HEARTS ON THEIR SLEEVES

Bob Kaser and Larry Figurski will begin their 21st season together as the primary broadcast team for the Griffins.

HEARTS

ON THEIR

SLEEVES The Griffins’ talented radio tandem discovered they shared more than a healthy enthusiasm for hockey.

Bob Kaser

Bob Kaser and Larry Figurski have been a team on Griffins radio broadcasts for so long that they are practically joined at the hip.

But Kaser, the veteran radio play-by-play announcer, and Figurski, the local sports anchor-turned-color analyst, now have another connection that neither could have imagined when they started working together more than 20 years ago.

Both are heart attack survivors.

They have something else in common. They both want to remind people that what happened to them could happen to anyone. They believe men and women should have regular checkups to catch any potential problem before something serious could threaten their life.

It’s somewhat ironic, since both men wear their hearts on their sleeves. You can hear in their voices that they have the same passion for hockey, an incurable condition that they shared even before they became the Griffins’ primary broadcast team in 2000.

A Kalamazoo native who grew up in Flint, Kaser marked a return to his home state when he joined the Griffins after 10 seasons (1990-2000) as director of communications and broadcasting for the IHL’s Kansas City Blades. He was already highly regarded, having twice been awarded the Bob Chase Award as IHL Broadcaster of the Year (199394 and 1997-98).

A metro Detroit native, Figurski is a graduate of Detroit Catholic Central High School, where he was in the same graduating class as Don McSween, the ex-NHL defenseman who served as captain during the Griffins’ inaugural season (1996-97).

“I have been playing hockey since I was five years old,” Figurski said. “Like every other kid playing the sport, I wanted to play in the NHL. In my case, that obviously was never going to happen. So I dreamed about being the next Bruce Martyn [the legendary radio voice of the Red Wings for 31 seasons, from 1964-1995].”

Figurski started in radio after graduating from Central Michigan University. He switched to television when he began reading the news for the station in Alpena, Mich., which at the time was the fourth-smallest market in the U.S. Within months, he was promoted to news director, the position he held before he was hired to work for 9&10 News in northern Michigan (Traverse City/Cadillac).

Larry Figurski

Both Kaser and Figurski have been recipients of the prestigious James H. Ellery Award presented annually in recognition of outstanding media coverage of the AHL. Figurski was honored for his work at WOOD-TV8 during the the 2019-20 season, a decade after his partner won the award in the Radio category (2009-10).

Seeking to build his resumé, Figurski left Michigan to work for a couple of years in Springfield, Mo., before returning to the state to join WZZM-TV in 1996, the same year that the Griffins franchise began play in the IHL. He came to WOOD-TV8 after four years as a sports anchor and reporter at the ABC affiliate.

Figurski initially served as the host of the station’s long-running franchise segment, “Positively Michigan,” which had been previously hosted by Dick Evans and Warren Reynolds, two of the most respected broadcasters in the station’s history. He had big shoes to fill but did so admirably for three years before moving back to sports.

It was Randy Cleves, the Griffins’ senior director of public and community relations, who played matchmaker. Cleves, who had previously worked with Kaser in Kansas City, introduced Figurski to Kaser, who immediately saw the possibilities in a potential

“It’s one thing to know the game, but it’s another partnership with a fellow fanatic. “I could tell right away that Larry was the right to be able to articulate it and guy,” Kaser said. “It’s one thing to know the game, but it’s another to be able Larry does that so very well. to articulate it and Larry does that so very well. Over my years in broadcasting, I have worked with some great people, including (part-time color commentator) Lou Rabaut in Grand Rapids, and Larry is exceptional. He is so professional and he is so prepared.” Figurski, however, was not prepared for what happened on the night of July 7, 2008. “I had worked a regular day and I was driving home on M-6 after playing hockey,” he recalled. “I was glad that I hadn’t stayed afterward for a beer with the boys because on the way home I felt like I had a cramp right in the middle of my chest. Even so, I drove right past Metro Hospital. When I got home, my wife took one look and said, ‘We’re going to the hospital.’

Kaser (shown here with Red Wings head coach Jeff Blashill) is a 10-time winner of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters’ Broadcast Excellence Award.

Figurski (shown here with former Griffins captain Jeff Hoggan) started his radio partnership with Kaser before the 2000-01 season.

“We went in and it seemed strange because everything that was being said was in the past tense. I was shocked when they said, ‘You’ve had a heart attack.’ I had this weird sensation from my fingertips to my shoulders, too, but I didn’t realize that’s what was happening to me.”

Figurski was being prepped for a cardiac catheterization when his condition suddenly changed. If he wasn’t sure that he was having a heart attack before, there was no doubt in the next moment.

“Wham – just like that – I had the proverbial ‘elephant on your chest’ feeling. I was gasping for air. I felt this huge weight and then saw the machines go and everyone came rushing to my side.”

He would later learn that he had an almost complete blockage of his left anterior descending (LAD) artery, completely restricting blood flow to a large portion of his heart, including the front part, which is the ‘workhorse’ of the heart.

“It’s called a widowmaker, for all the obvious reasons,” Figurski said. “I had a 5-6 minute window to survive.”

The medical staff quickly sprung into action. “I remember the doctor saying, ‘I don’t have time to find a good spot’ and ‘this might hurt a bit’ and then feeling a sensation that was like having a pen shoved into my groin. They eventually broke the blockage and put in a stent.”

His condition was described as similar to having a stone in a garden hose that had broken free and then suddenly shuts off the flow. “They told me if I had walked into the hospital even a few minutes later, I would have been dead.”

Figurski was incredibly lucky to have survived.

Kaser still remembers hearing about his radio partner’s heart episode for the first time.

“I’ll never forget the day,” Kaser said. “I was on M-21 driving back from Flint and I was so riveted by the conversation that I had to stop and pull over. This was my close friend and radio partner who almost died, so

Figurski has been a fixture on the Grand Rapids sports scene since 1996, the year the Griffins began play.

I pulled off the road into this park to continue the conversation.”

Kaser says he had no premonition or ominous feeling that this was some kind of foreshadowing of his future. “It was only a concern for a dear friend,” he said.

Nevertheless, a little more than 11 years later, Kaser would have his own story to tell.

Kaser looks like the picture of good health, but he admits that he had not felt right for a long, long time before he suffered a mild heart attack in December 2019.

Of course, medical conditions are not always evident and some circumstances can lead to outcomes that a person might not foresee.

Kaser had been on medication to control his cholesterol for quite some time. “You feel like that medication is the magic potion that allows you to live your life like anyone else,

“Stress was getting the best of me and I had a so you can eat and drink whatever you want. Flint probably has the best food bout with depression. I was eventually on the planet, but none of it is good for you,” said Kaser, who enjoyed eating diagnosed with a coney dogs and Halo gluten allergy. I just never felt normal.” burgers as much as anyone. “Big John Steak & Onions… Dawn Donuts… Supreme Donuts – I was a train wreck when it came to my diet,” he continued, listing all the stops he would make whenever he went back home to Flint. “Little Caesars Pizza was probably the healthiest thing I liked to eat.” Kaser said he felt like something has been off since his days in Kansas City when he was caring for his father, who had moved in before he passed away from lung disease. “Stress was getting the best of me and I had a bout with depression. I was eventually diagnosed with a gluten allergy. I just never felt normal.” Kaser had spent a Saturday morning at Griff’s IceHouse that December, announcing

Kaser, the director of the annual Griffins Youth Foundation Golf Classic, was inducted into the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2021.

the introduction of the teams at the start of the Griffins Youth Foundation hockey season. “When I was leaving the rink, I felt something in my chest, but I didn’t think much of it,” he said.

He drove to the downtown Kilwins store, which he co-owns with partners along with the Kilwins and Jersey Junction stores in East Grand Rapids. All three stores are managed by his wife Rosalie, and he was making one of his usual deliveries.

“I was talking to one of our partners, Andy Young, and according to him we had a 10-minute conversation, but I couldn’t recall a single second because my mind was so off due to what was happening in my chest,” he said. “I went home and told my wife and we went to Metro Hospital where they put in a stent the next day.”

Kaser finished the 2019-20 season, which

“The surgery was very successful, but was ultimately cut short by the coronavirus. He admits that he began I remember waking feeling “cruddy” again. He was in the protective up at one point in the ICU and thinking I bubble with the team at the time, preparing for the start of the new season. He was literally dying.” decided to make a call to his cardiologist’s office. Soon after he was in an ambulance on his way to the Meijer Heart Center. Surgery was planned for five days later because doctors wanted to ween blood thinners from his system, but his surgery was moved up a day when his heart showed signs of faltering. Kaser had quintuple bypass surgery, meaning all five of the major vessels to his heart were showing varying signs of concern. The doctor harvested blood vessels from his leg to be grafted onto his heart vessels, with the bloodstream being routed around (bypass) the blocked portions.

He spent eight hours in the operating room. “The surgery was very successful, but I remember waking up at one point in the ICU and thinking I was literally dying,” Kaser said. “I had a 10-inch scar on my chest but the most pain I felt was in my left leg where they had taken the veins.”

Recovery took place over the next several months and while Kaser still experiences some occasional fatigue, he says he feels like he has a new lease on life. “I do feel like a million dollars,” he said. “I forgot what it was like to feel good because it had been so long.”

Certainly, a heart attack is something that nobody ever wishes for, but health scares have a way of resetting people’s priorities. “I want to be around to see my boys getting married and having kids,” Kaser said. “I’m looking forward to becoming a grandfather, being a good husband to my wife, and hanging with friends. That stuff means so much more to me now than it ever did.”

He is thankful that Figurski was willing and able to do the play-by-play for the Griffins’ home broadcasts (both radio and TV) last season.

Figurski admits that he felt more than a little trepidation.

“I was nervous because I didn’t want to embarrass anybody,” he said. “Let’s be honest. I was following the best guy in the American Hockey League. I was taking over for a guy who belongs in the NHL and who has proven he can do it at the NHL level.”

Kaser made his NHL broadcast debut during the 2016-17 season when he handled the radio play-by-play for 13 Detroit Red Wings games, filling in for the ailing Ken Kal, who temporarily lost his voice. Kaser also called one telecast on Fox Sports Detroit.

“I was never 100 percent convinced that I was good enough to work in the NHL,” Kaser said. “In the back of my mind, I thought I could probably do it, but I never aggressively went after the NHL because I didn’t know how it could get any better than living in Grand

Rapids and working for the Griffins. “I feel so fortunate to have had the career that I’ve enjoyed,” Kaser continued. “I don’t know how anyone could have had it better than I have had during my time in the minor pro ranks of any sport, from the places where I have worked to the people I’ve worked for to the people I’ve worked with.” “But working the Wings games was an absolute blast… I loved every second of it.” Having proven he could handle the job, Kaser put himself in the running to be the radio voice of the NHL’s Boston Bruins the following season. Although he didn’t get the job, he is proud to have been among the final three in the running. Kaser understood Figurski’s apprehension, but he also knew his A heart attack is partner would excel in his chair during his absence. something that nobody ever wishes Figurski was not a complete stranger to play-by-play, having filled for, but health in a few times for Kaser previously. But this was scares have a for an entire season, albeit an abbreviated one due way of resetting people’s priorities. to the pandemic. “The plan was for me to do 16 games when I had maybe done only eight games stretched over several years previously,” Figurski said. “Doing color and play-by-play are apples and oranges,” he continued. “They are not the same, not even close. As the play-byplay voice, Bob tells you what happened. As the color analyst, my job is to tell you why or how it happened because you can’t see it on the radio. “I’ve certainly learned a lot listening to Bob, but I just tried to be me. I was just going to let it fly and whatever came out, came out. Bob is Bob. You can’t replace Bob. So I tried to be myself.” Figurski admits he quickly adjusted to his expanded role. “I started to become more comfortable and it got a little easier with each game,” he said. “I know I’m no Bob Kaser, but by the end, I really enjoyed it. It was a blast and fun to do, but I am very happy being Bob’s sidekick.” Kaser didn’t listen and watch every game –

he was trying to focus on his recovery – but he saw and heard enough to shower praise on his partner’s efforts.

“Over time, you could see that he became more and more confident in that chair,” Kaser said. “By the end, he was just having himself a ball – to the point where maybe he wishes I would go away,” he added with a laugh.

Figurski is content to resume his normal place in the broadcast booth. During the playoffs, he is usually between the benches, which is his favorite place to work because he is right in the middle of the action. Over the years, he’s dodged his share of sticks and flying pucks.

“It’s the buzz, the atmosphere, the excitement that you feel when you’re at ice level,” Figurski said. “It’s also how you can tell that Bob and I have really good chemistry, whether you like us or not.

“Bob is at center ice at the top of the building on one side and I’m on the other side of the building at ground level and yet we rarely step on each other, even with no real sightline between us. I can tell when he’s giving me the space to go and I can pop in and pop out, give him five seconds or 30 seconds, then give him the space that he needs to do the play-by-play.”

And yet both men will approach the coming season somewhat gingerly, not having worked together for the better part of 18 months.

“The last time I did color for a hockey game was the last time Bob did play-by-play, and that was pre-pandemic,” Figurski said. “We did the game on a Wednesday night [March 11, 2020] and the next day the AHL stopped the season. But we’ve worked together so long, I’m sure the chemistry will come back. I’m banking on the fact that 20 years together will make it easier.”

“I am so happy just to be alive and on the mend,” Kaser said. “Heading into the new season, I’m as excited as can be.”

They know they might be a little rusty, but that’s OK because it happens at the beginning of every season. And no matter how long it takes them to find their chemistry again, you can be sure of one thing. They will put their hearts into everything.

HOLLAND LITHO’S TRIPLE THREAT

DIGITAL W OFFSET W DIRECT MAIL

As a leading provider since 1957, our GOAL is to provide the very best value and service for all of your print products, marketing materials and packaging. GOAL is to provide

800.652.6567 www.hollandlitho.com

RECORDBOOK AND Entering 2021-22 Season LEADERS

GAMES PLAYED All-Time Travis Richards Active Leader Brian Lashoff (2nd) Single-Season 5 players tied 2020-21 Riley Barber, Joe Hicketts GOALS All-Time Michel Picard Active Leader Turner Elson (T45th) Single-Season Donald MacLean (2005-06) 2020-21 Riley Barber ASSISTS All-Time Michel Picard Active Leader Brian Lashoff (18th) Single-Season Jiri Hudler (2005-06) 2020-21 Taro Hirose 655 513 *82 32

158 40 *56 20

222 83 60 23

Michel Picard Calvin Pickard

POINTS All-Time Michel Picard Active Leader Brian Lashoff (33rd) Single-Season Michel Picard (1996-97) 2020-21 Riley Barber PLUS/MINUS All-Time Travis Richards Active Leader Turner Elson (17th) Single-Season Ivan Ciernik (2000-01) 2020-21 Turner Elson PENALTY MINUTES All-Time Darryl Bootland Active Leader Brian Lashoff (21st) Single-Season Darryl Bootland (2005-06) 2020-21 Dylan McIlrath

* = Led League

Darryl Bootland

380 109 101 34

+131 +38` *+41 +6

1,164 269 390 70

Turner Elson Brian Lashoff Joey MacDonald

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

WINS All-Time Tom McCollum Active Leader Calvin Pickard Single-Season Joey MacDonald (2004-05) Mike Fountain (2000-01) 2020-21 Kevin Boyle 263 36 *66 12

1.83 2.90 *1.82 2.78

122 18 34 *34 7 SHUTOUTS All-Time Joey MacDonald Active Leader Calvin Pickard Single-Season 6 players tied 2020-21 Kaden Fulcher SAVES All-Time Tom McCollum Active Leader Calvin Pickard Single-Season Joey MacDonald (2004-05) 2020-21 Pat Nagle SAVE PERCENTAGE All-Time Martin Prusek Active Leader Calvin Pickard Single-Season Joey MacDonald (2003-04) 2020-21 Pat Nagle 20 3 6 1

6,640 944 1,785 256

0.930 0.902 0.936 0.892

GRIFFINS IN THE ALL-STAR GAME

2020

Matthew Ford

2020

Chris Terry

2019 2018 2018

Chris Terry

2016

Jeff Hoggan and Xavier Ouellet

2013

Matt Puempel

2015

Teemu Pulkkinen

2013

Matt Lorito

2014

Alexey Marchenko

2013

Chad Billins

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

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

Petr Mrazek

2001-02

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

2000-01

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

Gustav Nyquist

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

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

CROSS CHECKING A check or block delivered by a player with both hands on the stick and no part of the stick on the ice.

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

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

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

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

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

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

ROUGHING Called for engaging in fisticuffs or shoving.

SLASHING Striking an opposing player with the stick.

SPEARING

Called for using the stick like a spear.

TRIPPING

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

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

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

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

Griffins in the NHL

Since their inception in 1996, the Griffins have sent 186 players to the National Hockey League, 17 of whom have gone on to win the Stanley Cup. In fact, a Griffins alumnus has had his name engraved on Lord Stanley’s chalice in eight of the last 14 years and in 10 of the last 17 seasons. In chronological order, here are the 23 goalies and 163 skaters who have worn an NHL sweater after playing for Grand Rapids, along with the dates of their NHL debuts/returns.

IT ALL

STARTS HERE

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

134.....Xavier Ouellet...............10/21/13 DET vs. SJ

135.......Adam Almquist .....................11/4/13 DET at WPG 136.......Chad Billins..............................11/5/13 CGY at MIN 137.......Patrick Eaves...........................12/14/13 DET vs. PIT

138.....Tomas Jurco.................12/15/13 DET vs. TB

139.......Jordin Tootoo.........................12/19/13 DET vs. CGY 140.......Alexey Marchenko.....................1/4/14 DET at DAL 141.......Teemu Pulkkinen .................3/14/14 DET vs. EDM 142.......Landon Ferraro.......................3/18/14 DET vs. TOR 143......Calle Jarnkrok...................3/21/14 NSH at CGY 144.......Mitch Callahan..........................3/25/14 DET at CBJ 145.......Ryan Sproul...............................4/13/14 DET at STL 146.......Andrej Nestrasil.......................10/9/14 DET vs. BOS 147.......Stephen Weiss......................11/24/14 DET vs. OTT

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

165.......Matt Lorito................................4/8/17 DET vs. MTL 166.......Kyle Criscuolo........................11/17/17 BUF at DET 167.......Dominic Turgeon......................1/14/18 DET at CHI 168.......Joe Hicketts.................................1/22/18 DET at NJ

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

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

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

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

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

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

180.....Givani Smith............. 10/25/19 DET vs. BUF 181.....Calvin Pickard.............11/29/19 DET at PHI 182.....Madison Bowey.........12/14/19 DET at MTL 183.....Taro Hirose..................... 2/6/20 DET at BUF 184.....Gustav Lindstrom.......... 2/6/20 DET at BUF 185.....Joe Veleno .................... 4/27/21 DET at CBJ 186.....Mathias Brome............... 5/7/21 DET at CBJ

Bold = Played in the NHL during the 2020-21 season

Italics = Had name engraved on the Stanley Cup after playing for Grand Rapids

All photos by Getty Images

Don’t miss any of the action this season! Listen To Bob Kaser’s play-by-play on Newsradio WOOD 106.9 FM / 1300 AM Stream the action on iHeartRadio!

EST. 1996

*ALL PLAYOFF GAMES AND WHEN REGULAR SEASON CONFLICTS ARISE.

A BIG THANKS TO OUR RADIO SPONSORS FOR THEIR HELP IN BRINGING GRIFFINS HOCKEY TO YOU THIS SEASON.

Lord Stanley and the Griffins

Thirty-two Griffins players have had their names engraved on the NHL’s Stanley Cup at some point during their careers, including 17 who earned the honor after playing for Grand Rapids. Tampa Bay assistant general manager Stacy Roest became the latest member of that club, and the first in a non-playing role, when the Lightning defeated Dallas in the 2020 Stanley Cup Final, and Tampa Bay’s repeat in 2021 over Montreal made him only the second alum to win two cups after leaving Grand Rapids. The names of Griffins alumni have been added to the cup in eight of the last 14 years and in 10 of the last 17 seasons.

Photo Credit Getty Images

Can you search and find the last names of all 17 former Griffins who went on to hoist the Stanley Cup? Good luck!

Kevyn ADAMS 2006 Carolina Dmitry AFANASENKOV 2004 Tampa Bay Sheldon BROOKBANK 2013 Chicago Mark EATON 2009 Pittsburgh Valtteri FILPPULA 2008 Detroit Darren HELM 2008 Detroit Jiri HUDLER 2008 Detroit Chris KELLY 2011 Boston Tomas KOPECKY 2008 Detroit, 2010 Chicago Niklas KRONWALL 2008 Detroit Brett LEBDA 2008 Detroit Darren MCCARTY 2008 Detroit Derek MEECH 2008 Detroit Chris OSGOOD 2008 Detroit Kevin PORTER 2016 Pittsburgh Stacy ROEST 2020 and 2021 Tampa Bay (Assistant GM) Darren RUMBLE 2004 Tampa Bay

PARTING SHOT

No hockey player was wearing a mask when the Spanish flu pandemic interrupted the 1919 Stanley Cup Playoffs.*

*It would be 40 years before Jacques Plante became the first goalie to wear a mask (as shown) in the NHL in 1959.

The Stanley Cup was not awarded in 1919 because the series between the Montreal Canadiens and Seattle Metropolitans was postponed after Game 5 was called following one hour and 40 minutes of overtime. Hockey Hall of Fame legend Joe Hall had left the game early, having fallen ill to the horrendous and fatal influenza that was ravaging North America. Several other players on both teams became infected and the Stanley Cup Final was eventually cancelled. Hall died in a Seattle hospital four days later. He was 37.

Crisp.