2019-20 Griffiti - Issue #3 by Grand Rapids Griffins

2019-20 SEASON ISSUE NO. 3

COMEBACK KID Red Wings Prospect

Evgeny Svechnikov

O F F I C I A L

M A G A Z I N E

O F

T H E

G R A N D

R A P I D S

G R I F F I N S

We’re big fans of the Griffins. We’re also fans of their fans. Huntington is proud to support the Grand Rapids Griffins, through the wins, the losses, and the hat tricks. No matter the outcome, it’s a joy to watch you from the stands, competing your hearts out. From all your fans at Huntington, go Griffins!

Vol. 24, No. 3

TABLE OF CONTENTS STARTING LINEUP 24 A BUMP IN THE ROAD Evgeny Svechnikov seemed primed to take his place in the Red Wings’ lineup, then a catastrophic knee injury knocked him out for a full season.

34 A SIMPLE PLAN Sticking to the basics should help Givani Smith stay focused on his ultimate goal – to become a bonafide NHL contributor as a power forward. 42 WINNING ATTITUDE A national champion at the University of Denver, Jarid Lukosevicius is transferring his competitive streak to the pros. 50 THE CHINESE CHALLENGE Former Griffins head coach Curt Fraser is a man on a mission: to develop hockey players for the host country of the 2022 Winter Olympics. 56 A FAMILY LEGACY Goaltending coach Brian Mahoney-Wilson is following in the footsteps of his grandfather, great uncle, and father, all of whom had connections to the Red Wings organization.

ON THE BENCH 2..........Chalk Talk 4..........Scouting Report 9..........Griffins Schedule 12.......AHL Tradition 15.......AHL Team Directory 19.......Detroit Red Wings 20.......Promotional Calendar 40.......Meet the Griffins

63.......Griffins Records 68.......Griffins All-Stars 73.......Penalty Calls 74.......Arena Map/Ticket Info 76.......It All Starts Here 79.......Kids Page 80.......Parting Shot

42 COVER: Evgeny Svechnikov has returned to the ice after missing all of the 2018-19 season due to ACL reconstruction surgery. Photo by Mark Newman

Griffiti magazine is published four times a year by the Grand Rapids Griffins, Van Andel Arena, 130 W. Fulton St., Grand Rapids, MI 49503. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. All contents ©2020 Grand Rapids Griffins. For advertising information, contact Griffins Sales & Marketing, (616) 774-4585; fax (616) 336-5464. Unsolicited manuscripts and other materials will not be returned.

WITH GRIFFINS HEAD COACH BEN SIMON In the AHL, the more things change, the more they stay the same. Roster management in the minor leagues is an endless exercise in finding the right personnel to plug the holes that seem to invariably appear with hardly a moment’s notice during the season. But for Griffins head coach Ben Simon and his staff, this hockey season is taking the challenge to a whole new level. By the midpoint of the 2019-20 campaign, the Griffins had already sent 38 different players onto the ice, nearly matching the 41 that appeared in a game during the entire previous season. Many of the moves might be viewed as selfinflicted, as Detroit jumbles its roster in an attempt to find the right mix of players who will be a part of the Red Wings’ rebuilding process. There’s a method to the madness. “What you’re seeing in Detroit are not knee-jerk reactions,” Simon said. “They’re doing what is in the best long-term interests of the organization. Whether it’s a trade, an acquisition, a waiver-wire pickup, or someone getting sent down or someone getting called up, there’s a calculation behind it.” The uncertainty has undoubtedly been exacerbated by injuries suffered in Detroit. Danny Dekeyser, the Red Wings’ top defenseman, is out for the season. Leading goal scorer Anthony Mantha has already been sidelined twice by long-term injuries. In Grand Rapids, highly touted prospect Michael Rasmussen was available for only 10 games in the first three months of the season. Matt Puempel, one of the Griffins’ top scorers, has also missed time. “You go through ups and downs with players every year, but we’ve certainly had a lot of moving pieces this season,” Simon said. Of course, with unexpected openings come unplanned opportunities. Players who were not expected to play big roles at the beginning of the season suddenly find themselves with more responsibility and the chance to make a positive impression with their increased ice time. 2 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

Photo: Sam Iannamico

“Every game is an audition,” Simon said. “There’s always somebody watching, whether it’s one of our coaches or a scout from another team. Every game is an audition for every player.” Simon has found himself reaching into the ECHL for reinforcements more than once. Several players have already made their Griffins debuts this season. The organization has a few options when the team needs players. A professional tryout (PTO) contract is one option. Limited to a maximum of 25 games, the PTO is a quick fix for a team and still gives players the option to sign a regular AHL contract or a PTO with another AHL team at a later date. An amateur tryout (ATO), on the other hand, is commonly used when a team needs a backup goalie for one day on an emergency basis. The Griffins, who have already used five different netminders this season, have gone to the ATO ledger more than once. “All the moves require a lot of paperwork. Sometimes contracts are being filed at 5:30 the night of a game, so you could say that it takes a lot of last-second planning,” Simon muses, tongue pressed firmly in cheek. The devil is always in the details. “Sometimes the logistics alone can make the process challenging,” he said. “How we get them from point A to point B can be monumental. Are they included on the flight manifest? Are they going to be in the lineup? Who’s available to practice?” The goal is to minimize the havoc. “Fortunately, we’ve got a great support staff here and in Detroit,” he said. “We also have a core group of veterans who are always very welcoming. It’s never easy to be the new guy, but we have several players within our leadership group who have done a good job of helping guys assimilate to the culture that we want here.” The new guys often come from the Toledo Walleye, the ECHL affiliate of the Red Wings and Griffins. “Sometimes we have to look outside the organization, but the process usually involves me

talking to (Walleye head coach) Dan Watson,” Simon said. “I value his honest opinion a lot as to who is playing well down there and who deserves the opportunity to be called up. “(Red Wings assistant general manager) Ryan Martin and (Griffins goaltending coach) Brian Mahoney-Wilson also see a lot of games in Toledo, so I’ll pick their brains, too.” For players new to the Griffins, a call-up is a chance to make a good impression. “You give them an opportunity and if they do a great job, you give them another,” Simon said. “Tyler Spezia is a good example. After calling him up, he’s played really well, so he’s continued to play for us.” Simon said the Griffins do their best to make the new additions comfortable. “We don’t want these guys to be on pins and needles,” he said. “Often when you try not to make mistakes, you end up making them. So our advice is just try to play your game to the best of your ability and then we’ll see how well you do. ”We want to put them in the best position possible. Like any other player, they have to earn the trust of the coach. Whether they’re playing three minutes or 10 minutes, they’ve got to make sure they’re playing the right way.” Players coming from Toledo are somewhat familiar with style of play favored by the organization. The learning curve might be steeper for guys like Kyle Wood or Blake Hillman, both of whom were playing in other organizations last season. Video and dry-erase board sessions can help speed up the process. On the other side of the ever-flipping coin are those players who have been sent down to Grand Rapids after starting the year in Detroit. “Whether it was right or wrong, they’re going to experience that sense of disappointment,” he said.

“Nobody can blame them for feeling that way after being sent down. But they have to remember they were sent down for a reason. There are things they need to work on. “So my advice is, let’s work on those things. This is their chance to play themselves back into the conversation to be called up. Some players are excited by that opportunity. They want to show they belong in the NHL. Sometimes that takes some time.” The emotional rollercoaster of call-ups and demotions is not unfamiliar to Simon and his staff. “We’ve all gone through it,” he said. Griffins assistant coach Todd Krygier, for example, finished his career in the minors after playing 543 games in the NHL. “Todd understands what it takes to stay in the NHL, just like Matt (Macdonald) learned what it’s like to bounce between the AHL and ECHL,” Simon said. “I spent the majority of my career in the AHL after thinking I had earned a job in the NHL. As a staff, we can empathize with the player in terms of what they’re going through. For us, it was a long time ago, but for them, it’s still the same premise. ‘Put on your work boots and get back to work.’ It’s your job.” Simon has his fingers crossed that things will settle down in the second half of the season. He is hoping that the Griffins can find some consistency in the final 38 games of 2019-20. “There’s always a team or two in hockey that catches lightning in the bottle during the second half,” he said. “Look at St. Louis last year, when they were dead last in early January before coming back to claim the Stanley Cup. “We’re thinking, ‘Why not us?’ Sure, we’ve been hampered by injuries, call-ups and all of the transactions. We can find all the excuses we want, but it’s time to go. Let’s see what we can make happen. I think we’ve started to show some positive signs.”

2019-20 GRIFFINS HOCKEY OPERATIONS STAFF

General Manager

Head Coach

Assistant Coach

Ben Simon

Matt Macdonald

Athletic Trainer

Assistant Athletic Trainer

Assistant Coach

Goaltending Coach

Todd Krygier

Mike Knuble

Brian Mahoney-Wilson

Equipment Manager

Assistant Equipment Manager

Strength-Conditioning Coordinator

19 63 -20 19

In Me mo ria m

Ryan Martin

Video Coach

Bill LeRoy

Josh Chapman

Anthony Polazzo

Brad Thompson

Charlie Kaser

Marcus Kinney

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 3

SCOU

REP SAN DIEGO GULLS

JAN. 22, MARCH 11

JAN. 24, JAN. 25

PRIMARY MARK

FEB. 8, FEB. 9

IOWA

SAN DIEGO

TEXAS

Former Ferris State Bulldog and Wyandotte, Mich., native Gerald Mayhew has carved up the Griffins in his career, showing 11 goals among 16 points and a plus-10 rating in 16 games. Mayhew made his NHL debut with the Minnesota Wild on Oct. 20, 2019 vs. Montreal.

The Griffins claimed the first two meetings of the season in southern California, recovering from a two-goal deficit to win 4-3 on Dec. 11 and taking a 3-2 shootout victory on Dec. 17.

In Texasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; first visit of the season to Van Andel Arena on Oct. 26, Grand Rapids rallied for a 6-4 win after falling behind 3-0 at the 16:56 mark of the opening period. The Griffins came back to win after being down by three for the first time since a 4-3 SOW versus Iowa on Dec. 13, 2017.

Through Jan. 21, 18 of the previous 27 meetings had been decided by one goal, including 12 that were tied after regulation. The Griffins are 19-6-3-3 (.710) all time on home ice against teams from Iowa, including 1-0-0-0 versus the Iowa Chops, 4-0-0-0 against the Iowa Stars and 14-6-2-2 versus the Iowa Wild. Grand Rapids Rapids GRIFFINS GRIFFINS 44 Grand

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Grand Rapids and San Diego are squaring off for the first time since the 2015-16 campaign, as the Gulls are making their first visit to Van Andel Arena since Nov. 20, 2015. A Grand Rapids native, left wing Brent Gates Jr. is playing his first pro season with the Gulls after four years at the University of Minnesota. 2017 Calder Cup champion Eric Tangradi scored the first goal of his Griffins career at San Diego on Oct. 10, 2015.

2015-16

Including that win on Oct. 26, Grand Rapids has claimed four straight against the Stars in West Michigan with a plusnine scoring margin (21-12). The Griffins and Stars are facing off for the 11th consecutive season and Grand Rapids has finished with a .500 record or better in the season series nine times, including eight consecutive years.

OUTING

EPORT FEB. 14

FEB. 22, FEB. 23

MARCH 7

CLEVELAND

SAN ANTONIO

ROCKFORD

First-year Griffin Calvin Pickard spent parts of four seasons (2011-15) in Cleveland while with the Colorado Avalanche organization. Appearing in 142 games with the Monsters, Pickard is the club’s all-time leader in wins with 60.

Calvin Pickard appeared in 21 games with the Rampage during the 2015-16 season and posted a 9-8-4 record to go along with a 2.75 GAA, a .917 save percentage and one shutout. Turner Elson spent the 2016-17 season with San Antonio and scored three points (1-2—3) while being limited by injury to 13 games.

As a member of the Griffins, Matt Puempel has 18 points (8-10—18) in 20 appearances against the IceHogs.

Captain Matthew Ford spent most of his first three pro seasons (2008-11) with the Monsters, totaling 69 points (39-30—69) in 126 appearances. Ford was selected by AHL President David Andrews to serve as one of the two playing captains for the 2020 AHL All-Star Classic held near Ford’s hometown in Ontario, Calif. He is the fourth Griffin to be chosen as a playing captain for an AHL All-Star Classic, joining Jeff Hoggan (2016, West), Kip Miller (2007, PlanetUSA) and Travis Richards (2004, PlanetUSA).

Rampage forward Zach Nastasiuk was a second-round draft selection, 48th overall, by Detroit in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft and skated in 65 games with the Griffins from 2013-18, tallying 14 points (4-10—14) and four PIM. The Griffins have won nine in a row against San Antonio at Van Andel Arena, outscoring the Rampage 42-19 in that stretch.

Since the 2016-17 season and through the matchup on Dec. 6, the home team in the series has posted a 24-8-2-1 record (.729). Eric Tangradi was signed by Grand Rapids to a oneyear contract 90 minutes prior to the opening faceoff against Rockford on Dec. 6. In his first Griffins appearance since Game 4 of the Central Division Semifinals against Manitoba on April 26, 2018, Tangradi tallied the team’s only goal in its shootout loss.

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2019-20

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Dear Griffins Fans, Has there ever been a better time to live in West Michigan and be a Griffins fan? The energy around Grand Rapids is as exciting and palpable as it’s been since the revitalization of downtown was sparked by the development of Van Andel Arena and the birth of the Griffins in the mid-‘90s. Everywhere you look it seems there is a construction crane in the sky, and the arena continues to be in the center of the action as we welcome the opening of the Studio Park complex this fall and the debuts of two new hotels within a block of the arena.

DAN DEVOS LETTER FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS

That spirit of renewal extends to the inside of Van Andel Arena, where a collaboration between SMG, the Griffins and the Detroit Red Wings spawned a $2.3 million renovation of the Griffins’ locker room and weight room, The Zone team store, visiting locker room and other areas. As our players continue their hopeful development into AHL champions and NHL stars, they’ll do so in firstclass facilities that provide every resource they need for the tasks ahead. Detroit’s ongoing youth movement could result in as many as six recent firstround Red Wings draft picks suiting up for the Griffins at some point this season, offering an amazing opportunity for our fanbase and an incredible stat that calls for a little perspective. While the success of the organizational pipeline has been impressive – each Red Wings draft from 2006 to 2016 produced at least one player who later helped the Griffins win a Calder Cup – a total of only seven Detroit first-rounders suited up for us during the first 13 seasons of our affiliation (200215). The level of top-tier talent showcased at Van Andel Arena this season could be unprecedented. Add in factors such as our franchise-record seven consecutive playoff appearances and six straight seasons with attendance over 300,000, plus the new era in Hockeytown under the leadership of Steve Yzerman, and fans in our city have a lot to be proud of. National media is noticing, as Sports Business Journal recently named Grand Rapids as its Top Minor League Market for 2019. This gratifying honor recognizes a number of factors that make our area the place to be for sports – from team success to facilities to attendance to community involvement – and confirms what we’ve always known: that our fans are simply the best. On behalf of everyone in our organization, I raise a toast to you and the part you play in our continued success. Enjoy the 2019-20 season! Sincerely,

Dan DeVos Chief Executive Officer Grand Rapids Griffins

10 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

Dear Fans, It is my pleasure once again to welcome you all to a new season of American Hockey League action, as we continue a tradition of excellence that dates back to our founding as a league in 1936. The AHL remains proud of its role in developing nearly all of the players, coaches, executives, trainers, broadcasters and officials who you see throughout the National Hockey League today. For more than eight decades, generations of our great fans have been able to cheer on future superstars and Stanley Cup champions, and more than 100 eventual members of the Hockey Hall of Fame. The 2019-20 season is sure to be another memorable one as we drop the puck in 31 cities across North America, all vying to become the next Calder Cup champion. Thank you all for your continuing support of the AHL. Sincerely,

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 11

BY THE NUMBERS

88%

Percentage of all NHL players in 2018-19 who

A TRADITION OF

were graduates of the AHL

879

Former AHL players who skated in the NHL last season

THE BEGINNINGS Marking its 84th season of play in 2019-20, the American Hockey League is continuing a tradition of excellence that began in 1936 when the Canadian-American Hockey League merged with the International Hockey League to form what is today known as the AHL. Eight teams hit the ice that first season, playing in Buffalo, Cleveland, New

Haven, Philadelphia,

recent championship

Pittsburgh,

was captured by

Providence,

the Charlotte

Springfield and

Checkers last spring.

Syracuse. From those roots,

356

Frank Calder, the

the American Hockey

National Hockey

League has grown into

AHL players who also played in the NHL in

Leagueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s president

a 31-team league that

2018-19

at the time, was

provides fans with

instrumental in the

exciting, high-level

forming of this new

professional hockey

league, and his name

while preparing

would be given to its

thousands of players,

championship

coaches, officials,

trophy. The first

executives, trainers,

Calder Cup was won

broadcasters and more

by the Syracuse Stars

for careers in the NHL.

in 1937; the most

242

Former 1st- and 2ndround NHL draft picks who skated in the AHL in 2018-19

FROMTO LEFT TO RIGHT: TUUKKA RASK, LOGANCOUTURE, COUTURE, NIKITA KUCHEROV, JAKE GUENTZEL, P.K. SUBBAN FROM LEFT RIGHT: TUUKKA RASK, LOGAN NIKITA KUCHEROV, JAKE GUENTZEL, P.K. SUBBAN

THE PLAYERS

THE LEGENDS

THE COACHES

In today’s National

For the past eight

At the start of the 2019-20 season, the National

Hockey League nearly

decades, the American

Hockey League featured 23 head coaches who were

90 percent of the

Hockey League has

former AHL bench bosses, including 2019 Stanley

players are AHL alumni,

been home to some of

including 2019 Hart

the greatest players in

Trophy winner Nikita

the history of our sport.

Kucherov, Vezina

In fact, more than 100

Trophy recipient Andrei

honored members

Vasilevskiy and Norris

of the Hockey Hall

Trophy winner Mark

of Fame have been

Giordano. The 2019

affiliated with the AHL

Tampa Bay’s Jon Cooper, Colorado’s Jared Bednar,

Stanley Cup champion

during their careers.

Boston’s Bruce Cassidy, New Jersey’s John Hynes,

St. Louis Blues were

All-time greats like

Chicago’s Jeremy Colliton and Minnesota’s Bruce

stocked with AHL

Johnny Bower, Toe

Boudreau are also among the current NHL coaches

graduates including

Blake, Gump Worsley,

Jordan Binnington,

Terry Sawchuk, Glenn

who spent time in the American Hockey League before

whose storybook season

Hall, Brad Park, Ken

began with the AHL’s

Dryden, and Brett

San Antonio Rampage.

Hull came through the AHL ranks and

During the 2018-19

now find themselves

season, a total of 879

enshrined in Toronto,

AHL alumni played in

and the coveted Calder

the National Hockey

Cup is inscribed with

League. There were

the names of legendary

356 players who

AHL alumni like Patrick

skated in both leagues

Roy, Larry Robinson,

last year alone,

Gerry Cheevers, Andy

including Ottawa’s

Bathgate, Tim Horton,

Drake Batherson,

Al Arbour, Emile

Vegas’s Brandon

Francis, Doug Harvey,

Pirri, Vancouver’s

and Billy Smith.

Thatcher Demko and Philadelphia’s Carter Hart. In addition, more than 240 former first- and second-round NHL draft picks developed their skills in the AHL last season, including Erik Brannstrom, Tyler Benson, Jake Bean, Martin Kaut, Cal Foote and Cody Glass.

“My time spent in the AHL played a huge role in the person and athlete I am today.” - J O R DA N B I N N I N G TO N S T. LO U I S B L U E S 2 0 1 8 A H L A L L-S TA R 2 0 1 9 S TA N L E Y CUP CHAMPION

Cup winner Craig Berube of the St. Louis Blues, 2019 Jack Adams Award recipient Barry Trotz of the New York Islanders, and new Anaheim Ducks coach Dallas Eakins, who spent the previous four seasons with the AHL’s San Diego Gulls.

making the jump.

Fear no forecast.

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2 0 1 9 - 2 0 A H L D I R EC TO RY EASTERN CONFERENCE ATLANTIC DIVISION: Bridgeport, Charlotte, Hartford, Hershey, Lehigh Valley, Providence, Springfield, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton NORTH DIVISION: Belleville, Binghamton, Cleveland, Laval, Rochester, Syracuse, Toronto, Utica

BELLEVILLE SENATORS

NHL AFFILIATION: Ottawa Senators HOME ICE: CAA Arena (4,365) GENERAL MANAGER: Pierre Dorion HEAD COACH: Troy Mann ENTERED AHL: 2017-18 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 0 of 2 2018-19 RECORD: 37-31-3-5, 82 pts./0.539 WEBSITE: bellevillesens.com

BINGHAMTON DEVILS

NHL AFFILIATION: New Jersey Devils HOME ICE: Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena (4,893) GENERAL MANAGER: Tom Fitzgerald HEAD COACH: Mark Dennehy ENTERED AHL: 2006-07 (as Lowell Devils) CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 4 of 13 2018-19 RECORD: 28-41-7-0, 63 pts./0.414 WEBSITE: binghamtondevils.com

BRIDGEPORT SOUND TIGERS NHL AFFILIATION: New York Islanders HOME ICE: Webster Bank Arena (8,412) GENERAL MANAGER: Chris Lamoriello HEAD COACH: Brent Thompson ENTERED AHL: 2001-02 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 9 of 18 2018-19 RECORD: 43-24-6-3, 95 pts./0.625 WEBSITE: soundtigers.com

CHARLOTTE CHECKERS

NHL AFFILIATION: Carolina Hurricanes HOME ICE: Bojangles’ Coliseum (8,500) GENERAL MANAGER: Derek Wilkinson HEAD COACH: Ryan Warsofsky ENTERED AHL: 2010-11 CALDER CUPS: One (2019) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 5 of 9 2018-19 RECORD: 51-17-7-1, 110 pts./0.724 WEBSITE: gocheckers.com

CLEVELAND MONSTERS

NHL AFFILIATION: Columbus Blue Jackets HOME ICE: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse (18,277/9,447 lower bowl) GENERAL MANAGER: Chris Clark HEAD COACH: Mike Eaves ENTERED AHL: 2007-08 (as Lake Erie Monsters) CALDER CUPS: One (2016) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 3 of 12 2018-19 RECORD: 37-29-8-2, 84 pts./0.553 WEBSITE: clevelandmonsters.com

HARTFORD WOLF PACK

NHL AFFILIATION: New York Rangers HOME ICE: XL Center (15,635) GENERAL MANAGER: Chris Drury HEAD COACH: Kris Knoblauch ENTERED AHL: 1997-98 CALDER CUPS: One (2000) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 15 of 22 2018-19 RECORD: 29-36-7-4, 69 pts./0.454 WEBSITE: hartfordwolfpack.com

HERSHEY BEARS

NHL AFFILIATION: Washington Capitals HOME ICE: Giant Center (10,500) GENERAL MANAGER: Bryan Helmer HEAD COACH: Spencer Carbery ENTERED AHL: 1938-39 CALDER CUPS: 11 (1947, 1958, 1959, 1969, 1974, 1980, 1988, 1997, 2006, 2009, 2010) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 68 of 81 2018-19 RECORD: 43-25-4-4, 94 pts./0.618 WEBSITE: hersheybears.com

LAVAL ROCKET

NHL AFFILIATION: Montreal Canadiens HOME ICE: Place Bell (10,062) GENERAL MANAGER: John Sedgwick HEAD COACH: Joel Bouchard ENTERED AHL: 2017-18 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 0 of 2 2018-19 RECORD: 30-34-6-6, 72 pts./0.474 WEBSITE: rocketlaval.com

LEHIGH VALLEY PHANTOMS

NHL AFFILIATION: Philadelphia Flyers HOME ICE: PPL Center (8,420) GENERAL MANAGER: Bill Downey HEAD COACH: Scott Gordon ENTERED AHL: 1996-97 (as Philadelphia Phantoms) CALDER CUPS: Two (1998, 2005) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 12 of 23 2018-19 RECORD: 39-30-4-3, 85 pts./0.559 WEBSITE: phantomshockey.com

PROVIDENCE BRUINS

NHL AFFILIATION: Boston Bruins HOME ICE: Dunkin’ Donuts Center Providence (11,273) GENERAL MANAGER: John Ferguson HEAD COACH: Jay Leach ENTERED AHL: 1992-93 CALDER CUPS: One (1999) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 22 of 27 2018-19 RECORD: 38-27-8-3, 87 pts./0.572 WEBSITE: providencebruins.com

ROCHESTER AMERICANS

NHL AFFILIATION: Buffalo Sabres HOME ICE: Blue Cross Arena at the Rochester War Memorial (10,662) GENERAL MANAGER: Randy Sexton HEAD COACH: Chris Taylor ENTERED AHL: 1956-57 CALDER CUPS: Six (1965, 1966, 1968, 1983, 1987, 1996) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 46 of 63 2018-19 RECORD: 46-23-5-2, 99 pts./0.651 WEBSITE: amerks.com Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 15

2 0 1 9 - 2 0 A H L D I R EC TO RY SPRINGFIELD THUNDERBIRDS

UTICA COMETS

SYRACUSE CRUNCH

WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON PENGUINS

NHL AFFILIATION: Florida Panthers HOME ICE: MassMutual Center (6,793) GENERAL MANAGER: Eric Joyce HEAD COACH: Geordie Kinnear ENTERED AHL: 2016-17 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 0 of 3 2018-19 RECORD: 33-29-9-5, 80 pts./0.526 WEBSITE: springfieldthunderbirds.com

NHL AFFILIATION: Tampa Bay Lightning HOME ICE: War Memorial Arena (6,110) GENERAL MANAGER: Stacy Roest HEAD COACH: Benoit Groulx ENTERED AHL: 1994-95 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 15 of 25 2018-19 RECORD: 47-21-4-4, 102 pts./0.671 WEBSITE: syracusecrunch.com

TORONTO MARLIES

NHL AFFILIATION: Vancouver Canucks HOME ICE: Utica Memorial Auditorium (3,917) GENERAL MANAGER: Ryan Johnson HEAD COACH: Trent Cull ENTERED AHL: 2013-14 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 3 of 6 2018-19 RECORD: 34-34-6-2, 76 pts./0.500 WEBSITE: uticacomets.com

NHL AFFILIATION: Pittsburgh Penguins HOME ICE: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza (8,050) GM/HEAD COACH: Mike Vellucci ENTERED AHL: 1999-00 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 17 of 20 2018-19 RECORD: 36-30-7-3, 82 pts./0.539 WEBSITE: wbspenguins.com

NHL AFFILIATION: Toronto Maple Leafs HOME ICE: Coca-Cola Coliseum (7,851) GENERAL MANAGER: Laurence Gilman HEAD COACH: Greg Moore ENTERED AHL: 2005-06 CALDER CUPS: One (2018) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 11 of 14 2018-19 RECORD: 39-24-9-4, 91 pts./0.599 WEBSITE: marlies.ca

WESTERN CONFERENCE CENTRAL DIVISION: Grand Rapids, Chicago, Iowa, Manitoba, Milwaukee, Rockford, San Antonio, Texas PACIFIC DIVISION: Bakersfield, Colorado, Ontario, San Diego, San Jose, Stockton, Tucson

BAKERSFIELD CONDORS

NHL AFFILIATION: Edmonton Oilers HOME ICE: Mechanics Bank Arena (8,751) GENERAL MANAGER: Keith Gretzky HEAD COACH: Jay Woodcroft ENTERED AHL: 2015-16 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 1 of 4 2018-19 RECORD: 42-21-3-2, 89 pts./0.654 WEBSITE: bakersfieldcondors.com

CHICAGO WOLVES

NHL AFFILIATION: Vegas Golden Knights HOME ICE: Allstate Arena (16,692) GENERAL MANAGER: Wendell Young HEAD COACH: Rocky Thompson ENTERED AHL: 2001-02 CALDER CUPS: Two (2002, 2008) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 13 of 18 2018-19 RECORD: 44-22-6-4, 98 pts./0.645 WEBSITE: chicagowolves.com 16 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

COLORADO EAGLES

NHL AFFILIATION: Colorado Avalanche HOME ICE: Budweiser Events Center (5,289) GENERAL MANAGER: Craig Billington HEAD COACH: Greg Cronin ENTERED AHL: 2018-19 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 1 of 1 2018-19 RECORD: 36-27-4-1, 77 pts./0.566 WEBSITE: coloradoeagles.com

GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS

NHL AFFILIATION: Detroit Red Wings HOME ICE: Van Andel Arena (10,834) GENERAL MANAGER: Ryan Martin HEAD COACH: Ben Simon ENTERED AHL: 2001-02 CALDER CUPS: Two (2013, 2017) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 13 of 18 2018-19 RECORD: 38-27-7-4, 87 pts./0.572 WEBSITE: griffinshockey.com

IOWA WILD

NHL AFFILIATION: Minnesota Wild HOME ICE: Wells Fargo Arena (8,356) GENERAL MANAGER: Tom Kurvers HEAD COACH: Tim Army ENTERED AHL: 2013-14 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 1 of 6 2018-19 RECORD: 37-26-8-5, 87 pts./0.572 WEBSITE: iowawild.com

2 0 1 9 - 2 0 A H L D I R EC TO RY MANITOBA MOOSE

SAN JOSE BARRACUDA

NHL AFFILIATION: Winnipeg Jets HOME ICE: Bell MTS Place (8,812) GENERAL MANAGER: Craig Heisinger HEAD COACH: Pascal Vincent ENTERED AHL: 2001-02 (played through 2010-11; re-entered 2015-16) CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 10 of 14 2018-19 RECORD: 39-30-5-2, 85 pts./0.559 WEBSITE: moosehockey.com

NHL AFFILIATION: San Jose Sharks HOME ICE: SAP Center at San Jose (6,123, curtained) GENERAL MANAGER: Joe Will CO-COACHES: Jimmy Bonneau, Michael Chiasson ENTERED AHL: 2015-16 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 4 of 4 2018-19 RECORD: 39-22-3-4, 85 pts./0.625 WEBSITE: sjbarracuda.com

MILWAUKEE ADMIRALS

PRIMARY MARK

STOCKTON HEAT

NHL AFFILIATION: Nashville Predators HOME ICE: UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena (9,450) GENERAL MANAGER: Scott Nichol HEAD COACH: Karl Taylor ENTERED AHL: 2001-02 CALDER CUPS: One (2004) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 15 of 18 2018-19 RECORD: 36-24-14-2, 88 pts./0.579 WEBSITE: milwaukeeadmirals.com

NHL AFFILIATION: Calgary Flames HOME ICE: Stockton Arena (6,705) GENERAL MANAGER: Brad Pascall HEAD COACH: Cail MacLean ENTERED AHL: 2015-16 CALDER CUPS: None ONTARIOSEASONS REIGN IN PLAYOFFS: 1 of 4 PRIMARY MARK 2018-19 RECORD: 31-31-4-2, 68 pts./0.500 WEBSITE: stocktonheat.com

ONTARIO REIGN

NHL AFFILIATION: Los Angeles Kings HOME ICE: Toyota Arena (9,491) GENERAL MANAGER: Richard Seeley HEAD COACH: Mike Stothers ENTERED AHL: 2015-16 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 3 of 4 2018-19 RECORD: 25-33-6-4, 60 pts./0.441 WEBSITE: ontarioreign.com

STOCKTON H

PANTONE 186 C

PANTONE 110 C

PANTONE 425 C

PANTONE 142 C

PROCESS BLACK

TEXAS STARS

PANTONE 429 C

PROCESS BLACK

NHL AFFILIATION: Dallas Stars HOME ICE: H-E-B Center at Cedar Park (6,779) GENERAL MANAGER: Scott White HEAD COACH: Neil Graham ENTERED AHL: 2009-10 CALDER CUPS: One (2014) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 7 of 10 2018-19 RECORD: 37-31-4-4, 82 pts./0.539 WEBSITE: texasstars.com 2015-16

WHITE

ROCKFORD ICEHOGS

TUCSON ROADRUNNERS

NHL AFFILIATION: Chicago Blackhawks HOME ICE: BMO Harris Bank Center (5,895) GENERAL MANAGER: Mark Bernard HEAD COACH: Derek King ENTERED AHL: 2007-08 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 6 of 12 2018-19 RECORD: 35-31-4-6, 80 pts./0.526 WEBSITE: icehogs.com

NHL AFFILIATION: Arizona Coyotes HOME ICE: Tucson Arena (6,521) GENERAL MANAGER: Steve Sullivan HEAD COACH: Jay Varady ENTERED AHL: 2016-17 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 1 of 3 2018-19 RECORD: 34-26-5-3, 76 pts./0.559 WEBSITE: tucsonroadrunners.com

SAN ANTONIO RAMPAGE

NHL AFFILIATION: St. Louis Blues HOME ICE: AT&T Center (6,374, lower bowl) GENERAL MANAGER: Kevin McDonald HEAD COACH: Drew Bannister ENTERED AHL: 2002-03 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 4 of 17 2018-19 RECORD: 31-38-6-1, 69 pts./0.454 WEBSITE: sarampage.com

THE ROAD TO THE CALDER CUP Eight teams in each conference will qualify for the 2020 Calder Cup Playoffs.

PRIMARY MARK

SAN DIEGO GULLS

NHL AFFILIATION: Anaheim Ducks HOME ICE: Pechanga Arena San Diego (12,920) GENERAL MANAGER: Bob Ferguson HEAD COACH: Kevin Dineen ENTERED AHL: 2015-16 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 3 of 4 2018-19 RECORD: 36-24-5-3, 80 pts./0.588 WEBSITE: sandiegogulls.com

The top four teams in each division, by points percentage (points earned divided by points available), will qualify for the postseason.

SAN DIEGO GULLS ranked

The division semifinals will be bestof-five series, with the first-place team playing the fourth-place team and the second-place team facing the third-place team. The division finals, conference finals and Calder Cup Finals will be best-of-seven series. PANTONE 1655 C

PANTONE MEDIUM BLUE C

PANTONE 5455 C

PROCESS BLACK

WHITE

2015-16

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 17

WHITE

Photo: Getty Images

DETROIT

he Red Wings’ young forward core of Tyler Bertuzzi, Andreas Athanasiou and Anthony Mantha combined to log 221 points (101-120—221) in 352 games with the Griffins before graduating to Detroit. In all, 27 Griffins alumni wore the Winged Wheel during the 2018-19 season. TOP AFFILIATE: Grand Rapids Griffins • 18th Season ARENA: Little Caesars Arena • Seating Capacity: 19,515 CONTACT: (313) 471-7000 • detroitredwings.com STANLEY CUPS: 1936, 1937, 1943, 1950, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2008 MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVE VP/GENERAL MANAGER: Steve Yzerman ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGERS: Ryan Martin, Pat Verbeek

COACHING STAFF HEAD COACH: Jeff Blashill ASSISTANT COACHES: Dan Bylsma, Doug Houda, Adam Nightingale ASST. COACH/VIDEO: LJ Scarpace GOALTENDING COACH: Jeff Salajko ASSISTANT VIDEO COACH: Jeff Weintraub

RED WINGS

GRIFFINS WHO HAVE EARNED THEIR WINGS

Justin Abdelkader, 2008-09 Adam Almquist, 2013-14 Joakim Andersson, 2011-12 Andreas Athanasiou, 2015-16 Sean Avery, 2002-03 Ryan Barnes, 2003-04 Tyler Bertuzzi, 2016-17 Patrick Boileau, 2002-03 Darryl Bootland, 2003-04 Madison Bowey, 2019-20 Fabian Brunnstrom, 2011-12 Mitch Callahan, 2013-14 Jake Chelios, 2018-19 Dennis Cholowski, 2018-19 Ty Conklin, 2011-12 Chris Conner, 2011-12 Jared Coreau, 2016-17 Danny DeKeyser, 2013-14 Aaron Downey, 2008-09 Patrick Eaves, 2013-14 Christoffer Ehn, 2018-19 Matt Ellis, 2006-07 Cory Emmerton, 2010-11 Jonathan Ericsson, 2007-08 Landon Ferraro, 2013-14 Valtteri Filppula, 2005-06 Martin Frk, 2017-18 Luke Glendening, 2013-14 Mark Hartigan, 2007-08 Darren Helm, 2007-08 Joe Hicketts, 2017-18

Jimmy Howard, 2005-06 Filip Hronek, 2018-19 Jiri Hudler, 2003-04 Matt Hussey, 2006-07 Doug Janik, 2009-10 Nick Jensen, 2016-17 Tomas Jurco, 2013-14 Jakub Kindl, 2009-10 Tomas Kopecky, 2005-06 Niklas Kronwall, 2003-04 Marc Lamothe, 2003-04 Josh Langfeld, 2006-07 Dylan Larkin, 2015-16 Brian Lashoff, 2012-13 Brett Lebda, 2005-06 Ville Leino, 2008-09 Matt Lorito, 2016-17 Joey MacDonald, 2006-07 Donald MacLean, 2005-06 Anthony Mantha, 2015-16 Alexey Marchenko, 2013-14 Darren McCarty, 2007-08 Tom McCollum, 2010-11 Dylan McIlrath, 2018-19 Derek Meech, 2006-07 Wade Megan, 2018-19 Drew Miller, 2016-17 Kevin Miller, 2003-04 Mark Mowers, 2003-04 Petr Mrazek, 2012-13 Jan Mursak, 2010-11

Anders Myrvold, 2003-04 Andrej Nestrasil, 2014-15 Kris Newbury, 2009-10 Tomas Nosek, 2015-16 Gustav Nyquist, 2011-12 Xavier Ouellet, 2013-14 Calvin Pickard, 2019-20 Matt Puempel, 2018-19 Teemu Pulkkinen, 2013-14 Kyle Quincey, 2005-06 Dan Renouf, 2016-17 Mattias Ritola, 2007-08 Jamie Rivers, 2003-04 Nathan Robinson, 2003-04 Stacy Roest, 2002-03 Robbie Russo, 2016-17 Riley Sheahan, 2011-12 Brendan Smith, 2011-12 Givani Smith, 2019-20 Ryan Sproul, 2013-14 Garrett Stafford, 2007-08 Ben Street, 2016-17 Libor Sulak, 2018-19 Evgeny Svechnikov, 2016-17 Eric Tangradi, 2015-16 Tomas Tatar, 2010-11 Jordin Tootoo, 2013-14 Dominic Turgeon, 2017-18 Jason Williams, 2002-03 Filip Zadina, 2018-19

* not including conditioning stints for Curtis Joseph (2003-04), Chris Osgood (2005-06), Manny Legace (2005-06), Chris Chelios (2008-09), Andreas Lilja (2009-10), Jonas Gustavsson (2012-13), Carlo Colaiacovo (2012-13), Stephen Weiss (2014-15) and Michael Rasmussen (2018-19).

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 19

CALEND MARK YOUR

JAN. 24

Presented by Spectrum Health Stroke Awareness

JAN. 25

FEB. 9

Princess Day presented by WMGB Home Improvement/ Princess Appearances

Hockey Without Barriers Night presented by Comerica Bank/ Fleece Blanket Giveaway

FEB. 14

JAN. 26

‘90s Night presented by Adventure Credit Union/Fanny Pack Giveaway/Fan-Designed Jersey Auction

Try Blind Hockey at Griff’s IceHouse at Belknap Park

FEB. 8

Stranger Griffs Night presented by Lake Michigan Credit Union/ Trucker Hat Giveaway

Valentine’s Day

FEB. 22

FEB. 25

15th Annual Griffins & Sled Wings Sled Hockey Game at Griff’s IceHouse at Belknap Park, benefiting the Grand Rapids Sled Wings and the Griffins Youth Foundation

MARCH 7

Star Wars Night presented by DTE Energy/Character Appearances

20 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

NDAR MARCH 13

Salute to Badges Night presented by Comerica Bank

MARCH 14

St. Patrickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day Celebration presented by Michigan Office Solutions/ Chris Terry Bobblehead Giveaway

MARCH 16

Ninth Annual Hockey, Hops & Hope at Fox Acura, benefiting Easterseals Michigan

MARCH 27 Ninth Annual Purple Community Game presented by Van Andel Institute/Jersey Auction

MARCH 28

Margaritaville Night presented by Centennial Securities/Straw Hat Giveaway

APRIL 10

Fan Appreciation Night presented by Huntington Bank/Friday Night Jersey Auction

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 21

SEASON-LONG

PROMOTIONS $2 BEERS AND $2 HOT DOGS

Every Friday, enjoy $2 domestic drafts and $2 hot dogs from 6-8 p.m., while supplies last.

GET IN THE D-ZONE

Presented by Coppercraft Distillery, every Friday night is a Griffins D-Zone night. Avoid the concession lines and get your $2 beers and $2 hot dogs served to you in your seats. Call (616) 774-4585 ext. 2 or visit griffinshockey.com/dzone today to purchase a package of four or more D-Zone tickets for any Friday night game.

MILITARY NIGHTS

Every home game, current members of our military can purchase up to four Upper Level Faceoff tickets for $14 each, four Upper Level Center Ice tickets for $17 each, or four Lower Level Faceoff tickets for $20 each with a valid military ID. The offer also extends to veterans who present a VA ID or discharge papers.

COLLEGE NIGHTS

Presented by Michigan First Credit Union, college students can buy online using their school .edu email address or show their ID at every Friday game to purchase an Upper Level Faceoff ticket for $13 (or $12 in advance at The Zone) or an Upper Level Center Ice ticket for $16 (or $15 in advance at The Zone). Limit one ticket per ID if purchasing in-person. Visit griffinshockey.com/college to sign up for College Night alerts.

FREE RIDE FRIDAY ON THE RAPID

Ride the Rapid to and from any Friday game and enjoy a complimentary fare by showing your ticket to that night’s game. Visit ridetherapid.org for schedule information, routes and maps.

WINNING WEDNESDAYS

Presented by Farm Bureau Insurance, every time the Griffins win at home on

Wednesday, each fan in attendance will receive a free ticket to the next Wednesday game.

To redeem a Winning Wednesday ticket, please visit the box office following the Winning Wednesday game, The Zone during normal business hours, or the Van Andel Arena box office prior to the next Wednesday game beginning at 5:30 p.m. Fans who exchange their Winning Wednesday ticket at The Zone on a non-game day will receive 20% off the purchase of one item (excluding jerseys). One discount per person present.

BIG E’S SCORE 4 FOR MORE

If the Griffins score four or more goals during a home game, take your ticket from that game to Big E’s Sports Grill in Grand Rapids or Holland within four days to receive 50% off any food item. Dine in only.

LIBRARY NIGHTS

may use their concession cash to purchase healthy choice menu options at the stand located outside of section 126, including low-fat yogurt, apples, oranges, granola bars and smoothies.

SUNDAY IS FUN DAY

For all Sunday games, enjoy $1 small Pepsi drinks and $1 small ice cream cups from 3-5 p.m.

PEPSI READING GOALS

Children with Griff’s Reading Goals bookmarks who have completed the required three hours of reading can redeem their bookmark for two free Upper Level tickets to any of the following games: Feb. 23, March 11 and 25, April 1.

POST-GAME OPEN SKATE: April 10 HUNTINGTON BANK POST-GAME AUTOGRAPH SESSIONS Jan. 25, Feb. 9, March 7, March 28

For all Wednesday and Sunday games, fans can present their Grand Rapids Public Library card or Kent District Library card at the Van Andel Arena box office on the night of the game or at The Zone anytime during the store’s regular business hours to purchase either an Upper Level Faceoff ticket for $14 (regularly $16 advance and $19 day of game), an Upper Level Center Ice ticket for $17 (regularly $19 advance and $22 day of game) or a Lower Level Faceoff ticket for $20 (regularly $22 advance and $25 day of game). Limit four tickets per card per person, subject to availability.

MOS CORNER OFFICE

FRIENDS & FAMILY 4-PACKS

GRIFFINS WIN, YOU WIN

Presented by Big E’s Sports Grill and available for all Saturday games, each pack includes four tickets and $20 in concession cash for a great low price. Visit griffinshockey.com/f4p or call (616) 7744585 ext. 2. Continuing this season, fans

Presented by Michigan Office Solutions, this section, located on the terrace level above section 118, provides the best seats in the house for groups of up to 30 people, with La-Z-Boy chairs and an array of unprecedented amenities. Call (616) 774-4585 ext. 4.

J. GARDELLA’S SLIDERS SPECIAL

Available on select tickets, take your used Griffins ticket to J. Gardella’s Tavern to buy one slider and get one of equal or lesser price free. Refer to the back of select tickets for details. When the Griffins win at home, take your ticket from that game into any participating West Michigan Tim Hortons the following day and receive a free donut.

All promotions and dates subject to change. For more information, visit griffinshockey.com. 22 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

Want to feel like an MVP? Get full-service banking. At Comerica Bank, every account comes with the tools, knowledge and one-on-one support you need every step of the way. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s full-service banking. Proud sponsor of the Grand Rapids Griffins

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Story and photos by Mark Newman

24 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

It was the final preseason game before the 201819 NHL campaign and the Detroit Red Wings were facing the Toronto Maple Leafs. As the last tuneup before the regular season, it should have been a rather uneventful contest, but for those who were playing for roster spots, it was the last opportunity to make an impression.

Svechnikov seemed primed to take his place in the Red Wings’ lineup. then a catastrophic knee injury knocked him out for a full season.

Evgeny Svechnikov wasn’t leaving anything to chance. So when Wings teammate Luke Glendening dumped the puck into the zone during the first period of the game, the former first-round pick went full-bore on the forecheck. “I was battling, racing with the other guy to get there, and I lost my balance and started falling,” Svechnikov recalled. “I was going full-speed and he pushed me a little bit too, and I crashed the boards with my right knee. With the other player falling on me as well, I had no chance to stop.” As he rose to his feet after the collision, Svechnikov feared the worst. “When I got up, I felt crazy pain,” he said. “I knew it was bad. I barely got to the bench because I felt so much pain. I told myself to keep going because I just wanted to make the team. I finished the game, but it was really hard because my knee was so painful.” Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 25

Svechnikov missed all of last season following ACL surgery.

He tried to look on the bright side. Initially, his knee appeared not to be that swollen. “They told me to come to the rink and see how I felt,” he said. “But my knee swelled up on the plane ride home and the next day, it wasn’t good. My knee felt unstable. They said I could try to rehab my knee, so they put me on IR (Injured Reserve).” Svechnikov skated a few times but it was becoming increasingly evident that rehab wasn’t the answer. “I told them I couldn’t do it. There was something wrong inside,” he said. An MRI provided a heartbreaking diagnosis. He would require anterior cruciate ligament surgery and be out a minimum of six to nine months – in essence, he would have to miss an entire season. “When they told me it was a torn ACL, I can’t explain the emotion I felt,” he said. “I’m not going to lie. I was bawling. It doesn’t matter how old you are, when you see your dream, like, stop, it’s the hardest news to receive.” The next day he underwent successful surgery in Detroit. His knee required ACL reconstruction, which meant that he would 26 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

have to sit out the balance of the 2018-19 season. He would be able to play hockey again, but it would be a long road back. “Unfortunately, you never know what to expect with injuries,” he said. “I hate saying that word – unfortunately. It doesn’t mean anything. When you go out on the ice for a shift, you try to play hard every single second – every single race to the puck, every single battle. “That’s what I did – and it’s what I will always keep doing. So there’s nothing unfortunate about it. It’s just fate. It’s what God gave to me. It’s tough, but God checks to see who’s the strongest.” Svechnikov admits that the first few days and weeks after surgery were the hardest. Within three days, he was bending and stretching his knee. After three weeks, he was back on a bike, working to strengthen his knee. “My leg felt so heavy that it felt like I had no strength,” he said. “I had lost so much muscle.” His parents did what they could to help him maintain his spirits. “My mom was there in the hospital after

surgery. She spent the first month with me,” he said. “She stayed in the hotel. Even though she doesn’t know English, she ordered and picked up food. She helped me walk. She helped me shower. She’s an angel, for sure.” His father joined him a month later from Russia. “I was worried about my dad because he was so far away,” he said. “It was tough on him because he saw that his oldest son couldn’t be doing what he should. But he spent two months with me in Detroit. Like my mom, he loved me and supported me as much as he could.” His surgery took place on Oct. 16. Slowly but surely he made progress. For someone who loved being on the ice, it was still painfully slow. “It was a crazy, long process – one month after another. You eventually realize how long it’s going to take. “My whole motivation was to come back and play,” he continued. “My target date was May. I was thinking about it every single day.” Eventually, he was given clearance by the doctors to skate again. “When I got back on the ice for the first time

again in December, I was the happiest man in the world,“ he said. “I kept strengthening the knee and skating a little more and a little more until I felt ready to practice.” Being able to practice, Svechnikov believed, would be a big step toward his ultimate return. Initially, it didn’t go as well as he had hoped. “When I felt strong enough and tried to practice, it was just way too much pain,” he said. “I could tell it hadn’t healed yet. I had so much tendinitis in the knee that I couldn’t do anything. The only way that it would get better was with time, and they were telling me that it would be 6-9 months.” Svechnikov did what he could to keep from going stir crazy. He visited his old teammates in Grand Rapids. He went on road trips with the Red Wings. He watched some hockey but found it was almost painful to watch because he couldn’t play. “It’s not easy because you feel all alone,” he said. “But the guys were unreal. They knew what I was going through and they did their best to cheer me up as much as they could. “I became very close to the team. I became close friends, friends for life, with many of

Svechnikov was a first-round pick (19th overall) of the Red Wings in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 27

Svechnikov wants to earn a regular job in the NHL, where he hopes to one day play against his younger brother, Andrei, now one of the top players with the Carolina Hurricanes.

28 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

them, guys like Madison Bowey, Dylan Larkin and Anthony Mantha. Mantha was injured for a month while I was hurt, so we spent a lot of time together.” In addition, Svechnikov received encouragement from Niklas Kronwall, who missed more than half of the 2005-06 season with a serious knee injury suffered in an exhibition game. Kronwall would eventually play more than 900 NHL games before retiring last summer. “He helped me big time because he went through ACL surgery, too,” Svechnikov said. When the Wings were on the road, he started going to a gym in Madison Heights. He also benefited from the guidance of the trainers in Detroit as well as the people from BARWIS Methods. “I’m so grateful for their patience and all the work they did,” he said. “Their help and support, both mentally and physically, meant so much to me. They were there from day one of rehab. I’d get up early every day and be the first there in the morning.” There was no way that Svechnikov was going to be denied. He was going to work

as hard as he could to get back as quick as he could. “It was tough to manage my time because I was sore a lot,” he said. “I had to manage how much time I spent in the gym and how much time I spent on the ice. I would be in the gym every day but in the beginning, I could be out on the ice only 2-3 times a week.” As tough as his rehab was physically, it was even more difficult mentally. When he assesses the work that he put into his comeback, Svechnikov puts the percentage at 65 percent mental, 35 percent physical. “You can’t look back, so you just put yourself on the right path,” he said. “There comes a point (in rehab) where it will kick you because the process is so long and so hard. There will be some hesitation as far as how you’re going to go. There were nights where I couldn’t sleep. When you’re watching the other guys still playing, it’s hard. That’s when it kicks you mentally. “So you have to get up every day and keep going. You do the same thing over and over again. It’s for three months, then five months, then six months and so on. It’s hard physically,

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 29

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but it’s even harder mentally when you’re doing it all by yourself. “You keep dreaming about that day when you’ll be back in the lineup and playing the game that you love.” When last season ended, Svechnikov went home for a month, then returned to Detroit where he stayed with Larkin and trained with the help of the Barwis staff. “We pushed each other all summer,” he said. “The team at Barwis helped me regain strength and the progress that I made over the summer was just crazy.” After a good summer, Svechnikov felt he was prepared for training camp last fall. “I didn’t know what to expect, but I knew that I was going to do everything I could,” he said. “I’m not going to lie, but I felt like it was triple-hard for me because I had been out so long. I felt like I wasn’t in the best shape because I couldn’t train as much as I wanted. “But I stuck with it and did what I could. It was a tough camp, physically and mentally, but I felt like I did really good. Despite the pain, I felt like I battled every single shift. My knee was sore, but I gutted it out.” In preseason play, Svechnikov felt like he

Svechnikov was able to share the thrill of winning the 2017 Calder Cup with his mother.

Svechnikov scored 20 goals for the Griffins during his rookie season in 2016-17.

gave himself a good chance to make the team. He was anxious to get back to the NHL. He had tallied two goals and two assists in 14 games with the Wings during the 2017-18 season after a 20-goal campaign with the Griffins during his rookie pro season. He was disappointed but not surprised when the Wings wanted him to start this season in Grand Rapids. “I didn’t play all last year, so it’s good for me to come to Grand Rapids and play some games,” he said. “I want to be in Detroit. I still believe that I should be there. That’s my dream and I’m willing to do everything necessary to get back there, so I will work hard every single day.” The Red Wings recognized his efforts by recalling him earlier this season. He saw sporadic action before being sent back to the Griffins. While he appreciates that Detroit showed they were rewarding him with a recall, he is eager to return. “It doesn’t matter what they want to show. You want to play,” he said. “You want to be on the ice.” Svechnikov admits that he is still struggling Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 31

Svechnikov was a key contributor to the Griffins’ 2017 Calder Cup championship.

with lingering pain. “It’s been 14-15 months and it still hurts like crazy,” he said. “After the second period, I’m already hurting. I’m not 100 percent, but at this point, I’m back in the game. I’m doing what I can every day, which is something I couldn’t say last year, so I couldn’t be more happy. “My knee is still sore and it bothers me, but it’s good enough to play. So you just try to go on the ice and think about the game. Actually, you don’t think about anything. You just play hockey. The knee is still in the back of my head. You don’t think about it, but it’s still there. They tell me that’s normal.” Dealing with residual pain is something that Svechnikov is just learning to live with. He said his injury and the rehabilitation process has had a profound effect on him, not only as a player but also as a person. “When I look back now, I feel like I’m now a different person. I feel like a totally new man after how much I went through and how much work I put in. Obviously, the dream is still there, but it’s different now.

“I’m still a good player. I want to show people that I’m still a good player. I want to be an example and be the kind of player who can inspire and motivate other people. So I’m here. I’m focused on playing hard. I’m here to help the Griffins win and to have fun.” The injury may have robbed Svechnikov of a whole season, but one thing it didn’t take from him was his passion for the game. “As tough as it is to realize what I had to go through, last year was just a bigger bump in my road. I just have to let it pass and keep going on that road with the same target. “The passion will never leave me. I think back to when I was a kid and what motivated me and I can say that I will never lose that desire, that fire in my eyes in terms of how much I want it. That’s why I will keep putting in the work that I need to do to become the best player I can be. “I’m going to battle and battle for it every single day. I will grind and grind and find a way.”

Seider is an excellent skater for a big man (6-3, 209 lbs.).

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 33

SIMPLE PLAN

Sticking to the basics should help Givani Smith stay focused on his ultimate goal – to become a bonafide NHL contributor as a power forward. When Givani Smith was growing up, he thought playing in the NHL would be neat but figured it was a youthful aspiration, not knowing how one could reach the heights of playing in the top hockey league in the world. Smith and his three brothers played hockey simply because they enjoyed the sport, not because they had hopes of someday being able to make a living at it. “When we were young playing minor hockey, we didn’t know how to get to the NHL or even to the next level,” he recalled. “We’d see guys in the NHL and we thought, ‘That’s cool. How do you even get there?’ When my older brother (Gemel) got drafted by the OHL when he was 16, I was 12. I thought, ‘That’s cool.’ But I wasn’t sure what the OHL even was.” All Smith knew was that his parents had to make sacrifices to allow their four sons to enjoy a sport that demanded considerable time and money to play. As emigrants from Jamaica to Canada, where they met and married, they wanted to afford their boys a chance to pursue their dreams – a fact that was not lost on the third-youngest son of a steelworker, Gary, and a nurse, Nickey. 34 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

The value of hard work was evident in the Smith home. “They never preached it, but when you’re in the home, you just see it,” Givani said. “We knew our dad got up early in the morning and would be gone to work before we even got up for school. When you see that, it influences your brain and makes you realize that life does not come easy.” His father was athletic – he played ball hockey – but ice sports were largely foreign to the family’s heritage. As a result, advice was kept to a minimum. “My dad was never really big on telling me how to play the game,” Smith said. “He trusted my coaches and let me do my own thing. During car rides after a loss, my dad was never in my ear about how I played or that I could have played better. We would just go get food, have fun and talk.” For most of his years, from age 6 to 16, his coach was Bob Thrower, who recognized Smith’s talent at a young age and helped mentor him when he was coaching the AAA Mississauga Senators while Givani was still a student in the Peel school district.

E “He was a good coach, but he was also a good role model for me growing up,” Smith said. “When my mom or dad couldn’t drive me to hockey, Bob would drive us to the rink or take us to tournaments. He and my dad got along really well, too. He and his son Eric were like family to me, so with him being my head coach, it was just a nice dynamic.” His older brother, Gemel, was a 2010 OHL Priority Selection of the Owen Sound Attack, which encouraged him to keep pursuing his dream. “I figured if I could keep playing pretty good, maybe I could get there, too,” he said. “My entire mindset was 1) I just wanted to win, and 2) I wanted to become better than everyone. I constantly wanted to get better, every single game, every single year. “If I kept getting better, there would be no limitations on what I could do.” And when Gemel was chosen by the Dallas Stars in the fourth round (104th overall) of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, Givani set his sights on following in his big brother’s footsteps. After a couple of solid junior seasons with the Barrie Colts and Guelph Storm, Givani felt prepped

Story and photos by Mark Newman

for the 2016 NHL Entry Draft in Buffalo. “That was a great time,” he said. “With Buffalo being a short drive and knowing I would probably get drafted, I brought my family, friends and supporters who helped me along the way to get to that spot. I had about 20 people there.” The Red Wings selected Smith in the second round, 46th overall. From his grandparents to his siblings to extended family, Smith was excited to share the thrill of being drafted with those who had made a difference in his life. “It was a very special moment to think about,” he said. “I had played with so many different players and so many of my friends had dreamed about someday getting drafted that I felt very fortunate to be a part of the draft.” Smith saw action in three AHL games with Grand Rapids the following spring before excelling during his overage year when he split the 2017-18 season between the Storm and the Kitchener Rangers, the latter having traded for his rights for a late playoff push. In Kitchener, Smith tallied nine goals and 10 assists in 27 regular season games then Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 35

Smith was selected in the second round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.

blossomed during the postseason, when he recorded 11 goals and seven assists for 18 points in 18 playoff contests. “I really enjoy playoff hockey,” he said. “When it’s playoff time, you can just tell everything is different, from the fans to the games to the whole atmosphere. It’s a time when you play old-school hockey.” He gives credit to his teammates for making him look good. He played regularly on a line centered by Logan Brown, a first-round NHL draft pick of the Ottawa Senators currently playing in the AHL with Belleville. Playing right wing was Kole Sherwood, now a member of the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters who saw NHL action earlier this season with Columbus Blue Jackets. Smith appeared in 64 games with the Griffins last season, his rookie campaign in the AHL when he showed plenty of potential but also revealed the rough edges that come with the adjustment to the pro ranks. “It was my first year in the AHL, so it was all new to me,” he said. “I wasn’t discouraged about my year. I knew that I was not ready 36 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

to play in the NHL at that time. I knew I had things to learn. “There’s the game on the ice but there’s your life off the ice as well. You’re living by yourself so there are all these small things you have to pick up. As I started to feel more comfortable, I started to find my identity in terms of who I am as a person, and I think it helped smooth my transition to my second year.” Griffins head coach Ben Simon said Smith, like many young players coming to the pros from the junior leagues, faced a considerable growing curve. Many prospects underestimate how tough it is to play in the AHL. “It’s a good league and you can get eaten up if you’re not ready for it,” he said. “We gave Givani an opportunity to play on the power play and in the top six right off the bat and he was OK, but he wasn’t quite ready for the responsibility that we gave him and his struggles might be on us to a certain extent.” Smith benefitted from the arrival of Derek Hulak in Grand Rapids after the Griffins signed the well-traveled, experienced forward early last season. Hulak, who had played two Smith made his AHL debut with the Griffins late in the 2016-17 season.

As a power forward, Smith is a unique prospect in the organization with his combination of size and skill.

seasons with the Texas Stars alongside Givani’s brother Gemel, helped mentor Detroit’s young prospect. “I think Givani might have been overwhelmed with the experience of becoming a pro, and credit to him for working his tail off to improve,” Simon said. “He also surrounded himself with the right people like Derek, who took Givani under his wing and showed him the things you need to be a good pro.” As he had the previous couple of seasons, Smith also spent the summer in Detroit, opting to stay in Michigan rather than heading back to the Toronto area. “Stay focused, stay out of trouble,” he said. “It’s an opportunity to skate and train every day, to work out with the young guys coming up, guys like Joe (Veleno), Raz (Michael Rasmussen), and Z (Filip Zadina). It’s a chance to be around all those guys and build a little camaraderie in the summertime. “It’s all about focusing on getting better.” Smith got off to a strong start this season. He tallied two goals and two assists in the Griffins’ first three games, which led to his first

NHL recall. He made his NHL debut at Little Caesars Arena against Buffalo on Oct. 25. He registered 11:01 of playing time, had two shots, one hit and was even in a 2-0 loss. “From the day I got drafted to the point where I got to play in the NHL, it had been three years, so it felt amazing,” he said. “It’s nice to see when your hard work pays off. I thought about all the time I spent in the summer in Detroit away from my family and friends and how all those workouts had paid off.” Surprisingly, Smith said he felt few nerves before his first NHL appearance. “I tried to keep my game simple and do what I have to do to get my job done. Taking that approach took away some of the pressure,” he said. “It’s another game, but when I reflected on it with my parents, coaches and family, you realize it’s the NHL. We talked about it afterward and it was like, ‘Wow, it’s the NHL. It’s crazy.’ “I did the work, but I didn’t get there by myself. The game was like a ‘thank you’ to them, and the Red Wings organization did a great job of bringing everybody in and making them all feel comfortable. Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 37

Smith played four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League before turning pro, twice leading the league in penalty minutes.

“Plus my family and friends got to meet Dylan (Larkin) after the game, which was really nice for them.” Smith has subsequently appeared in several more games for the Red Wings as he bounces back and forth between Detroit and Grand Rapids. He is getting the opportunity to experience the axiom that it’s hard to get to the NHL, but it’s even harder to stay. “For every player, your second season in the pros is a very important year, so for myself, it was good to get off to a good start,” he said. “It helped fuel my confidence and hopefully will help me keep having a strong year to make a statement for whenever the next call comes.” Smith said he’s had good talks, not only with Red Wings head coach Jeff Blashill but also general manager Steve Yzerman and senior vice president Jim Devellano. “It’s mostly simple things,” he said. “I’m still growing as a person, and every day is a new day, every year is a new year. “As long as I can keep improving, I can be happy with that.” As a power forward, Smith is at his best 38 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

when he’s skating, being strong on the forecheck, getting to the so-called dirty areas of the ice, and making his presence felt at all times. “When I’m playing well, I’m doing the things I need to do, whether it’s making a simple play along the wall or skating so I can be physical on every shift to cause turnovers and create scoring chances,” he said. “If I’m skating hard so the defense is always checking over their shoulders and rushing their plays, I can help create space for my teammates. I’m finishing my checks, making it tough on the other team to play against. “When I’m playing good hockey, it’s a lot of simple things that I know I need to do.” Smith feels as though he’s made the first steps toward proving that he can be a bonafide NHL contributor. “I’m in a positive mindset right now,” he said. “As a team, we’ve been struggling, but we have a lot of young guys and a lot of potential, so as we start playing better together, we’ll start winning more hockey games. “It’s going to be exciting.”

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Jeff Blashill lifted the Calder Cup in his first of three seasons as the head coach of the Griffins.

flyford.org Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 39

YGRIFFINS YOUR 2019-20 GRAND RAPIDS

DENNIS CHOLOWSKI Defenseman 6-1, 195 lbs. Born: 2/15/98 Langley, B.C.

55 TURNER ELSON

Forward 5-11, 185 lbs. Born: 9/13/92 Edmonton, Alta.

21 TARO HIROSE

14 Forward 5-10, 192 Born: 2/5/95 Squamish, B.C.

40 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

Forward 6-0, 175 lbs. Born: 6/7/98 Dartmouth, N.S.

Defenseman 5-8, 180 lbs. Born: 5/4/96 Kamloops, B.C.

5 BRIAN LASHOFF

Forward 6-0, 190 lbs. Born: 6/12/96 Ottawa, Ont.

GREGOR MacLEOD

JOE HICKETTS

Forward 6-1, 205 lbs. Born: 10/9/84 Los Angeles, Calif.

JARID LUKOSEVICIUS

MATTHEW FORD

RYAN KUFFNER

Forward 5-10, 162 lbs. Born: 6/30/96 Calgary, Alta.

Defenseman 6-3, 215 lbs. Born: 7/16/90 Albany, N.Y.

GUSTAV LINDSTROM Defenseman 6-2, 187 lbs. Born: 10/20/98 Ostervala, Sweden

52 ALEC McCREA

Defenseman 6-3, 210 lbs. Born: 1/12/95 San Diego, Calif.

DYLAN McILRATH Defenseman 6-4, 235 lbs. Born: 4/20/92 Winnipeg, Man.

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CHASE PEARSON Forward 6-2, 200 lbs. Born: 8/23/97 Alpharetta, Ga.

CALVIN PICKARD

MORITZ SEIDER Defenseman 6-3, 209 lbs. Born: 4/6/01 Zell, Germany

37 Forward 6-3, 208 lbs. Born: 10/31/96

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Russia

DOMINIK SHINE

Forward 6-2, 200 lbs. Born: 1/13/00 Kirkland, Que.

Forward 6-2, 210 lbs. Born: 2/27/98 Toronto, Ont.

ERIC TANGRADI

Forward 6-6, 230 lbs. Born: 4/17/99 Surrey, B.C.

TYLER SPEZIA

Forward 5-10, 180 lbs. Born: 6/7/93 Clinton Township, Mich.

23 CHRIS TERRY

Forward 6-4, 230 lbs. Born: 2/10/89 Philadelphia, Pa.

MICHAEL RASMUSSEN

32 GIVANI SMITH

Forward 5-11, 180 lbs. Born: 4/18/93 Detroit, Mich.

36 JOE VELENO

Forward 6-1, 205 lbs. Born: 1/24/93 Essex, Ont.

EVGENY SVECHNIKOV

MATT PUEMPEL

Goaltender 6-1, 210 lbs. Born: 4/15/92 Moncton, N.B.

Forward 5-10, 200 lbs. Born: 4/7/89 Brampton, Ont.

DOMINIC TURGEON

Forward 6-2, 203 lbs. Born: 2/25/96 Pointe-Claire, Que.

11 KYLE WOOD

Defenseman 6-5, 235 lbs. Born: 5/4/96 Waterloo, Ont.

FILIP ZADINA

Forward 6-0, 188 lbs. Born: 11/27/99 Pardubice, Czech Republic

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 41

Story and photos by Mark Newman

A national champion at the University of Denver, Jarid Lukosevicius is transferring his competitive streak to the pros. Jarid Lukosevicius is a former college hockey player now trying to make a name for himself in the professional ranks, a task which is always a challenge but one that may be heightened by the dozen letters that follow his first name, courtesy of his grandparents who emigrated to Canada from Lithuania. It’s pronounced Luko-savages, which sounds invariably vicious but is noticeably at odds with the temperament of the young man who bears the imposing moniker. “A fun-loving kid who brings a smile to his teammates’ faces regularly” is how exUniversity of Denver coach Jim Montgomery described Lukosevicius. “An infectious personality, a fun kid to be around,” says his current coach, the Griffins’ Ben Simon. Ferocious, Lukosevicius is not, although he admits to being completely and convincingly competitive to a level that he suggests is not entirely healthy, a trait that might be as likely to rear its head during a game of Call of Duty as on the ice. “I hate to lose more than anything. It doesn’t 42 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

matter what it is,” he said. “I can’t stand losing. Sometimes I’m too competitive.” He wasn’t always that way. When he was growing up in Squamish, British Columbia, nothing made him happier than to grab a baseball glove and head to the diamond with friends. “I loved playing baseball, but baseball for me was just about fun. I was stoked for every game,” he recalled. “I loved playing in the field, but I wasn’t crazy about hitting, which sounds weird. I played shortstop and I found that catching the ball and throwing guys out was way more entertaining than getting on base.” He also enjoyed playing hockey, which is a good thing when your folks are making the 90-minute drive into Vancouver for practice every day. And hockey, like baseball, was all about fun. “I was more interested in hanging out with my friends,” he said. “I didn’t practice when I should have been more serious, even at a young age. I took time off, and you can’t really do that in hockey. It took me a little while to figure it out.” When he was 12, Lukosevicius moved in

with an aunt and uncle to get closer to the action. “I still had to find a ride to practice because they had two little boys themselves, with a third on the way,” he said. “It’s crazy all the people who helped me when I was growing up.” Eventually, having become old enough to drive himself, he moved back to Squamish, later playing a couple of junior seasons with the Powell River Kings in the British Columbia Hockey League. A proverbial late-bloomer, his goal was to get a college scholarship. At first, it looked like he might play in the Midwest, but he knew he would sign with Denver shortly after visiting Minnesota State. He was still at the airport when Montgomery called to make him an offer that he could not refuse. “When I saw the location on my caller ID, I thought, ‘Wow.’ Joe Sakic was my favorite player and Colorado was my favorite team, so I was ready to commit even though I didn’t know anything about the school,” he said. “As it went, things turned out really well.” Lukosevicius credits Montgomery with

giving him a sense of direction. “I’ve had a lot of good coaches over the years, but Monty really helped me develop as a player,” he said. “He taught me a lot of things I didn’t know. He definitely changed my career for the better. He helped me love the game even more.” Lukosevicius was a healthy scratch seven times during his freshman year. “He’d let you know if you had a bad practice, and if you don’t practice well, you’re not playing in the game. It didn’t matter if you were a freshman or a senior,” he said. “I thought I always worked hard, but he brought my work ethic to another level and gave me reasons to compete and work hard. He made me aware of who I was, what my strengths and weaknesses were.” Playing defensive hockey was not one of his strengths. Recruited to be a point producer, Lukosevicius had to learn how to play both ends of the ice and become a 200-foot player. “I was not good in the D-zone. I was awful,” he said. “I’m still not the greatest skater and I’m still working on my angles, but defense is something you’ve got to learn.” Lukosevicius scored all three goals in Denver’s 3-2 victory in the NCAA’s 2017 title game, giving the school its eighth national championship in hockey.

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 43

Lukosevicius made his professional debut with the Griffins last season during the 2019 Calder Cup Playoffs.

The Pioneers made college hockey’s Frozen Four three of his four seasons in Denver. “It should have been four of four,” he said. “We had our best team the year after we won the title. We were really good but it’s hard to win back-to-back.” When Denver defeated Minnesota Duluth 3-2 in the 2017 Frozen Four to become Division I champions, Lukosevicius scored all three goals, all coming in the second period. Honored as the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, he gives credit to his teammates. “I didn’t really do much. I probably had the puck on my stick for 10 seconds the whole period,” he says, suggesting that he was lucky to be in the right place at the right time with good teammates. “I’ve been fortunate to play with so many good players and you have to learn how to play with them,” he said. “You’ve either got to get open for them or you’ve got to give them space and then get them the puck. “The end of the game was the longest eight minutes of my life. It’s hard to remember, but it seemed like we spent the whole time in our 44 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

zone, the whole eight minutes. When we won, it was crazy.” After the Pioneers failed to qualify for the Frozen Four during his junior season, he was one of only two returning seniors who helped Denver get another crack at the title. He recorded seven game-winning goals during his senior season, boosting his career total to a school-record 20. “Nothing’s better than scoring goals,” he said. “It’s an incredible feeling, but gamewinning goals just happen. You’re just trying to score and you want to win. So it’s all about wanting to score.” As much as Lukosevicius loves being able to put the puck into the net, he knows that you’re not going to score if you don’t shoot. He led Denver in shots during his last three seasons in school. He led his team in goals during his senior year with 19, 12 of which were against conference opponents to place him second in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC). Although Denver dropped a 4-3 decision to UMass in the semifinals, Lukosevicius Lukosevicius scored his first two AHL goals in back-to-back road games against Rockford and Texas last October.

Lukosevicius was a nominee for the 2019 Hobey Baker Award, honoring the best college hockey player in the nation.

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done.

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 45

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remained satisfied with what he was able to accomplish during his four years and happy with how he had grown as a player. “I thought I was going for school,” he said. “I never really believed in myself. I didn’t think I was that good. Eventually, I realized that maybe there was a chance that I could make it (as a professional).” Lukosevicius was thrilled to sign a two-year contract with the Griffins before this season. He had caught the eye of Red Wings management, who had been keeping tabs on Denver goaltender Filip Larsson, Detroit’s sixth-round pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. “(Red Wings assistant GM) Ryan Martin and (director of player development) Shawn Horcoff were honest with me. They broke down the game plan and that’s what I liked. I like people to be honest. I asked for feedback. I don’t need them to tell me my strengths. I want to know my weaknesses. “I know what I have to do and it’s up to me to do it. I’m here to get better, not to get worse.” Lukosevicius admits that the transition to AHL is going to take time, especially since he

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missed some games due to injury. “It’s different,” he said. “It’s my job now. With so many games, you have to learn that when you don’t have your ‘A’ game, you can still contribute. I know I have to learn how to work smarter. When you’re overworking, it can’t hurt your play and that hurts the team. There’s so much to learn.” Simon said Lukosevicius shows good potential. “He brings good energy. He’s got a good motor, his feet are always moving. He’s got tremendous upside with offensive talent, but we have to see what the route will be for him.” As is the case for many young players, it’s a process of building confidence. “At every level, it takes a little while to figure things out, which is common,” Lukosevicius said. “Hopefully I figure it out. I’m starting to realize what I should do and to build confidence. It’s all a work-in-progress. “This is my life now. It’s a job, but I’m doing what I love to do. I know there are a lot of people who don’t like their job. I’m just thankful for this opportunity.”

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Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 49

THE

Story by Mark Newman

CHINESE CHALLENGE

Curt Fraser already had a ton of experience when he was hired to become the eighth head coach of the Grand Rapids Griffins before the 2008-09 AHL season. He was the first head coach in the history of the Atlanta Thrashers, who joined the NHL in 1999. He also had been an assistant coach with the New York Islanders and St. Louis Blues, and he had twice taken the Orlando Solar Bears to the IHL’s Turner Cup Finals. Fraser, who would eventually become the longest-tenured head coach in Griffins history (lasting four full seasons before returning to the NHL as an assistant with the Dallas Stars), also served as the head coach of the Belarus National Team for two seasons immediately before coming to Grand Rapids. But nothing has compared to his experience of the past year. Fraser is currently the head coach of the Kunlun Red Star in the Kontinental Hockey League, guiding the fortunes of the Beijing-based team that features a large collection of players with various degrees of Chinese heritage. Fraser’s past year has been an eye-opening experience, to say the least. From a hockey perspective, it’s worlds away from the game in North America, but it’s the culture shock that can throw any foreigner for a loop. “It’s a real challenge to negotiate through everyday obstacles,” Fraser said. “It’s a huge adjustment.” From the shift in time zones to everyday conversation to functioning within the confines of a Communist country, Fraser said it’s nearly impossible to convey the confounding but continually exciting experience of coaching in 50 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

a country where hockey was largely unknown only a decade ago. Coming to China, it seems, is an experience that would test the mettle of even the most seasoned hockey player. “China is very different, so most players start slow after they come here,” Fraser said. “You begin with a 15-hour plane ride, plus a 13- or 14hour time change, and when you finally get here, it takes you weeks to get yourself acclimatized. “As a coach, I’d say it’s a lot easier, but as a player, it’s a tough adjustment with the time change alone. Then add the fact that everything over here is not like it is in North America and it’s going to be a big change for most players. “Every day is a challenge, from the housing to the food to life in general. It’s not like opening your front door and walking down Main Street. Everything is totally different. Guys have done a great job of finding little places to eat and buy groceries. “I must say that the people here are very nice. You just have to get used to things being different. When you get up in the morning, instead of bacon and eggs, you might have eggs and chow mein. Fortunately, we’ve got a really good bunch of players and they’ve adjusted.” Even the game of hockey is different overseas. “The ice surface is a whole lot different. First off, it’s bigger. Plus the ice conditions are not as good as North America. When you arrive in the summertime, it’s 110 degrees. Players also have to get used to the different style of hockey that is played in the KHL.” Fraser said the caliber of play in the KHL, which emphasizes speed and skill, probably fits somewhere between the NHL and AHL.

FORMER GRIFFINS HEAD COACH CURT FRASER IS A MAN ON A MISSION: TO DEVELOP HOCKEY PLAYERS FOR THE HOST COUNTRY OF THE 2022 WINTER OLYMPICS.

“It’s a really good league,” he said. “You’ve got to study the players and it’s not easy. A lot of them are Russian kids that you’ve never seen or heard of. So you’ve got to do your homework. “Every team seems to have four really good lines. Everybody can skate. They’re all skilled and they’re all fast. It’s a very competitive league. There are some high-end teams and then there are a whole lot of teams that are bunched together. Even the bottom teams are still really good. It’s a strong league that’s difficult to compete in.” The KHL is even more challenging for the Kunlun team because it is the only team in China. Except for teams from Belarus, Finland, Latvia and Kazakhstan, the rest of the 24-team league is based in Russia. “Once you get yourself into shape and condition, then you have to deal with the travel,” he said. “Our flight to Moscow is 10-1/2 hours with a five-hour time change and you have to make that trip five times during the season while playing hockey. It’s very difficult to deal with.” Fraser, who joined the Chinese team late in the 2018-19 KHL season with only 12 games remaining on the schedule, said it took his team some time to find its footing this season after a 4-7-1 start. By the end of October, the Red Star had strung together a five-game winning streak to move into the middle of the pack. “It took us a while to get going because of the travel and all of the moving from city to city,” said Fraser, who noted that his team had played in both Shenzhen and Beijing. “Once we finally got home to the Shougang Arena (in Beijing), things started to fall into place. Everyone’s performing pretty well.”

Fraser is coaching the Kunlun Red Star in the KHL.

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 51

Fraser said Grand Rapids is “the perfect place to develop players.”

It also helped that Fraser made some moves with his defense. “When we started the season, our big problem was puck movement. Our defense wasn’t very good at helping us get out of our end,” he said. “Then we added Griffin Reinhart, Ryan Sproul and Denis Osipov. When those three guys arrived, all of a sudden we could move the puck a little bit better because we have good forwards and the team started playing well.” Fraser knew Sproul from his days with the Griffins. “I saw Sproul at the prospects camp in Traverse City,” Fraser said. “He joined the Griffins after I was in Grand Rapids, but I knew how highly ranked he was coming out of juniors. He came here early in the season and he’s been a great addition to our team.” Sproul became the second ex-Griffins player on the Kunlun roster. The Red Star had earlier signed Jake Chelios, son of Hockey Hall of Famer Chris Chelios, who played 64 games with the Griffins in 2018-19. The younger Chelios also played five games with the Red Wings last season. “Jake has been fantastic,” he said. “I’ve known the Chelios family for a long time, with Chris working in Grand Rapids when I was there and his son roomed with my son at Michigan State, so they got to know each other pretty well. “He’s been terrific right from the start, so now we have two former Griffins who are playing very well for us.” 52 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

Fraser has nothing but fond memories of his time coaching in Grand Rapids. His fouryear run with the Griffins saw him compile a cumulative 146-130-18-22 record (.525), ranking first in franchise history in both regular season games coached (316) and wins (146). His most successful campaign was his debut season of 2008-09 when he led Grand Rapids to an impressive 43-25-6-6 regular season mark – a 28-point improvement in the standings from the prior season. The Griffins also enjoyed their first-ever playoff upset, a six-game toppling of Hamilton in the North Division Semifinals. “(Former Griffins general manager) Bob McNamara brought me to Grand Rapids and from the first day, it was great,” he said. “I had no idea how nice Michigan was. I had spent time in downtown Detroit as a player and later as a coach, but I had never experienced anything outside the city. “So when I got to Grand Rapids, I saw that it was a fantastic place to live. Van Andel Arena was awesome. David Van Andel and Dan DeVos were always first-class owners and they had a great staff, from assistant coach Jim Paek to equipment manager Brad Thompson to trainer Rob Snitzer to the whole office staff. “Grand Rapids has the perfect setup for an American Hockey League team and it’s the perfect place to develop players.” Fraser said he felt doubly lucky because he was able to work in the Red Wings organization

and nurture the young talent that would help the team build its unprecedented 25-year playoff streak. In his first season, he worked with Darren Helm, Justin Abdelkader, Jonathan Ericsson and Jimmy Howard – all of whom are still with the Red Wings more than a decade later. Later, he would help mentor such future NHL stars as Tomas Tatar and Gustav Nyquist. “The Detroit Red Wings were the top team in the league and they were the best at drafting and developing players. It was amazing for a guy like me coming in there to see how Kenny Holland and Jim Nill ran things and how they got these guys to go from Grand Rapids to play for the Detroit Red Wings. “It was one good player after another. They all had something special. You knew they were going to be good. They just needed time to grow into their roles. So it was fun to be a part of that process.” The Griffins did not qualify for the playoffs his last three years, largely due to injuries suffered in Detroit and the ensuing callups that would deplete the lineup in Grand Rapids. “During my first year, the Red Wings were still riding the high waves and everything was going along pretty smoothly,” he said. “My second year, Detroit started losing players to injury and that’s when our guys were getting called up constantly and it made things tough on the Griffins. For the next three years, we had a constant flow of players going up and down.”

Fraser found solace in the success that the Red Wings continued to enjoy during his time in Grand Rapids. “It was always a bonus to win in Grand Rapids, but I knew the priority was to make sure the Red Wings were doing well,” he said. “For me, it was the perfect situation. I was surrounded by a great group of people. I had everything there to be successful. The Red Wings kept winning for a long, long time and we were very fortunate to supply them with high-end talented kids who played well for them.” Fraser said the Red Wings-Griffins relationship is the perfect model for success. “It offers everything that a player would need to grow and develop,” he said. “Plus when I was there, the bonus was we had guys like Steve Yzerman, Mark Howe, Chris Osgood, and Kirk Maltby coming to the games. We had Chris Chelios on the ice working with the players. It was amazing to have such an incredible group to surround our players. “I used to have Gordie Howe read the starting lineup for the players. It was amazing and it was a lot of fun.” Fraser took great satisfaction in seeing the Griffins win the Calder Cup the year after he departed for Dallas. “I felt like we had put in the foundation for success that just carried on and when they won the Cup, I thought it was awesome,” he said. “I couldn’t have been happier for all the guys because they put in a lot of hard work to finally

Fraser spent four seasons in Grand Rapids, where he coached several players who are still in the NHL a decade later.

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 53

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reach their goal and now a lot of them are playing in the NHL, so it’s good stuff.” Culture clashes aside, Fraser is enjoying himself in China. He is thankful that he has the support of a very experienced coaching staff. His assistants include Steve Kasper, a former coach of the Boston Bruins (1995-97) who was a Frank J. Selke Trophy winner as a player during a 13-year NHL career; Alexei Kovalev, the former Russian right winger who amassed 1,029 points during a 16-year NHL career; and Dusty Imoo, a Canadian-Japanese netminder in his playing days who had been the goaltending development coach with the Los Angeles Kings before joining the Red Star this past summer. “We’ve got a great staff and a good mix of players,” Fraser said. “Everything’s been working out really well for us and it’s been fun for everyone to come to the rink every day.” Fraser is a man on a mission. Beijing will host the 2022 Winter Olympics, which means he has only two more years to do what he can to help develop the talent necessary for the host country to field a respectable team – a tall order, to be sure. Four years ago, when China first fielded a team in the KHL, the Kunlun Red Star had a single player with roots to the homeland – Zach Yuen, a Vancouver-born defenseman whose parents immigrated to Canada from China but whose resume showed only three games above the ECHL level. Today, thanks to the efforts of general manager Scotty MacPherson, who has scoured the world for players of Chinese descent, the pool of players with the potential to one day play in the Olympics has grown to 68, including 10 currently playing for the Red Star. “In four years, it’s improved a lot, but in saying that we still have miles to go in terms of bringing these kids up to the level they need to be to compete in the World Championships,” he said. “We have great kids who are working hard to improve every day.” What role Fraser will play, if any, with the actual Olympic team is yet to be determined, but he is savoring his responsibility with mentoring players of various talent levels, an effort that somewhat mirrors the role he had in Belarus in 2006-08. “When I went to Belarus, I needed two translators for my assistant coaches because most of the kids only spoke Russian,” he said. “I even

Fraser was an assistant coach with the Dallas Stars for six seasons after Grand Rapids.

tried to learn a little Russian, but somehow I was able to negotiate my way through the language barrier. My time in Belarus was a fantastic experience and it certainly helped prepare me for this.” Over the years, the Kunlun organization has brought in several hockey illuminati – Wayne Gretzky, Phil Esposito and Mike Keenan all have paid visits of various lengths to China – but Fraser has largely been left to his own devices to develop the necessary talent pool for hockey to grow there. “Obviously we want to play well and win something in the KHL, but a big part of our mission is developing kids in China for the future of hockey and the Olympics here,” he said. “We’re fortunate to have a really good owner in Billy Ngok, and while the staff is still learning how to operate a professional hockey team in the best way, they’re getting there.” With barely two years to go before the Beijing Games, Fraser knows the clock is ticking. He is savoring the experience nonetheless, seeing his time in China as a golden opportunity – even if gold in the Olympics is a pipedream. “It’s been a whole different experience. The culture, the players, the travel – everything is amazing,” he said. “Every day is a challenge, but it’s been awesome. It’s been fun.” Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 55

Story and photos by Mark Newman

FAMILY LEGACY

Goaltending coach Brian Mahoney-Wilson is following in the footsteps of his grandfather, great uncle, and father, all of whom had connections to the Red Wings organization. 56 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

Brian Mahoney-Wilson practically has to pinch himself to make sure he’s not dreaming. As the goaltending development coach in the Red Wings organization, he is working for the same storied franchise that once drew on the talents of his grandfather, Larry Wilson, and his great uncle, Johnny Wilson. Larry Wilson, a member of the AHL Hall of Fame after a long and distinguished career that spanned 15 seasons as a player and six more as a head coach, saw his name etched onto the Stanley Cup as a member of the 1949-50 Red Wings. He also served as the interim head coach of the Red Wings during the 1976-77 season. His older brother, Johnny Wilson, is known as hockey’s first “iron man.” Besides winning four Stanley Cups alongside such legends as Gordie Howe, Ted Lindsay, Red Kelly, Alex Delvecchio and Terry Sawchuk, he set an NHL record by appearing in 580 consecutive games between 1951 and 1960, never missing a game through eight consecutive 70game seasons. Mahoney-Wilson, known as “Beemer” due to his BMW initials, heard a lot about both men from his father, Randy Wilson, who played hockey at Providence College and was drafted by the Red Wings in 1977. Beemer’s father played a few games for his grandfather when the latter was coaching the Kansas City Red Wings during the 1978-79 season. Larry Wilson was named the first head coach of the AHL’s Adirondack Red Wings in 1979 but never got to see the ice in Glen Falls. At the age of 48, he suffered a massive heart attack and died. “I never knew him but the stories live on,” said Mahoney-Wilson, who has been told that his grandfather was “an all-around good

person” and a good ambassador for the game of hockey. “I heard the stories every day growing up.” His grandfather’s legacy in hockey continued through Larry’s son, Ron Wilson, who was Anaheim’s inaugural head coach before moving onto Washington, San Jose and Toronto during a 20-plus season coaching career. “Seeing my uncle coaching in the NHL for 20 years and knowing my family’s dynamic with the Red Wings and its history led me to want to play hockey at a young age,” said Mahoney-Wilson, so named because his mother wanted to keep her maiden name. Beemer says he always wanted to be a goalie. “As a fan of the Bruins, I would watch Andy Moog on TV and I became enamored with the position,” he said. “For me, he was the ideal goaltender. There was something special about his equipment – the mask with the big Bruins bear painted on it and the old Vaughn pads that he wore.” His earliest memories are playing between the pipes. “Right from the very beginning, I took a liking to the position,” he said. “I stood in front of a Fisher-Price hockey net and my mom would throw tennis balls at me while my dad was at work. . . and the rest is history.”

Mahoney-Wilson eventually would play college hockey at Lake Superior State University, a decision that was cemented when he spotted an old photo of his grandfather and great uncle sitting on a hockey net together in a Sault Ste. Marie bar-restaurant during a visit to the school. He played four years (2007-11) for the Lakers, but his playing career was ultimately shortened by three hip surgeries in the space of 18 months. Drafted by the San Jose Sharks in 2004, he played only one year of pro hockey, appearing in 28 games with three different teams in the Central Hockey League. “I knew my threshold as a player was probably going to be the lower end of the ECHL or CHL, so I figured the next best thing was coaching,” he said. “Coaching was the next logical step because I had watched my uncle coach for such a long time, plus my grandfather and great uncle had coached as well.” Mahoney-Wilson decided to become a specialty coach. “I had been working in goalie camps probably since I was 13 years old,” he said. “Over the years, I was fortunate to learn from a lot of great minds – people like Brian Daccord, Warren Strelow, Wayne Thomas, and Francois Allaire.”

Mahoney-Wilson works closely with the Red Wings’ goaltending prospects in both Grand Rapids and Toledo.

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 57

Mahoney-Wilson is in his fourth season as the Detroit Red Wings’ goaltending development coach.

Daccord was especially influential. “He was the Boston Bruins goalie coach in the early 2000s and is now a consultant to the Toronto Maple Leafs,” Mahoney-Wilson said. “He runs several schools in the New England area and he gave me the chance to be a director on one of his staffs after I finished playing.” In 2013-14, Mahoney-Wilson served as an assistant/goaltending coach with the South Shore Kings in the USPHL. The following year, he served in a similar position with the United States Military Academy. “Brian Riley gave me a great opportunity as a volunteer at West Point and I think that lifestyle rubbed off on me – the dedication and structure, the regimentation, and the attention to detail.” Mahoney-Wilson joined the hockey program at Notre Dame for the 2015-16 season under head coach Jeff Jackson. “I gained so much knowledge from being an assistant at the school, serving as an ‘eye in the sky’ while working with goalie Cal Peterson, now a Los Angeles Kings prospect.” His big break came when Jeff Salajko was promoted to his current position as the Red Wings’ goaltending coach following 58 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

three seasons (2013-16) as the goaltending development coach for the Griffins. “From a family perspective, it couldn’t have worked out any better when I got the opportunity to interview with the Red Wings,” Mahoney-Wilson said. “It was a great process for me, meeting with Ryan Martin and Ken Holland, and they showed great faith when they offered me the job.” Working with Salajko has been an ideal situation for Mahoney-Wilson. “Sal is a very personal guy,” he said. “He has great relationships with his goaltenders and I’ve learned how important those relationships can be. He’s also very detailed in his approach and I think we’ve been able to learn from each other. “Both Sal and I expect good work ethic and attention to detail from all of our guys, whether they’re prospects or NHL goaltenders.” The two coaches typically connect once a week, depending upon Salajko’s schedule and workload. “We’re always sharing how our guys are doing and what could be better for them,” he said. “We’re doing everything we can to put them in a position to succeed.” The Griffins captured their second Calder Cup during Mahoney-Wilson’s first season in Grand Rapids. “Sal had worked with Jared Coreau for three-plus years to help him become an established goalie,” he said. “When Jared and I started working together, we modified a few things that could help him have even more success and he was very good for us. There were at least two games in every playoff series where he was a major factor.” The Griffins have had 10 different goaltenders appear between the pipes the past three seasons, which has meant that MahoneyWilson has had to learn how to adjust his coaching techniques accordingly. “You learn through your goaltenders’ play,” he said. “We’ve had a number of goalies the past three years – Canadians, Americans and Europeans – and they’ve all been different in their approach, both on and off the ice. You could say that, at age 33, it’s given me a lot of experience in diversifying my goalie portfolio.” For Mahoney-Wilson, goaltending is a lot like the stock market. “Every goalie goes through ebbs and flows during a season.

They’re going to encounter dips – they all do – but you want their stock to keep trending upwards.” To achieve success, a goalie must be willing to invest the necessary time. “It’s like a long marathon,” he said. “To get to the NHL, you need a lot of things to go right. You’ve got to have the right mindset and be really good at what you do. There’s no set method in how to do things the right way, but there are standards that must be met. It all starts with work ethic.” Mahoney-Wilson points out that it is rare to find an NHL goalie who hasn’t spent considerable time in the minors. Guys like Carey Price, who only played a handful of games in the AHL, are the exception to the rule. More common is the experience of a goalie like 2019 Stanley Cup winner Jordan Binnington, who spent the better part of six seasons in the minors before making a name for himself in St. Louis. “You want them to have a little swagger, but you also want them to understand that they have to work hard to achieve success,” he said. “If their work ethic is high-end, they should

see success in time.” Goalies excel through muscle memory achieved through repetition. Practice, practice and more practice is essential to improve their passing, post play, rebound placement, crease movement, and other skills. “There are so many elements to cover,” he said. “That’s why the process usually is so long.” Every detail should help a goalie achieve one thing – stopping the puck. How they get there is not always the same. “You try to get to know them as people so you know how to coach them,” he said. “At the same time, they’re also coaching you in terms of how to coach them. You can’t approach them with ‘It’s my way or the highway.’ “Each guy’s personality is different. How they learn is different. How their body works in the crease is different. You have to identify their strengths and weaknesses and then try to take steps in the right direction through positive reinforcement. “From a coaching perspective, you’ve got to make them feel good. You can’t just pound away at their deficiencies. If you took that

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approach, you wouldn’t be building them up for success. You want them to harness their strengths while also identifying areas for improvement. It’s a give-and-take relationship.” Video is one of the most important tools at his disposal. “We identify clips from every game and then look at their strengths as well as a couple of teaching points,” he said. “I’m looking for things to help them improve, whether it’s their overall stance, depth or angle play, or maybe a situational read of the play. If I see something that may be useful, I may show it on an iPad, but it’s ultimately up to them whether they want to apply it or not.” Mahoney-Wilson works extensively with the goaltenders in Grand Rapids while keeping an eye on the Red Wings’ prospects in Toledo. Besides attending all of Griffins games, he will typically see four or five Walleye games each month. In previous years, he also scouted potential draft picks and interfaced with Red Wings goaltending prospects in college and junior Mahoney-Wilson has family ties to the Red Wings organization through his grandfather, great uncle, and father.

60 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

hockey. Those tasks are now largely covered by Phil Osaer, the Red Wings’ new head of goaltending scouting and development who came from Tampa Bay, where he had filled a similar role for general manager Steve Yzerman. “Phil is a huge asset for both Sal and me because he can offer another perspective,” he said. “It’s invaluable to have another set of eyes.” The hiring of Osaer, a Livonia native and one-time St. Louis goaltending prospect, enabled Beemer to become full-time in Grand Rapids. Unfortunately, he has also found himself acting as the Griffins’ video coach since November after the unexpected death of Bill LeRoy. The task has given him a fuller appreciation of the game. He also scouts opposing team goalies while reviewing various analytical data on all of the Griffins’ goalies. While he no longer needs to be in constant touch with every Red Wings goaltending prospect, he continues to reach out to them with Osaer’s consent since they may eventually find their way to Grand Rapids or Toledo. And while some fans bemoan the future of the Red Wings in net, Mahoney-Wilson believes the talent will eventually rise to the top. “Every year is a new year and there are lots of prospects, whether they belong to Detroit or other teams,” he said. “At some point, you hope that one guy will step up and make it his opportunity. As a goalie coach, you don’t know who that is, so all you can do is teach and show them the right direction. “Ultimately, it’s up to the athlete. You’re looking for the one who absorbs things and applies them, the one who can persevere and work through adversity. At the end of the day, it’s up to them to create their success. “There’s no crystal ball. All you can do is try to

help them to improve. It’s up to them to make sure that their commitment level is there. We’re waiting for that one guy to step up. That’s what we need.” This year started with Beemer working with veteran Calvin Pickard, who signed a twoyear contract with the Red Wings after eight seasons with several NHL and AHL teams, and first-year pro Filip Larsson, a sixth-round draft pick in 2016 who played one year at the University of Denver. Larsson, not surprisingly, has experienced the growing pains of learning to play pro hockey. “There’s a big difference between college and pros,” Mahoney-Wilson said. “Like any athlete, you have to go through struggles to improve. The loss of confidence can hit you like a tornado. All you can hope for is that the experience will make him better. “It takes time. You’ve got to be patient, but there are days when you want to kick them in the butt. Other days you want to put a hand on their shoulder. But you have to realize that it’s a long process. Things don’t click overnight. It’s tough to say that, but it’s the reality. “I’m doing my best to teach work ethic

and technique. Hopefully, it applies, but it’s ultimately up to the athlete to find their way through their successes and failures. Some guys get it and some guys don’t.” Ultimately, Mahoney-Wilson wants every one of his goalies to excel. “Seeing the success of others is what coaching is all about,” he said. “Seeing the fruits of all of the hours you put into your goalie sessions is what’s important. You want to see them having fun at what they’re doing but ultimately you want to see that they’re trending in the right direction.” That he gets to work for the same organization that has been special to the Wilson family for so many years is something that he cherishes every day. “It’s incredible,” he said. “There’s not a day that I take it for granted. I’m hungry to come to work every day and it’s an honor to be employed by a prestigious organization like the Detroit Red Wings and be a part of the ‘Winged Wheel.’ “That I’m now part of the family legacy that extends more than 50 years with the Red Wings is something that is close to my heart. It’s pretty cool.”

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HOLDING Clutching an opposing playerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s body with the hands, arms or legs.

ROUGHING Called for engaging in fisticuffs or shoving.

UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT Called for unsportsmanlike actions such as disputing an officialâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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.

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

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 73

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

74 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

2019-20 AHL TEAM LANDSCAPE

AN EMAIL NEWSLETTER THAT YOUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;LL ACTUALLY READ

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News & Live Score Updates Game Night Experiences

Since their inception

chalice in six of the last 12

in 1996, the Griffins have sent 182

years and in eight of the last 15

players to the National Hockey

seasons. In chronological order,

League, 16 of whom have

here are the 23 goalies and 159

gone on to win the Stanley

76 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

skaters who have worn an NHL

Cup. In fact, a Griffins

sweater after playing for Grand

alumnus has had his name

Rapids, along with the dates of

engraved on Lord Stanleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

their NHL debuts/returns.

IT ALL

STARTS

HERE 1............Pavol Demitra............................3/17/97 STL at PHX 2............Kevyn Adams...........................10/1/97 TOR vs. WSH 3............Tyler Moss................................10/28/97 CGY vs. PIT 4............Michel Picard..................................1/6/98 STL at SJ 5............Jeff Nelson.............................10/10/98 NSH vs. FLA 6............Patrick Traverse.......................10/10/98 OTT at COL 7............Mark Greig...................................1/7/99 PHI vs. NYI 8............Radim Bicanek............................2/1/99 OTT at VAN 9............Robert Petrovicky........................2/15/99 TB at NYI 10..........Andrei Vasilyev...........................3/5/99 PHX vs. DET 11..........Todd Hlushko...............................4/25/99 PIT vs. NJ 12..........Patrick Lalime............................10/2/99 OTT at PHI 13..........Glen Metropolit......................10/2/99 WSH at FLA 14..........Kevin Miller.............................10/31/99 OTT at ATL 15..........Karel Rachunek.......................10/31/99 OTT at ATL 16..........Erich Goldmann....................11/11/99 OTT vs. NSH 17..........Yves Sarault...............................11/20/99 OTT at NJ 18..........John Gruden...........................11/30/99 OTT vs. CHI 19..........Mike Fountain..............................12/3/99 OTT at NJ 20..........Dave Van Drunen....................12/13/99 OTT at TOR 21..........Petr Schastlivy..............................1/3/00 OTT vs. NJ 22..........John Emmons............................1/6/00 OTT vs. PHX 23..........Slava Butsayev..........................1/28/00 OTT at BUF 24..........Aris Brimanis.............................2/13/00 NYI at NYR 25..........Dieter Kochan............................3/28/00 TB vs. DAL 26..........Jani Hurme....................................4/9/00 OTT vs. TB 27..........Shane Hnidy.............................10/5/00 OTT at BOS 28..........Donald MacLean...................10/14/00 TOR vs. OTT 29..........David Oliver...............................11/4/00 OTT vs. CBJ 30..........Jamie Rivers............................11/12/00 OTT at CAR 31..........Sean Gagnon.........................11/26/00 OTT at NYR 32..........Joel Bouchard........................11/29/00 PHX at COL 33..........Mike Crowley..........................12/8/00 ANA at MIN 34..........Ivan Ciernik.................................1/23/01 OTT at NYI 35..........Darren Rumble..............................2/6/01 STL at COL 36..........Joel Kwiatkowski......................2/19/01 OTT at BUF 37..........Todd White................................2/19/01 OTT at BUF 38..........Chris Neil....................................10/3/01 OTT at TOR 39..........Toni Dahlman..........................1/3/02 OTT vs. WSH 40..........Steve Martins............................1/11/02 OTT at FLA 41..........Kip Miller.......................................1/17/02 NYI at SJ 42..........Jody Hull.........................................2/4/02 OTT at TB 43..........Dmitry Afanasenkov.......................2/6/02 TB at FLA 44..........Simon Lajeunesse..........................3/7/02 OTT at SJ 45..........Martin Prusek...........................3/23/02 OTT vs. ATL 46..........Chris Bala....................................3/27/02 OTT at NYI 47..........Neil Little...................................3/28/02 PHI at CAR 48..........Josh Langfeld..............................3/30/02 OTT vs. TB 49..........Gaetan Royer...............................4/1/02 TB vs. NYR

50.........Jason Spezza...................10/24/02 OTT at BOS 51..........Sean Avery................................10/29/02 DET vs. SJ 52..........Jason Doig.................................12/3/02 WSH at PIT 53..........Jason Williams.........................12/5/02 DET at PHX 54..........Patrick Boileau......................12/19/02 DET vs. DAL 55..........Stacy Roest.............................2/20/03 DET vs. EDM 56..........Wade Brookbank..................10/9/03 NSH vs. ANA 57..........Julien Vauclair........................10/25/03 OTT at MTL 58........ Jiri Hudler............................10/29/03 DET vs. STL 59..........Curtis Joseph..........................10/30/03 DET at NSH 60..........Darryl Bootland......................11/8/03 DET vs. NSH 61..........Mark Mowers........................11/19/03 DET vs. CBJ 62..........Nathan Robinson..................11/28/03 DET vs. NYI 63..........Blake Sloan.................................12/4/03 DAL at LA 64........ Niklas Kronwall...................12/10/03 DET at BUF 65..........Ryan Barnes...........................12/15/03 DET vs. FLA 66........ Chris Kelly............................... 2/5/04 OTT vs. TOR 67..........Marc Lamothe.........................2/23/04 DET at EDM 68..........Anders Myrvold........................2/26/04 DET at CGY 69..........Mathieu Chouinard...................2/29/04 LA at ANA 70..........Brett Lebda..................................10/5/05 DET vs. STL 71..........Mark Eaton..................................10/5/05 NSH vs. SJ 72..........Chris Osgood.............................10/29/05 DET at CHI 73..........Kyle Quincey..........................11/25/05 DET at ANA 74.........Jimmy Howard.................11/28/05 DET at LA 75.........Valtteri Filppula................12/15/05 DET at FLA 76..........Rob Collins..............................12/17/05 NYI vs. COL 77..........Manny Legace............................1/5/06 DET vs. STL 78..........David Gove...............................1/31/06 CAR at MTL 79..........Tomas Kopecky..............................2/28/06 DET at SJ 80..........Alexandre Giroux........................3/25/06 NYR at TB 81..........Joey MacDonald........................10/19/06 DET at SJ 82..........Derek Meech...............................12/7/06 DET vs. STL 83..........Matt Ellis...................................12/18/06 DET at CBJ 84..........Matt Hussey...............................1/26/07 DET at STL 85..........Sheldon Brookbank.......................2/6/07 NSH at PIT 86..........Danny Syvret..........................2/27/07 EDM vs. PHX 87..........Mark Hartigan.........................11/29/07 DET vs. TB 88..........Drew MacIntyre........................12/13/07 VAN at SJ 89..........Peter Vandermeer..................2/10/08 PHX vs. NSH 90.......Jonathan Ericsson..........2/22/08 DET at CGY 91..........Garrett Stafford.........................2/23/08 DET at VAN 92.........Darren Helm.......................3/13/08 DET vs. DAL 93..........Mattias Ritola..........................3/15/08 DET vs. NSH 94..........Clay Wilson................................3/25/08 CBJ at NSH 95..........Darren McCarty..........................3/28/08 DET vs. STL 96..........Krys Kolanos.................................11/4/08 MIN at SJ 97..........Landon Wilson.....................11/22/08 DAL vs. ANA 98..........Bryan Helmer.....................11/28/08 WSH vs. MTL 99..........Chris Chelios ..........................12/13/08 DET at PHX 100........Aaron Downey.........................1/29/09 DET vs. DAL 101......Justin Abdelkader..........1/31/09 DET at WSH 102........Ville Leino................................1/31/09 DET at WSH 103........Aaron Gagnon......................10/16/09 DAL vs. BOS 104........Scott Parse................................10/24/09 LA at PHX 105........Doug Janik...............................11/3/09 DET vs. BOS 106.........Ryan Keller................................11/25/09 OTT at NJ 107........Jakub Kindl.............................12/3/09 DET vs. EDM 108........Kris Newbury........................12/14/09 DET vs. PHX 109.........Darren Haydar...........................2/10/10 COL vs. ATL 110........Andreas Lilja................................3/1/10 DET at COL 111.........Jeremy Williams......................10/24/10 NYR vs. NJ 112........Jan Mursak..............................12/27/10 DET at COL 113........Chris Mueller.........................12/28/10 NSH vs. DAL 114........Tomas Tatar......................12/31/10 DET vs. NYI 115........Cory Emmerton........................1/22/11 DET vs. CHI 116.........Patrick Rissmiller......................2/23/11 ATL at BUF 117 .......Tom McCollum .........................3/30/11 DET vs. STL 118 ......Gustav Nyquist ...............11/1/11 DET vs. MIN 119 ........Fabian Brunnstrom....................11/5/11 DET vs. ANA

120.......Brendan Smith..................11/17/11 DET at SJ 121......Mark Cullen.................11/29/11 FLA at CAR 122........Chris Conner..............................12/2/11 DET at BUF 123........Joakim Andersson.................12/27/11 DET vs. STL 124.......Ty Conklin ..........................3/21/12 DET at NYR 125.......Riley Sheahan......................4/7/12 DET vs. CHI 126.....Brian Lashoff................. 1/21/13 DET at CBJ 127........Mike Knuble...............................1/26/13 PHI at FLA 128........Jamie Tardif.................................2/2/13 BOS at TOR 129........Petr Mrazek ...........................2/7/13 DET at STL 130........ Jonas Gustavsson...................2/19/13 DET at NSH 131........Carlo Colaiacovo.........................4/1/13 DET vs. COL 132.......Danny DeKeyser..............10/2/13 DET vs. BUF 133.......Luke Glendening...........10/12/13 DET vs. PHI 134........Xavier Ouellet............................10/21/13 DET vs. SJ 135........Adam Almquist .....................11/4/13 DET at WPG 136........Chad Billins...............................11/5/13 CGY at MIN 137........Patrick Eaves............................12/14/13 DET vs. PIT 138.....Tomas Jurco..................12/15/13 DET vs. TB 139........Jordin Tootoo..........................12/19/13 DET vs. CGY 140........Alexey Marchenko......................1/4/14 DET at DAL 141........Teemu Pulkkinen ..................3/14/14 DET vs. EDM 142........Landon Ferraro........................3/18/14 DET vs. TOR 143.......Calle Jarnkrok....................3/21/14 NSH at CGY 144........Mitch Callahan...........................3/25/14 DET at CBJ 145........Ryan Sproul................................4/13/14 DET at STL 146........Andrej Nestrasil.......................10/9/14 DET vs. BOS 147........Stephen Weiss.......................11/24/14 DET vs. OTT 148.....Mattias Janmark............10/8/15 DAL vs. PIT 149.......Dylan Larkin.....................10/9/15 DET vs. TOR 150...... Kevin Porter...........................10/10/15 PIT at ARI 151.......Andreas Athanasiou......11/8/15 DET vs. DAL 152.....Tomas Nosek...............12/26/15 DET at NSH 153........Eric Tangradi...............................1/25/16 DET at NYI 154.......Anthony Mantha..............3/15/16 DET at PHI 155.....Alan Quine.......................4/9/16 NYI vs. PHI 156.....Martin Frk.................. 10/18/16 CAR at EDM 157.....Tyler Bertuzzi.................11/8/16 DET at PHI 158........Jared Coreau...............................12/3/16 DET at PIT 159.......Nick Jensen........................12/20/16 DET at TB 160........Drew Miller...............................2/28/17 DET at VAN 161........Robbie Russo..............................3/7/17 DET at TORÂ 162........Dan Renouf.............................. 3/27/17 DET at CAR 163.....Ben Street.....................3/28/17 DET at CAR 164.....Evgeny Svechnikov.........4/3/17 DET vs. OTT 165........Matt Lorito.................................4/8/17 DET vs. MTL 166........Kyle Criscuolo.........................11/17/17 BUF at DET 167........Dominic Turgeon.......................1/14/18 DET at CHI 168.....Joe Hicketts.....................1/22/18 DET at NJ 169.....Dennis Cholowski..........10/4/18 DET vs. CBJ 170........Libor Sulak................................10/4/18 DET vs. CBJ 171.....Filip Hronek...................10/4/18 DET vs. CBJ 172........Wade Megan..............................11/1/18 DET vs. NJ 173.....Christoffer Ehn............. 11/6/18 DET vs. VAN 174........Eddie Pasquale............................12/4/18 TB at DET 175........Michael Rasmussen..................2/7/19 DET vs. VGK 176.....Filip Zadina......................2/24/19 DET vs. SJ 177........Matt Puempel..........................3/23/19 DET at VGK 178.....Dylan McIlrath..................3/25/19 DET at SJ 179........Jake Chelios.................................3/29/19 DET vs. NJ 180.....Givani Smith.............. 10/25/19 DET vs. BUF 181.....Calvin Pickard..............11/29/19 DET at PHI 182.....Madison Bowey.......... 12/14/19 DET at MTL Bold = Played in the NHL this season (as of Jan. 10, 2020) Italics = Had name engraved on the Stanley Cup after playing for Grand Rapids All photos by Getty Images Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 77

Don’t miss any of the action this season! *All playoff games and when regular season conflicts arise.

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A Big Thanks To Our Radio Sponsors For Their Help In Bringing Griffins Hockey To You This Season

78 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

KIDS PAGE

IT’S A JUNGLE OUT THERE!

More than two dozen teams in the AHL and NHL use the nickname – or a logo that includes imagery – of a real animal or an imaginary/ extinct creature. Some were chosen to honor the history or reflect the fauna of a particular region, while others, like Griffins, are just cool and fierce and make a great name for a hockey team. (Yeah, we’re biased, but it’s still true!) How many of these nicknames do you know?

ACROSS 2. Manitoba 4. Colorado (AHL) 5. Nashville 9. San Antonio 13. Hartford 16. Springfield 19. Providence and Boston 20. Bakersfield 22. Hershey 24. San Jose (AHL) DOWN 1. Chicago (AHL) 2. Cleveland 3. Arizona 6. San Jose (NHL) 7. Tucson 8. San Diego 10. Grand Rapids 11. Buffalo 12. Florida 13. Iowa and Minnesota 14. Wilkes-Barre/ Scranton and Pittsburgh 15. Vancouver 17. Rockford 18. Bridgeport 21. Charlotte 23. Anaheim

ANSWERS: ACROSS 2. Moose 4. Eagles 5. Predators 9. Rampage 13. Wolf Pack 16. Thunderbirds 19. Bruins

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 79

DOWN 1. Wolves 2. Monsters 3. Coyotes 20. Condors 22. Bears 24. Barracuda

6. Sharks 7. Roadrunners 8. Gulls 10. Griffins 11. Sabres 12. Panthers 13. Wild

14. Penguins 15. Canucks 17. IceHogs 18. Sound Tigers 21. Checkers 23. Ducks

PARTING SHOT

Time to Tango! After re-signing with Grand Rapids 90 minutes before the Dec. 6 game, fan favorite and 2017 Calder Cup champion Eric Tangradi scored his 77th goal as a Griffin early in the second period. 80 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

Photo by Sam Iannamico

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