2015-16 SEASON ISSUE NO. 4
FEARLESS COMPETITOR Mitch Callahan
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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CITY
Vol. 20, No. 4
TABLE OF CONTENTS STARTING LINEUP 24 THE MAN WHO KNOWS NO FEAR Mitch Callahan knows how to play hockey only one way – full bore: unflinchin , unrelenting and unstoppable.
42 A FAMILY AFFAIR Many 20-year Griffi season ticket members see Van Andel Arena as their second home.
36 STANLEY CUP WINNERS More than a dozen Griffi alumni have taken a variety of routes to get their names etched on hockey’s most prestigious trophy.
63 A SECOND CALDER Grand Rapids, home to the Calder sculpture La Grande Vitesse, would welcome a return of the AHL’s Calder Cup.
24
50 WORKING MEN For the final installme t of a season-long 32 CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT series celebrating the Winning the Stanley Cup was organization’s 20th an unforgettable experience anniversary, Griffi caught for a pair of Griffins alum up with a hat trick of former who achieved the feat for Griffins w making their opposing teams in back-tomarks in other professions. back years.
ON THE BENCH 2............Chalk Talk 46.........Griffins eason Ticket Members 4............Opposing Forces 59.........Griffins ecords 6............Coming Soon 68.........Griffins ll-Stars 9............Griffins chedule 69.........Penalty Calls 12.........AHL Tradition 74.........Arena Map/Ticket Info 15.........AHL Team Directory 76.........It All Starts Here 19.........Detroit Red Wings 79.........Kids Page 21.........Promotional Calendar 80.........Parting Shot 40.........Meet the Griffi
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42
COVER:
Mitch Callahan continues to play a hard-nosed style of hockey, despite having his jaw broken twice. 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
As the Griffins head toward the fin sh line of the 2015-16 season and a potential spot in the Calder Cup Playoffs, ead coach Todd Nelson is looking for one thing: consistency. After a 2-8-0-1 start, the Griffins strung together a franchise-record 15-game winning streak, but then posted a .500 record over the next 25 games. Nelson knows that is not good enough if the Griffins are going to have any chance of reaching their goal of getting into the playoffs nd bringing home their second Calder Cup championship in four years. Night in and night out, Nelson needs the Griffins to play a solid 60 minutes, not just one or two good periods every other night. “As individuals, you have to be consistent, but as a team, you have to be more consistent as well,” Nelson said. “We’ve been a .500 hockey team since that winning streak and it’s time for us to take that next step and put a couple of good winning streaks together.” Nelson was encouraged by what he saw in late February after the Griffins dropped the front end of back-to-back games against the Charlotte Checkers. The team fell behind 2-0 on the second night but rallied back with five unanswered goals to take a 5-2 victory. “It was like a switch went on and the guys responded,” Nelson said. “We were dominant the rest of the game. We could have sat there and kept playing the way we had been or we could go the other way and dictate play, and that’s what we did.” Two days later, the Griffins were on the road for an 11 a.m. local start against the Chicago Wolves in what Nelson deemed an “extremely important” game. Once again, the Griffins responded to the challenge, pulling away from their Central rivals with three goals in a 1:08 fi st-period span to roll to a commanding 5-0 rout. Ten consecutive goals. That’s impressive. Nelson pointed to the play of captain 2 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
Jeff oggan, Louis-Marc Aubry and Colin Campbell as the ones who helped change the momentum against Charlotte and as the line that has been most dependable all season long. “They’ve been very consistent,” Nelson said. “They work hard to get the puck out of the d-zone, they manage the puck well in the neutral zone and they forecheck extremely well and do all the right things. In the offensive zone, even though they may not always get rewarded with goals, they wear down the defense. “There are different ways of leading a hockey team and that line does it by their work ethic and physicality.” Best of all, Nelson says Hoggan, Aubry and Campbell are defensively accountable and he is able to use them in all situations. “It’s a luxury for me to have a line like them that I can throw out onto the ice against any line in the league and I don’t have to be concerned about whether they’re going to get scored upon,” he said. It is no coincidence that the line is anchored by Hoggan, the team’s oldest player at age 38. “I talked to Hoggie today and it seemed like he has the energy of a 25-year-old. He leads by example and the rest of the guys follow.” Hoggan is one of a large group of veterans that paces the Griffins’ efforts. Nathan Paetsch and Triston Grant also remain from the team’s Calder Cup-winning roster. Other vets include high-scorers Eric Tangradi and Andy Miele plus former Red Wings Dan Cleary and Brian Lashoff. Unfortunately, Nelson cannot play them all at the same time. AHL rules state that of the 18 skaters in the lineup, at least 13 must be qualifi d as “development players.” Of those 13, 12 must have played in 260 or fewer professional games (including AHL, NHL, IHL and European elite leagues) and one must have played in 320 or fewer professional games. “It’s a very difficult situation,” Nelson said, referring to the logjam of talented veterans.
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“Every veteran brings something different to the table, so you have to look at the big picture and what happens if you sit a certain guy at a certain time. As a coach, you have to manage egos and personalities. Everyone is different.” No player wants to be told that they’re not playing, especially when they’re healthy and ready to go. “How you get through it is through good communication between the coach and the player,” Nelson said. “You have to look at what’s good for the hockey team. As long as you’re honest and forthright about what you want to do, the players can handle it. They may not like it, but at least they can respect your decision. I wish I could dress them all, but I can’t.” Nelson said veterans have been key to the success he has enjoyed during his previous head coaching stops. In Oklahoma City, he depended on the experience of Bryan Helmer and Ryan Keller, both former Griffins, among others. In Muskegon, it was Robin Bouchard and Todd Robinson, two players who also saw limited action in Grand Rapids. “They’re all winners,” Nelson said. “They know what it takes to win and what you have to do to win. Not everybody is born a winner, but winning is something you can teach.” As the Griffins continue to work hard to
make the playoffs, elson will keep looking to his veteran players to do the heavy lifting. “There’s a reason why we and other teams have veterans, and it’s experience,” Nelson said. “They’ve been through the ups and downs of a hockey season and they understand that while there will be peaks and valleys, it’s how you overcome those tough times that make the difference. “When our young guys see our veterans willing to pay the price and do whatever it takes to win a game, it shows them the way. A lot of people think they know what it takes, but you don’t really know until you actually do it.” When only four or five victories separate the top five teams in the Central Division, there is little room for error. The difference between a two- or three-game winning or losing streak can mean making or missing the playoffs “Every year, you think the standings are tight and this year it’s even tighter. It doesn’t matter who you play. Everybody is capable of beating everybody else. Right now, it’s too close for comfort,” Nelson said. “When we play 60 minutes of good hockey, there are not many teams that can touch us. It’s a beautiful thing to watch. So we have to work to be more consistent. The truth is, if we make a good push here, we’ll be in good shape.”
2015-16 GRIFFINS COACHING AND TRAINING STAFF
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Head Coach
Todd Nelson
Assistant Coach
Bruce Ramsay
Assistant Coach
Ben Simon
Mike Knuble
Assistant Coach
Goaltending Coach
Equipment Manager
Assistant Equipment Manager
Strength-Conditioning Coordinator
Jeff alajko
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Video Coach
Bill LeRoy
Athletic Trainer
John Bernal
Brad Thompson
Andrew Stegehuis
Marcus Kinney
Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
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OPPOSING
FORCES
The Griffins will close the season the same way they started it, by playing the Bakersfield Condors. Grand Rapids is hoping for a better outcome this time, though, as the Edmonton Oilers’ affiliate won the first meeting 1-0 on Oct. 9 in Bakersfield. MANITOBA (March 11, March 12) The Moose count heavily on defenseman Andrew MacWilliam (#2) to be an unmovable force on the blueline, a role that the 6-foot-2, 230-pound Calgary native has embraced since signing as an unrestricted free agent. Originally the property of the Toronto Maple Leafs, who selected him in the seventh round (188th overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, acWilliam saw action in 12 NHL games last season with the Leafs. A former captain at the University of North Dakota, the 25-year-old MacWilliam is a rugged defender capable of delivering punishing hits. WHAT THEY’RE SAYING: “Th s is a big, imposing physical player. He’s a good fi st pass guy, very competitive,” said Jim Hughes, former director of player development in Toronto. “He’s got the right mentality, a pro mentality. He’s got the mental makeup that is going to take him a long way in this sport.” LAKE ERIE (March 26, April 13) The Monsters are seeing progress in the development of rookie pro defenseman Michael Paliotta (#6), who played one NHL game with the Chicago Blackhawks last season after fin shing his collegiate career at the University of Vermont. A product of the U.S. National Development Program, the 22-year-old Paliottta was acquired by the Columbus Blue Jackets this past summer in the multi-player trade that centered around power forward Brandon Saad. At 6-foot-3, Paliotta is projected to become a shutdown defenseman with an offensive upside. WHAT THEY’RE SAYING: “I like his size. He moves well and is one of those defenders who gets involved in the attack. It looks like he’s got a presence about him,” said Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville after Paliotta signed his fi st pro contract. 4 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
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CHICAGO (April 8) The Wolves continue to push second-year defenseman Petteri Lindbohm (#4), who appeared in 23 NHL games with the St. Louis Blues after being sent to Chicago out of camp last season, his fi st in North America. A native of Helsinki, Finland, the 6-foot-3 Lindbohm was drafted by St. Louis in the sixth round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. e big blueliner has a hard point shot to go along with good offensive skill that needs only a little fi e tuning. WHAT THEY’RE SAYING: “He’s in the mix with everybody else,” said St. Louis Blues head coach Ken Hitchcock, who projects Lindbohm as being a third-pair defenseman. “He’s made a good account of himself and hasn’t gotten pushed out competitively.” BAKERSFIELD (April 16) The Condors are enjoying improved point production from puck-moving defenseman Jordan Oesterle (#15), an underrated free agent signee by the Edmonton Oilers out of Western Michigan University. The 23-year-old Dearborn Heights, Mich., native was the second-leading scorer among blueliners for the Oklahoma City Barons last season, when he enjoyed a sixgame audition with the Oilers. WHAT THEY’RE SAYING: “I think over the last six weeks, Jordan Oesterle has been by far our best defenseman,” Condors head coach Gerry Fleming said in mid-February. “His positioning defensively, his ability to skate the puck out of trouble, his ability to make plays both defensively and offensively has elevated our defensive corps as a group.”
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gvsu.edu
Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
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EPIC ATTIRE Two upcoming promotions will call attention to a cavalcade of cinematic superheroes.
Robes and white armor could be considered the costume de rigueur for fans during Star Wars Night presented by DTE Energy on Saturday, March 12, when the Griffins face Manitoba in the second of back-toback games with the Moose. Wookies, those hairy humanoids native to the planet Kashyyyk, will be welcomed to Van Andel Arena that night, as will wise old men, robots and princesses as the Griffins celebrate everything connected with the Star Wars film franchise. Two weeks later, on Saturday, March 26, the Griffins will host Superhero Night presented by Eikenhout Inc. Early bird arrivals to the game will be certain to be pleased by the Team Sock Giveaway, while those fans who stay after the game can participate in an auction of that night’s game-worn jerseys, which were specially designed by Griffins players. Jersey designs are decidedly more elaborate today, compared to the early days of hockey when players simply wore football pants, then added a turtleneck sweater to stay warm, along with some knee-high socks. In the beginning, teams often wore the same uniform since it seemed like there was little need for decidedly differing uniforms with so few players on the ice. The National Hockey Association, the direct predecessor to today’s NHL, was the fi st league to adopt the practice of identifying players by number, adopting a rule in 1911 that players had to wear identifying number on armbands placed on their 6 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
left rm. Eventually, large numbers were placed on the front of the sweater, with a display board showing the players and their numbers at one end of the rink. In 1933, the Detroit Red Wings decided to make the color of their new uniforms the same as the Montreal Canadiens, which caused confusion and consternation when the teams fi st met in Montreal. The Wings were forced to wear white covers, a turn of events that displeased fans since it obscured the players’ numbers. In the 1940s, some teams began to voluntarily wear contrasting colors, but it wasn’t until the NHL’s league meeting in 1950 that the use of contrasting uniforms became mandatory. The advent of black-and-white television and the popularity of motion picture newsreels required contrasting colors. The home team wore dark and the visitor white until 1970, when “Hockey Night in Canada” suggested the NHL switch to white jerseys for the home team as a way to show off visiting team’s away jerseys.
SEASON FINALE PRESENTED BY HUNTINGTON BANK - APRIL 16 The Griffins will celebrate the end of the organization’s 20th anniversary season on Saturday, April 16, with the desire to generate momentum for what the team hopes will be its fourth consecutive appearance in the Calder Cup Playoffs An open skate will follow the contest against the Bakersfi ld Condors, as will the 20th anniversary jersey auction.
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ated.
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.
7:00
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
11
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
12 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
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
PANTONE 473 C
PANTONE 877 C
PROCESS BLACK
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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
PANTONE 877 C
PANTONE COOL GRAY 11C
WHITE
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Iowa lease their ach to
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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: bakersfieldcondors.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: griffinshockey.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
16 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS
PANTONE 281 C
PANTONE 172 C
PANTONE 429 C
WHITE
NHL AFFILIATION: Minnesota Wild HOME ICE: Wells Fargo Arena (8,162) GENERAL MANAGER: Brent Flahr HEAD COACH: David Cunniff 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
PANTONE 2945 C
PANTONE COOL GRAY 11
PANTONE 429 C
WHITE
Y
NTONE 9C
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
PANTONE COOL GRAY 4 C
WHITE
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
PROCESS BLACK
WHITE
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
PANTONE MEDIUM BLUE C
PANTONE 5455 C
WHITE
PROCESS BLACK
2015-16
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
PROCESS BLACK
WHITE
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
PANTONE 3425 C
PANTONE 110 C
METALLIC SILVER 877
PANTONE 425 C
PANTONE 877 C
PANTONE 142 C
PROCESS BLACK
PROCESS BLACK
WHITE
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.
WHITE
2015-16
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WHITE
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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 Eric Tangradi, 2015-16 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).
Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
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MARK YOUR
CALENDAR! 2015-16 GRIFFINS PROMOTIONAL SCHEDULE
March 11: $2 Beers and $2 Hot Dogs March 12: Star Wars Night presented by DTE Energy MAR
12
MAR
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March 26: Team Sock Giveaway/Superhero Night presented by Eikenhout Inc./ Player-Designed Jersey Auction Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
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April 6: Griffins ooster Club Awards Banquet April 8: $2 Beers and $2 Hot Dogs April 16: Season Finale presented by Huntington Bank/20th Anniversary Jersey Auction April 20: 2016 AHL Calder Cup Playoffs begin. $2 eers and $2 Hot Dogs during every home playoff gam .
APR
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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 the home game on Wednesday, 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 the April 13 game. Arby’s Post-Game Open Skates: March 12 and April 16 Huntington Bank Post-Game Autograph Session: March 26 MOS Corner Offic 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
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THE MAN WHO KNOWS NO FEAR Story and photos by Mark Newman
Mitch Callahan knows how to play hockey only one way – full bore: unflinching, unrelenting and unstoppable. 24 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
No Fear is an American lifestyle brand that is associated with extreme sports and that helped popularize platitudes like “Pain Is Temporary, Glory Is Forever,” “Second Place Is The First Loser” and “Blood Makes Great Mouthwash.” The action apparel seller usually caters to skateboarders, surfers and motocross competitors, but if the company is ever interested in expanding into hockey, it needs to look no further than Griffins forward Mitch Callahan for a spokesman. Callahan already knows no fear. When you’ve been hit in the face with a puck, not once but twice, and you’re still willing to park your mug in front of the goal with a 100-mph slapshot heading in your direction, you’ve got some guts. And Callahan has plenty. “My favorite spot is in the front of the net,” said Callahan, who has lost track of exactly how many teeth he has actually lost. “It’s my
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bread and butter, so I try to play with no fear. I’ll do whatever it takes. I’ll go into the corners with anybody. I don’t care how big the other guy is. I have more scars than I can count.” Callahan unwittingly displayed his toughness for the whole world to see nearly two years ago when he tweeted a photo of his bloodied mouth after being hit by a Ryan Sproul slap shot. Already missing his two front teeth, he lost seven or eight more and suffered a fractured jaw along with the wrath of his coach, who disapproved of his shocking selfie. Then a week before this past Christmas, Callahan was struck in the face again, this time in practice when a Martin Frk shot deflected off a stick and caught him square in the mouth. He lost another tooth and his jaw was broken in two places. While Callahan shrugs off the latest injury as bad luck, his coach and teammates marvel at his tenacity and toughness. “He’s a tough cookie,” said Griffins head coach Todd Nelson. “When he broke his jaw at the morning skate, he still wanted to play that night. That just shows you the heart and desire that he has, and as long as he has that fire
in his belly, he’s going to have a nice career.” Griffins captain Jeff Hoggan just smiles when asked about Callahan. “He’s definitely an entertaining guy to have on your team. He’s a throwback kind of player. He just gets hit by pucks and carries on. He’s not afraid, and he doesn’t care too much about his body. He got the nickname of Caveman for a reason.” With his disheveled long hair and toothless grin, the happy-go-lucky Callahan cheerfully accepts the ribbing of his teammates, although he will gleefully chirp back and call others “soft” whenever he feels like poking back. That’s the way it always has been for Callahan, who was actually thrown out of daycare when he was little. “Some kid stole my ball, and I punched him and got kicked out,” Callahan said. Even then, Callahan was a rabble-rousing runt, too little to be feared but too tough to be ignored. “I think it goes back to when I first started playing hockey,” said Callahan, who was coached by his father, a semi-pro hockey player back in Scarborough, Ontario, an eastern suburb of Toronto, where he had fought Maple Leafs enforcer Tie Domi in summer leagues. Mike Callahan was a plumber by trade and a
Callahan scored a career-high 26 goals during the 2013-14 season. 26 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
Callahan was selected by the Red Wings in the sixth round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
Canadian by roots, so there was little question that his only son would play hockey, even after moving to California so that Mitch’s mom, Kelly, could be closer to her three sisters. “My dad had that attitude where you don’t take crap from anybody,” Callahan recalled. “He taught me the old Canadian way where if you dared cross the red line in warmups, you deserved a punch in the mouth. I remember this one time where there was this big guy doing it, so my dad told me that I should go fight the guy.” With his parents not the most well off, Callahan grew up in a somewhat shady part of Whittier, a city in Los Angeles county that had more than its quotient of gangs and crime. Although not exactly a juvenile delinquent, Callahan admits that he got into his share of scraps. In middle school, he was suspended 30some days one year for fighting. “I was getting into fights left and right, mostly to protect myself and my friends,” Callahan recalled. “It was not gang-related, but it was close enough.” There were metal detectors at the high school in Whittier, so Callahan instead attended high school in nearby La Habra, west of Whittier. Not that it was much better. “My
freshman year, a boy got caught with a gun in his locker,” he recalled. “Another kid got caught trying to bring a gun into school. That’s the kind of neighborhood I grew up in.” At the age of 16, Callahan led the Los Angeles Junior Kings in scoring and later earned an invitation to the training camp of the Kelowna Rockets in the Western Hockey League. He made the team as a walk-on, then helped the Rockets win the WHL championship before losing in the Memorial Cup to the Taylor Hall-led Windsor Spitfires. Callahan posted respectable numbers during his three years in junior hockey, but it was his eagerness to go into the hard places that set him apart. A hard-nosed kid who was willing to stand up not only for himself but also his teammates, Callahan displayed a combination of grit and gumption, which led the Detroit Red Wings to take a chance on him in the sixth round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. Callahan got into 15 fights during his rookie year in Grand Rapids, when he recorded six goals and three assists in 48 games. He tempered the tough guy persona during his Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
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Callahan recorded his third career hat trick on Feb. 5, part of a fi e-point night in a 9-1 win at Rockford.
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28 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
second season with the Griffins, when he upped his point production to 11 goals and nine assists in 71 games before ending the playoffs with the Calder Cup in his hands. He began to realize that he could be more valuable to the team if he stayed out of the penalty box. During his third year, 2013-14, Callahan tallied 26 goals and 18 assists in 70 games while limiting his penalty minutes to 51. The Red Wings rewarded his play, writing his name on the lineup card on March 25, 2014, his first and only NHL game to date. “We had an off-day and I got a call from (Jeff) Blashill at 8 a.m.,” Callahan said. “People who know me know that I don’t wake up that early on an off-day, but he told me I was going up. When I checked the roster, they still had a bunch of guys active, so I wasn’t sure I would be playing, but he told me they said I would.” Callahan remembers spotting his dad during the pregame warmups. “When I looked up in the stands, I saw my old man with his arms up in the air, so it was pretty cool,” he said. “I had butterflies and the jitters going through the
whole first period. I couldn’t really feel my legs, but eventually it felt more like a normal game. At the same time, I was just taking it all in.” He played 13 shifts for 9:01 of ice time while getting under the skin of the Columbus Blue Jackets. He recorded two hits and one penalty, and he nearly scored a goal. “I just tried to be physical and get guys off their game,” he said. Last season looked like it might be his breakout campaign, but he tore his ACL on Feb. 13, 2015. “There was a Luke Bryan concert the night before, so the ice was pretty soft,” he recalled. “I was just trying to do a tight turn on my skates, my toe dug too deep into the ice and hit concrete. When my knee didn’t follow, I felt a pop.” Callahan was sidelined for the rest of the season, which was a difficult pill to swallow since his teammates seemed ready to make a good push in the Calder Cup Playoffs. There’s little doubt that the Griffins could have used his sandpaper-style play during their postseason run, which ended in Utica during the Western Conference Finals. “The playoffs are the reason why we
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Callahan has had his jaw broken on two occasions by getting hit in the face with a teammate’s slap shot.
30 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
play hockey – they’re the most fun,” he said. “Watching the games was bittersweet for me because the guys were winning and I wanted to be out there helping them to win.” Callahan didn’t start skating again until last July 4. He admits that it took awhile for him to find his legs. “I’m pretty sure that (Griffins goalie) Tom McCollum would have smoked me in a sprint,” he chuckles as he think back to last summer. “In fact, I didn’t really feel like I was 100 percent back this season until shortly before I broke my jaw.” He could hardly believe it when he got hit in the mouth with a puck for a second time. “I’m told that bad luck comes in threes, so hopefully no more,” he said. Callahan has no plans to change the way he plays. He ditched the face protector he wore as soon as he was medically cleared. “It’s hard to see the puck by my feet,” he explained, not to mention that he didn’t care for the grief he had to endure from the opposition. “I can’t fight, so they called me ‘The Pretender.’ They don’t like me chirping with the face protector.” And he’s still parking himself in front of the goal at every opportunity, even though he may be a little more gun-shy now. “Sometimes when Frk is teeing one up, it gets a little scary because you can’t see the puck, it’s coming too fast,” he said. “I just close my eyes and hope it doesn’t hit me.” While the 24-year-old Callahan is the Griffins’ active leader in goals, points and penalty minutes, he is still determined to show that he can play in the NHL. “Hopefully, I can stick around this organization,” he said. “My ultimate goal is to get the chance to play for the team that drafted me. Of course, if another team is willing to give me my NHL opportunity, I will gladly take that, too.” His injuries the past three seasons have done nothing to lessen his desire. “Guys talk about going to Europe to make a little more coin and I’ve talked to my parents and girlfriend about it,” he said. “I’ll take less money for now because the NHL is my dream. A lot of people are in it for the money, but I’m still in it for my dream and I’m not ready to give up my NHL dream.” Earning a spot in the NHL may only be a matter of time, according to those around him. “He’s had to battle back from injuries, which shows his character,” Nelson said. “When he’s playing hard, he’s inspiring. He’s hard not to like.”
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Photo: Dave Reginek
CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT Winning the Stanley Cup was an unforgettable experience for a pair of Griffins alumni who achieved the feat for opposing teams in back-to-back years. Story by Mark Newman
Niklas Kronwall and Mark Eaton played only “Obviously, it was the highlight of my one season together – and it was only part of a playing career,” said Eaton, who now serves as a season at that – but the time played a pivotal role in development coach for the Chicago Blackhawks their futures. after 15 professional seasons. “It’s what you dream Kronwall and Eaton were Grand Rapids Griffins about when you’re a kid playing street hockey. As a teammates during the 2004-05 season. Both would kid, you’re always playing for the Stanley Cup.” likely have been playing with their respective NHL For Kronwall, a three-time Olympian, getting teams – Kronwall with the Red Wings, Eaton with a gold medal with Sweden in the 2006 Winter the Nashville Predators – if a labor dispute between Olympics ranks close but doesn’t quite match the NHL owners and the players’ union had not winning the Cup. forced the cancellation of the “The Olympic gold medal NHL season. was a pretty cool thing to be a “We knew how important Bob McNamara, who the first goal was going to be. part of, but winning the Stanley Cup with the same group that was the Griffins’ general When we scored first, we felt had been together in Detroit for manager at the time, signed like we could take a deep breath. several years was pretty special,” Eaton in midseason after the defenseman was advised We felt like we were allowed at Kronwall said. “The older you by his counsel to ink a least one mistake now. Getting get, the more appreciation you have for how hard it is and how contract with a club other that first goal really helped much it really takes to win the than his organization’s calm our nerves.” Stanley Cup.” minor league affiliate. - Mark Eaton Both players said the thrill is The move brought the difficult to describe. 27-year-old Eaton, who “It’s hard to put into words,” Eaton said. “It’s like already had 244 NHL games under his belt, together the NHL commercial where guys are speechless with the 24-year-old Kronwall, who had split after winning the Cup – it’s pretty accurate. Playing the previous season, his fi st in North America, hockey is what we’ve done almost our entire lives between Grand Rapids and Detroit. and the Cup is the culmination of everything, the Th ee seasons later, their respective teams crowning achievement of our sport.” would meet for the fi st time in the Stanley Cup Kronwall said the experience is, quite literally, Finals. Eaton, now playing for the Pittsburgh unbelievable. Penguins but sidelined with a knee injury, would “It’s almost surreal – it takes a few days to really watch as Kronwall and the Red Wings won the take everything in,” he said. “The one thing that will 2008 Cup in six games. stick with me is that a few days after we won the The two teams met again in 2009 when a healthy Cup, I was driving by myself down to the rink with Eaton took great delight in helping the Penguins the radio on and all I kept thinking was, ‘Is this for exact revenge by beating the favored Red Wings in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals at Joe Louis Arena. real?’ It’s a pretty special feeling.” 32 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
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Photo: Dave Reginek
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Kronwall was one of nine Griffins alumni who he ed the 2007-08 Detroit Red Wings win the Stanley Cup.
According to Eaton, when you fi ally get to lift he Cup, your mind fl ods with memories. “You flash back to all those long rides in the car when you were a kid (going to tournaments) and you think about all of the people who helped you get there, so you could be a part of that moment,” Eaton said. “The whole process really is surreal.” The postseason is an entirely different challenge from the regular season. “Everyone’s adrenaline is pumping and the intensity level is that much higher,” Eaton said. “The importance of every play is amplifi d. Everything is different.” “It’s really a different game – no doubt,” Kronwall agreed. “As a player, you love that time of year. Sure, there’s more pressure, but that’s why we play. It’s that feeling where everything matters. It’s the same reason you watch the playoffs in ther sports.” The physical play, the pressure and the compressed schedule of the postseason can
take their toll on the participants. Kronwall played in 22 playoff g mes when the Red Wings won the Cup in 2008 while Eaton appeared in 24 before the Penguins hoisted it in 2009, but neither felt any worse for the wear. “I actually don’t remember feeling tired,” Eaton said. “I think it’s because it’s the most fun time of year and every game brings you closer to your end goal of winning the Cup. The further you get, the easier it becomes to get ready for the next game.” To win a Stanley Cup, a team must advance through four rounds, winning best-of-7 series against four other playoff ualifie s. “We lost to Ottawa in the fi st round the year before we went to the Final against Detroit the fi st time, and I remember (Blackhawks teammate) Gary Roberts saying that the fi st round is the hardest round. There are 16 teams who believe they are capable of winning the Stanley Cup and the fi st Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
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34 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
you when you’re in the same situation again the next year.” In 2009, Pittsburgh’s drive to reach the postseason really began during the month of February, when the organization replaced head coach Michel Therrien with Grand Haven native Dan Bylsma. “We were down – things were starting to get tense – because we were sitting in 10th place in the Eastern Conference, and we had high expectations coming into the season,” Eaton said. “Bylsma’s arrival was huge for us. From a hockey standpoint, not a whole lot changed, but he brought a fresh voice with great energy and a positivity that had us looking up again.” The Penguins, who suffered only three regulation losses during the fi al 25 games of the regular season under Bylsma, were really rolling when the team once again reached the Stanley Cup Finals against Detroit. The fi st six games of the Finals were won by the home team, which did not bode well for Pittsburgh as the Penguins were in the unenviable position of needing to beat Detroit at Joe Louis Arena in Game 7. “Historically speaking, the home team wins Game 7 about 75 percent of the time, so the odds were defin tely stacked against us,” Eaton said. “We knew how important the fi st goal was going to be. When we scored fi st, we felt like we could take a deep breath. We felt like we were allowed at least one mistake now. Getting that fi st goal really helped calm our nerves.” The Penguins became the fi st team since the 1971 Montreal Canadiens to win Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals on the road. It was also the fi st time that the visiting team had won the Cup at Joe Louis Arena in the venue’s 30-year history. “Ideally, you want to win it at home, but being able to celebrate in Detroit after they had done it to us the previous year was a nice revenge,” Eaton said. “I was happy that I could share a big moment like that with my family, because my parents and my sister were in Detroit for Game 7. “My oldest daughter, who was age 4 at the time, fell asleep halfway through the game, so she missed the good part, but she was awake for the on-ice celebration.” Both Eaton and Kronwall agreed that all of the celebrations – the parades, the rallies and spending a day with the Cup – was the best part of the experience. “If you think about it, it’s not just the team
Photo: Getty Images
round is where a lot of the big upsets happen.” When Detroit won it all in 2008, the Red Wings pulled Dominik Hasek in the second period of Game 4 in the fi st round after he allowed three goals to the Nashville Predators. With the series tied two games apiece, Chris Osgood replaced Hasek for the rest of the way and ultimately led the Wings to their fourth championship in 11 seasons. For the Red Wings, the turning point was winning Game 5 by a 2-1 margin in overtime. Obviously, the score and the series might have been different if Nashville had gotten a lucky break. “It just goes to show you how tight things are and how small the margins really are in the playoffs” Kronwall said. Lucky bounces can spell the difference between advancing in the postseason and going home for a long summer. “We were down two games to none to Washington in the second round in 2009, the year we won the Cup,” Eaton said. “Game 3 went into overtime and we ended up scoring the winning goal after a faceoff hen Chris Letang one-timed it. The puck went off a c uple of shin pads and into the net to make it a 2-1 series. If Washington gets a bounce like that, they would have been up 3-0 and our playoffs mi ht have been over.” Winning the Cup also requires a collective team effort. During the 2008 postseason, Henrik Zetterberg was the Red Wings’ leading point-getter with 27 points, taking home the Conn Symthe Trophy as the playoff MVP in he process. Pavel Datsyuk, meanwhile, tallied 23 points to fin sh second in scoring for Detroit. “There’s no question that you need everybody,” Kronwall said. “Without Hank and Pav playing at their level, we wouldn’t have won. It’s also true that we needed our fourth line to play at a high level as well. It’s a matter of everyone chipping in and doing their part.” Watching the Red Wings win the Cup in 2008 was not an easy proposition for Eaton. He was unable to do anything to alter the outcome due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered during the regular season. “When you see the dejection in the guys’ faces, you tend to remember it as something you don’t want to experience again,” Eaton said. “It’s so painful to get that close and fall short. If you told me you were going to the Stanley Cup Final and lose, I’d almost say you would rather not make the playoffs t all. But it defin tely motivates
E
Photo: Getty Images Eaton has his name etched on the Stanley Cup as a member of the 2008-09 Pittsburgh Penguins.
that celebrates winning a Cup,” Kronwall said. “For us, it’s all the fans, all the support that we got from Michigan and that we still get. You’re really celebrating with everybody. It’s not just about a unit of 20 guys.” Eaton agreed. “It wouldn’t be nearly so special if you could only celebrate by yourself,” Eaton said. “When you have your day with the Cup, you want to spend it not just with your whole family and friends, but also old coaches and old teammates – all the people who were part of getting you to that moment.” For Kronwall and Eaton, winning a Cup, albeit with opposing teams, is a bond that they will always share – along with the kickstart that playing for the Griffins gave to their respective careers. “Kronwall and I became good friends and every time we played against each other over
the years, we’d give each other the wink in warmups,” Eaton said. “I have nothing but good memories of my time in Grand Rapids.” Although several years have passed since their Cup-winning journeys, both Kronwall and Eaton still have a hard time believing what really happened in those back-to-back seasons. “Looking back, it’s almost like you exist in this little bubble,” Kronwall said. “You’re so focused, you’re not really thinking about anything else. Once you get there, you want to get back. There’s nothing greater. Then you realize it is not easy.” Eaton totally agrees. “Really, the bounces have to go your way,” he said. “The further extended you get from having won it, the more you appreciate it and the more you understand how hard it is to win the Cup. It’s obviously what makes it so special.” Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
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Photo: Getty Images
More than a dozen Griffins alumni have taken a variety of routes to get their names etched on hockey’s most prestigious trophy.
Adams ignored the pain of a broken wrist to help the Carolina Hurricanes clinch a victory in Game 7 of the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals. 36 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
Kevyn Adams was an alternate captain for the Carolina Hurricanes when his team won the Stanley Cup in 2006, and the thrill of capturing hockey’s most treasured trophy brought back memories of all the things that had happened in his career to get him to that moment. Ten years earlier, he was a member of the inaugural Griffins team. It was his fi st season, too, having signed his fi st pro contract with Grand Rapids after failing to come to terms with the Boston Bruins, who had selected him in the fi st round of the 1993 NHL Entry Draft Adams said he will never forget a piece of advice that he was given by the Griffins’ fi st head coach, Dave Allison. “He told me, ‘Kevyn, you’re going to play in the NHL and you’re going to play in the NHL for a long time, but the thing that you’re going to have to really do is to enjoy the moment.’ I worked hard and was always so focused that he reminded me that I needed to sometimes just enjoy the moment, enjoy the ride, and everything else would take care of itself. And I never forgot that. “I tried to do that my entire career, just soak it up and enjoy the moment. Obviously, winning the Stanley Cup is what you dream about from the time that you’re able to put skates on your feet. To be able to fulfill my dream and win the Stanley Cup was like reaching the top of the mountain. I feel very fortunate. It’s defin tely the highlight of my career.”
es
The 2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs arked Adams’ second trip to the Finals. He was a member of the 2002 Carolina team that beat the Detroit Red Wings in Game 1 but scored only four goals in the next four games to drop the series in five games. Reaching the Finals against the Edmonton Oilers in 2006, Adams was willing to pay any price to ensure a different outcome. When he broke his wrist early in Game 7, Adams ignored the pain so that he would have the pleasure of celebrating Carolina’s fi st Cup. “It happened on the second shift f Game 7,” Adams recalled. “We were shorthanded and I dropped to block a shot by (Chris) Pronger and the puck shattered my wrist. I remember getting back to the bench, thinking, ‘Th s hurts. A lot.’ “I knew something was wrong. But I also remember thinking, ‘Th s is Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals. You’ve worked your whole life for this. You’ll fi d a way to play.’ “Quite honestly, it was difficult, but I was able to get through the game. I was so caught up in the moment, I don’t think I fully realized how badly the wrist was shattered until the wee hours of the morning. Everyone is beat up in different ways in the playoffs, ( ut) it’s just the price that you pay.”
Adams was only the second ex-Griffins player ever to win the Stanley Cup, achieving the feat two years after Dmitry Afanasenkov became the fi st Griffins alumnus to offi ally qualify to have his name inscribed on the Cup. Afanasenkov, who played with the Griffins during the 2001-02 season, won the Stanley Cup in 2004 during his fi st full NHL campaign with the Tampa Bay Lightning. He played in all 23 playoff g mes, including Game 7s in the conference fi als and Stanley Cup Finals. Most of the 15 former Griffins who have celebrated Stanley Cup championships did so with the 2008 Detroit Red Wings. In addition to Niklas Kronwall, other Griffins alumni on the 2008 team included Valtteri Filppula, Darren Helm, Jiri Hudler, Tomas Kopecky, Brett Lebda and Derek Meech. Helm was an NHL rookie who earned the distinction that season of appearing in more playoff games (18) than regular season contests (7), while Filppula’s resume later added trips to the Finals with both Detroit in 2009 and Tampa Bay in 2015. Kopecky, though, is the only former player to hoist two Stanley Cups following his time in Grand Rapids, having helped the 2010 Chicago Blackhawks bring the Stanley Cup back to
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the Windy City for the fi st time in 49 years. Kopecky scored four goals in 17 playoff c ntests, including the game-winner in the Blackhawks’ 6-5 victory in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Darren McCarty was also a member of the 2008 Red Wings team, which marked his fourth Stanley Cup title. The accomplishment capped off a emorable comeback season for McCarty, who had rekindled his career during 19 games in Grand Rapids, a stay that included his unforgettable hat trick. Chris Osgood, who memorably replaced Dominik Hasek in goal during Game 4 of the opening round and went on to backstop the Red Wings for the remainder of the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs, lso had a Griffins history. Osgood appeared in three games for Grand Rapids in 2005-06 during a conditioning assignment. Chris Kelly, who played 31 games for the Griffins during 2001-02, the last season of the Griffins’ affiliation with the Ottawa Senators, was instrumental in helping the 2011 Boston Bruins win their fi st Cup in 39 years. Kelly went to Beantown in a midseason trade and played all 25 games in the postseason for
the Bruins, who had to win three Game 7s to reach their goal. Kelly scored five goals during the playoffs, i cluding one during an 8-1 rout in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals against the Vancouver Canucks, which turned around the series for Boston after two 1-goal losses. Sheldon Brookbank is the most recent Griffins alumnus to get his name on the Cup. The former Grand Rapids defenseman (2001-03) was a member of the 2013 Chicago Blackhawks. He played in 26 games with the Blackhawks during the lockout-shortened regular season then made his lone playoff ppearance during the Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Kings. All told, the names of former Griffins have been added to the Cup in five of the last eight years and in seven of the last 11 seasons. Adams said that no matter the route a player takes to getting his name etched on the Stanley Cup, it is an experience that no one can ever forget. “I had a lot of great experiences over the years and was able to do a lot of different things in the game of hockey, and winning the Stanley Cup is at the top of the list – no question,” he said. – Mark Newman
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JOAKIM ANDERSSON Forward 6-2, 207 lbs. Born: 2/5/89 Munkedal, Sweden
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ANDREAS ATHANASIOU Forward 6-2, 200 lbs. Born: 8/6/94 London, Ont.
45 MITCH CALLAHAN
Goaltender 6-6, 220 lbs. Born: 11/5/91 Perth, Ont.
40 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
11 DANIEL CLEARY
Defenseman 6-1, 187 lbs. Born: 4/8/90 Sherbrooke, Que.
27 Defenseman 5-11, 183 lbs. Born: 5/29/91 Macomb, Mich.
TYLER BERTUZZI Forward 6-1, 195 lbs. Born: 2/24/95 Sudbury, Ont.
JOEL CHOUINARD
Forward 6-1, 205 lbs. Born: 4/17/91 Toronto, Ont.
SCOTT CZARNOWCZAN
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Forward 6-4, 212 lbs. Born: 11/11/91 Arthabaska, Que.
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2 JARED COREAU
LOUIS-MARC AUBRY
COLIN CAMPBELL
Forward 6-0, 195 lbs. Born: 8/17/91 Whittier, Calif.
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22
Forward 6-1, 205 lbs. Born: 12/18/78 Carbonear, Nfld
23 MARTIN FRK
Forward 6-0, 200 lbs. Born: 10/5/93 Pelhrimov, Czech Republic
TRISTON GRANT
Forward 6-1, 221 lbs. Born: 2/2/84 Neepawa, Man.
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JOEL
44 RECHLICZ griffinshockey.com
DANIEL
11 CLEARY griffinshockey.com
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JEFF HOGGAN
14
Forward 6-1, 190 lbs. Born: 2/1/78 Hope, B.C.
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NICK JENSEN
21
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4 Defenseman 6-1, 200 lbs. Born: 7/29/93 Bayonne, France
Defenseman 6-1, 195 lbs. Born: 3/30/83 LeRoy, Sask.
7 Defenseman 6-0, 195 lbs. Born: 2/15/93 Westmont, Ill.
Forward 6-1, 200 lbs. Born: 3/30/95 Barrie, Ont.
36 NATHAN PAETSCH
Defenseman 6-3, 205 lbs. Born: 1/13/93 Mississauga, Ont.
ANTHONY MANTHA Forward 6-5, 204 lbs. Born: 9/16/94 Longueuil, Que.
TOMAS NOSEK
Forward 6-2, 210 lbs. Born: 9/1/92 Pardubice, Czech Republic
44 JAKE PATERSON
JOEL RECHLICZ
Goaltender 6-1, 176 lbs. Born: 5/3/94 Mississauga, Ont.
26 RYAN SPROUL
8
19 ZACH NASTASIUK
Forward 5-8, 175 lbs. Born: 4/15/88 Detroit, Mich.
XAVIER OUELLET
ROBBIE RUSSO
Defenseman 6-3, 221 lbs. Born: 7/16/90 Albany, N.Y.
ANDY MIELE
Goaltender 6-2, 215 lbs. Born: 12/7/89 Sanborn, N.Y.
5
BRIAN LASHOFF
Defenseman 6-0, 195 lbs. Born: 9/21/90 Minneapolis, Minn.
TOM McCOLLUM
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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
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A FAMILY
AFFAIR Many 20-year Griffins season ticket members see Van Andel Arena as their second home. A season ticket is the passport to memories. For Mary Theeuwes and Shelly Walters, just two of many longtime Griffins fans, the privilege has engendered 20 years of unforgettable experiences. Not surprisingly, winning the Calder Cup in 2013 ranks among their fondest memories. Theeuwes was one of a small but enthusiastic and grateful group who greeted the team bus when it arrived at Van Andel Arena from Gerald R. Ford International Airport at 2:20 in the morning after the Griffins clinched their fi st championship in Syracuse. “Of all the things in my 20 years of following the Griffins, I’ll probably most remember that night,” Theeuwes said. “We waited so long to see it happen, there was no way I was going to miss it. One of the TV stations interviewed me, but I was crying too hard. I was in tears.” 42 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
Theeuwes later made a collage of photos taken by a friend of the postgame celebrations with the Calder Cup. “I had the players sign it at training camp that fall and it ended up replacing the family portrait in my living room.” Walters has similar, although decidedly more bittersweet, recollections. “It was incredible,” remembers Walters, who sits next to her sister Donna Silva in section 224 at Van Andel Arena. “We cried and cried.” Their tears of joy were marked by the melancholy of memories of their mother and father, Dee and Jerry Kamsickas, avid Griffins fans who had passed away nearly five years earlier, only 20 days apart, in the fall of 2008. “Mom died of leukemia and dad died of a broken heart,” she said. Getting to see the Griffins fi ally
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win a title led to a mix of emotions. “We felt like mom and dad were sitting up there in Syracuse while we were watching the game at home online,” Walters said. “It was so incredible.” When the Griffins organization held a lottery to assign seats in 1996, her father was fourth in line. “We used to go to the Grand Rapids Owls games together,” Walters said. “When the Owls disbanded, we wanted a new hockey team so bad. When we heard the Griffins were coming, I couldn’t afford season tickets, so my mom and dad got them.” Walters frequently attended games with her parents and her daughters, Stephanie and Sami. “My girls basically grew up at the arena,” she said. “They were at the games all the time.” She said very little thought was given to letting the seats go after her parents passed away. “We don’t have a lot of money, but it’s not that expensive to go and the whole game experience makes it so worthwhile,” Walters said. “We decided we were always going to keep the seats in the family.”
In fact, Walters and her sister have shown no interest in changing their seats when the Griffins give fans the opportunity to upgrade or move before each season. “There is no way anyone else is ever going to sit in our seats,” she said. “We’re never moving. We’re just going to stay put.” Her daughter Sami even became a season ticket member last year, claiming the seat adjacent to their original pair. The Walters family fi st forged a bond with the Griffins organization when their mother was sick in the hospital. “My mom was having a cow because the season tickets weren’t paid for and she was after my dad to remember the checkbook,” she said. “My brother emailed the Griffins to explain and (Griffins broadcaster) Bob Kaser came to the hospital.” Kaser and Rich Meyers, the Griffins’ director of game operations at that time, served as pallbearers at her father’s funeral. “It was on a Thursday and my sister and I were at the game the next day. After the fi st goal, they showed a picture of our mom and dad on the big screen and Donna and I were just bawling.” Over the years, the family has had its
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Shelly Walters, center, enjoys attending games with her sister Donna Silva and daughter Sami Walters. Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
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share of favorite players. “My dad liked Travis Richards and mom loved Bruce Ramsay and Darren Helm. Both of them liked Joey MacDonald. My daughter Sami was in love with Greg Amadio. She was going to marry him. Of course, she was a lot younger. I like Mitch Callahan and Jeff oggan. All the guys are great.” Theeuwes is in total agreement. She learned how nice hockey players could be long before the Griffins. “I started going to Owls games in high school,” Theeuwes said. “My mom would drop us girls off o the games, and we’d end up going to Village Inn Pizza on Alpine after the games, and we’d see some of the guys there. So when the story came out in the newspaper that hockey was coming back to Grand Rapids, I called immediately.” A manager at McDonald’s where she has been employed for the past 32 years, Theeuwes started putting aside money to pay for tickets. “When it was time to pay for the season tickets, I went to the credit union and took the money out,” she said. “I paid in cash.”
She attends every Griffins game with her 73-year-old mother, Betty. “She loves her hockey,” Theeuwes said. “Sometimes people will ask if one of the players is her son because she’s cheering so loud.” Her mother’s all-time favorite player is Joel Kwiatkowski, who now plays in Sweden but still lives in the area. “For her 70th birthday, I wanted to buy one of his jerseys, but he gave me one. That was her big surprise and when she opened it, she started crying. I told Joel that she wants to be buried with it.” Theeuwes is an avowed “goalie geek.” All of her favorite players have been goaltenders, starting with Ian Gordon, whom she met at the fi st Griffins Booster Club dinner in March 1997. She held Gordon’s oldest daughter when she was six weeks old. She also has had dinner with Mike Fountain and his family. Jared Coreau is her current favorite. Now in her fourth term as vice president of the Booster Club, Theeuwes said becoming involved in the organization was a natural extension of her season ticket commitment. “I’ve met a lot of great people,” she said.
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“For instance, I met Jill DeWitt, who used to be president of the Griffins Booster Club, and she asked me if I was interested in going to training camp in Traverse City, and I’ve been going up every fall since, the past eight or nine years.” Members of the Griffins Booster Club make player scrapbooks, raise money for charity and raise funds for bus trip treats for the players. In the past, the group has bought a team rug for the dressing room, a ping pong table and sewing machines. After 20 years, Theeuwes said her attachment to the team is stronger than ever. “When the team was on that 15-game winning streak earlier this season, I had a knot in my stomach like it was the playoffs” she said. Like Walters, Theeuwes said she plans to keep the same seats indefin tely. “We look at the people around us as our hockey family,” she said. “Some have passed away and others have moved, but then we make new friends who we can high-five and hug. Being at Van Andel Arena is like our second home.”
Long-time season ticket member Mary Theeuwes proudly wears the jersey of her favorite player, former Griffins goa ender Ian Gordon.
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The Griffins oudly salute our 2015-16 Full Season Ticket Members. Thank you for your loyalty, passion and continued support of Griffins ckey! (Bold indicates season ticket member since 1996.)
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For the final installment of a season-long series celebrating the organization’s 20th anniversary, Griffi caught up with a hat trick of former Griffins now making their marks in other professions. 50 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
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VASHI NEDOMANSKY: A CUT ABOVE THE REST
Working in Hollywood, Vaclav “Vashi” Nedomansky feels like a little kid in a candy store. For the past 15 years, he has been a professional editor, cutting more than 50 national commercials and nine feature films. Considered one of the leading technicians in the fi ld, he has trained over 150 professional editors. “I feel very lucky,” he said, “but it’s not something that happened overnight.” In his previous career, Nedomansky was a professional hockey player for nine seasons, playing in the IHL, AHL, ECHL and WCHL, as well as the Czech Republic League. He played parts of two seasons (1997-99) for the Griffins. Nedomansky traces his interest in filmmaking to the age of 12. “My dad was playing for the Detroit Red Wings and as the fi st star one night, he was given a video camera with a VHS deck,” he said. “He gave it to me and told me to do something with it. I started shooting family events, vacations and even short films for school.” He pursued film and video studies at the University of Michigan, focusing on Russian and Eastern European filmmaking. “During my years in hockey, I started working on stuff on the side and writing scripts,” he said. Nedomansky retired in 2001 with three herniated discs in his lower back. He had already been living in Los Angeles for several years, so he started making the contacts necessary to transition into the film industry. “I never mentioned that I had been a
professional hockey player because that wasn’t even part of the equation,” he said. “I had to build my reputation on my own merits. If it came up later, people thought it was really cool, but it wasn’t the reason they were hiring me.” With no real portfolio to promote himself, he took every job that he could, regardless of pay. “One of the limitations of working for free is you’re sometimes looking at really bad footage,” he said. “Of course, you get to creatively solve problems that you wouldn’t encounter on bigger projects. So every day was a learning process.” While he was editing short films, acting reels, pilots and music videos, Nedomansky was reading countless books on editing and postproduction. He picked the brains of influential film editors and learned whatever he could. “You can read every book and it doesn’t mean anything when someone hands you footage and it’s your job to make something of it,” he said. “The transition was defin tely a learning process, and it took a couple of years before I became comfortable with the task of telling a story.” Nedomansky learned how to edit films on Avid Media Composer, Apple Final Cut Pro and Adobe Premiere, but he also learned how to be well-organized, how to work harmoniously with other people and how to fi d a balance between technique and story. “It’s not only editing but it’s being able to communicate with directors and producers so you can understand what it is that they want to tell.” He has become well-versed in the business of storytelling, whether it is a commercial or a film project. “The challenges you face are the same,” he said. “When you get a script or storyboards, you have to figu e out what they are trying to say and how you can help them accomplish their goal. “As an editor, it’s my job to deliver exactly what’s on the page and what is envisioned. You can’t be selfish. If you start messing around with the footage, you’re not giving them what they want and you won’t get hired again. “When you’re hired by the director or the producer, you have to please them. It’s no different than what a coach expects out of a hockey player. You have a role. Whether you’re a scorer, a grinder or a tough guy, your job is to fill that role – that’s what the coach Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
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and team expects out of you. If you stray from that role, your team may be weaker as a result, and it’s the same with film. “The greatest proof of your success as an editor is if you get to work with the same people over and over. If they hire you again, that’s the true sign that you’re accomplishing what needs to be done. If you’re only hired once and you’re always looking for your next job, something is lacking.” Nedomansky has not confi ed his filmmaking interests to the editing desk. He has credits as a producer, director, cinematographer, colorist, composer, music editor, stunt performer and editorial consultant, to name a few. “As a filmmaker, it’s important to get yourself exposed to all of the different roles,” he said. His IMDB profile refl cts his wide range of pursuits. Music, for example, has long been an interest. “I’ve played guitar for 30 years, done recording and even played the national anthem at the Great Western Forum on electric guitar before a game,” he said. Some of his work relates back to his career as a hockey player. He was the ADR group leader on “Miracle,” the film about the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team. He was also the motion capture actor for the NHL 06, NHL 07 and NHL 08 video games.
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“Each year, I was fl wn up to Vancouver by EA Sports for a week,” said Nedomansky, who wore a special suit to capture his movements for the purpose of digital animation. “For eight hours, five days a week, I had to do every motion in those games. Every skating motion, every pass, everything had to be mapped out. It was exhausting, a really labor-intensive process.” Nedomansky, who ran the Los Angeles Kings junior program out of the Staples Center for two years after he retired, still plays hockey casually. He takes part in a standing skate on Sundays with Hollywood types like Keifer Sutherland, Jerry Bruckheimer and Cuba Gooding Jr. and skates a couple of other times a week with friends and ex-pro hockey players. He is working on a documentary called “Big Ned” about his father, Vaclav, the fi st player to defect from Eastern Europe and play in the National Hockey League. “It’s the story of his journey from communist Czechoslovakia, how he escaped and got to play in the National Hockey League and how the subsequent influx of European players has changed the game.” Shooting on the documentary started six months ago. He has already interviewed Frank Mahovlich, Paul Henderson and Dennis Hull, among others, and has plans
to interview Bobby Orr in the near future. He admits that his fi st hurdle to making the film was convincing his father to do it. His father, who is a scout for the Nashville Predators, also lives in Los Angeles, where he was a scout for the Kings for many years. “My dad is a really private person, but I fi ally convinced him that his story is amazing,” he said. “The fact that no one knows the true story makes it even more appealing. Just his escape from Czechoslovakia was like a James Bond fli k. We were chased by spies, our phones were tapped and they followed us everywhere. They even tried to stop us at the airport in Switzerland in an effort to bring us back.” Although he hopes “Big Ned” will launch his directing career (he has written several screenplays he would like to shoot), his heart will always remain in editing. “I think I will always be an editor,” he said. “It’s the fi al point of control over the story. It’s the basis of the cliche that a story is told three times. You write the script, you shoot the film and you edit. All my favorite directors, people like (Martin) Scorsese and (Steven) Spielberg, say their favorite part of filmmaking is editing and crafting the story.” Nedomansky is passionate about his craft nd enthusiastically embraces every opportunity to share his knowledge and expertise. He participates in industry panels and interviews and even writes his own blog, which is very popular among cinephiles. “It’s cool
when you have something you want to share with others,” he said. “I have no agenda with my blog, no advertisers. It’s whatever pops into my head that I feel would be nice to share.” He frequently consults on other people’s projects, having become the resident expert on Adobe Premiere Pro. He taught the Oscarwinning editors of “Gone Girl” how to use the platform and how to set up their editing workfl w to best implement the software. More recently, he provided similar editorial consultation on the superhero hit, “Deadpool.” In the meantime, he continues to alternate between commercials and feature films. “I like the variety,” he said. “If I had to do the same thing every day, I’d go crazy. With editing, I never know what the next project will be. I’m always working with different people, doing something new that will require a different muscle set and different problem-solving techniques.” After a career in hockey, Nedomansky said deadline pressure doesn’t faze him. Pulling all-nighters to meet a deadline to fin sh a cut for producers or to complete a project to make a broadcast date is no big deal. “Hockey taught the work ethic, along with dedication and perseverance,” he said. “You can’t take a day off ecause not only will your teammates see it, everyone sees it. The film industry is equally demanding. You’ve got to be grinding all the time.”
BEN HANKINSON: ALL-STAR AGENT
When Ben Hankinson played for the Griffins during their inaugural 1996-97 season, he was known for having a sense of humor, a trait that has served him well during his subsequent years as an agent. “I feel like I’ve never worked a day in my life, although I work most of them 24 hours being on call like I am,” he said. “I love what I do. I love the game of hockey and I love being involved with players and helping them get to the highest level. I love going to the rink and watching games and interacting with hockey people.” An agent has to be prepared for just about anything while providing personal attention to Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
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the needs of his clients. Sometimes it helps to be able to just laugh. “My job has ruined almost every vacation I’ve ever been on,” Hankinson says with a chuckle. “You could be out to dinner with your wife or celebrating your kid’s birthday when you get a phone call that requires your attention.” Hankinson recently found himself in the middle of a whirlwind when a longtime client, John Scott, suddenly was leading the fan vote for the 2016 NHL All-Star Game, despite only having scored five goals in his entire career covering eight NHL seasons. “You never know when all of a sudden something happens overnight that will turn your world upside down,” Hankinson said. “That defin tely did. I think I was on the defensive for about one week straight.” The media and some unnamed NHL sources insinuated that Scott didn’t deserve to play. At one point, Scott even came out and publicly asked people not to vote for him. “He said he appreciated the support,
54 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
but he had teammates who were more deserving,” Hankinson recalled. “For a while, he questioned whether he should go or not.” But people kept voting for Scott. “I was always supportive of him going,” Hankinson said. “To me, it was a once in a lifetime opportunity for him and his family. The fans voted for him and this was his chance to be an all-star for the rest of his life.” Still, many felt the wise decision was not to play and not embarrass himself. “Behind the scenes, there was a lot of ups and downs of emotion,” said Hankinson, who has represented Scott since he turned pro following his four years at Michigan Tech. “John took a lot of hits, but he’s taken hits his whole career. “John let the entire situation play out and at the end of the day, the fans spoke and they wanted him there.” Scott decided it was a one in a million opportunity and ended up playing in the 61st NHL All-Star Game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. By virtue of being the top vote-getter,
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he was captain of the Pacific D vision team. In fairy tale fashion, Scott scored two goals in the tournament that helped his team advance to the fi als, where they were winners by a score of 1-0. Scott was named the All-Star Game MVP and accepted the million-dollar check presented to his team. A week later, Scott’s wife gave birth to twin baby girls. “It was unbelievable,” said Hankinson, who subsequently sold movie rights to Scott’s story to Mandalay Sports Media. Mike Tollin, whose credits include “Varsity Blues,” “Summer Catch,” “Radio,” “Coach Carter” and “Dreamer,” will produce, and longtime Detroit Free Press sportswriter Mitch Albom (“Tuesdays With Morrie,” “The Five People You Meet In Heaven”) will pen the script. Hankinson contends Tollin and Albom couldn’t have picked a better subject. “The more layers you uncover of John, the more you appreciate and like him,” Hankinson said. “From day one, John has been a high character individual. He’s had to play the game the hard way – not by scoring goals but by being a good, honest teammate and enforcer.” As a tough guy, Scott has had a long and exemplary career, the kind that any player would admire, according to Hankinson, whose own NHL career was a bit shorter. Hankinson played a total of 43 games over the course of three NHL seasons. He harbors no regrets. “Life isn’t always fair, but hockey is. There are enough teams and leagues that eventually you’re going to get your chance. If I did it all again, I might do things a little differently, but I got the opportunity to play in the NHL, which was an unbelievable dream-come-true for me.” Hankinson played for one more season after his year in Grand Rapids. He played in 80 games for the Orlando Solar Bears during the 1997-98 campaign, then decided to retire. “I got to the point where I felt like I was getting a little further away from the NHL rather than closer and my motivation to get to the NHL had dropped a bit,” he said. “I had an opportunity to potentially sign a contract with the (New Jersey) Devils, but I came to the realization that it was time to figu e out what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.”
Hankinson was intrigued by the idea of becoming an agent. In fact, he had handled some of his own negotiations toward the end of his career. “I had already signed an IHL contract to play in Grand Rapids when I went to Pittsburgh’s camp and made the team. I needed an NHL contract, so I went into the office f the Penguins’ GM, who was Craig Patrick at the time, and negotiated a signing bonus. “I only stayed until they signed Petr Nedved. My time with them was over, but doing a side deal with the Penguins is how I got my fi st taste of the agent business. I think I got something like a $25,000 bonus to be their property while I went down to Grand Rapids to play.” Hankinson has fond memories of playing for the Griffins. “It was such a fun season because everything was new and every game was sold out, which was pretty impressive for a minor league team,” he said. “We had a great group of guys and Dave Allison was a colorful, fun coach to play for. He always had something up his sleeve to motivate us.” Upon retirement, Hankinson became a certifi d agent. Travis Richards, who was his teammate at the University of Minnesota before the Griffins, was one of his fi st clients. Today, Hankinson represents a number of players with Minnesota ties, including Red Wings prospect Nick Jensen. “Nick is a hard-nosed, hard worker,” he said. “Nick’s very understated but he’s going to be an NHL player. He’s one of those guys who when he gets his chance, he might never look back. I think the game’s going to come to him easier in the NHL than the AHL because he does everything right.” Hankinson has had Ferris State product Chris Kunitz, who has won Stanley Cups with Anaheim and Pittsburgh, as a client for his entire career. He recently negotiated a five-year, $38 million contract extension for Winnipeg Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien. “As an ex-player, you have a feel for the game and where your client fits in, when he should sign and for how long,” Hankinson said. “When you negotiate a contract, you’re excited for the player and his family, but then it’s on to the next one.” Hankinson and his wife, Gwen, have three Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
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boys. Mac, 18, and Joe, 16, play hockey on the Medina High School team while Jake, 13, plays on a youth bantam team. When he’s not watching his own boys play, Hankinson is often in a rink somewhere, either recruiting potential clients or following the careers of current clients. “When you negotiate a contract and eventually see them play at the highest level, it’s pretty rewarding,” he said. “To start working
with a young player and then see him retire years later as a young father is pretty cool.” The bottom line is Hankinson’s work keeps him in touch with the game that he loves. “Hockey players are pretty unique,” he said. “They’re typically very blue collar and usually require low maintenance. I can’t imagine being an agent in other major sports.”
DARCY SIMON: REAL ESTATE PRO
When Darcy Simon thinks about his time with the Griffins, a big grin spreads across his face. He has fond memories of Grand Rapids because with the opening of the new arena and the return of pro hockey, it was a special time in the city’s history. A “stay-at-home” defenseman by trade, he was also the team’s fi st enforcer. He was the designated tough guy who kept order for the Griffins during the inaugural 1996-97 season before reinforcements arrived in the form of Bruce Ramsay and Matt Ruchty. “For me, this is a special place,” said Simon, who returned to Van Andel Arena in midJanuary for a gathering of Griffins alumni in conjunction with the team’s 20th anniversary season. “Th s was the equivalent of the National Hockey League for me. When you look at the ownership, the arena and the fans, you cannot fi d any better. You don’t forget fi st class.” There was a down side to his time in Grand Rapids. On Feb. 27, 1997, he was knocked out by a sucker punch during a game against the Indianapolis Ice. He eventually returned to the ice but was never the same and retired after one more season. He has lived with the repercussions of the concussion ever since. “To this day, it affects me,” he said. “If you see Will Smith’s movie (“Concussion”), well, welcome to my life. What’s normal for me is not normal to others. But it is what it is. You live by the sword and you die by the sword and in the end, I probably gave more than I got.” Although today’s concussion protocols are designed to prevent players from returning to action too soon, it was not that way when Simon played. “That was the problem – it was the way 56 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
hockey was played,” he said. “We pushed ourselves to the limits. If something hurt, we taught ourselves to think that it didn’t hurt. That may be okay if it’s an arm or a leg or a foot, but when it’s your head, it’s a problem.” Simon tried to fi ht through the concussion symptoms he was suffering but eventually realized he had a problem. “When you have a family, you fi ally come to your senses,” Simon said. “You realize that other people are depending upon you.” Retired from hockey at the age of 28, Simon suddenly found himself wondering what was next. “Everybody tries to fi d a job after hockey,” Simon said. “When I tried, it always seemed like it was the bottom of the barrel. I didn’t want to start at the bottom of the barrel. I was still struggling with concussion problems, so I wanted to know more quickly what I was going to do.” Simon decided he would volunteer for any position that interested him. Having studied horticulture at a community college in Seattle for two years, he initially thought he would explore a career in landscape and irrigation systems, but he changed direction and discovered a calling for sales. Eventually, he decided to go into real estate in the Fredericton, New Brunswick, area. “Everybody told me not to do it, but they said I was no good at hockey as well, so I told my wife it was a sign,” he said with a chuckle. After his fi st year, Simon was named Rookie of the Year for his sales efforts and four years later, he was the No. 1 realtor for Royal LePage in Canada. “I realized that I needed some help, so I hired an assistant.” Eventually, he took on a partner and his fi m became Canada’s top seller for several years running. “Thi gs have been pretty good,” Simon said. “If there ever was a problem with selling, it was usually because of the condition or location, but the last couple of years, the market has been down so it’s been a little more stressful.”
After retiring as a player, Simon coached hockey for a couple of years. His real estate fi m was the major sponsor of the Fredericton Midget “AAA” Canadiens hockey club for nearly a decade before he fi ally figu ed it was time to allow someone else the opportunity. In recent years, Simon has tried to fi d more balance in his life. “Being a workaholic, you work day in and day out. Other people might wonder how you do it, but for you, it’s something natural,” he said. “I’m not going as crazy as I once did. I realize there’s more to life than working all the time.” Simon would like to spend more time with his family. He and his wife, Beth, have three daughters. Madeline, 20, and Kelsey, 19, attend university while Lucy, 14, is in the eighth grade. “Kelsey made the UNB Saint John basketball team and then she broke her hand,” Simon said. “Of course, dad doesn’t know too much until I tell her I broke my hand, the same bone. All of a sudden she is interested in dad again.” The family owns a “mini-home” in the Orlando area, which is two miles from Disney World and not far from the home of the Orlando Magic, a convenient arrangement since he is an avid basketball fan. Simon also enjoys spending time outdoors in beautiful New Brunswick, although he must temper his pursuits due to the concussion symptoms. But he does not want to appear like he is complaining. “Playing hockey is what I wanted to do and I did it,” Simon said. “Now life goes on. It’s always going to be woulda, coulda, shoulda, but in the end you realize you had a great time and you became part of things that were successful,” Simon said. That’s why Grand Rapids will always hold a special place in his heart. “When I was there in January, I felt like, ‘Where am I?’ Wow. I wish I could be there for a month just to visit all the new stuff d wntown. To think that the fi st Griffins team helped get it started, that’s pretty cool.”
“It’s always going to be woulda, coulda, shoulda, but in the end you realize you had a great time and you became part of things that were successful.”
Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
57
ALL-T ACTIV SING 2014-
Miche
ALL-T ACTIV SING 2014-
ALL-T ACTIV SING
2014-
Martin
ALL-T ACTIV SING 2014-
* Led L
RECORD BOOK AND LEADERS (Through Feb. 25, 2016)
GAMES PLAYED
GOALS
ASSISTS
ALL-TIME: ACTIVE LEADER: SINGLE-SEASON: 2014-15:
Travis Richards....................... 655 Louis-Marc Aubry (T9th)........ 282 5 players tied......................... *82 Jeff oggan/Kevin Porter....... *76
Michel Picard............................158 Mitch Callahan (7th)...................74 Donald MacLean (2005-06)......*56 Teemu Pulkkinen......................*34
Michel Picard.................................. 222 Nathan Paetsch (9th)..................... 101 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 (17th)............ 134 Michel Picard (1996-97)........ 101 Andy Miele.............................. 70
Travis Richards...................... +131 Nathan Paetsch (4th).............. +66 Ivan Ciernik (2000-01)...........*+41 Nick Jensen/Tomas Nosek......*+30
Darryl Bootland............................1,164 Mitch Callahan (13th)..................... 332 Darryl Bootland (2005-06)............. 390 Chris Bruton................................... 124
GOALIE GAMES PLAYED
GOALS AGAINST AVERAGE
ALL-TIME: ACTIVE LEADER: SINGLE-SEASON:
Tom McCollum....................... 212 Martin Prusek..........................1.83 Tom McCollum (1st)............... 212 Jared Coreau (7th)....................2.38 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)........................ 94 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 Jared Coreau (T5th).................... 7 5 players tied............................. 6 Jared Coreau/Petr Mrazek.......... 3
Joey MacDonald.....................5,362 Tom McCollum (2nd)..............5,283 Joey MacDonald (2004-05)....1,785 Tom McCollum..........................949
Martin Prusek...............................0.930 Jared Coreau (T2nd).....................0.924 Joey MacDonald (2003-04)..........0.936 Jared Coreau.................................0.927
* Led League
Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
59
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Photo: Bob Kaser
A Second Calder Grand Rapids, home to the Calder sculpture La Grande Vitesse, would welcome a return of the AHL’s Calder Cup.
It stands 24 inches tall and weighs 35 pounds. Its hardwood base is made of Brazilian mahogany. Its bowl, made of sterling silver, is 12 inches high and eight inches in diameter. It features two tiers of plaques, which include the rosters of each of the last 20 championship teams. Coveted by every American Hockey League team, the Calder Cup has been the mark of excellence and one of the motivational forces for players throughout the circuit’s 80-year history. Being able to hoist the trophy at the completion of a long and arduous season remains one of hockey’s greatest challenges and ultimate honors. The trophy is named for Frank Calder, who served as the National Hockey League’s fi st president from 1917 to 1943. During the 1920s, Calder was instrumental in guiding hockey into the mainstream of major American cities like Boston, New York, Detroit and Chicago, while also helping in the formation of the American League. Although the AHL began play in 1936-37, the Calder Cup was fi st awarded in 1938 to the Providence Reds for winning the second International-American Hockey League championship. The Syracuse Stars had won the fi st but didn’t receive the trophy for the feat. It took 60 years, but the league corrected this oversight in 1996 when George Parsons, a member of that Syracuse team, was presented the Calder Cup in a ceremony at the Onondaga County War Memorial.
Including Grand Rapids in 2013, a total of 31 different cities have had their AHL club win the Calder Cup, led by Hershey with 11. The other active cities with more than one title are Cleveland (nine), Springfi ld (seven), Rochester (six), Providence (five), Portland (four) and Chicago (two). A total of 29 members of the Hockey Hall of Fame have won the Calder Cup in their careers, including Johnny Bower, Terry Sawchuk, Emile Francis, Gerry Cheevers, Al Arbour, Andy Bathgate, Larry Robinson, Doug Harvey, Patrick Roy and 2013 inductee Fred Shero. Two former Griffins rank among the AHL’s best in Calder Cup playoff a hievements. Two-time Calder Cup champion Darren Haydar, who played the 2008-09 season in Grand Rapids, is the AHL’s all-time leader in playoff oals (63), assists (80) and points (143). Th ee-time Cup winner Bryan Helmer, who played for the Griffins in 2004-05 and 2005-06, has played in more Calder Cup Playoff g mes (159) than anyone else. In addition to the many great players who have hoisted the Calder Cup, many outstanding coaches have also captured the AHL’s championship trophy. Besides Red Wings head coach Jeff lashill, who guided the Griffins to the 2013 title, other current NHL head coaches with the Calder Cup on their resumes include Barry Trotz (Portland, 1994), Bob Hartley (Hershey, 1997), Peter Laviolette (Providence, 1999), Todd McLellan (Houston, 2003), Bruce Boudreau (Hershey, 2006), Jon Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
63
Cooper (Norfolk, 2012) and Willie Desjardins (Texas, 2014). Grand Rapids hockey fans know that their home team has fared well in the playoffs he past three seasons, reaching the Western Conference Finals last season, two years after winning the Calder Cup. The Griffins have played 50 postseason games since 2013, the most by any AHL team over a three-year span in league history. During the fi st round of the 2015 Calder Cup Playoffs gainst Toronto, the Griffins became just the 11th team in AHL history to win a bestof-five series after trailing two games to none. (Only three teams have come back from 0-3 down to win a best-of-7 series.) The Griffins have enjoyed success in the postseason thanks to tenacious teamwork and some incredible individual accomplishments. Most notably, Tomas Tatar scored 16 goals and 21 points during the 2013 Calder Cup drive to be recognized as the AHL’s Playoff MV . Veterans Jeff oggan and Nathan Paetsch played in all 50 postseason games during the past three seasons, as did Brennan Evans, who is now playing for the Texas Stars. Hoggan,
64 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
incidentally, ranks third in points among Griffins during the Calder Cup Playoffs. is 26 points are just two behind Jiri Hudler, who is second only to Teemu Pulkkinen, whose 22 goals and 12 assists make him Grand Rapids’ all-time Calder Cup points leader. Pulkkinen is also the last Grand Rapids player to register a postseason hat trick. His three goals against Rockford on May 6, 2015, made him the fourth Griffin o record the trifecta in the AHL playoffs, ollowing Tomas Jurco, Matt Ellis and Kevin Miller. Hudler, meanwhile, notably tallied five assists against Manitoba on May 16, 2006. Between the pipes, Petr Mrazek holds the mark for most wins by a Griffins goaltender in one playoff, securing 15 victories during his rookie season when he backstopped the Griffins to the Calder Cup title. Mrazek also holds the Griffins’ record for most shutouts in one playoff year with four.
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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121 120
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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4
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GRIFFINS IN THE NHL
IT ALL STARTS HERE Since their inception in 1996, the Griffin have sent 153 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 133 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 153.......Eric Tangradi..................................1/25/16 DET at NYI Bold = Has played in the NHL this season (as of Feb. 29) Italics = Had name engraved on the Stanley Cup after playing for Grand Rapids All photos by Getty Images.
NIKLAS KRONWALL
CHRIS NEIL
JASON SPEZZA
78 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
KIDS
PAGE
WET HARMONICA SHEEP! (= WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!)
NOSH OUT
HARD FORT
If you were born any time over the last 18 years, congratulations on still being a kid! During that time, 14 different AHL teams have won the Calder Cup, including six that are no longer with us and three that claimed multiple championships. Unscramble the goofy words to form the city/place names of the AHL’s recent champions. Good luck!
2015
Them Cranes
2014
Ax Set THEM CRANES
SHY HERE
AGO CHIC
2013
Dad Sparring
2012
Folk Nor
2011
Naming Both NINJA SHOT
FOLK NOR
2010, 2009 and 2006 Shy Here
2008 and 2002 Ago Chic
2007
Lion Math LION MATH
2005 and 1998
NAMING BOTH
Hip Pal Hailed
2004
I Weak Mule
2003
ICE VEND PRO
HIP PAL HAILED
DAD SPARRING
Nosh Out
2001
Ninja Shot
2000
Hard Fort
1999
AX SET
I WEAK MULE
Ice Vend Pro
ANSWERS: 2015 – Manchester, 2014 – Texas, 2013 – Grand Rapids, 2012 – Norfolk, 2011 – Binghamton, 2010, 2009 and 2006 – Hershey, 2008 and 2002 – Chicago, 2007 – Hamilton, 2005 and 1998 – Philadelphia, 2004 – Milwaukee, 2003 – Houston, 2001 – Saint John, 2000 – Hartford, 1999 – Providence
Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
79
PARTING SHOT
The Iowa Wild were the ones left shaking their heads on Tom McCollum Bobblehead Night as the Griffi netminder was all smiles after recording his first shu out of the season on Feb. 27. Fifteen days earlier, McCollum had played in his 211th game for the Griffi , breaking Joey MacDonald’s franchise record for goalies. Photo by Mark Newman
80 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS
T
ds
u out lum ing