HITHER AND YAN

Dennis Yan can attest to the fact that the path to professional hockey does not follow a straight line.

Any player who reaches the upper levels of the game knows that the journey does not come with a compass, a map, or even directions. Most fans assume that players come through either junior hockey in Canada, college in the U.S., or one of the European leagues, but it’s not always that simple.

Hockey, like life, is unpredictable. Yan spent the better part of his childhood growing up in Russia, where his parents lived before work brought his father to Portland, Ore., the birthplace of both Dennis and his younger brother Andrew (less than two years separate the boys).

When he was five, Yan and his family moved back to Moscow. It was there that hockey became part of his life.

“When my father put me on the ice, I fell in love with the game pretty quick and it just felt natural,” said Yan, whose paternal grandparents emigrated from Korea to Russia. “There was a lot of practice and I kept getting better and better until I realized that it was my passion.”

Like many young Russian players, Yan was indoctrinated to the sport in a fashion that focused his attention on hockey, almost to the exclusion of others. Sports outside of hockey are only encouraged in a way that benefits the primary directive.

Growing up, it was school, hockey, school, hockey. “I was always busy with those two things,” he said. “In Russia, you play a lot of different sports with the team, sports like soccer and handball to give young athletes a different vision of the game. The idea is to see the same game differently and to improve your skills.”

Yan said his hockey team would play other sports once a week.

“In Russia, the game is more about the possession of the puck, trying to hold onto the puck as much as you can until you can make a play out of it,” he said. “So playing together as one unit like a soccer team is important. Although you don’t have a stick in your hands, other games can help with your vision even when you’re playing with your feet or your hands.” Yan attended a hockey camp that was run by Pavel Datsyuk, the PD13 Hockey School, where his play reportedly earned high praise from camp organizers. Taking part in drills designed by the Detroit Red Wings superstar, Yan displayed the gifts that would eventually earn the attention of NHL scouts.

Staying in the Soviet-styled system could have been an option, but Yan’s family opted to have him play elsewhere.

“Every family in Russia has their own life and we grew up in pretty good conditions. We had a car, a home, food, and everything we needed. Life was pretty good,” he said. “I continued to play [in Russia] until the age of 14, when my parents decided to fly me back to North America to start my career here.”

Yan played minor midget AAA hockey for the Lambton Jr. Sting in Sarnia, Ontario. His billet family was Hockey Hall of Famer and former Red Wings star Dino Ciccarelli’s brother Larry, whose son Matteo was also on the team. “They took me in and treated me very well,” he said.

Although he held dual Russian-American citizenship, Yan said coming to North America was a big adjustment. “It was the toughest time for me because I was a really young guy and I didn’t really know English,” he said. “The first three months were especially hard, going to school and everything, but hockey kept my head in things.”

Alone in a foreign country, Yan might have felt isolated and alone, but he trusted that his family had his best interests in mind.

“My parents made the decision for me because I was really young,” he said. “I didn’t know what was going to be my path, but once I came over and started playing hockey in juniors and then getting drafted, I realized that this is my path.”

In the moment, Yan admits that he was not thinking about his future, only the present. “At first, I went day by day, then month by month, then season by season,” he said.

The more physical side of North American hockey also exacted its toll. “I got a concussion during the first year because I think I wasn’t used to the style of play,” he said.” It took me some games to get used to it, but I still had a lot of fun. If you’re good in youth hockey, it’s still enjoyable because you’re just playing the game and having fun.”

Yan learned that he had to adjust the way he played the game. “With the smaller rink [in North America], there’s way less space and it’s

After growing up in Russia with Korean heritage, Yan returned to North America to pursue his dream of playing in the NHL.

a way faster game,” he said. “In those early days when I was 14 or 15 years old, it took me a full season, but later I understood how the game is played and now I am used to it.”

In his second year, he entered the Belle Tire program for the 2012-13 season and recorded an impressive 30 goals in 40 games. “It was another step higher, playing U18 as a 16-year-old kid,” he said. “I was always playing a little underage, so I had to push myself to progress.”

It didn’t hurt that he was being mentored at the time by Russian hockey legend and former Red Wings center Igor Larionov. “I was practicing with him during my time with Belle Tire,” Yan said. “He is a very smart guy who helped me out a lot. He gave me some great advice during morning skates and extra skill practices during the season. He was part of my success, for sure.”

After the 2013-14 season, Yan had hoped to play in the Ontario Hockey League but his immigration status derailed those plans. “I was supposed to be in the OHL draft because I have dual citizenship,” he said. “I think they got it wrong when they didn’t include me in their draft. I had to wait an extra year, so I ended up playing in the U.S. program.”

He spent a season in the U.S. National Team Development Program, playing for the U17 team that included future NHL stars Auston Matthews (Toronto), Matthew Tkachuk (Calgary), Charlie McAvoy (Boston) and Zach Werenski (Columbus), along with several other future NHL players.

In 48 games, Yan scored 12 goals, matching the total potted by Matthews, who naturally scored his dozen in half as many games. Nevertheless, it was an impressive enough showing to get him drafted by the Shawinigan Cataractes of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Yan tallied 208 points in 185 games during his three years in Shawinigan, where he enjoyed 33-, 32- and 46-goal seasons. “I really liked it there,” he said. “I learned a little French, listening to people to the point where I could understand what they were talking about – not like 100 percent, more like 80 percent. “Being there for three years, you can’t help but learn. Of course, you forget it all if you don’t practice.”

It was after his first year in Quebec that the Tampa Bay Lightning used their third pick (64th overall) in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft to select the 6-foot-2, 192-lb. winger, whose offensive talents suggested that he had a high ceiling as a prospect.

“Getting drafted meant I was able to get an

Yan spent two of his teenage years in Michigan, playing first for the Belle Tire program and, later, USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program in Plymouth.

NHL camp under my belt, which helped for sure,” he said. “It made me better as an older player in the league when I went back to Shawinigan.”

Following his time in junior hockey, Yan joined Tampa’s AHL affiliate in Syracuse. As a member of the Crunch for three seasons, he worked alongside several players who would become important pieces of the Lightning’s backto-back Stanley Cup championship teams, along with future Red Wings players Adam Erne and Mitchell Stephens.

“In Tampa, the development process is really top-notch for top prospects, not just on the ice but also off the ice,” he said. “I became a man in terms of understanding and playing the professional game. Being a pro is way different from juniors. The time you put in, the work you do, requires hours and hours. I thought they did an unbelievable job of giving me everything I needed to succeed and grow as a player.”

Yan registered double-figure goal totals (13, 11, 10) each season in Syracuse but was not re-signed after his three-year entry-level deal expired. He suddenly found himself in limbo without a deal during the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I went back to Russia and spent time visiting my father, waiting for things to unfold in terms of where I was going to play,” he said. “I was a free agent and I was practicing by myself, just waiting for a contract. I didn’t want to skip the whole season, so I finally decided to finish the season in Austria to at least get in some games in.”

Yan played 13 games for the Steinbach Black Wings in Linz, Austria, to finish the 2020-21 season. “It was a different experience because Europe is another style of hockey,” he said. “I wasn’t there that long, maybe a couple of months, but I was happy that I played those 13 games.”

He was thrilled to change the color of his wings for the 2021-22 season, signing a one-year deal in September 2021 to play for Detroit’s top minor league affiliate. The chance to play for Grand Rapids meant he was back under the gaze of Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman, who had inked him to his first pro contract.

“I was very excited,” he said. “It was very special for me because I had spent a couple of years living in Michigan and I knew some people in the organization. I know it was a late signing but it was exciting knowing that they wanted me.

“It was also exciting knowing how many fans come to the games in Grand Rapids. It’s very special to play in this city compared with other places in the league. I’m still pursuing my dream,

Yan played three years of junior hockey in Quebec.

so I am excited to go wherever my path takes me, but Grand Rapids is an especially good place to play.”

Yan, who already knew Luke Witkowski from his days in Tampa, quickly acclimated himself to his new city. “When you come to a new team, it helps for sure, but all of the guys here are very nice,” he said. “It’s a good group of guys, so it was easy to come into this situation.”

He is doing his best to contribute to the Griffins’ push to the playoffs.

“Over the years, I’ve been put into different roles,” he said. “Mostly, I am successful when I play a hard, gritty game and show that defensive side of my game. If I play hard and compete, that’s when I am successful.”

He is confident that the Griffins can be the kind of team that others will fear in the playoffs. “We’re going to make a good push,” he said. “We’ve already shown that we can win games, but it’s going to be tricky. Hockey is unpredictable, so anything can happen.

“We can definitely be in the playoffs, but it will take some effort.”

In the meantime, he stays in touch with his family. While his parents remain in Russia, his brother is a U.S. Marine with the 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion stationed at Camp Schwab in Okinawa, Japan.

“We came back to North America at the same time, but he went back to Portland, where we were born, because our grandmother was still living there,” he said. “He played a little hockey, but we had different kinds of bodies, so he played American football and wrestling.

Yan talks to his family in Russian, which is still his first language. “My English is pretty good, except for the accent,” he said. “We were taught English in school, but when I first came over, it was like I didn’t know any words at all.”

Going from one place to another has made Yan feel like he’s “Mr. International.”

“If someone asks me where I am from, I don’t even know how to answer,” he said. “Most players have a simple story. They were born in this town in the U.S., Canada, or Sweden and they grew up, but me, I feel like I’ve been moving all the time, never feeling like I had a place that I could call home.

“For me, home is where my family is. That’s where I am most happy. I have definitely enjoyed the ride and I am excited going forward.”

Yan was selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the third round (64th overall pick) of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.

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RECORDBOOK AND Through games of March 10, 2022 LEADERS

GAMES PLAYED All-Time Travis Richards Active Leader Brian Lashoff (2nd) Single-Season 5 players tied 2020-21 Riley Barber, Joe Hicketts GOALS All-Time Michel Picard Active Leader Turner Elson (22nd) Single-Season Donald MacLean (2005-06) 2020-21 Riley Barber ASSISTS All-Time Michel Picard Active Leader Brian Lashoff (T14th) Single-Season Jiri Hudler (2005-06) 2020-21 Taro Hirose 655 557 *82 32

158 54 *56 20

222 88 60 23

Michel Picard Calvin Pickard

POINTS All-Time Michel Picard Active Leader Turner Elson (24th) Single-Season Michel Picard (1996-97) 2020-21 Riley Barber PLUS/MINUS All-Time Travis Richards Active Leader Turner Elson (13th) Single-Season Ivan Ciernik (2000-01) 2020-21 Turner Elson PENALTY MINUTES All-Time Darryl Bootland Active Leader Dominik Shine (19th) Single-Season Darryl Bootland (2005-06) 2020-21 Dylan McIlrath

* = Led League

Darryl Bootland

380 129 101 34

+131 +44 *+41 +6

1,164 312 390 70

Turner Elson Brian Lashoff Joey MacDonald

GOALIE GAMES PLAYED All-Time Tom McCollum Active Leader Calvin Pickard (10th) Single-Season Joey MacDonald (2004-05) 2020-21 Kevin Boyle, Pat Nagle GOALS AGAINST AVERAGE All-Time Martin Prusek Active Leader Calvin Pickard (16th) Single-Season Martin Prusek (2001-02) 2020-21 Pat Nagle

WINS All-Time Tom McCollum Active Leader Calvin Pickard (10th) Single-Season Joey MacDonald (2004-05) Mike Fountain (2000-01) 2020-21 Kevin Boyle 263 74 *66 12

1.83 2.68 *1.82 2.78

122 36 34 *34 7 SHUTOUTS All-Time Joey MacDonald Active Leader Calvin Pickard (T10th) Single-Season 6 players tied 2020-21 Kaden Fulcher SAVES All-Time Tom McCollum Active Leader Calvin Pickard (9th) Single-Season Joey MacDonald (2004-05) 2020-21 Pat Nagle SAVE PERCENTAGE All-Time Martin Prusek Active Leader Calvin Pickard (11th) Single-Season Joey MacDonald (2003-04) 2020-21 Pat Nagle 20 4 6 1

6,640 2,051 1,785 256

0.930 0.913 0.936 0.892

GRIFFINS IN THE ALL-STAR GAME

2020

Matthew Ford

2020

Chris Terry

2019 2018 2018

Chris Terry

2016

Jeff Hoggan and Xavier Ouellet

2013

Matt Puempel

2015

Teemu Pulkkinen

2013

Matt Lorito

2014

Alexey Marchenko

2013

Chad Billins

2019-20 Matthew Ford, Chris Terry 2018-19 Chris Terry 2017-18 Matt Lorito, Matt Puempel 2016-17 Matt Lorito, Robbie Russo, Todd Nelson (head coach) 2015-16 Jeff Hoggan (captain), Xavier Ouellet 2014-15 Xavier Ouellet, Teemu Pulkkinen 2013-14 Alexey Marchenko, Jeff Blashill (co-coach) 2012-13 Chad Billins, Petr Mrazek, Gustav Nyquist 2011-12 Gustav Nyquist 2010-11 Ilari Filppula, Brendan Smith 2009-10 Patrick Rissmiller

2008-09 Jakub Kindl, Daniel Larsson 2007-08 Jonathan Ericsson, Jimmy Howard 2006-07 Derek Meech, Kip Miller (captain) 2005-06 Valtteri Filppula, Jiri Hudler, Donald MacLean 2004-05 Niklas Kronwall, Joey MacDonald 2003-04 Jiri Hudler, Niklas Kronwall, Travis Richards (captain), Nathan Robinson 2002-03 Marc Lamothe, Mark Mowers

Petr Mrazek

2001-02

Chris Bala, John Gruden, Kip Miller, Martin Prusek, Petr Schastlivy, Bruce Cassidy (head coach), Gene Reilly (asst. coach)

2000-01

Mike Fountain, Joel Kwiatkowski, Travis Richards, Todd White, Bruce Cassidy (co-coach) 1999-00 John Gruden, Jani Hurme, Kevin Miller, Petr Schastlivy 1998-99 Robert Petrovicky, Maxim Spiridonov 1997-98 Ian Gordon, Kerry Huffman, Michel Picard 1996-97 Jeff Nelson, Michel Picard, Pokey Reddick

Gustav Nyquist

BOARDING Called for any action which causes an opponent to be thrown violently into the boards.

CHARGING Taking a run at an opposing player using more than three strides to build up speed.

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.

DELAYED PENALTY Referee extends his arm and points to the penalized player until the penalized team regains possession of the puck.

HIGH STICKING Making contact with an opponent while carrying the stick above shoulder hight.

HOLDING Clutching an opposing player’s body with the hands, arms or legs.

HOOKING The use of the stick or blade to impede the progress of an opponent.

INTERFERENCE When a player impedes the progress of an opponent who is not in possession of the puck.

MISCONDUCT 10-minute or disqualification penalty for excessive or additional misbehavior on the ice.

ROUGHING Called for engaging in fisticuffs or shoving.

SLASHING Striking an opposing player with the stick.

SPEARING

Called for using the stick like a spear.

TRIPPING

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

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

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

ABBOTSFORD CANUCKS BAKERSFIELD CONDORS BELLEVILLE SENATORS BRIDGEPORT SOUND TIGERS CHARLOTTE CHECKERS CHICAGO WOLVES CLEVELAND MONSTERS COLORADO EAGLES GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS HARTFORD WOLF PACK HENDERSON SILVER KNIGHTS HERSHEY BEARS IOWA WILD LAVAL ROCKET LEHIGH VALLEY PHANTOMS MANITOBA MOOSE MILWAUKEE ADMIRALS ONTARIO REIGN PROVIDENCE BRUINS ROCHESTER AMERICANS ROCKFORD ICEHOGS SAN DIEGO GULLS SAN JOSE BARRACUDA SPRINGFIELD THUNDERBIRDS STOCKTON HEAT SYRACUSE CRUNCH TEXAS STARS TORONTO MARLIES TUCSON ROADRUNNERS UTICA COMETS WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON PENGUINS

Griffins in the NHL

Since their inception in 1996, the Griffins have sent 190 players to the National Hockey League, 17 of whom have gone on to win the Stanley Cup. In fact, a Griffins alumnus has had his name engraved on Lord Stanley’s chalice in eight of the last 14 years and in 10 of the last 17 seasons. In chronological order, here are the 23 goalies and 167 skaters who have worn an NHL sweater after playing for Grand Rapids, along with the dates of their NHL debuts/returns.

IT ALL

STARTS HERE

1...........Pavol Demitra...........................3/17/97 STL at PHX 2...........Kevyn Adams..........................10/1/97 TOR vs. WSH 3...........Tyler Moss...............................10/28/97 CGY vs. PIT 4...........Michel Picard..................................1/6/98 STL at SJ 5...........Jeff Nelson............................10/10/98 NSH vs. FLA 6...........Patrick Traverse......................10/10/98 OTT at COL 7...........Mark Greig...................................1/7/99 PHI vs. NYI 8...........Radim Bicanek...........................2/1/99 OTT at VAN 9...........Robert Petrovicky.......................2/15/99 TB at NYI 10.........Andrei Vasilyev..........................3/5/99 PHX vs. DET 11.........Todd Hlushko..............................4/25/99 PIT vs. NJ 12.........Patrick Lalime...........................10/2/99 OTT at PHI 13.........Glen Metropolit.....................10/2/99 WSH at FLA 14.........Kevin Miller............................10/31/99 OTT at ATL 15.........Karel Rachunek......................10/31/99 OTT at ATL 16.........Erich Goldmann...................11/11/99 OTT vs. NSH 17.........Yves Sarault..............................11/20/99 OTT at NJ 18.........John Gruden..........................11/30/99 OTT vs. CHI 19.........Mike Fountain.............................12/3/99 OTT at NJ 20.........Dave Van Drunen...................12/13/99 OTT at TOR 21.........Petr Schastlivy..............................1/3/00 OTT vs. NJ 22.........John Emmons...........................1/6/00 OTT vs. PHX 23.........Slava Butsayev.........................1/28/00 OTT at BUF 24.........Aris Brimanis............................2/13/00 NYI at NYR 25.........Dieter Kochan...........................3/28/00 TB vs. DAL 26.........Jani Hurme...................................4/9/00 OTT vs. TB 27.........Shane Hnidy.............................10/5/00 OTT at BOS 28.........Donald MacLean..................10/14/00 TOR vs. OTT 29.........David Oliver..............................11/4/00 OTT vs. CBJ 30.........Jamie Rivers...........................11/12/00 OTT at CAR 31.........Sean Gagnon........................11/26/00 OTT at NYR 32.........Joel Bouchard.......................11/29/00 PHX at COL 33.........Mike Crowley.........................12/8/00 ANA at MIN 34.........Ivan Ciernik................................1/23/01 OTT at NYI 35.........Darren Rumble.............................2/6/01 STL at COL 36.........Joel Kwiatkowski.....................2/19/01 OTT at BUF 37.........Todd White...............................2/19/01 OTT at BUF 38.........Chris Neil...................................10/3/01 OTT at TOR 39.........Toni Dahlman.........................1/3/02 OTT vs. WSH 40.........Steve Martins...........................1/11/02 OTT at FLA 41.........Kip Miller......................................1/17/02 NYI at SJ 42.........Jody Hull........................................2/4/02 OTT at TB 43.........Dmitry Afanasenkov......................2/6/02 TB at FLA 44.........Simon Lajeunesse.........................3/7/02 OTT at SJ 45.........Martin Prusek..........................3/23/02 OTT vs. ATL 46.........Chris Bala...................................3/27/02 OTT at NYI 47.........Neil Little..................................3/28/02 PHI at CAR 48.........Josh Langfeld.............................3/30/02 OTT vs. TB 49.........Gaetan Royer..............................4/1/02 TB vs. NYR 50.........Jason Spezza..................10/24/02 OTT at BOS 51.........Sean Avery...............................10/29/02 DET vs. SJ 52.........Jason Doig................................12/3/02 WSH at PIT 53.........Jason Williams........................12/5/02 DET at PHX 54.........Patrick Boileau.....................12/19/02 DET vs. DAL 55.........Stacy Roest..............................2/20/03 DET vs. EDM 56.........Wade Brookbank..................10/9/03 NSH vs. ANA 57.........Julien Vauclair.......................10/25/03 OTT at MTL 58....... Jiri Hudler...........................10/29/03 DET vs. STL 59.........Curtis Joseph.........................10/30/03 DET at NSH 60.........Darryl Bootland.....................11/8/03 DET vs. NSH 61.........Mark Mowers........................11/19/03 DET vs. CBJ 62.........Nathan Robinson.................11/28/03 DET vs. NYI 63.........Blake Sloan.................................12/4/03 DAL at LA 64....... Niklas Kronwall..................12/10/03 DET at BUF 65.........Ryan Barnes..........................12/15/03 DET vs. FLA 66....... Chris Kelly..............................2/5/04 OTT vs. TOR 67.........Marc Lamothe........................2/23/04 DET at EDM 68.........Anders Myrvold.......................2/26/04 DET at CGY 69.........Mathieu Chouinard..................2/29/04 LA at ANA 70.........Brett Lebda.................................10/5/05 DET vs. STL 71.........Mark Eaton.................................10/5/05 NSH vs. SJ 72.........Chris Osgood............................10/29/05 DET at CHI 73.........Kyle Quincey..........................11/25/05 DET at ANA 74.........Jimmy Howard........................11/28/05 DET at LA 75.........Valtteri Filppula........................12/15/05 DET at FLA 76.........Rob Collins.............................12/17/05 NYI vs. COL 77.........Manny Legace...........................1/5/06 DET vs. STL 78.........David Gove..............................1/31/06 CAR at MTL 79.........Tomas Kopecky.............................2/28/06 DET at SJ 80.........Alexandre Giroux.......................3/25/06 NYR at TB 81.........Joey MacDonald.......................10/19/06 DET at SJ 82.........Derek Meech..............................12/7/06 DET vs. STL 83.........Matt Ellis..................................12/18/06 DET at CBJ 84.........Matt Hussey..............................1/26/07 DET at STL 85.........Sheldon Brookbank......................2/6/07 NSH at PIT 86.........Danny Syvret.........................2/27/07 EDM vs. PHX 87.........Mark Hartigan........................11/29/07 DET vs. TB 88.........Drew MacIntyre.......................12/13/07 VAN at SJ 89.........Peter Vandermeer.................2/10/08 PHX vs. NSH 90.........Jonathan Ericsson....................2/22/08 DET at CGY 91.........Garrett Stafford........................2/23/08 DET at VAN 92.........Darren Helm......................3/13/08 DET vs. DAL 93.........Mattias Ritola.........................3/15/08 DET vs. NSH 94.........Clay Wilson...............................3/25/08 CBJ at NSH 95.........Darren McCarty.........................3/28/08 DET vs. STL 96.........Krys Kolanos................................11/4/08 MIN at SJ 97.........Landon Wilson....................11/22/08 DAL vs. ANA 98.........Bryan Helmer.....................11/28/08 WSH vs. MTL 99.........Chris Chelios .........................12/13/08 DET at PHX 100.......Aaron Downey........................1/29/09 DET vs. DAL 101.......Justin Abdelkader..................1/31/09 DET at WSH 102.......Ville Leino...............................1/31/09 DET at WSH 103.......Aaron Gagnon.....................10/16/09 DAL vs. BOS 104.......Scott Parse...............................10/24/09 LA at PHX 105.......Doug Janik..............................11/3/09 DET vs. BOS 106........Ryan Keller...............................11/25/09 OTT at NJ 107.......Jakub Kindl............................12/3/09 DET vs. EDM 108.......Kris Newbury.......................12/14/09 DET vs. PHX 109........Darren Haydar..........................2/10/10 COL vs. ATL 110.......Andreas Lilja...............................3/1/10 DET at COL 111........Jeremy Williams.....................10/24/10 NYR vs. NJ 112.......Jan Mursak.............................12/27/10 DET at COL 113.......Chris Mueller........................12/28/10 NSH vs. DAL 114.......Tomas Tatar.....................12/31/10 DET vs. NYI 115.......Cory Emmerton.......................1/22/11 DET vs. CHI 116........Patrick Rissmiller......................2/23/11 ATL at BUF 117 ......Tom McCollum ........................3/30/11 DET vs. STL 118 .....Gustav Nyquist ..............11/1/11 DET vs. MIN 119 ........Fabian Brunnstrom...................11/5/11 DET vs. ANA 120 ......Brendan Smith.................11/17/11 DET at SJ 121......Mark Cullen................11/29/11 FLA at CAR 122.......Chris Conner.............................12/2/11 DET at BUF 123.......Joakim Andersson................12/27/11 DET vs. STL 124......Ty Conklin .........................3/21/12 DET at NYR 125......Riley Sheahan.....................4/7/12 DET vs. CHI 126.......Brian Lashoff.............................1/21/13 DET at CBJ 127.......Mike Knuble..............................1/26/13 PHI at FLA 128.......Jamie Tardif................................2/2/13 BOS at TOR 129.......Petr Mrazek ..........................2/7/13 DET at STL 130....... Jonas Gustavsson...................2/19/13 DET at NSH 131.......Carlo Colaiacovo........................4/1/13 DET vs. COL 132......Danny DeKeyser.............10/2/13 DET vs. BUF 133......Luke Glendening..........10/12/13 DET vs. PHI 134.......Xavier Ouellet...........................10/21/13 DET vs. SJ 135.......Adam Almquist .....................11/4/13 DET at WPG 136.......Chad Billins..............................11/5/13 CGY at MIN 137.......Patrick Eaves...........................12/14/13 DET vs. PIT 138.......Tomas Jurco.............................12/15/13 DET vs. TB 139.......Jordin Tootoo.........................12/19/13 DET vs. CGY 140.......Alexey Marchenko.....................1/4/14 DET at DAL 141.......Teemu Pulkkinen .................3/14/14 DET vs. EDM 142.......Landon Ferraro.......................3/18/14 DET vs. TOR 143......Calle Jarnkrok...................3/21/14 NSH at CGY 144.......Mitch Callahan..........................3/25/14 DET at CBJ 145.......Ryan Sproul...............................4/13/14 DET at STL 146.......Andrej Nestrasil.......................10/9/14 DET vs. BOS 147.......Stephen Weiss......................11/24/14 DET vs. OTT

148.....Mattias Janmark...........10/8/15 DAL vs. PIT

149......Dylan Larkin.....................10/9/15 DET vs. TOR 150..... Kevin Porter..........................10/10/15 PIT at ARI 151......Andreas Athanasiou.....11/8/15 DET vs. DAL

152.....Tomas Nosek..............12/26/15 DET at NSH

153.......Eric Tangradi..............................1/25/16 DET at NYI 154......Anthony Mantha.............3/15/16 DET at PHI 155.......Alan Quine..................................4/9/16 NYI vs. PHI

156.....Martin Frk.................10/18/16 CAR at EDM 157.....Tyler Bertuzzi................11/8/16 DET at PHI

158.......Jared Coreau..............................12/3/16 DET at PIT 159......Nick Jensen........................12/20/16 DET at TB 160.......Drew Miller..............................2/28/17 DET at VAN 161.......Robbie Russo.............................3/7/17 DET at TOR

162.....Dan Renouf.................. 3/27/17 DET at CAR

163.......Ben Street.................................3/28/17 DET at CAR

164.....Evgeny Svechnikov........4/3/17 DET vs. OTT

165.......Matt Lorito................................4/8/17 DET vs. MTL

166.....Kyle Criscuolo............. 11/17/17 BUF at DET

167.......Dominic Turgeon......................1/14/18 DET at CHI 168.......Joe Hicketts.................................1/22/18 DET at NJ

169.....Dennis Cholowski..........10/4/18 DET vs. CBJ

170.......Libor Sulak................................10/4/18 DET vs. CBJ

171.....Filip Hronek..................10/4/18 DET vs. CBJ

172.......Wade Megan.............................11/1/18 DET vs. NJ 173.......Christoffer Ehn.......................11/6/18 DET vs. VAN 174.......Eddie Pasquale............................12/4/18 TB at DET

175.....Michael Rasmussen.......2/7/19 DET vs. VGK 176.....Filip Zadina.....................2/24/19 DET vs. SJ

177.......Matt Puempel..........................3/23/19 DET at VGK 178.......Dylan McIlrath............................3/25/19 DET at SJ 179.......Jake Chelios................................3/29/19 DET vs. NJ

180.....Givani Smith............. 10/25/19 DET vs. BUF 181.....Calvin Pickard.............11/29/19 DET at PHI 182.....Madison Bowey.........12/14/19 DET at MTL 183.....Taro Hirose..................... 2/6/20 DET at BUF 184.....Gustav Lindstrom.......... 2/6/20 DET at BUF 185.....Joe Veleno .................... 4/27/21 DET at CBJ

186.......Mathias Brome...........................5/7/21 DET at CBJ

187.....Moritz Seider...............10/14/21 DET vs. TB 188.....Riley Barber.................12/18/21 DET vs. NJ 189.....Gemel Smith....................2/2/22 DET vs. LA 190.....Luke Witkowski ............3/12/22 DET at CGY

Bold = Has played in the NHL this season (as of March. 15, 2022)

Italics = Had name engraved on the Stanley Cup after playing for Grand Rapids All photos by Getty Images Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 77

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KIDS PAGE • KIDS PAGE • KIDS PAGE • KIDS PAGE WORKING MEN

Nearly five years after capturing Grand Rapids’ second Calder Cup, the 27 members of the Griffins’ 2017 championship team are spread across the globe, either still playing hockey or working in a number of professions postretirement. Can you match each 2017 Calder Cup champion with his current position/team or job/employer (as of March 14, 2022)? Good luck!

2017 CALDER CUP CHAMPIONS A. Conor Allen B. Tyler Bertuzzi C. Mike Borkowski D. Mitch Callahan E. Colin Campbell F. Daniel Cleary G. Jared Coreau H. Kyle Criscuolo I. Matthew Ford J. Martin Frk K. Cal Heeter L. Joe Hicketts M. Axel Holmstrom N. Filip Hronek O. Brian Lashoff P. Matt Lorito Q. Dylan McIlrath R. Tomas Nosek S. Nathan Paetsch T. Eddie Pasquale U. Dan Renouf V. Robbie Russo W. Dylan Sadowy X. Ben Street Y. Evgeny Svechnikov Z. Eric Tangradi AA. Dominic Turgeon CURRENT OCCUPATIONS 1. Forward/Augsburger Panther (DEL/Germany) 2. Left Wing/Boston Bruins (NHL) 3. Development Coach/Buffalo Sabres (NHL) 4. Asst. Director of Player Development/Detroit Red Wings (NHL) 5. Defenseman/Detroit Red Wings (NHL) 6. Left Wing/Detroit Red Wings (NHL) 7. Forward/EHC Munchen (DEL/Germany) 8. Owner/Ford Hockey School (Chicago) 9. Center/Grand Rapids Griffins 10. Defenseman/Grand Rapids Griffins – 2 players 11. Goaltender/Grizzlys Wolfsburg (DEL/Germany) 12. Right Wing/Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL) 13. Senior Associate/Heidrick & Struggles (New York) 14. Defenseman/Hershey Bears (AHL) 15. Center/Iowa Wild (AHL) 16. Defenseman/Iowa Wild (AHL) 17. Goaltender/Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL/Russia) 18. Coach/Los Angeles Jr. Kings 19. Right Wing/Ontario Reign (AHL) 20. Realtor/Piatt Sotheby’s International Realty (Pittsburgh) 21. Center/Sport (Liiga/Finland) 22. Employee Benefits Representative/Sun Life (St. Louis) 23. Sales Executive/The Rubicon Group Ltd. (Chicago) 24. Forward/Tulsa Oilers (ECHL) 25. Defenseman/Utica Comets (AHL) 26. Left Wing/Winnipeg Jets (NHL)

PARTING SHOT

Griffins all-time leading scorer Michel Picard acknowledges the crowd during the ceremony to retire his jersey number on Feb. 19, 2022. Longtime captain Jeff Hoggan will become the third Griffins player to have his jersey hung from the Van Andel Arena rafters on April 2, 2022, when the organization retires his No. 10.

Crisp.