traded by the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Chicago Blackhawks’ organization for Jeremy Morin. A native of Martin, Slovakia, the 24-year-old Panik was demoted to the Marlies at the beginning of the year after spending the entire 2014-15 season with the Leafs. Panik, who has 19 goals and 39 points in 151 career NHL games, recorded nine goals and 25 points in 33 games for Toronto’s farm team this season before the Jan. 3 trade.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING: “Richard is a high-end talent,” Jon Cooper, his former coach in both the AHL and NHL, told the Tampa Bay Times. “He knows it (but) whether you’re new or old, you have to bring it every single night. There are times he’s been exceptional for us and at times he hasn’t.”

4 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

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MILWAUKEE (Feb. 17) The Admirals continue to rely heavily on defenseman Jimmy Oligny (#47), one of their top plus-minus blueliners. An undrafted free agent from La Sarre, a small town in northwest Quebec, the 22-year-old Oligny established himself as a solid defender after playing 53 games last season in Milwaukee. A smart skater with the ability to jump into the play in the offensive zone, Oligny may eventually prove to be a surprising under-the-radar prospect for the Nashville Predators.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING: ““He’s not outstanding in any one thing, but he’s very good in all parts of his game,” said Eric Lavigne, who coached Oligny during two of his five seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

CHARLOTTE (Feb. 19, Feb. 20) The Checkers are encouraged by the recent increase in offensive production by right winger Sergey Tolchinsky (#16), who tallied three goals in three games after netting only one in the prior 28 games. An undrafted free agent out of Moscow, Russia, the 5-foot-8 Tolchinsky has a good shot and a combination of skill and speed that allows him to slip through defensemen. Tolchinsky signed a three-year entry level contact with the Carolina Hurricanes after three seasons in the OHL with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING: “He skates well, and he does have that flair,” Hurricanes head coach Bill Peters told the Charlotte Observer. “He has a lot of confide ce with the puck.”

IOWA (Feb. 26, Feb. 27) The Wild have been watching the development of defenseman Zach Palmquist (#8), who is in his fi st full pro season after signing a one-year entry-level deal with the parent Minnesota Wild last March. A native of South St. Paul, Palmquist turned pro after four seasons at Minnesota State Mankato, where he never missed a game, playing a school-record 160 consecutive contests and recording 96 points (25 goals, 71 assists).

Prior to joining the Wild, Palmquist had attended the prospect camps of the San Jose Sharks and Philadelphia Flyers.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING: “He’s a mobile guy who can skate; he’s good on retrieval (and) makes a good fi st pass,” said Wild assistant general manager Brent Flahr.

“I think as he gets more comfortable, he’ll show a little more offense and generate offensively. He’s a pretty smart player.”

CHICAGO (Feb. 28) The Wolves are trying to reignite the offensive fuse of right winger Ty Rattie (#8), who notched seven goals in his fi st seven games this season but tallied only two in the next 20. A second-round pick (32nd overall) in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, he 6-foot St. Louis Blues prospect recorded 52 goals in 131 games during his fi st two seasons in Chicago. A natural goal scorer, the 22-year-old Calgary native had backto-back seasons of 57 and 48 goals during his last two years in junior hockey with the Portland Winterhawks in the WHL. WHAT THEY’RE SAYING: “He’s a really smart offensive player,” Blues head coach Ken Hitchcock told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “He’s learning to get above the puck and (he) understands the concept of how much checking and defense creates offense in this day and age.”

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HEADS UP! Two upcoming Griffins games will bring the spotlight to important topics that merit the attention of hockey fans.

Concussions and cancer hardly sound like topics for game-day promotions until one considers that efforts to create greater awareness will invariably lead to more manpower, money and momentum for worthwhile causes.

The Griffins will throw their support behind those efforts with two special games at Van Andel Arena.

The fi h annual Purple Community Game presented by Van Andel Institute (VAI) will see the home team wear purple jerseys on Friday, Feb. 19 to raise money for the local organization. Purple concessions, purple-themed songs and purple Griffins merchandise will highlight the evening, which will benefit VAI’s community fundraising program. Working with individuals, schools, businesses and community groups, the VAI’s purple program has raised more than $1 million.

Meanwhile, head injuries continue to be a growing concern among athletes in various sports, including hockey, where a number of former players have been diagnosed with chronic traumatic encaphalophy, or CTE, a progressive degenerative disease found in people who have sustained several concussions or other head injuries.

Team Giveaways Galore

On Wednesday, March 2, the Griffins will host their fourth annual Brain Injury Awareness Game presented by the Brain Injury Association of Michigan. The Griffins organization, which has been a long-running proponent of helmet safety through its Put A Lid On It! bike helmet program, is teaming with the group to hopefully help reduce the incidence and impact of brain injury through education, advocacy, support, treatment services and research.

More than 300,000 sports-related concussions occur every year in the U.S. Due to the contact nature of the

game and the speed with which it is played, hockey has taken a leadership position among all sports to attempt to reduce the potential for head trauma of any kind.

Leagues at all levels are attempting to eliminate hits from behind and blows to the head in an effort to reduce concussions and traumatic brain injuries.

Hosting a game to call attention to this hot topic is another step in the right direction in terms of reducing the frequency and severity of concussionrelated injuries.

Hockey coaches hate giveaways during games because they can lead to goals for the opposing team. Giveaways before the games are an altogether different story, and fans love them because, well, who doesn’t love free stuff?

The Griffins have several giveaways planned for the next batch of home games, including a pair of bobbleheads. A Teemu Pulkkinen bobblehead will be presented by Lake Michigan Credit Union before the Griffins face the Rockford IceHogs on Saturday, Feb. 6. Th ee weeks later, on Saturday, Feb. 27, a Tom McCollum bobblehead will be presented by Michigan Office olutions before the Griffins take on the Iowa Wild.

Other upcoming promotions include a Griffins baseball cap giveaway presented by Option 1 Credit Union on Saturday, Feb. 20, and a pennant giveaway presented by Centennial Securities on Sunday, Feb. 28.

6 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

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2015-16 SEASON SCHEDULE October S

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Post-Game Open Skate Huntington Bank Post-Game Autograph Session Friends & Family 4-Pack Home Game Pepsi Reading Goals Redemption Date

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Games broadcast live on

All times Eastern.

Dates, opponents and times subject to change.

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BAK - Bakersfield CHA - Charlotte CHI - Chicago IA - Iowa LE – Lake Erie MB - Manitoba MIL - Milwaukee

RCH - Rochester RFD - Rockford SA – San Antonio SD – San Diego TEX - Texas TOR - Toronto UTI - Utica

PRIMARY AFFILIATE OF THE DETROIT RED WINGS

@GRIFFINSHOCKEY

TO PURCHASE TICKETS OR FOR MORE INFO, VISIT GRIFFINSHOCKEY.COM OR CALL 1.800.2.HOCKEY. Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

9

Griffins Chief Executive Offic

Dear Griffins Fans, Michigan’s favorite musical son, Bob Seger, once sang “Twenty years now, where’d they go?...I sit and I wonder sometimes where they’ve gone.”

As the Griffins enter our 20th anniversary season, I look back upon all the memories we’ve shared and am grateful to all the people and partners who have been so integral to our remarkable success. Van Andel Arena’s staff nd the Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena Authority ensure that our home remains a world-class arena, making continual investments in amenities such as the HD video board and LED ribbon that enhance your enjoyment at a game.

We enjoy rich relationships with our Pillar Partners – Amway, Fox Motors, Huntington, Meijer, Spectrum Health and West Side Beer Distributing – and dozens of other sponsors, several of whom have been with us since our inaugural 1996-97 season.

Most crucial, though, has been the unwavering support of the best fans in hockey. After fi st setting sellout records in our early years, we’ve witnessed attendance increases in eight of the last nine seasons and led the AHL in total attendance during the 2015 Calder Cup Playoffs Such stability has been a hallmark of our organization, a welcome attribute in a sport in which change often seems to be the only constant. After three seasons of unprecedented success behind the Griffins’ bench, Jeff lashill is now the head coach for the Detroit Red Wings. He undoubtedly left ehind big shoes to fill, but fortunately we found a man with large feet: Todd Nelson, who comes full circle as the fi st player ever signed by the Griffins in 1996 and, now, the 10th head coach in franchise history.

After winning several cups during his playing and coaching careers and serving as interim head coach of the Edmonton Oilers last season, Nelson heads up a staff c mprised of fellow former Griffins Bruce Ramsay, Ben Simon and Mike Knuble, all of whom are focused on defending our seventh division title and making a run at our second Calder Cup. We’re proud of the new logo and colors that our players will be sporting on the ice this year and enthused about what’s happening off he ice as well. Under the leadership of new Griffins president and original employee Tim Gortsema, our staff s planning an exciting array of promotions and events in celebration of 20 seasons of Griffins Hockey.

A new era is taking fli ht. I hope you enjoy everything that this landmark season has to offer.

Sincerely,

Dan DeVos Griffins Chief Executive Offic

10 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

DAVID A. ANDREWS RESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, DPAAVID A. ANDREWS MERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE

DAVID A. ANDREWS

PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, American Hockey AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE League American Hockey League One Monarch Place – Springfield, MA 01144 One Monarch Place – Springfield, MA 01144 Phone: (413) Phone: (413)781-2030 781-2030 theahl.com Fax: (413) 733-4767

Dear Fans, Dear Fans, Dear Fans,

American Hockey League

One Monarch Place – Springfield, MA 01144 Phone: (413) 781-2030 theahl.com ItItItisis pleasure towelcome welcome you to the historic 2015-16 American Hockey League mygreat great pleasure to welcome to the 2014-15 American Hockey League season, ismy my great pleasure to you toyou the historic 2015-16 American Hockey League season, one that79th is sure to beofis one of the most memorable campaigns ever. season, one that sure to one of thetomost memorable campaigns our year play.

Webe are proud be entering what is sure toever. be another exciting season, continuing our tradition of excellence and bringing an entertaining, physical and We are celebrating our 80th anniversary season literally from coast to coast: From the shores of the We are celebrating anniversary season from6 coast to fans coast:inFrom theacross highly skilled levelour of 80th professional hockey to literally more than million arenas Atlantic to our five new members in California, all 30 teams will hit the ice to continue a tradition of Dear Fans, North America. shores of the Atlantic tothe ourhallmark fi e new in California, all 30 teams will hit the ice excellence that has been of members the American Hockey League since 1936. to continue a tradition has been2015-16 the hallmark of the American It is my great pleasure of to excellence welcome youthat to the historic American Hockey League Hockey season, one The AHL remains ofthe itsonce role developing more 88 percent of today’s National Hockey that issince sure to beproud one of mostinagain memorable campaigns ever.

The 2014-15 season will feature 30than teams who will be competing for theLeague AHL’s League 1936. players, as well asCup the vast majority of theand NHL’s managers, staffs, broadcasters historic Calder championship, 30coaches, National Hockeytraining League clubs who willand be We areIncelebrating our350 80th anniversary season literally from coast coast: From the officials. total, nearly AHL players were recalled to the NHL lasttoseason alone,the andshores more of than developing their top prospects and futureallstars in our cities.

Last season alone, more than The AHL remains proud of its roleinNHL in developing more 88the percent ofAHL. today’s Atlantic tofirstour five new members California, 30 teamsthan willtheir hit iceintothe continue a tradition 250 former and second-round draft picks developed skills And throughofthe 240 firstand second-round NHL draft competed in American Hockey League, National Hockey League as well aspicks thecheering vast majority ofthe thesince NHL’s coaches, excellence thatand has been players, the hallmark ofenjoyed the American Hockey League years, our loyal passionate fans have for more than 1001936. future Hockey Hall of Famers, and 347 players the ice of in more boththan the 100 AHLCalder and the NHL. and have witnessed the triumphs champions whoAHL would go on to have their managers, trainingtook staffs, broadcasters and officia . InCup total, nearly 350 players The AHL remains of its role more than 88 percent of today’s National Hockey League names engraved onproud the Stanley Cupinasdeveloping well. were recalled to the NHL last season alone, and more than 250 former firs - and secondas well as the vast majority of the NHL’s coaches, managers, training staffs, broadcasters and Weplayers, take great pride in our tradition of developing the best hockey talent in the world, with round NHL draft picks developed their skills in the And through years, loyal total, 350 AHL players were recalled to theand NHL last season alone, andour more than Toofficials. our newInfans in nearly Bakersfield, Ontario, San Diego, San AHL. Jose Stockton; tothe our returning fans in over 88 percent of today’s NHL players, coaches and having honed their skills in and passionate fans have more thanofficials 100 Hall of 250 former firstsecond-round NHL picks developed theirfuture skills inHockey the Andto through thejoin Manitoba; to all of and you whoenjoyed cheer forcheering AHL draft teamsfor across North America -- We are AHL. excited have you the American Hockey Through the years, our loyal and passionate fans have our excitement loyal and passionate fans have enjoyed cheering for more than 100 Hockey Hall of Famers, usyears, from the ofLeague. opening weekend, to the 2016 AHL All-Star Classic infuture Syracuse, andwho through the Famers, and have witnessed the triumphs of more than 100 Calder Cup champions and and have witnessed the triumphs of Playoffs. more than 100 Calder Cup whoand would go on to have their enjoyed cheering more than 100 future Hallchampions of Famers, have witnessed the thrills emotion offor the Calder Cup would go on to have their names engraved on Hockey the Stanley Cup as well. names engraved the Stanley Cup as Cup well. champions who would go on to have their names triumphs of moreonthan 100 Calder On behalf of allthe of our teams,Cup players staff, thank you again for your continuing support of the AHL. engraved on Stanley as and well.

To our new fans Ontario, San Diego, and Stockton; our fans in To our new fansininBakersfiel Bakersfield,,Ontario, San Diego, SanSan JoseJose and Stockton; to our to returning I wish you the utmost enjoyment of all the excitement that our 2015-16 season has in store.

Manitoba; to in allManitoba; of you who to cheer foryou AHL who teamscheer acrossfor North We are excited to have you join returning fans all of AHLAmerica teams -across North America to continue to deliver professional to the great fans ofand Glens Falls,the us from the excitement opening weekend, to the 2016 hockey AHL All-Star Classic in Syracuse, through Sincerely, --We’re We arepleased excited to haveofyou join us from the excitement of opening weekend, to the thrills and of the Calder Cup Playoffs.

N.Y., and weemotion welcome Allentown, Pa., to the league as the Adirondack Flames and Lehigh 2016 AHL All-Star Classic in Syracuse, and through the thrills and emotion of the Calder Valley Phantoms hit the ice this season. The AHL’s two newest entries will join the rest of CupOn Playoffs. behalf of all of our teams, players and staff, thank you again for your continuing support of the AHL. theI wish league in looking to dethrone defending Calder Cup champion Texas you the utmost enjoyment of all the the excitement that our 2015-16 season has in store.Stars in the chase for the AHL’s 2015 title.

On behalf of all of our teams, players and staff, thank you again for your continuing Sincerely, David A.of Andrews support the AHL. I wish you the utmost enjoyment of all the excitement that our On behalf&of all Executive of our teams, President Chief Officer players and staff, thank you again for your continuing 2015-16 season in Istore.

American Hockey League support of thehas AHL. wish you the utmost enjoyment of all the excitement that our

2014-15 season has in store.

David A. Andrews Sincerely,

President & Chief Executive Officer American Hockey League

David A. Andrews President & Chief Executive Officer American Hockey League /TheAHL

theahl.com

@TheAHL

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

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A TRADITIONsinceOF EXCELLENCE 1936 THE BEGINNINGS The American Hockey League is celebrating its 80th season of play in 2015-16, 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 Buffal , Cleveland, New Haven, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Providence, Springfield and Syracuse.

Frank Calder, the National Hockey League’s president at the time, was instrumental in the forming of the new league, and his name would be given to its championship trophy. The first Calder Cup was won by the Syracuse Stars in 1937; the 79th championship was captured by the Manchester Monarchs last spring.

From those roots, the American Hockey League has grown into a 30-team league that provides fans with exciting, high-level professional hockey while preparing thousands of players, coaches, officia , executives, trainers, broadcasters and more for careers in the NHL.

THE PLAYERS

Photo: Lindsay A. Mogle

In today’s National Hockey League more than 88 percent of the players are AHL alumni, including 2015 Hart and Vezina Trophy recipient Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens. The 2015 Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks were stocked with AHL graduates as well, among them Conn Smythe Trophy winner Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Patrick Sharp, Brandon Saad, Kris Versteeg, Corey Crawford, Andrew Shaw, and head coach Joel Quenneville.

During the 2014-15 season, a total of 865 AHL alumni played in the National Hockey League, including 341 who skated in both leagues last year alone. Forty of the 49 players who skated in the 2015 Stanley Cup Final were AHL graduates, including Tampa Bay’s Ben Bishop, Ryan Callahan, Tyler Johnson, Alex Killorn, and Ondrej Palat.

More than 250 former firs - and second-round draft picks developed their skills in the AHL last season, including Teuvo Teravainen, David Pastrnak, William Nylander, Derrick Pouliot, Andrei Vasilevskiy, Ryan Hartman, Matt Dumba, and Julius Honka.

Carey Price 2015 Hart, Vezina Trophy winner 2007 Calder Cup Playoffs MV

At the start of the 2015-16 season, the National Hockey League featured 21 head coaches who were former AHL bench bosses, including former Calder Cup champions Jon Cooper, Peter Laviolette, Barry Trotz, Todd McLellan, Bruce Boudreau, Bob Hartley, Willie Desjardins, and Jeff Blashill. Stanley Cup winners Joel Quenneville, Claude Julien, Dan Bylsma, and Mike Babcock also spent time in the AHL before making the jump.

THE COACHES At the start of the 2015-16 season, the National Hockey League featured 21 head coaches who were former AHL bench bosses, including former Calder Cup champions Jon Cooper, Peter Laviolette, Barry Trotz, Todd McLellan, Bruce Boudreau, Bob Hartley, Willie Desjardins, and Jeff Blashill. Stanley Cup winners Joel Quenneville, Claude Julien, Dan Bylsma, and Mike Babcock also spent time in the AHL before making the jump.

“The time I spent in the American Hockey League was essential in my preparation to become head coach of the Detroit Red Wings. Without question, the AHL is just as valuable as a proving ground for future coaches as it is for young players.”

-- Jeff Blashil , Head Coach, Detroit Red Wings 2014 AHL Coach of the Year 2013 Calder Cup Champion Photo: Dan Hickling

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The American Hockey League has created its own legends as well, and in 2006 began honoring them with the formation of the AHL Hall of Fame. The 10th class of inductees, recognized in 2015, included Frederic Cassivi, James C. Hendy, Bronco Horvath, and Art Stratton. They join the likes of Johnny Bower, Fred Glover, Jody Gage, Mitch Lamoureux, Willie Marshall, Frank Mathers, Eddie Shore, Bruce Boudreau, Tim Tookey, Zellio Toppazzini, and others as distinguished members of the American Hockey League Hall of Fame.

Photo: AHL Archives

ner

THE LEGENDS For the past eight decades, the American Hockey League has been home to some of the greatest players in the history of our sport. In fact, more than 100 honored members of the Hockey Hall of Fame have been affil ted with the AHL during their careers. All-time greats like George Armstrong, Toe Blake, Gump Worsley, Terry Sawchuk, Glenn Hall, Brad Park, Ken Dryden, and Brett Hull came through the AHL ranks and now find themselves enshrined in Toronto, and the coveted Calder Cup is inscribed with the names of legendary AHL alumni like Patrick Roy, Larry Robinson, Gerry Cheevers, Andy Bathgate, Tim Horton, Al Arbour, Emile Francis, Doug Harvey, and Billy Smith.

Eddie Shore Honored Member, Hockey Hall of Fame Honored Member, AHL Hall of Fame

THE FANS

Photo: Lindsay A. Mogle

For the 14th consecutive season, American Hockey League teams drew more than 6.2 million fans to games across North America in 2014-15. The Hershey Bears led the league for the ninth year in a row, averaging 9,700 fans per home game, while the Utica Comets followed up their inaugural season with 27 sold-out regular season crowds at the Utica Memorial Auditorium, plus 13 more in the playoffs. And Syracuse set a new U.S. indoor pro hockey record when 30,715 fans packed the Carrier Dome for a Crunch game on Nov. 22, 2014.

Fans are also continuing to follow their teams and the league in record numbers digitally. Last season, the AHL Internet Network -- featuring TheAHL.com and the officia Web sites of all 30 clubs -- got nearly 90 million page views from fans worldwide. Meanwhile, more than one million fans follow the AHL and its teams on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

In their first ever Calder Cup playoffs ap earance, the Utica Comets sold out all 13 postseason games at the Aud.

88.8

865

341

254

519

Percentage of all NHL players in 2014-15 who were graduates of the AHL

Former AHL players who skated in the National Hockey League last season

AHL players who also played in the NHL in 2014-15

Former 1st- and 2ndround NHL draft picks who skated in the AHL in 2014-1

AHL alumni who played for the 2015 Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks

“Everywhere I’ve been, the American Hockey League has been an important part of my career. It has been the biggest part of our success in developing our players in Chicago, first with th Norfolk Admirals and now with the Rockford IceHogs.”

-- Scotty Bowman, Honored Member, Hockey Hall of Fame 14-Time Stanley Cup Champion 2-Time Jack Adams Award Winner Photo: Getty Images

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

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2015-16 AHL DIRECTORY EASTERN CONFERENCE

ATLANTIC DIVISION: Bridgeport, Hartford, Hershey, Lehigh Valley, Portland, Providence, Springfiel , Wilkes-Barre/Scranton

ALBANY DEVILS

NHL AFFILIATION: New Jersey Devils HOME ICE: Times Union Center (6,691) GENERAL MANAGER: Ray Shero HEAD COACH: Rick Kowalsky ENTERED AHL: 2006-07 (as Lowell Devils) CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 2 of 9 2014-15 RECORD: 37-28-5-6, 85 pts.

WEBSITE: thealbanydevils.com

BINGHAMTON SENATORS

NHL AFFILIATION: Ottawa Senators HOME ICE: Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena (4,696) GENERAL MANAGER: Randy Lee HEAD COACH: Luke Richardson ENTERED AHL: 2002-03 CALDER CUPS: One (2011) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 6 of 13 2014-15 RECORD: 34-34-7-1, 76 pts.

WEBSITE: binghamtonsenators.com

BRIDGEPORT SOUND TIGERS

NHL AFFILIATION: New York Islanders HOME ICE: Webster Bank Arena (8,412) GENERAL MANAGER: Garth Snow HEAD COACH: Brent Thompson ENTERED AHL: 2001-02 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 7 of 14 2014-15 RECORD: 28-40-7-1, 64 pts.

WEBSITE: soundtigers.com

HARTFORD WOLF PACK

NHL AFFILIATION: New York Rangers HOME ICE: XL Center (15,635) GENERAL MANAGER: Jim Schoenfeld HEAD COACH: Ken Gernander ENTERED AHL: 1997-98 CALDER CUPS: One (2000) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 15 of 18 2014-15 RECORD: 43-24-5-4, 95 pts.

WEBSITE: hartfordwolfpack.com

HERSHEY BEARS

NHL AFFILIATION: Washington Capitals HOME ICE: Giant Center (10,500) GENERAL MANAGER: Doug Yingst HEAD COACH: Troy Mann ENTERED AHL: 1938-39 CALDER CUPS: 11 (1947, 1958, 1959, 1969, 1974, 1980, 1988, 1997, 2006, 2009, 2010) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 65 of 77 2014-15 RECORD: 46-22-5-3, 100 pts.

WEBSITE: hersheybears.com

NORTH DIVISION: Albany, Binghamton, Rochester, St. John’s, Syracuse, Toronto, Utica

LEHIGH VALLEY PHANTOMS

NHL AFFILIATION: Philadelphia Flyers HOME ICE: PPL Center (8,420) GENERAL MANAGER: Ron Hextall HEAD COACH: Scott Gordon ENTERED AHL: 1996-97 (as Philadelphia Phantoms) CALDER CUPS: Two (1998, 2005) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 10 of 19 2014-15 RECORD: 33-35-7-1, 74 pts.

WEBSITE: phantomshockey.com

PORTLAND PIRATES PRIMARY MARK

PORTLAND PIRATES

NHL AFFILIATION: Florida Panthers HOME ICE: Cross Insurance Arena (6,157) GENERAL MANAGER: Eric Joyce HEAD COACH: Scott Allen ENTERED AHL: 1993-94 CALDER CUPS: One (1994) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 16 of 22 2014-15 RECORD: 39-28-7-2, 87 pts.

WEBSITE: portlandpirates.com

PANTONE 186 C

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PROVIDENCE BRUINS

NHL AFFILIATION: Boston Bruins HOME ICE: Dunkin’ Donuts Center Providence (11,075) GENERAL MANAGER: Don Sweeney HEAD COACH: Bruce Cassidy ENTERED AHL: 1992-93 CALDER CUPS: One (1999) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 18 of 23 2014-15 RECORD: 41-26-7-2, 91 pts.

WEBSITE: providencebruins.com

ROCHESTER AMERICANS

NHL AFFILIATION: Buffalo abres HOME ICE: Blue Cross Arena at the Rochester War Memorial (10,662) GENERAL MANAGER: Tim Murray HEAD COACH: Randy Cunneyworth ENTERED AHL: 1956-57 CALDER CUPS: Six (1965, 1966, 1968, 1983, 1987, 1996) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 44 of 59 2014-15 RECORD: 29-41-5-1, 64 pts.

WEBSITE: amerks.com

SPRINGFIELD FALCONS

NHL AFFILIATION: Arizona Coyotes HOME ICE: MassMutual Center (6,784) GENERAL MANAGER: Darcy Regier HEAD COACH: Ron Rolston ENTERED AHL: 1994-95 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 8 of 21 2014-15 RECORD: 38-28-8-2, 86 pts.

WEBSITE: falconsahl.com

ST. JOHN’S ICECAPS PRIMARY MARK

ST. JOHN’S ICECAPS

NHL AFFILIATION: Montreal Canadiens HOME ICE: Mile One Centre (6,287) GENERAL MANAGER: Marc Bergevin HEAD COACH: Sylvain Lefebrve ENTERED AHL: 2011-12 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 2 of 4 2014-15 RECORD: 32-33-9-2, 75 pts.

WEBSITE: stjohnsicecaps.com Grand Rapids GRIFFINS PANTONE 2758 C

PANTONE 187 C

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2015-16 AHL DIRECTORY SYRACUSE CRUNCH

UTICA COMETS

NHL AFFILIATION: Tampa Bay Lightning HOME ICE: War Memorial Arena (6,010) GENERAL MANAGER: Julien BriseBois HEAD COACH: Rob Zettler ENTERED AHL: 1994-95 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 12 of 21 2014-15 RECORD: 41-25-10-0, 92 pts.

WEBSITE: syracusecrunch.com

NHL AFFILIATION: Vancouver Canucks HOME ICE: Utica Memorial Auditorium (3,855) GENERAL MANAGER: Pat Conacher HEAD COACH: Travis Green ENTERED AHL: 2013-14 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 1 of 2 2014-15 RECORD: 47-20-7-2, 103 pts.

WEBSITE: uticacomets.com

TORONTO MARLIES

WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON PENGUINS

NHL AFFILIATION: Toronto Maple Leafs HOME ICE: Ricoh Coliseum (7,851) GENERAL MANAGER: Kyle Dubas HEAD COACH: Sheldon Keefe ENTERED AHL: 2005-06 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 7 of 10 2014-15 RECORD: 40-27-9-0, 89 pts.

WEBSITE: marlies.ca

NHL AFFILIATION: Pittsburgh Penguins HOME ICE: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza (8,050) GENERAL MANAGER: Jason Botterill HEAD COACH: Clark Donatelli ENTERED AHL: 1999-00 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 14 of 16 2014-15 RECORD: 45-24-3-4, 97 pts.

WEBSITE: wbspenguins.com

WESTERN CONFERENCE CENTRAL DIVISION: Grand Rapids, Charlotte, Chicago, Iowa, Lake Erie, Manitoba, Milwaukee, Rockford

BAKERSFIELD CONDORS

NHL AFFILIATION: Edmonton Oilers HOME ICE: Rabobank Arena (8,751) GENERAL MANAGER: Bill Scott HEAD COACH: Gerry Fleming ENTERED AHL: 2015-16 WEBSITE: bakersfield ondors.com

NHL AFFILIATION: Detroit Red Wings HOME ICE: Van Andel Arena (10,834) PACIFIC DIVISION: GENERAL MANAGER: Ryan Martin Bakersfiel , Ontario, HEAD COACH: Todd Nelson CONDORS San Antonio, San BAKERSFIELD Diego, ENTERED AHL: 2001-02 PRIMARY MARK San Jose, Stockton, CALDER CUPS: One (2013) Texas SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 9 of 14 2014-15 RECORD: 46-22-6-2, 100 pts.

WEBSITE: griffinshock .com

IOWA WILD

CHARLOTTE CHECKERS

NHL AFFILIATION: Carolina Hurricanes HOME ICE: Bojangles’ Coliseum (8,300) GENERAL MANAGER: Derek Wilkinson HEAD COACH: Mark Morris ENTERED AHL: 2010-11 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 2 of 5 2014-15 RECORD: 31-38-6-1, 69 pts.

WEBSITE: gocheckers.com

CHICAGO WOLVES

NHL AFFILIATION: St. Louis Blues HOME ICE: Allstate Arena (16,692) GENERAL MANAGER: Wendell Young HEAD COACH: John Anderson ENTERED AHL: 2001-02 CALDER CUPS: Two (2002, 2008) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 10 of 14 2014-15 RECORD: 40-29-6-1, 87 pts.

WEBSITE: chicagowolves.com

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GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS

PANTONE 281 C

PANTONE 172 C

PANTONE 429 C

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NHL AFFILIATION: Minnesota Wild HOME ICE: Wells Fargo Arena (8,162) GENERAL MANAGER: Brent Flahr HEAD COACH: John Torchetti ENTERED AHL: 2013-14 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 0 of 2 2014-15 RECORD: 23-49-2-2, 50 pts.

WEBSITE: iowawild.com 2015-16

LAKE ERIE MONSTERS

NHL AFFILIATION: Columbus Blue Jackets HOME ICE: Quicken Loans Arena (19,665/10,025 lower bowl) GENERAL MANAGER: Bill Zito HEAD COACH: Jared Bednar ENTERED AHL: 2007-08 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 1 of 8 2014-15 RECORD: 35-29-8-4, 82 pts.

WEBSITE: lakeeriemonsters.com

MANITOBA MOOSE PRIMARY MARK

MANITOBA MOOSE

NHL AFFILIATION: Winnipeg Jets HOME ICE: MTS Centre (8,812) GENERAL MANAGER: Craig Heisinger HEAD COACH: Keith McCambridge ENTERED AHL: 2001-02 (played through 2010-11; re-entered 2015-16) CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 9 of 10 WEBSITE: moosehockey.com

PANTONE 282 C

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2015-16 AHL DIRECTORY MILWAUKEE ADMIRALS

SAN DIEGO GULLS

PRIMARY MARK

MILWAUKEE ADMIRALS

SAN DIEGO GULLS

NHL AFFILIATION: Nashville Predators HOME ICE: BMO Harris Bradley Center (17,845) GENERAL MANAGER: Paul Fenton HEAD COACH: Dean Evason ENTERED AHL: 2001-02 CALDER CUPS: One (2004) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 12 of 14 2014-15 RECORD: 33-28-8-7, 81 pts.

WEBSITE: milwaukeeadmirals.com PANTONE 282 C

NHL AFFILIATION: Anaheim Ducks HOME ICE: Valley View Casino Center (12,920) GENERAL MANAGER: Bob Ferguson HEAD COACH: Dallas Eakins ENTERED AHL: 2015-16 WEBSITE: sandiegogulls.com

PRIMARY MARK

PRIMARY MARK

SAN JOSE BARRACUDA

PANTONE 292 C

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NHL AFFILIATION: Los Angeles Kings HOME ICE: Citizens Business Bank Arena (9,491) GENERAL MANAGER: Rob Blake HEAD COACH: Mike Stothers ENTERED AHL: 2015-16 WEBSITE: ontarioreign.com

NHL AFFILIATION: San Jose Sharks HOME ICE: SAP Center (8,000, curtained) GENERAL MANAGER: Joe Will HEAD COACH: Roy Sommer ENTERED AHL: 2015-16 WEBSITE: sjbarracuda.com

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SAN ANTONIO RAMPAGE

NHL AFFILIATION: Colorado Avalanche HOME ICE: AT&T Center (6,374, lower bowl) GENERAL MANAGER: Craig Billington HEAD COACH: Dean Chynoweth ENTERED AHL: 2002-03 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 4 of 13 2014-15 RECORD: 45-23-7-1, 98 pts.

WEBSITE: sarampage.com

PANTONE 1655 C

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STOCKTON HEAT

ROCKFORD ICEHOGS

PANTONE 429 C

SAN JOSE BARRACUDA

ONTARIO REIGN

ONTARIO REIGN

NHL AFFILIATION: Chicago Blackhawks HOME ICE: BMO Harris Bank Center (5,895) GENERAL MANAGER: Mark Bernard HEAD COACH: Ted Dent ENTERED AHL: 2007-08 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 4 of 8 2014-15 RECORD: 46-23-5-2, 99 pts.

WEBSITE: icehogs.com

PRIMARY MARK

NHL AFFILIATION: Calgary Flames HOME ICE: Stockton Arena (9,737) GENERAL MANAGER: Brad Pascall HEAD COACH: Ryan Huska ENTERED AHL: 2015-16 WEBSITE: stocktonheat.com

STOCKTON HEAT PRIMARY MARK

PANTONE 3155 C

PANTONE 429 C

PANTONE 152 C

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TEXAS STARS PRIMARY MARK

2015-16

TEXAS STARS

NHL AFFILIATION: Dallas Stars HOME ICE: Cedar Park Center (6,863) GENERAL MANAGER: Scott White HEAD COACH: Derek Laxdal ENTERED AHL: 2009-10 CALDER CUPS: One (2014) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 5 of 6 2014-15 RECORD: 40-22-13-1, 94 pts.

WEBSITE: texasstarshockey.com

PANTONE 186 C

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PANTONE 110 C

METALLIC SILVER 877

PANTONE 425 C

PANTONE 877 C

PANTONE 142 C

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THE ROAD TO THE CALDER CUP 2015-16 PLAYOFF FORMAT Eight teams in each conference will qualify for the 2016 Calder Cup Playoffs.

MANITOBA MOOSE PRIMARY MARK

The top four teams in each division, ranked by points percentage (points earned divided by points available), will qualify for the postseason, with one possible exception in each conference. If the fi th-place team in the Atlantic or Central Division finishes with a better points percentage than the fourth-place team in the North or Pacific Division, espectively, it will cross over and compete in the other division’s bracket.

The division semifinals will be bes -of-fi e series; the division final , conference finals and alder Cup Finals will be best-of-seven series.

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RED WINGS During the 2014-15 season, 24 of the 31 players who saw action with the Red Wings had previously worn a Griffins un orm. Those Grand Rapids alumni are now guided by their new head coach, former Griffin bench boss Jeff Blashil , who tutored many of them during his remarkable three-year tenure (2012-15) in Hockeytown West.

TOP AFFILIATE

Grand Rapids Griffin 14th Season / Through 2016-1

ARENA

Joe Louis Arena Seating Capacity: 20,066

CONTACT

(313) 394-7000 detroitredwings.com

STANLEY CUPS

1936, 1937, 1943, 1950, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2008

MANAGEMENT

Executive VP/General Manager: Ken Holland Assistant General Manager: Ryan Martin

COACHING STAFF Head Coach: Jeff Blashil

Assistant Coaches: Tony Granato, Pat Ferschweiler, Chris Chelios Goaltending Coach: Jim Bedard Video Coach: Dave Noel-Bernier Strength and 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 Patrick Boileau, 2002-03 Darryl Bootland, 2003-04 Fabian Brunnstrom, 2011-12 Mitch Callahan, 2013-14 Ty Conklin, 2011-12 Chris Conner, 2011-12 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 Luke Glendening, 2013-14 Mark Hartigan, 2007-08

Darren Helm, 2007-08 Jimmy Howard, 2005-06 Jiri Hudler, 2003-04 Matt Hussey, 2006-07 Doug Janik, 2009-10 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, 2012-1 Brett Lebda, 2005-06 Ville Leino, 2008-09 Joey MacDonald, 2006-07 Donald MacLean, 2005-06 Alexey Marchenko, 2013-14 Darren McCarty, 2007-08 Tom McCollum, 2010-11 Derek Meech, 2006-07 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 Mattias Ritola, 2007-08 Jamie Rivers, 2003-04 Nathan Robinson, 2003-04 Stacy Roest, 2002-03 Riley Sheahan, 2011-12 Brendan Smith, 2011-12 Ryan Sproul, 2013-14 Garrett Stafford, 2007-0 Tomas Tatar, 2010-11 Jordin Tootoo, 2013-14 Jason Williams, 2002-03

* not including conditioning stints for Curtis Joseph (2003-04), Chris Osgood (2005-06), Manny Legace (2005-06), Chris Chelios (200809), Andreas Lilja (2009-10), Jonas Gustavsson (2012-13), Carlo Colaiacovo (2012-13) and Stephen Weiss (2014-15).

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2015-16 GRIFFINS PROMOTIONAL SCHEDULE

Jan. 29: ‘80s Night Feb. 6: Teemu Pulkkinen Bobblehead Giveaway presented by Lake Michigan Credit Union Feb. 9: Griffins & Sle Wings Game at Griff’s IceHouse

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Feb. 19: Fifth Annual Purple Community Game presented by Van Andel Institute/Purple Jersey Auction Feb. 20: Baseball Cap Giveaway presented by Option 1 Credit Union Feb. 27: Tom McCollum Bobblehead Giveaway/Social Media Night presented by Michigan Office Solutions Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

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FEB

March 2: Brain Injury Awareness Game presented by Brain Injury Association of Michigan

28 Feb. 28: Pennant Giveaway presented by Centennial Securities/$1 Pepsi Drinks and $1 Ice Cream from 3-5 p.m.

March 8: Corks, Pucks & Brews at the Goei Center, benefiting aster Seals Michigan March 12: Star Wars Night presented by DTE Energy March 26: Team Sock Giveaway/Superhero Night presented by Eikenhout Inc./ Fan-Designed Jersey Auction #2

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April 6: Griffins ooster Club Awards Banquet

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April 16: Season Finale presented by Huntington Bank/20th Anniversary 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: Every Friday night is a Griffi 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 griffinsho ey.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 tickets for $14 each or four Lower Level Faceoff tickets for $18 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 ticket for $14 (or $13 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.

Hockey Night in Grand Rapids: For select Wednesday home games (Feb. 17, March 2 and April 13), show your Griffin ticket at participating Arena District restaurants and bars to enjoy Hockey Night specials. Visit griffinsho ey.com/hockeynight for participating establishments and more information.

Winning Wednesdays: Presented by Farm Bureau Insurance, every time the Griffin 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.

Fox Motors Fast Lane: An owner of a Fox Motors vehicle has the ability to bypass normal ticket lines on game nights by showing their keychain at the designated “Fox Motors Fast Lane” ticket window, located at Van Andel Arena’s main box office. Once presented, the keychain owner may purchase their tickets, subject to availability, at the window and proceed into the game.

Post-Game Parties at Peppino’s: After every Wednesday game, join Griffin players and staff for the officia post-game party at Peppino’s Sports Grille downtown.

Library Nights: For every Sunday and Wednesday game, 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 ticket for $14 (regularly $16 advance and $19 day of game) or a Lower Level Faceoff ticket for $18 (regularly $20 advance and $23 day of game). Limit four tickets per card per person, subject to availability.

Friends & Family 4-Packs: Available for all Saturday games, each pack incudes four tickets and $12 in concession cash for a great low price. Visit griffinsho ey.com/f4p or call (616) 774-4585 ext.

2. New 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.

Popcorn Packs: Enjoy all of the popcorn you can eat with this special offer that includes four or more upper or lower level tickets and a Griffin popcorn bucket good for unlimited popcorn refills throughout the game. Popcorn packs are only available by calling 616774-4585 ext. 2 or at griffinsho ey.com/popcorn.

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: Feb. 17, Feb. 28, March 2 and April 13.

Arby’s Post-Game Open Skates: Feb. 27, March 12 and April 16 Huntington Bank Post-Game Autograph Sessions: Feb. 6, Feb. 20 and March 26 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) 7744585 ext. 4.

J. Gardella’s Burger and Beer Special: Take your used Griffin ticket to J. Gardella’s Tavern to enjoy a burger and beer for $6. Refer to the back of your ticket for details.

Bagel on the Board: Whenever the Griffin “put a bagel on the board” – i.e. shut out their opponent – you have one week to take your ticket to any Bagel Beanery location to receive one free bagel and a gourmet coffee.

ALL PROMOTIONS AND DATES SUBJECT TO CHANGE. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT GRIFFINSHOCKEY .COM. 22 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

ns at the low-fat othies.

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24 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

Having found his place as a regular contributor in the Griffins’ lineup, center Louis-Marc Aubry feels comfortable saying that he has finally discovered his niche.

d his ular the nter eels ying ally ered che.

When Aubry joined Niche is a French word Aubry has won the approval of for a unique quality that the Griffins before the Griffins head oach Todd Nelson, 2011-12 season, he was distinguishes something still growing into his from others. who is getting to know the 6-foot-4 body. An unusual growth It is a good word, spurt saw him sprout up certainly appropriate, forward better this season after several inches during his to apply to the work of Griffins center Louiswatching him from the opposing junior hockey career, and while his demeanor on Marc Aubry. The FrenchCanadian seems to have bench for the past four seasons the ice during his rookie pro season wasn’t exactly fi ally found his role awkward, it was evident that he was not yet during this season, his fi h year in Grand Rapids comfortable with where he stood. after being drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in “I had just stopped growing when I fi st came the third round (81st overall pick) of the 2010 to Grand Rapids, so I was a tall, lanky forward NHL Entry Draft with potential, but not too solid on my skates,” Aubry has won the approval of Griffins head Aubry said. “I knew it was going to be a little bit coach Todd Nelson, who is getting to know the 6-foot-4 forward better this season after watching longer process for me (to develop).”

Aubry was never a prolific corer during him from the opposing bench for the past four seasons while he was coaching in Oklahoma City. his junior hockey days. His best season during his three years with the Montreal entry in the “We like his growth and what he brings to our Quebec Major Junior Hockey League produced hockey team,” Nelson said. “You can’t have 25 a total of 15 goals – one less than he would score players in the same style, and he’s been doing a during his fi st four seasons (231 games) in good job for us as a penalty killer and defensive Grand Rapids. forward. You’ve got to have a good mix, so he’s “I feel like it took me a little bit to get used to very valuable to our hockey team.”

Aubry didn’t score a goal in his first 15 games this season, then tallied six in th next 20 games to establish a new personal best in the pros.

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

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everything and fi d my “When I stayed longer than I expected championship. role,” said Aubry, who Aubry remembers went through the same in Toledo, I realized that this might be running outside and braving the winter chill to growing pains that so it for me unless I rolled up my sleeves clear his mind. He was still many junior players in Toledo, which seemed experience coming into the pros. The adjustment to do whatever it takes. I realized that like millions of miles from Grand Rapids, let alone period is often not easy I love the game very much and that I from his dream of playing and was especially hard in the NHL. for Aubry. had to find y niche.”

“I remember thinking Like many young I’m not going to give up my dream like this,” players, Aubry had to learn that he had to play to Aubry recalled. “I told myself that I’m not going his strengths rather than try to be something he to stay here forever. I’ll do whatever it takes. It felt was not. like a turning point. I thought, ‘I’m going to make “I think I learned it the hard way,” he said. it. If it’s not here, it will be someplace else.’”

“I wasn’t sure what was wrong with my game, Aubry produced points in Toledo – seven but I eventually realized that if I wanted to be goals and eight assists in 18 games – but it was his successful, then I needed to become a better willingness to embrace his future as a role player two-way player. During my years with Blash that fi ally got his career pointed in the right (Jeff lashill, now the Red Wings’ head coach), I direction. learned to improve my defensive game.”

“When I stayed longer than I expected in The moment of truth came during his third Toledo, I realized that this might be it for me pro season in 2013-14, when he found himself unless I rolled up my sleeves to do whatever it playing for the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye after he takes. I realized that I love the game very much was slowed by an injury in training camp, just and that I had to fi d my niche.” months after celebrating the Griffins’ Calder Cup

Aubry (right) was a member of the Griffi ’ Calder Cup-winning team in 2013 when he skated in 14 playoff game .

26 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

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Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

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pro career and he’s playing Aubry felt like his “This year I feel like I’ve game really started his best hockey this season,” to come together last really found what distinguishes Nelson said. “He has good size, strong skating ability season, especially during me from the others. I feel a and he’s gaining confide ce the Griffins’ playoff un every game he plays. when the team went all the way to the conference lot more comfortable, whether “He does a good job for us on the penalty kill finals. it’s every day at the rink or and his line with (Colin) “At the end of last year, Campbell and (Jeff) I started to fi d my niche going into the games.”

Hoggan has arguably been a little bit,” Aubry said. our most consistent line since the start of the “Thi gs started to click. My play picked up in year. He’s a player who is positioning himself to the playoffs nd I think that I have continued to the point where he might get an opportunity to improve this season. move up in the future.”

“Th s year I feel like I’ve really found what Aubry insists his NHL dreams remain alive distinguishes me from the others. I feel a lot more and well. comfortable, whether it’s every day at the rink or “You’ve got to keep believing,” said Aubry, going into the games. I know what to expect and who as of mid-January led all active Griffins and what is expected of me.” ranked 13th in franchise history with 266 games For Aubry, it means being more physical, played. “After watching elite NHL players like being more aggressive on the forecheck, winning (Tomas) Tatar and (Gustav) Nyquist play two puck battles in the corners, going strong to the or three seasons here, I knew it was going to be net front, winning faceoffs t every opportunity a little bit longer process for me. Sometimes it’s and being defensively strong at all times. hard to be patient, but patience pays off. You can’t His maturity has impressed his new coach. give up on your dreams.”

“I see a player who has really grown over his

Ever a big

Aubry is in his fi th season with the Griffins ter the Wings made him their third-round pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

28 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

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faceoffs” Aubry said. “As I’ve He keeps the proper Aubry understands that it’s mental frame with gotten stronger, I feel like I’ve frequent calls home. His the little things that can make gotten better on faceoffs” Aubry won 60 percent of his father, Pierre, played the differen e between being draws last season and he’s 202 games in the NHL, close to that figu e again this including parts of the stuck in the minors and 1983-84 and 1984-85 season. “I feel like that’s a really good number,” he said. seasons with the Red getting an opportunity “I think it’s something that Wings after several years can separate me from in the Quebec Nordiques to play in the NHL. other centers.” organization. He won a Aubry has even learned to like dropping the Calder Cup with the Adirondack Red Wings gloves. “I don’t mind; it’s part of the game,” Aubry in 1986. said. “In fact, I’m expecting it because I play a “It helps to have someone looking from the physical game and when you throw big hits, you outside, providing support when you need it,” know there’s a good chance that somebody will Aubry said. “He watches a lot of games back come after you.” home, so when I ask for tips, it helps that he’s All in all, Aubry just wants a fi hting chance at been watching me. But he won’t say much unless realizing his dream of playing in the NHL. I ask him.”

“A team needs players to fill different roles and Aubry understands that it’s the little things I like my role,” Aubry said. “I feel like I’m still that can make the difference between being improving. At some point, the Red Wings might stuck in the minors and getting an opportunity need more physicality and I want to be ready. to play in the NHL. Being strong in the faceoff I need to stay focused and keep working hard circle is just one facet of his game that he is every day. Hopefully one day things will work continually tweaking. out. You never know what might happen.”

“Year after year, I feel like I’ve improved my

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Aubry has added 25 pounds to his lanky frame since his rookie season back in 2011-12.

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Saving

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Story and photos by Mark Newman

The Griffins have a long list of illustrious goaltenders who have served during their 20 seasons.

The Griffins have enjoyed great success over the past 20 years, fin shing with winning records in all but three seasons.

Th ough three seasons as an independent, three seasons as the minor league affiliate of the Ottawa Senators and now 14 seasons as the top development team of the Detroit Red Pokey Reddick Wings, the Griffins (1996-98) have enjoyed one near constant – great goaltending.

Beginning with Pokey Reddick, who had won a Stanley Cup championship with the Edmonton Oilers in 1990 as the backup to goaltender Bill Ranford, the team has benefited from the services of a number of elite performers.

During the team’s history, the Griffins have employed the talents of 10 allstar goaltenders: Reddick, Ian Gordon, Jani Hurme, Mike Fountain, Martin Prusek, Marc 32 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

Lamothe, Joey MacDonald, Jimmy Howard, Daniel Larsson and Petr Mrazek.

They have also welcomed the services of a number of goalies who have seen signifi ant NHL duty, including Blaine Lacher, Tyler Moss, Patrick Lalime, Ty Conklin and Drew MacIntyre.

In addition, Curtis Joseph, Chris Osgood, Manny Legace and Jonas Gustavsson all joined the Griffins on conditioning stints.

It’s no coincidence that Grand Rapids has earned a reputation for hosting good goalies over the years. Bob McNamara, who was the architect of the early Griffins teams as the organization’s general manager, said it was all by design.

“You need a strong goaltender or you’re not even going to have a chance,” he said. “In terms of building a winning team, you have to start from the goal mouth out.”

With the intention of assembling a championshipcaliber team, McNamara decided to cast his fi st die with Reddick, a journeyman

y and os by wman

Ian Gordon (1996-99)

who had the distinction of being the only goaltender at any level of professional hockey to go through a three-round playoff eason undefeated.

Four seasons earlier, he had led the Fort Wayne Komets to the 1993 IHL Turner Cup championship, winning all 12 games with an impressive 1.49 goals against average.

“We did a future considerations deal with Las Vegas to get Pokey,” McNamara recalled. “It turned out that he was a pretty signifi ant piece of the puzzle that fi st year.”

Reddick won 30 games (30-14-10) to lead the Griffins into the IHL playoffs. He was not the biggest guy in the world, but he was a battler. He always showed up to play,” McNamara said. “He battled through everything and that’s what I liked about him. Some goaltenders hang their heads when things don’t go so well, but Pokey was never that way. He was a high character guy.”

But he was also getting up in years. He turned 33 at the beginning of the Griffins’ second season and the team started leaning more heavily on a young goaltender by the name of Ian Gordon, who had seen sporadic action in the Calgary Flames organization the previous two seasons.

“When I got traded to Grand Rapids, I thought

I was going to just fill a jersey and spend time on the bench,” Gordon recalled. “But Pokey was at that stage where he didn’t really like playing backto-back games, and when the Griffins gave me a chance I took advantage of it.”

At age 22, Gordon was the Griffins’ fi st homegrown all-star, earning his berth during the 1997-98 season when he split playing time with Lalime, a young goaltender who was only a year older and was looking to fi d his way back to the NHL after failing to come to contract terms with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Gordon played two more seasons in the IHL, toiling for the Utah Grizzlies and Cleveland Lumberjacks before leaving North America for Germany, where he played 13 seasons. He remains that country’s career leader in goaltending starts and shutouts.

“I would have never gotten to Germany if not for the recommendation of Bob McNamara and (assistant coach) Curtis Hunt,” Gordon said. “Both of them spoke to my abilities and pitched me really hard. Without their recommendation, I might never have gotten the opportunity to play in what I discovered was a really good league.”

Gordon, like almost every goalie that followed, Jani Hurme (1990-00)

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

33

Mike Fountain (1999-01)

had discovered there was something special about playing for the Griffins, from the way the organization ran its operations to the character of its coaches to the attitude of its players.

“Grand Rapids held itself to a whole different standard from other teams,” Gordon said. “Without my time there, I probably would have been fin shed playing pro hockey by the age of 25. As things worked out, I was able to keep playing until I was age 37. I owe a huge thanks to Grand Rapids because it was my fi st real opportunity and the people there went above and beyond to help me succeed.”

The city. The people. The arena. Talk to any goaltender who played in Grand Rapids and you will hear the same themes.

“I felt comfortable there right away and that’s a huge part of doing well,” Gordon said. “The team included some of the favorite guys I ever met and played alongside. It was a place where I felt like I could succeed and if you feel like you have the support, it’s amazing what you can do.”

Joey MacDonald echoes the sentiments.

“I love Grand Rapids,” said MacDonald, who played seven seasons with the Griffins and is the organization’s all-time leader in wins with 109. “I 34 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

have played on a lot of teams in a lot of cities, both in the AHL and NHL, and to this day, Grand Rapids is still my favorite place. I loved every minute of my time there.

“From the ownership to the affiliation to the coaches, everything is top notch. I love the fans and the people there. They’ve got the best trainer in the world in Dogg (Brad Thompson). The organization just does everything right.”

MacDonald was only 22 years old when he joined the Griffins after one season in the ECHL with the Toledo Storm. He was paired with the older Lamothe, 28, who had played for seven different minor league teams in addition to a brief stay with the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks.

Lamothe enjoyed a pair of banner seasons in Grand Rapids. In 2002-03, he was honored with the Aldege “Baz” Bastein Memorial Award as the AHL’s top goaltender and shared the Harry “Hap” Holmes Memorial Award with MacDonald for the league’s best goals against average as a team. The latter award was a repeat honor for the Griffins, with Prusek, Mathieu Chouinard and Simon Lajeunesse taking home the trophy for 2001-02.

“That was a very special time for me,” said Lamothe, who had signed a contract to play in Joey MacDonald (2002-07, 2010-12)

Martin Prusek (2001-02)

Moscow before he was offered an NHL contract

by Detroit in the summer of 2002. “It was a time in my career that my game was really coming together and I was fortunate to play with a really good group of guys. We were very strong and very competitive.

I would have loved to have a won a championship there.”

A team can play only one goaltender at a time, but the chemistry between netminders is crucial.

Friendly competition helps drive players to become better. That was certainly true for Fountain and Hurme during the 1999-2000 season when the tandem won 50 games between them.

Sharing playing time with a younger prospect wasn’t easy for Fountain, who had appeared in 70 AHL games in one season several earlier earlier, but it was the fi st time he had been on a team that had been so successful. “When things are going well, everybody’s happy.”

MacDonald and Lamothe were roommates during their two seasons together. “I have great memories of us playing together,” Lamothe said.

“We spent a lot of time together, on and off he ice. I can remember going out one time during the playoffs in ilkes-Barre and just laughing and laughing.”

A young prospect and the wily veteran can be a volatile mix, but the two pulled it off. “The fact is you can only get so many starts,” Lamothe said.

“You’re both trying to further your career by playing and winning the coach’s confide ce, so that’s always there. It really helps when you get along.”

In recent years, it has been MacDonald who has assumed the mentor’s role. He played with Howard during his rookie season in Grand Rapids in 2005-06, and has since worked with James Reimer in Toronto, Joni Ortio in Abbotsford and Mike Condon in Hamilton.

With many netminders, patience is key since the development process is typically longer for goalies than skaters. The Red Wings – and the Griffins by extension – have been exceedingly patient with their prospects.

“They don’t rush their players, whether they’re goalies or forwards,” MacDonald said. “Look at guys like (Gustav) Nyquist, (Tomas) Tatar, (Riley) Sheahan and Brendan Smith – they’re skaters, but they all paid their dues. They all played two or three years in the American Hockey League. You look at other teams and it’s their fi st year – boom! Detroit doesn’t do that and that’s why they’re successful every year.”

Marc Lamothe (2002-04)

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

35

Jimmy Howard (2005-09)

Howard spent four seasons in Grand Rapids before he fi ally landed the starting job in Detroit.

Tom McCollum, now in his seventh season with the Griffins, struggled for three years before he found his game. Jared Coreau spent parts of two seasons in Toledo before he solidifi d his spot in Grand Rapids.

“Grand Rapids is where I learned to be a pro,” Howard said. “I spent four years working on my game and learning about myself and what it takes to succeed day in and day out. It taught me how hard it is to not only get here but also how you have to work even harder to stay here. It allowed me to mature.”

Although he had hoped to be playing in Detroit a lot sooner than he did, Howard believes the time he spent in Grand Rapids was invaluable.

“The timing was perfect for me because not only did I get to play a lot, but I was able to watch Dom (Dominik Hasek) and Ozzie (Chris Osgood) in Detroit, and for me that was a great teaching tool.”

Where other organizations rush their top prospects, the Red Wings leave their players in Grand Rapids longer than most.

“You need to have patience with guys,” Gordon said. “When guys don’t do well, they need to know 36 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

they’re going to get an opportunity to play again. It gives them a little more self-belief. It’s like having a little extra money at the card table. Experience builds confide ce. You can say anything, but if you haven’t done it, it’s not the same. Talk is cheap.”

The Griffins now have their own goaltending coach in Jeff S lajko, but for years, the Red Wings organization has benefitted from the perspective of Jim Bedard, now in his 18th season with the club.

“A good coach understands how each individual goalie plays and tries to fi d ways to bring out their best and that’s what he does,” Lamothe said. “The best thing about Jim Bedard is his demeanor. He’s just a great guy, easy to like. You’ll battle hard for him in practice, and he worked us hard. I remember spending a lot of of my afternoons in bed, resting and recovering from the practices of that morning.

It was serious business, but a lot of fun.”

“Out of all my goalie coaches, he’s been my favorite,” MacDonald said. “The best thing about him is his personality. Every time you see him he has a smile on his face. The way he teaches is great.

He would always say, ‘You got to the NHL for a reason. I’m not here to change anything.’ We’d work on the little things and tweak things.”

Bedard agrees that his methods emphasize Tom McCollum (2009-present)

Petr Mrazek (2012-15)

maintenance as much as instruction.

“I’d say my job is 70 percent maintenance and 30 percent teaching, and the maintenance level rises as you go higher (in the ranks),” Bedard said. ”Guys are what they are, but you want them to be the best they can be by practicing those things that seem to give them trouble.”

If Grand Rapids has become a nurturing ground for goalies, it’s because the Red Wings realize that even the best players need time to ripen.

“It just takes time,” Bedard said. “It’s a process. If you look at goalies over different eras, you’ll see guys who have come in and have been flashes in the pan, but the real genuine test of any goalie is longevity.”

Mrazek helped the Griffins win their fi st Calder Cup in 2013 as a rookie, but he was back in Grand Rapids the following season. He played 13 more games with the Griffins last year.

“It’s all about practice,” Mrazek said. “You can learn something in every practice, from skating to how to handle the puck. My job is to stop the puck and that’s how I have fun and you learn through practice.”

“Hard work is what it takes,” Gordon said.

“Without it, you’re not going to have success.”

Nobody knows it better than McCollum, who has

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

37

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spent more consecutive seasons in Grand Rapids than any player in the team’s history.

“As much as you don’t want it to take forever, sometimes you have to learn to appreciate the journey,” McCollum said. “Seeing the same situations over and over, you’re going to get better. I understand that it takes time and hard work. It takes time just to build your confide ce.

“The biggest thing I’ve learned is that I have to keep believing in myself, keep working hard and doing things the right way. Eventually everything is going to work out.”

Gordon said there are few places that are better to hone one’s craft han Grand Rapids.

“When our season ended, I remember nobody wanted to go home, which I think is a refl ction upon the community,” he said. “The fans are amazing. You never have the feeling that you are playing in a minor hockey city.

“There’s something about the city that can’t be easily duplicated, but if anyone was ever interested in starting a team, they should go and ask how they did it in Grand Rapids because they did it right.”

Jared Coreau (2013-present)

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39

2015

2016

12

ANDREAS ATHANASIOU Forward 6-2, 200 lbs.

Born: 8/6/94 London, Ont.

45

22

LOUIS-MARC AUBRY Forward 6-4, 212 lbs.

Born: 11/11/91 Arthabaska, Que.

11 COLIN CAMPBELL

31

Forward 6-0, 200 lbs.

Born: 10/5/93 Pelhrimov, Czech Republic 40 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

Goaltender 6-6, 220 lbs.

Born: 11/5/91 Perth, Ont.

32 TRISTON GRANT

Forward 6-1, 221 lbs.

Born: 2/2/84 Neepawa, Man.

15

MITCH CALLAHAN Forward 6-0, 195 lbs.

Born: 8/17/91 Whittier, Calif.

2 JARED COREAU

Forward 6-1, 205 lbs.

Born: 12/18/78 Carbonear, Nfld

23 MARTIN FRK

TYLER BERTUZZI Forward 6-1, 195 lbs.

Born: 2/24/95 Sudbury, Ont.

DANIEL CLEARY

Forward 6-1, 205 lbs.

Born: 4/17/91 Toronto, Ont.

27

39

SCOTT CZARNOWCZAN Defenseman 5-11, 183 lbs.

Born: 5/29/91 Macomb, Mich.

10

ALDEN HIRSCHFELD Forward 6-0, 203 lbs.

Born: 1/26/88 Dallas, Texas

JEFF HOGGAN Forward 6-1, 190 lbs.

Born: 2/1/78 Hope, B.C.

N

ANTHONY

8 MANTHA griffinshockey.com

m

RYAN

7 SPROUL griffinshockey.com

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14

M

3

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19

Pardu

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5

14

NICK JENSEN

Defenseman 6-0, 195 lbs.

Born: 9/21/90 Minneapolis, Minn.

3

55

JAKUB KINDL

Defenseman 6-3, 199 lbs.

Born: 2/10/87 Sumperk, Czech Republic

30 Defenseman 6-3, 210 lbs.

Born: 1/2/92 Moscow, Russia

Forward 6-2, 210 lbs.

Born: 9/1/92 Pardubice, Czech Republic

Defenseman 6-1, 200 lbs.

Born: 7/29/93 Bayonne, France

7 ROBBIE RUSSO Defenseman 6-0, 195 lbs.

Born: 2/15/93 Westmont, Ill.

Defenseman 6-3, 205 lbs.

Born: 1/13/93 Mississauga, Ont.

Forward 6-5, 204 lbs.

Born: 9/16/94 Longueuil, Que.

ZACH NASTASIUK

Forward 5-8, 175 lbs.

Born: 4/15/88 Detroit, Mich.

Forward 6-1, 200 lbs.

Born: 3/30/95 Barrie, Ont.

44 NATHAN PAETSCH

JOEL RECHLICZ

Defenseman 6-1, 195 lbs.

Born: 3/30/83 LeRoy, Sask.

26 RYAN SPROUL

ANTHONY MANTHA

37

4 XAVIER OUELLET

8

ANDY MIELE

Goaltender 6-2, 215 lbs.

Born: 12/7/89 Sanborn, N.Y.

16

5

Defenseman 6-3, 221 lbs.

Born: 7/16/90 Albany, N.Y.

TOM McCOLLUM

TOMAS NOSEK

BRIAN LASHOFF

21

ALEXEY MARCHENKO

19

18

Forward 6-4, 220 lbs.

Born: 6/14/87 Milwaukee, Wisc.

9 ERIC TANGRADI

Forward 6-4, 233 lbs.

Born: 2/10/89 Philadelphia, Pa.

MARK ZENGERLE Forward 5-10, 185 lbs.

Born: 5/12/89 Rochester, N.Y.

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

41

Story and photos

by Mark Newman

A product of the U.S. National Team and University of Notre Dame hockey programs, defenseman Robbie Russo is proving to be a quick study at the pro game.

42 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

hotos wman

As the holder of a degree in sociology, Robbie Russo might argue against the idea that he was destined to become a hockey player.

Destiny is the idea that some hidden power controls what happens in the future. Sociology, on the other hand, argues that human behavior is not so simple – actions are consequentially complex due to the convoluted clutter of theoretical paradigms and social responses that are retroactively influential.

In other words, it’s more complicated.

Nobody in Russo’s family played hockey, so the bloodlines that direct some players toward the sport were absent. Growing up in Westmont, Ill., a southwest suburb of Chicago, Russo might just as easily have become a baseball player, which was the other sport he played as a youth.

His neighbors played roller hockey, and when he enjoyed the open skates that he attended with his family, he started gravitating to the game on ice. He was a defenseman from the very beginning, although he is hard-pressed to know the reason for it.

The fact is he loved the sport, and by high school he had embraced the game of hockey.

At the age of 16, he moved to Ann Arbor to

take part in USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program (NTDP), a step that put him squarely on a path to what was becoming a dream to play in the NHL someday.

Russo believes his participation in NTDP was highly influential in regards to his career aspirations, and the signifi ance of getting the opportunity to represent the Stars and Stripes on a world stage can hardly be overstated.

“It’s supposed to be the best guys in your age group, so practices were really hard,” Russo said. “You’re going, going, going every day, and traveling internationally can be a little crazy, but for me it was defin tely a lot of fun.”

Russo and his teammates went to Europe five times: Sweden, Germany, the Czech Republic and Slovakia twice. International play helped build his confide ce. “It’s huge to be able to play against some of the best players from Canada, Sweden, Russia and all of the other countries,” Russo said.

“To be able to see how you stack up against them at such a young age is awesome.”

Meanwhile, the endless practices helped fuel a sort of internal competition among the NTDP attendees, who learned to bond during lengthy sessions in the weight room as well as the

Russo recorded a seven-game point streak with the Griffins e lier this season.

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

43

classroom, where they were taught how to build the kind of character and civility that does not always come naturally to teenagers.

“They talked a lot about professionalism and how to conduct yourself on and off he ice,” Russo said. “Working hard in practice is something that everybody preaches, but they really focused on off-ice abits like weight training and workouts. Away from the rink, they want to keep you right.”

Working hard was not a problem for Russo.

His parents, Rob and Debra Russo, had taught him and his two sisters, Renee and Olivia, the importance of putting forth your best effort. He knew from watching his dad work in the family’s wholesale meat business in Alsip and from the labor of his mom as an accountant that a half effort was hardly better than no effort at all.

So there was never any question of going to college, spurning any suggestion of taking the junior hockey route instead. Even though he was not the best student, Russo had only one destination in mind: the University of Notre Dame.

He was drawn to South Bend because the coach there was Jeff ackson, who had rebuilt the

Fighting Irish after several stops in the junior, college and pro ranks. Earlier in his coaching career, Jackson had led Lake Superior State University to two national titles before leaving that school to become the senior director of the newly founded U.S. Junior National Team.

“I committed to Notre Dame before the national program because of his connections,” Russo said. “It was an easier transition for me because he had the same ideals and preached the same message as we heard in Ann Arbor.”

As a freshman, Russo played in all 40 games.

“It was defin tely cool to play right away,” he said.

“We had a really good team with a lot of good players, but we struggled as a team that year.”

Russo, meanwhile, was selected to the CCHA All-Rookie Team and was named his school’s rookie of the year. He loved being on the Notre Dame campus and quickly became ensconced in the aura and mystique of the school.

“Football defin tely runs the show there, but if you do well, the fans always come out,” Russo said about playing in the shadow of Touchdown Jesus. “We had a brand new rink when I got there, so we always drew pretty well. We were on NBC Sports, too, so we got some of the spotlight.”

Russo signed a two-year entry level contract with the Red Wings this past summer.

44 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

Russo served as the captain of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during his senior season in South Bend.

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

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During his sophomore season, Russo again did not miss a game, playing in all 41 contests and fin shing second in scoring among all CCHA defensemen. His play improved and so did his team’s fortunes, as Notre Dame won the conference championship.

Everything was moving in the the right direction until his junior season when he hit a speed bump. He was declared academically ineligible for the second semester after posting a failing grade in a sociology class. Although he would later retake the class and earn a passing grade, the damage was done.

“I put it on myself. I felt like I had let a lot of people down. That was the worst part,” Russo recalled. “I felt like I had let down my teammates, my coaches and my family.”

Still permitted to practice with the team, Russo was determined to make the most of his suspension. “When it happened, I had no choice but to make sure I had a good senior season,” he said. That meant improving himself not only on the ice but also in the classroom. He began skating seven days a week and working out four days a week, and he was hitting the books with a

vengeance. “During that time, I really got better as a player, a person and a student, too,” he said.

His newly found focus was not lost on his coaches or teammates, and he was named captain for his senior season in South Bend. “I defin tely matured a lot as a player while at Notre Dame and I think that’s when things started to take off for me,” he said. “Looking back, it was defin tely an experience I was lucky to have.”

Russo was ready for the pros. During his college years, he figu ed his future was in New York. He was the fourth choice (95th overall) of the Islanders in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, ut although he attended the team’s development camps, he never signed with the NHL club.

The end result was that Russo became a free agent last August, and when the Red Wings offered him a contract, he jumped at the opportunity. Fate might have had Russo signing with the backyard Blackhawks in Chicago, but he had other ideas.

“I liked their history,” Russo said, explaining his decision to choose the Red Wings. “They’ve been developing guys and making the playoffs or the past 25 years. At the time, I knew Blash (Jeff

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A solid puck-mover out of the defensive zone, Russo isn’t afraid to jump into the offensive play.

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

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Russo was originally drafted by the NHL’s New York Islanders in 2011.

48 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

Blashill) was going to be the coach in Detroit and I had heard great things about him, so I thought it was all good.”

Attending the Red Wings’ camps for the fi st time, Russo had to fi d his bearings among a group of guys who had been working out together for a number of years. “There was defin tely a little bit of an adjustment period,” he said. “The speed of the pro game is different, but it only takes a couple of games to get used to it. Adjusting to new surroundings and new teammates takes a little longer.”

Russo stayed close to Red Wings center Riley Sheahan, who had been a teammate at Notre Dame during his freshman season. “We were in school together for a year, so I knew him pretty well,” Russo said. “He helped me out a ton.”

Sheahan told him good things about Grand Rapids, where Russo got off o a bit of a slow start, recording just a single point in the team’s fi st 11 games, four of which he did not play.

Once he found his bearings, he became a model of consistency, registering 13 points in the next 14 contests, including a seven-game point streak.

It’s not the points, however, that excite head coach Todd Nelson about Russo’s potential.

“He’s a skilled player who sees the ice well, but the most impressive thing is, as a fi st-year player, he has a lot of poise,” Nelson said. “When he is being pressured by the defense, he has a knack for being able to make a play while feeling that pressure.”

Indeed, through the fi st half of the season, Russo was the Griffins’ best plus-minus player.

Th ough his fi st 31 games, Russo was plus-22.

“I try to provide offense from the back end, but you have to take care of your own end or you probably won’t play,” Russo said.

Being a healthy scratch is not something that he cares to contemplate, so Russo has been listening and learning, paying attention to teammates like Nathan Paetsch and Brian Lashoff, who have nearly 300 games of NHL experience between them.

With the recent arrival of Red Wings veteran Jakub Kindl on the Grand Rapids blueline, that number is now nearly doubled, and Russo will continue to be all eyes and ears. After all, coming from Notre Dame, he has learned his lessons well.

Russo blossomed offensively during his final ollege season, tallying 15 goals and 26 assists in 40 games.

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As Part 3 of a season-long series celebrating the organization’s 20th anniversary, Griffi caught up with a hat trick of former Griffins finding success in careers post-Grand Rapids.

50 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

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PATRICK LALIME: FROM BEHIND THE MASK TO BEHIND THE MIC

Goaltender Patrick Lalime won 200 games during his NHL career, which included the best start in league history. But it was a game that he didn’t play in that will likely remain etched in his mind forever.

It occurred at the end of the 2010-11 season, 13 years after his lone season in Grand Rapids. He was playing for the Buff lo Sabres after previous NHL stops with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Ottawa Senators, St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks.

“When Buff lo signed me for one more year, I knew it was that – ‘one more year,’” said Lalime, who played his fi al three seasons with the Sabres. “I knew that season was going to be it because they were going to give more playing time to Jhonas Enroth, who is now with the Kings. I kind of knew what I was getting myself into, so it made it a little bit easier at the end.”

Even so, walking away from the game was extremely emotional.

“I still remember my last game, even though I did not dress,” Lalime recalled. “We were in the playoffs nd we lost to Philly in six games. I was upstairs and around the 10-minute mark, I think it was 4-1 for Philly, and I just started crying.

When I went into the room after, the tears kept coming because I couldn’t hold them back.”

After leaving the din of the dressing room, Lalime was able to enjoy a melancholic moment in the solitude of an empty arena.

“I went and sat on the bench while the guys were getting undressed,” he recalled. “I think I sat there for a half hour, just looking at the rink and thinking about how thankful I was for everything I had had a chance to accomplish, all the people I met and everything I had gone through.”

Lalime was 36 years old at the time, so he knew his days had been numbered. “By the end, I wasn’t playing much, so I got to enjoy my last few moments in the NHL.” Still, he was not ready to walk away completely.

He fli ted with the idea of becoming a goalie coach – “I always enjoyed talking about the mental aspects of the game,” he said – but

upon retirement he accepted an offer from the all-sports network RDS to become an analyst on Ottawa Senators television broadcasts. He eventually left RDS or TVA Sports, where he is still employed today.

Lalime is the holder of the best career start by a goaltender in NHL history, going 16 straight games without a loss (14-0-2) for Pittsburgh in 1996-97. Unable to come to contract terms with the Penguins, he found himself a year later in Grand Rapids, where he began working his way back to the NHL. He played five seasons in Ottawa, his best year coming in 2002-03 when he won a club-record 39 games and helped propel the Senators to the Eastern Conference Finals against the eventual Stanley Cup champion New Jersey Devils.

“My best memories were obviously my start in Pittsburgh and being able to play a lot in Ottawa,” Lalime said. “Then there was losing in Game 7 of the playoffs o Jersey with 2:14 left n a Jeff riesen goal. That was the best and worst at the same time because we came so close to going to the Finals. At the same time, it was like, ‘It’s all over. What just happened?’”

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

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Lalime has fond memories of his year with the Griffins (1997-98), when he split playing time with Ian Gordon for a team that was led offensively by Michel Picard and Glen Metropolit. “What I really enjoyed about Grand Rapids was the fans and that it was a great place to live,” said Lalime, who went 10-10-9 with a 2.61 goals against average and a 0.918 save percentage that season.

An eventual move to the press box seemed like a logical move for a goaltender who enjoyed picking apart the game when he was still playing, but Lalime admits that he approached the task of being an analyst with a bit of trepidation.

“I’ve always been a guy who analyzes things,” Lalime said. “As a goalie, you tend to watch the game more closely. You look at sticks. You analyze the play on the ice. You look at guys’ tendencies. Maybe too much sometimes. Too much thinking can sometimes hurt you when you’re playing.”

“For me, it’s been a great adjustment, but in the beginning, I wasn’t too sure. I knew I wanted to do something in hockey right away. I had an offer from Buff lo to be a goalie coach in the minors, but coaching takes a lot of time and I wanted to enjoy the family, so when I fi st got a call from RDS, I jumped at the chance.”

Becoming an analyst was an eye-opening experience. “I’m not a reporter, but I now see the work that is being done,” he said. “When you’re playing, talking to the media is just something you have to do. When you move to the other side, you realize that it’s a job that takes a lot of time.”

“There’s a lot of homework involved. You spend a lot of time reading what’s going on, talking to players, picking up stories. It’s a lot like school. If you do your preparation, you will more than likely succeed at the end of the day.”

TVA Sports is the offi al French broadcasting network of the NHL, presenting 300 games during the season, including 22 Saturday night games of the Montreal Canadiens. Lalime works in the studio during the weekday games, then joins play-by-play announcer Félix Séguin for the Canadiens games.

“He’s a young guy, but he’s a real student of the game,” Lalime said. “He’s fun to work with and we try to complement each other. He knows all the players and the stats and I try to bring 52 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

an inside perspective in terms of what it means when things are going bad or going good.”

Lately, things have not been going so great for the Canadiens, who have struggled through a 5-14-1 stretch after starting the season as the hottest team in hockey.

“It’s so easy to throw the players under the bus, but you know what guys are going through,” Lalime said. “You played the game, so you know they want to succeed, but things are just not working right now. I’ve always been the kind of guy who looks at the glass as half full.”

He admits the Canadiens’ recent struggles make his work a little more challenging.

“Of course, it’s harder when the team is not winning,” he said. “When the team is winning, you go into the room and everybody’s happy.

Everybody’s all talk and all smiles, but when they lose they don’t really want to see you, and I understand it because I remember how it was when I played.”

Last season, Lalime enjoyed following the success of Senators goalie Andrew Hammond, who went 14-0-1 before suffering his fi st regulation loss, falling one game short of matching the mark set by Lalime.

“I always love the underdog story and it was great to watch,” Lalime said. “It goes to show you that there are so many great players who are waiting to get a chance to play in the NHL. It’s like Mike Condon with the Canadiens this year. He was in the ECHL two years ago. You’re a long shot and nobody knows about you, then suddenly you get a chance and it’s like you’re on fire.”

Lalime said long winning streaks are difficult to sustain. “When you’re playing, you try not to look at it. It’s the old, boring ‘one game at a time.’

It’s a mental challenge when you’re in a streak like that. You try not to get too high or too low.

You want to enjoy it, but at the same time, you don’t want to realize what is really happening.

“Of course, the media is reminding you about it every day and that’s the challenge, to not get caught up in the hype. It was a lot of fun because I was very fortunate to play with some great players like Mario (Lemieux), Ron Francis and (Jaromir) Jagr, who is still dominating (at age 43).”

Speaking of Jagr, Lalime marvels at the season the veteran is enjoying, but is not at all surprised.

“His work ethic is second to none,” Lalime said. “I remember after practice we’d sometimes stay on the ice for a half hour past everyone else.

He’d take the puck, come out of the corner and come back in front and shoot. Just little stuff. He was always working on his game, on and off he ice. He spent a lot of time in the gym, too, so it doesn’t surprise me that he’s still having success.”

Lalime appreciates that his new broadcasting gig allows him to spend more time at home with his family. He lives in Trois-Rivières, between Montreal and Quebec, with his wife MarieHelene and daughters Liliana, 13; Rosemary, 12; and Evangeline, 8.

He admits that he misses the camaraderie of the locker room, but he is still part of a team, although being a broadcaster is an entirely

different challenge.

“I tell my wife that she should hear what goes on inside my earphones during a game,” Lalime. “It’s all these people talking at the same time, from the play-by-play to people talking about the video replays and what’s available. It’s constant talking – busy, busy, busy. I guess you could say I love being busy.”

To this day, Lalime still gets excited before a game.

“I still get the goosebumps when I go on the air, but it’s a different kind. When I played, the anthem was the defini g moment. It was like, ‘Game on, bring it on.’ When I hear the anthem, I still get a little bit of that feeling I had when I played because I enjoy being there. I enjoy being able to talk about the game I love.”

TODD JACKSON: WHEN THE CHIPS ARE DOWN

Todd Jackson has fond memories of his two seasons (2004-06) with the Griffins because they represent the pinnacle of his hockey career.

A late-round pick of the Red Wings in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, ackson came to Grand Rapids after excelling during four years at the University of Maine, where he was one of the most decorated members of a team that was national champion runner-up twice.

“Looking back on Grand Rapids, the whole experience just seems like a dream,” Jackson said. “I feel super fortunate to have been able to play and if I could go back, I don’t think I would change anything. It was just a wild ride.”

Jackson was one of four highly touted rookies in the fall of 2004. Appearing on the cover of Griffiti together with Jackson were Derek Meech, Eric Himelfarb and Brett Lebda.

Meech and Himelfarb, now in their 12th professional seasons, are currently playing in Sweden for the Malmo Redhawks (former Griffin ent McDonell is also a member of the team). Lebda, meanwhile, played 397 NHL games before retiring after the 2012-13 season.

Jackson, who bounced between Grand Rapids and Toledo during his time with the Griffins, admits that he struggled to fi d his footing after turning pro.

“It was super exciting, but also a very stressful time for me,” he recalled. “I had a twoyear contract. It felt like the culmination of my career. I had reached the fi al stage and I wasn’t completely prepared. I had felt comfortable in college, but I wasn’t quite ready for the transition to playing with the best in the world.

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“I remember walking into my fi st NHL training camp and I saw (Steve) Yzerman’s name, (Robert) Lang and Jackson (above the dressing room stalls). I just shook my head.

Like ‘What, this is crazy. Does my name belong next to these world-class players?’”

A four-time Academic All-American at Maine, where he was the 2002-03 Hockey East Defensive Player of the Year, Jackson lost his confide ce in the transition from college to the pros. “Mentally, I don’t think I was quite ready for how quickly everything would unfold,” he said.

Jackson ended up playing another season in the ECHL, then spent 2007-08 in England before returning to the ECHL for two seasons in Ontario, Calif., where he would meet his wife.

He fin shed his career by playing a half-season in Italy with one of his former Maine teammates.

By the time he went to Italy, Jackson had already begun to fi d life after hockey as a professional poker player.

He started playing cards on team bus trips at a time when the World Series of Poker was becoming popular on ESPN. He quickly discovered that he had a knack for the game.

He played mostly online and built a bankroll until the government cracked down on off hore gambling in 2011.

Jackson ultimately moved to Las Vegas where he now lives with his wife Danielle, a nursing student. He learned to play live poker in the casinos; Bellagio being his chosen venue as it is one of the few places where he can play limit Texas hold ‘em.

Like with any pursuit, Jackson has improved his play over time, but he figu es he still has more to learn. “There’s no point where you can say I’ve got it figu ed out. I can just print money now,” Jackson said. “It’s a very dynamic game. The good players are always studying and talking about the game. The way you survive is to evolve and adapt.”

Adapting to live poker took some time.

“Online you see these cartoon characters at a virtual poker table with little animations of chips flying around when there’s thousands of dollars at stake,” he said. “Fundamentally, it’s the same game, but the style and pace of play is very different, so I had to retrain myself to be calibrated to the pace of live play, which 54 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

is much slower. Strategically, they’re two different games, too.”

Jackson found that he had to take a methodical approach in order to play the game well. Winning at poker requires a mix of psychology, math and luck. “The typical perception of poker is that it revolves around having a good poker face and bluffing, but those things are not as big a part of the game as people think. It’s more about math and tendencies.”

Although he has played in the main event at the World Series of Poker, Jackson typically plays cash games. “You have to learn to lose,” he said. “You’re only going to win 60-70 percent of your sessions if you’re a great player, so you have to learn to manage your downside. I try to be as business-like and unemotional as possible.”

Not surprisingly, being a professional poker player can be a fi ancial and emotional roller coaster, not to mention stressful. It led Jackson to look into yoga to learn to relax.

“There’s certainly a stressful element to playing poker every day,” he said. “I’m sitting at a table 12 hours, sometimes 15 hours, and I’m not really working through any of that stress.

I was looking for some balance, and yoga seemed a good fit with poker.”

After dabbling in yoga for some time, Jackson started taking courses and became a yoga instructor at a local studio this past year. Poker still pays the bills, but he would eventually like to devote himself to yoga full time.

“I’m now wishing I had it when I played hockey,” he said. “A lot of the breathing techniques would have been helpful in my hockey days. Ultimately, I could see yoga as something that I might help incorporate into hockey programs and bring everything full circle.”

In the meantime, Jackson tries to play poker 100 hours a month, keeping graphs to chart his success and progress. Unsure of whether he will keep playing poker indefin tely, Jackson and his wife are contemplating staying in Vegas for good.

“We live 15 minutes from the Strip,” he said.

“We initially thought we’d be here only a year or two, but the longer that we’re here, the more that it feels right.”

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FRANCIS PARE: HAVE GOOGLE, WILL TRAVEL

Technology can be a wonderful thing. Just ask former Griffins forward Francis Pare.

“My best friend in Russia has been my cell phone,” said Pare, now in his third season in the KHL after leaving North America to continue his hockey career. “Google Translate is the best app ever.”

Unfortunately, cell phones are not allowed on the bench. “It’s really hard to communicate with the guys on the bench,” Pare said. “Sometimes the guy next to me will try to tell me something and I’ll say that I have no clue what he’s talking about, so we just laugh and keep going. And then we’ll grab our phones later to figu e it out.”

After a couple of years in Russia, Pare fi ally learned enough of the language that he could ask directions or go into a restaurant and order food off he menu. Then in mid-October, Chelyabinsk Traktor, the team he played for in Russia, traded him to HC Slovan, the KHL team in Bratislava, Slovakia.

“Every day is an adventure,” Pare said. “I wake up and I never know what is going to happen.”

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Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

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He is not complaining. “I wake up every morning with a smile on my face, ready to go to work as a hockey player. I’m living my dream.”

Pare decided to try his luck overseas after the Griffins won the Calder Cup in 2013. Following five years with the Griffins, and realizing that his hopes of getting a chance to play in the NHL were fading, he opted to head to Finland. He played 30 games in Turku before landing an offer to play in Russia and the KHL. “I felt I was too young to be a veteran in the AHL, but too old to be a prospect,” Pare said, explaining his decision to go overseas. “After winning the Cup, the next challenge was to win it again, but my other passion besides hockey is travel and I want to experience new languages and styles of living.”

Thanks to his early success in Finland, his agent found him a spot with Metallurg Magnitogorsk, where a few short months later, he was hoisting the Gagarin Cup as 2014 KHL champions. Behind the bench was Mike Keenan, who had coached the New York Rangers to the Stanley Cup 20 years earlier.

Pare signed a two-year contract with Metallurg following the season, but six months

later was traded to Chelyabinsk Traktor, where he would play the rest of the 2014-15 season and the beginning of the 2015-16 campaign, until his trade to HC Slovan.

“Here things move very quickly,” Pare said.

“If you’re not doing well, they might buy you out and suddenly you’re without a contract. I’ve stayed positive all the time and stayed open to any opportunity.”

It’s been an eye-opening experience for Pare, much like when he fi st came to Grand Rapids in 2008 as a free agent from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

“When I left anada to come to the U.S., it was a big change,” Pare said. “Most obviously there was the language. I couldn’t say one word in English, so it was very hard for me. But I will be forever grateful to (former Griffins general manager) Bob McNamara for bringing me to Grand Rapids.”

Now thousands of miles away, Pare still feels a bond to the city. “It’s where I grew up as a player and a person, whether it was visiting hospitals or playing the Sled Wings at Griff ’s IceHouse every year. Those things made me realize that everything isn’t about hockey. There are people

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we need to care about and it was really nice to get involved in the community.”

Pare credits his parents for instilling the right values. “You want to be remembered as a hockey player, but more importantly as a good human being. After staying with the same team for five years, hopefully I did something good. The city will always be in my heart.”

Once in Russia, Pare discovered that it wasn’t the easiest place to live. “When I fi st landed, I was freaking out,” he said. “Everything is different – the style of living, the food, even driving your car. I could write a book on all the things that surprised me. You don’t have to close your eyes, but sometimes you just have to accept the way things are.

“You have to be open-minded, but it’s not that bad. It’s doable and, to be honest, I’ve really loved the experience.”

Obviously, playing for Slovakia’s entry in the KHL represents a new challenge. “The hockey is very good, way better than people think back in North America,” Pare said. “It’s different hockey with the bigger Olympic rinks – less hitting, Griffiti Ad_with marks.pdf 1 11/19/2015 4:00:54 PM more difficult to fi d scoring chances – and it’s way faster than the AHL. There are a lot of really

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One of teammates in Bratislava is Marek Tvrdon, who appeared in 51 games with the Griffins last season before the Red Wings gave him his unconditional release in December 2015. Another teammate is Louis Leblanc, a fellow French-Canadian, who played in Hamilton and Montreal. Pare and Leblanc have become fast friends.

Pare is not alone in his travels. He married Daisy McCaughry this past July 11 in Quebec City. Griffins center Louis-Marc Aubry was among several former teammates in attendance.

“I’m trying to enjoy every day here because your career can go by fast,” Pare said. “I’m 28 years old, so I don’t have 20 years ahead of me.

Time flies. t seems like yesterday that it was my fi st year in the AHL and now I’m in my eighth year pro.”

Pare isn’t sure what the future holds. He talks about returning to Finland or maybe Sweden next season. He isn’t ruling out a return to North America at some point, although it is hard to envision playing for another team in the AHL. “Grand Rapids is always going to be my team,” he said.

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ALL-T ACTIV SING

2014-

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ALL-T ACTIV SING 2014-

* Led L

RECORD BOOK AND LEADERS (Through Jan. 14, 2016)

GAMES PLAYED

GOALS

ASSISTS

ALL-TIME: ACTIVE LEADER: SINGLE-SEASON: 2014-15:

Travis Richards....................... 655 Louis-Marc Aubry (13th)........ 266 5 players tied......................... *82 Jeff oggan/Kevin Porter....... *76

Michel Picard............................158 Mitch Callahan (10th).................67 Donald MacLean (2005-06)......*56 Teemu Pulkkinen......................*34

Michel Picard.................................. 222 Nathan Paetsch (9th)....................... 94 Jiri Hudler (2005-06)........................ 60 Andy Miele....................................... 44

Michel Picard

Travis Richards

Darryl Bootland

POINTS

PLUS/MINUS

PENALTY MINUTES

ALL-TIME: ACTIVE LEADER: SINGLE-SEASON: 2014-15:

Michel Picard......................... 380 Mitch Callahan (19th)............ 124 Michel Picard (1996-97)........ 101 Andy Miele.............................. 70

Travis Richards...................... +131 Nathan Paetsch (4th).............. +64 Ivan Ciernik (2000-01)...........*+41 Nick Jensen/Tomas Nosek......*+30

Darryl Bootland............................1,164 Mitch Callahan (16th)..................... 314 Darryl Bootland (2005-06)............. 390 Chris Bruton................................... 124

GOALIE GAMES PLAYED

GOALS AGAINST AVERAGE

ALL-TIME: ACTIVE LEADER: SINGLE-SEASON:

Joey MacDonald..................... 210 Martin Prusek..........................1.83 Tom McCollum (2nd)............. 206 Jared Coreau (7th)....................2.33 Joey MacDonald (2004-05).... *66 Martin Prusek (2001-02)........*1.83

2014-15: Tom McCollum......................... 37 Jared Coreau............................2.20

Martin Prusek

Tom McCollum

WINS

Joey MacDonald............................. 109 Tom McCollum (2nd)........................ 92 Joey MacDonald (2004-05).............. 34 Mike Fountain (2000-01).................*34 Tom McCollum.................................. 19

Joey MacDonald

SHUTOUTS

SAVES

SAVE PERCENTAGE

ALL-TIME: ACTIVE LEADER: SINGLE-SEASON: 2014-15:

Joey MacDonald....................... 20 Tom McCollum (T6th)................ 6 5 players tied............................. 6 Jared Coreau/Petr Mrazek.......... 3

Joey MacDonald.....................5,362 Tom McCollum (2nd)..............5,113 Joey MacDonald (2004-05)....1,785 Tom McCollum..........................949

Martin Prusek...............................0.930 Jared Coreau (2nd).......................0.925 Joey MacDonald (2003-04)..........0.936 Jared Coreau.................................0.927

* Led League

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

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Our desig while Just see f been

4100

Thousand unblemis Oaks now gathering Downtow for meeti the Grand style. Ou events. W reliable, a

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62 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

T T L

Photo: Getty Images

THREE TIMES L CKY

Tampa Bay Lightning goalie prospect Andrei Vasilevskiy enjoyed a whirlwind end to 2015 and a terrific s art to the New Year.

Goaltenders never get credited with hat tricks, so netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy could hardly have been more excited.

The 21-year-old Russian-born goalie had just stopped 28 of 30 shots on the road to help the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch defeat the Wilkes-Barre/ Scranton Penguins by a 4-2 margin on New Year’s Eve when he was called into the office f head coach Rob Zettler.

Vasilevskiy, who had played the previous six games for the Crunch, winning four, figu ed he knew the reason, according to a story in the Tampa Bay Times.

“Yeah, yeah, I know,” Vasilevskiy initially said to Zettler.

“So you already checked your phone?” Zettler said.

“I knew three days ago I’d get called up,” Vasilevskiy responded.

Zettler smiled. “No, you’re a new dad,” the coach was pleased to report. “Even better news.”

The news caught Vasilevskiy flat-footed, like a quick wrist-shot from behind the net. His pregnant wife, Ksenia, was not due until the New Year, but she had delivered a baby boy two weeks early in Tampa while he was playing in WilkesBarre, Pa. Doubly happy, Vasilevskiy rode on the bus with his Crunch teammates back to Syracuse, then grabbed his gear and headed to the airport to catch a pre-dawn New Year’s Day fli ht back to Tampa to be with his wife and their new child.

A day later, on Jan. 2, Vasilevskiy was playing between the posts for Tampa Bay, helping the NHL’s Lightning to a huge 3-2 shootout victory over the Minnesota Wild. The young netminder

made the win happen, tallying 15 third-period saves, another pair in overtime and stopping all three Wild shots in the shootout. “He was our best player,” said Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman.

Vasilevskiy let out an impassioned roar of celebration after Minnesota’s Charlie Coyle put his shootout attempt off he left ost to secure the Tampa Bay win.

“Many, many, many emotions,’’ Vasilevskiy said of the his whirlwind experience. “It reminded me of last year when I played a couple of games in Syracuse then went to Philadelphia to play my fi st NHL game. A lot of emotions.’’

His teammates couldn’t have been more pleased with the way things turned out.

“There are things more important in life than hockey and I’m really happy everything went well with his son being born,’’ said Valtteri Filppula, the former Grand Rapids Griffins center who had opened the scoring for Tampa in the fi st period.

“That was nice to get a win for him.’’

It was the perfect fin sh to a memorable couple of days.

“Kid won an American League game, an NHL game and became a father for the fi st time in 48 hours,” Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said.

“That’s a pretty good run.”

No doubt it was also the perfect way to start the New Year.

A fi st-round pick (19th overall) in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, asilevskiy had enjoyed a successful rookie season in 2014-15. He started the season with Syracuse, eventually being named CCM/AHL Goaltender of the Month for December. He made his NHL debut on Dec. 16, Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

63

Photo: Getty Images

Vasilevskiy earned his first NHL pl yoff win in relief during last year’s Stanley Cup Finals.

2014, a 3-1 victory over the Philadephia Flyers.

Vasilevskiy recorded his fi st NHL shutout on March 3, 2015, with a 28-save performance against the Buff lo Sabres. His fi st playoff in came on June 6, 2015, when he replaced starting goaltender Ben Bishop twice during the third period of Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals. He became the fi st goalie in 24 years to win a Finals game in relief and the fi st to earn his fi st career playoff in in relief in the Finals since Lester Patrick in 1928.

Vasilevskiy, who went 7-5-1 in 16 regular-season appearances, insisted he was unfazed. “Nervous?

Just maybe a little bit, but after the fi st couple shots, I feel better,” said Vasilevskiy, who said he had no warning he might be playing. “When I win, I just feel myself happy.”

With high hopes for this season, Vasilevskiy suddenly found himself sidelined with vascular

thoracic outlet syndrome, a condition that causes pressure against the blood vessels in the area just behind and below the collarbone, leading to pain, numbness, tingling and/or weakness in the arm and hand.

On Sept. 3, 2015, Vasilevskiy underwent successful surgery to remove a blood clot near his left c llarbone. Although he was expected to fully recover, the Lightning said he would be out for 2-3 months.

Vasilevskiy returned to the ice on Oct. 28, helping the Crunch to consecutive wins by stopping 56 of 58 shots in victories over the Toronto Marlies and Hershey Bears. He spent the next month in Tampa, going 2-3-0 in five November starts before returning to Syracuse for his most recent stint.

“He’s an NHL caliber goaltender. He’s going to be a really, really good one, but he needs games to play,” Tampa coach Cooper said, explaining the reason the Lightning chose to have Vasilevskiy play more AHL games with the Crunch.

When the call comes, the Lightning know Vasilevskiy will be ready.

“We feel very safe with Vasilevskiy in the net,” Hedman said. “He’s proven at every level that he’s a winner, and he’s one of the best goalie prospects in a lot of years.”

MEET YOUR FAVORITE GRIFFINS PLAYER And raise money for EASTER SEALS MICHIGAN Join us on March 8, 2016 Tickets are on sale this January Like Easter Seals Michigan on Facebook to get event updates.

For information on Easter Seals Michigan services go to www.essmichigan.org or call

616.942.2081 64 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

R

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

65

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2014 AHL All-Star Alexey Marchenko Photo by Jeff arsons/AHL

2015 AHL All-Star Teemu Pulkkinen Photo by Lindsay A. Mogle/AHL

2013 AHL All-Star Petr Mrazek Photo by Alan Sullivan/AHL

2012 AHL All-Star Gustav Nyquist

Photo by PhotoGraphics Photography/AHL

GRIFFINS 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

Jeff elson, Michel Picard, Pokey Reddick Ian Gordon, Kerry Huffman, Michel Pi ard 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, Nathan Robinson Niklas Kronwall, Joey MacDonald Valtteri Filppula, Jiri Hudler, Donald MacLean Derek Meech, Kip Miller 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 (head coach Xavier Ouellet, Teemu Pulkkinen

2011 AHL All-Star Ilari Filppula

Photo by JustSports Photography/AHL

2013 AHL All-Star Chad Billins Photo by Alan Sullivan/AHL

2013 AHL All-Star Gustav Nyquist Photo by Paul Yacovone III/AHL

2010 AHL All-Star Patrick Rissmiller

Photo by Sports Action Photography/AHL

P E N A LT Y C A L L S

Billins

AHL

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 disqualifi ation penalty for excessive or additional misbehavior on the ice.

TRIPPING Called for using the stick, arm or leg to cause an opponent to trip or fall.

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 fisti uff or shoving.

UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT Called for unsportsmanlike actions such as disputing an offici ’s decision, grabbing the face mask of a player, etc.

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

Nyquist

I/AHL

ssmiller

aphy/AHL

WASH-OUT When used by the referee, it means goal disallowed. When used by linesmen, it means there is no icing or no offsid .

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 69

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Tickets

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206 207 208 209

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107

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210

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startickets.com or 616.222.4000 THE ZONE Located on the west side of Van Andel Arena ONLINE griffinshockey.com/buytickets

108

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Stop by the #GriffinsSocial Lounge behind Section 224 on game nights to charge your phone, connect to free wifi, see your social media posts displayed on our TV and much more!

Download the official Griffins iPhone and Android app to stay connected with the Griffins on the go!

GRIFFINS IN THE NHL

IT ALL STARTS HERE Since their inception in 1996, the Griffin have sent 152 players to the National Hockey League, 15 of whom have gone on to win the Stanley Cup. In fact, a Griffin alumnus has had his name engraved on Lord Stanley’s chalice in five of the last eight years and in seven of the last 11 seasons.

In chronological order, here are the 20 goalies and 132 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 Nelso ............................................... 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

KEVYN ADAMS

PAVOL DEMITRA

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

TOMAS KOPECKY

JIMMY HOWARD

JIRI HUDLER

CHRI

gue, ame sons. after

DLER

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...................................................11/4/0x8 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

CHRIS KELLY

VALTTERI FILPPULA

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 Bold = Has played in the NHL this season (as of Jan. 15) Italics = Had name engraved on the Stanley Cup after playing for Grand Rapids All photos by Getty Images.

NIKLAS KRONWALL

CHRIS NEIL

JASON SPEZZA

It

78 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

KIDS

PAGE

It’s a Jungle Out There! t and NHL use the nickname – or a logo tha More than two dozen teams in the AHL imaginary/e xtinct creature. Some were includes imagery – of a real animal or an fauna of a particular region, while others, chosen to honor the history or reflect the e a great name for a hockey team. (Yeah, like Griffi s, are just cool and fierce and mak y of these nicknames do you know? we’re biased, but it’s still true!) How man DOWN 1. San Jose (AHL) 3. Iowa and Minnesota 5. San Diego 6. Providence and Boston 9. Lake Erie

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

21.

23.

Sound Tigers Predators Ducks Wolves Rampage Coyotes Sabres

15. Bridgeport 16. Nashville 17. Anaheim 18. Chicago (AHL) 19. San Antonio 21. Arizona 23. Buffal

11. Charlotte 12. San Jose (NHL) 13. Rockford 14. Hershey 20. Manitoba 22. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Pittsburgh

ACROSS 2. Panthers 4. Wolf Pack 5. Griffi 7. Condors 8. Canucks 10. Falcons

DOWN 1. Barracuda 3. Wild 5. Gulls 6. Bruins 9. Monsters

11.

12.

13.

14.

20.

22.

Checkers Sharks IceHogs Bears Moose Penguins

ACROSS 2. Florida 4. Hartford 5. Grand Rapids 7. Bakersfiel 8. Vancouver 10. Springfiel

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

79

PARTING SHOT

That’s Abominable!

Griffins goalie J ed Coreau scoffs at a Milwaukee skater’s dastardly attempt to turn him into a snowman.

Photo by Mark Newman

80 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

T