2013-14 Griffiti - Issue #2

2013-14 SEASON • ISSUE NO. 2

STANLEY CUP NEXT?

Gustav Nyquist Earns His Permanent Promotion To The Red Wings OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS

WE’RE FANS OF THE GRIFFINS. WE’RE ALSO FANS OF THEIR FANS. At Huntington, our community comes first. And we’re proud to support the teams that represent it, like the Grand Rapids Griffins. We’re also proud to support the people in the stands.

The Huntington National Bank is an Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC. ¥ ® and Huntington® are federally registered service marks of Huntington Bancshares Incorporated. Huntington.® Welcome.™ is a service mark of Huntington Bancshares Incorporated. ©2013 Huntington Bancshares Incorporated.

derally mark of

Vol. 18, No. 2

TABLE OF CONTENTS STARTING LINEUP

24

NO BUS FOR GUS

Having finally been p omoted to Detroit full time, Gustav Nyquist can look forward to flig ts aboard the Red Wings’ jet after completing the long journey from highly touted college player to NHL regular.

30

BANNER ACHIEVEMENT

The Griffi ’ Calder Cup championship banner was designed and manufactured locally – in the kitchen and living room of a Grandville seamstress.

32

HAVE ICE, WILL TRAVEL

The Griffins look orward to facing the Toronto Marlies on Dec. 30 at Comerica Park in their firs -ever outdoor game.

42

FATHER’S FOOTSTEPS

Xavier Ouellet has a hockey pedigree but is intent on becoming a regular in the NHL on his own merit.

48

PUCK HAPPY

Nothing pleases Teemu Pulkkinen – and his coaches – more than shooting the puck and scoring goals.

58

THE PUCK STOPS HERE

Experienced goaltenders are prized by their teams in a league that emphasizes youth.

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ON THE BENCH 2............Players to Watch 4............Chalk Talk 6............Coming Attractions 9............Griffins chedule 12.........AHL Tradition 14.........AHL Team Directory 19.........Detroit Red Wings 21.........Promotional Schedule 40.........Meet the Griffi

65.........Griffins ecords 68.........Griffins istory 70.........Griffins ll-Stars 71.........Penalty Calls 74.........Arena Map/Ticket Info 76.........It All Starts Here 79.........Kids Page 80.........Parting Shot

42

COVER:

Gustav Nyquist lifts the Calder Cup during the celebration following the Griffi ’ 2013 AHL championship-clinching victory.

Photo by Mark Newman Griffiti magazine is published four times a year by the Grand Rapids Griffins, Van Andel Ar 130 W. Fulton St., Grand Rapids, MI 49503. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. All contents ©2013 Grand Rapids Griffin For advertising information, contact Griffins Sales & Marketing, (616) 774-4585; f (616) 336-5464. Unsolicited manuscripts and other materials will not be returned.

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1

PLAYERS TO WATCH

UPCOMING HOME OPPONENTS MILWAUKEE (Dec. 13, Dec. 14)

The Admirals are enjoying increased offensive production from Anthony Bitetto (#2), a 23-year-old defenseman from Long Island, N.Y. At 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, Bitetto is a strong, physical player who fin shes his checks. Plucked out of Northeastern University by the Nashville Predators, who selected him in the sixth round (168th overall) of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, itetto has doubled his AHL point total from his rookie season in half as many games. He scored a pair of goals in the Admirals’ 3-2 victory over the Griffins on Oct. 18.

ROCKFORD (Dec. 20, Jan. 8)

The IceHogs have one of the AHL’s elite prospects in Mark McNeill (#28), a 20-yearold center out of Langley, British Columbia.

Selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the fi st round (18th overall) of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, cNeill has good size (6-foot-1, 211 pounds) plus scoring and two-way ability that should translate well to the NHL. A powerful skater with good hands and strong hockey sense that allows him to see the whole ice, McNeill has to use his weight to his advantage and perform at a more consistent level in order to earn a regular spot in the NHL. 2

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

TORONTO (Dec. 30-Comerica Park, Dec. 31)

The Marlies like the hockey pedigree of Carter Ashton (#18), a 22-year-old winger from Winnipeg, Manitoba. He is the son of Brent Ashton, who played in 998 NHL games in a career that spanned from 1979-1993.

A promising power forward (6-foot-3, 215 pounds) who still needs work in the defensive zone, Ashton had one assist in 13 games with the Maple Leafs this season before returning to the Marlies in late November. Originally drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning (1st round, 29th overall) in 2009, Ashton came to Toronto in a 2012 trade for defenseman Keith Aulie.

CHICAGO (Jan. 3, Jan. 15)

The Wolves are happy to rely on the solid blueline play of Brent Regner (#28), a 24-yearold defenseman from the small town of Westlock, Alberta. Chicago acquired Regner from Peoria last April for its late-season playoff ush and liked the play of the 6-foot, 190-pound blueliner enough that he was asked to return. Selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the fi h round (137th overall) of the 2008 NHL Draft, egner is a steady, if not flashy, defender who chooses to make smart passes and safe plays rather than get caught out of position.

IOWA (Jan. 10, Jan. 11)

The Wild continue to see progress from Zach Phillips (#51), a 21-year-old center from Fredericton, New Brunswick. Drafted in the fi st round (28th overall) by the Minnesota Wild in 2011, Phillips is looking to build on a rookie season that saw him tally eight goals and 19 assists in 71 games with the Houston Aeros. Considered a creative playmaker with average speed, the 6-foot-1, 178-pound forward has good scoring instincts with a knack for fi ding the open space to take advantage of a rocket-like shot that he can blast past unsuspecting goaltenders.

ABBOTSFORD (Jan. 17, Jan. 18)

The Heat like the potential of Max Reinhart (#25), a 21-year-old center who is the oldest of three hockey-playing brothers – all sons of NHL defenseman Paul Reinhart, who played nine seasons with the Calgary Flames before fin shing his career in Vancouver. Like his father, Reinhart makes things happen at both ends of the ice. Drafted in the third round (64th overall) in 2010, Reinhart saw action in 11 NHL games with the Flames last season and has already been recalled twice to Calgary this season. He scored his fi st NHL goal against Edmonton’s Nikolai Khabibulin on April 13, 2013.

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

3

Griffins head coach Jeff lashill cannot help but be pleased with the way that his team has begun its defense of its American Hockey League championship.

Coming out of the long Thanksgiving weekend, the Griffins had plenty of reasons to be thankful: • With a record of 15-4-1-1, Grand Rapids was all alone in fi st place in the Midwest Division, seven points ahead of its nearest competitors, Milwaukee and Rockford; • The Griffins had shown plenty of offensive fi epower. Opening the season with an 8-1 victory at Rochester, the team had tallied six goals on three occasions and five goals another five times. The Griffins’ scoring average of 3.86 goals per game led the league; • The Griffins had been strong defensively as well. After struggling in their fi st six games, the Griffins held their opponents to two goals or less in 11 of the next 15 contests. Allowing only 2.43 goals per game, the Griffins were tied for second in the AHL with Manchester, behind only Springfi ld (2.16); • The Griffins’ seven-game winning streak between Oct. 26 and Nov. 8 was the secondlongest in the AHL. During the stretch, Grand Rapids outscored its opponents by a wide 37-14 margin. In fact, the Griffins had lost only one game by more than a single goal all season; • The Griffins had proven to be very disciplined on the ice. The team had drawn only 13.38 penalty minutes per game, second only to Abbotsford, which was the only team in the Western Conference with a better record than the Griffins entering December.

And yet Blashill knows the 76-game season is only one-quarter complete. There are a lot of games still to be played before the start of the playoffs, nd the Griffins have a long way to go if they hope to repeat as Calder Cup champions.

“We’ve made improvements as a hockey team and I’m happy for that,” he said after a recent practice. “I thought early in the year we were too hitand-miss defensively. We gave up too many chances and needed to improve in that area, and I think we have.”

4

The Griffins opened the season with a talented but very young group of defensemen.

Ryan Sproul was the 2012-13 recipient of the Max Kaminsky Trophy, which is awarded annually to the Ontario Hockey League’s Most Outstanding Defenseman of the Year. Xavier Ouellet was a First Team All-Star in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League the past two seasons. Alexey Marchenko spent the entire 2012-13 season in the KHL with CSKA Moscow, and Czech-born Richard Nedomlel showed a tough streak during his three years with Swift urrent in the Western Hockey League.

“Being a highly touted prospect means that you were a very good player at the level you were at previously,” Blashill said. “Each of these guys now has the opportunity to prove that he can be a very good player at this level. That means they have to work hard every single day in practice and in every single game as well.”

From an offensive perspective, the Griffins have created a lot of opportunities early in games. The team had outscored its opponents 24-13 during the fi st period, a plus-11 difference that tied Rochester and Springfi ld for the league lead. The Griffins had fared even better in the second period, posting a league-best 17-goal advantage (34-17).

Even so, Blashill thinks the Griffins could be better.

“We have to continue to improve offensively, so our performance is more consistent,” Blashill said.

“We’ve had some nights where we score a lot of goals, but we need to do a better job of spending more time in our offensive zone.”

With plenty of talent and a style of play that favors puck possession, there might be a tendency to look for the perfect pass or the pretty play. In the end, all that matters is whether the puck fi ds its way to the back of the net.

“We’ve got to do a better job of fi hting for those goals that come from going hard to the net and getting pucks on the net,” Blashill said. “It’s those tough areas where you need to excel as the season goes on and the games get tougher and tougher.”

The Griffins’ special teams remain a work-inprogress. Grand Rapids’ power play ranked ninth in the AHL, operating at an 18.8 percent effici cy.

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

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Conversely, the team’s penalty killing the fact that we’re fortunate to have a lot There are a lot of good players becomes a positive. unit was 20th in the league, killing penalties at a rate of 82.4 percent.

“Chemistry is an extremely important “With the players we have, we need of games still to factor in being a very good team, so it’s to improve if we’re going to continue something we’ll continue to foster in the be played before effort to have a great locker room. That to be a good team,” he said, “Our power play, for example, has been good doesn’t change with the arrival of more but not great. It needs to get more the start of the players.” dangerous on a consistent level.”

As players come and go, the Griffins Yet there’s not much not to like. playoffs, and the must continue to grow and improve.

In fact, Blashill’s biggest worry “You have to continue to improve is fi ding enough playing time for Griffins have a because every other team is improving, everyone. With the arrival of Cory and the standings are tight as can be,” Emmerton, Jordin Tootoo and Patrick long way to go Blashill said. “There is very little room for Eaves from the Red Wings, that error. The difference between making the challenge has become increasingly nd being on the outside looking if they hope to playoffs complicated. It’s a difficult situation, in can be as little as a couple of points.” but Blashill prefers to concentrate on Blashill pointed out that when the repeat as Calder Griffins won the division last season, the positives.

“Every one of them has come in here they fin shed only five points ahead of Cup champions. the ninth-place team in the conference with a great attitude, willing to work extremely hard on their individual play that missed the playoffs. Five points,” while at the same time being really good teammates Blashill said, “is a bad week. So a bad week could and doing their best to help us win hockey games,” be the difference between making and missing the Blashill said. “They’ve been very selfle s, and that’s playoffs” what you need in order to be successful.”

Thankfully, the Griffins are fully capable of Still, the addition of three veterans means that – becoming a complete hockey team. barring injuries – others must sit out.

“I’m happy with the progress that we’ve made “When you have as many good players as we so far, but we had better continue to improve if do, everyone at different times is going to have we want to be a good team throughout the year,” to sacrifice a l ttle bit individually for the good of he said. “If we put ourselves in a position to be the team,” he said. “We have great character and successful enough nights, we’re going to win hockey leadership in our locker room, and I believe those games.” things will continue to shine. And if they do, then

2013-14 GRIFFINS COACHING AND TRAINING STAFF

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Head Coach: JeffBlashill

Assistant Coach: Jim Paek

Assistant Coach: Spiros Anastas

Video Coach: Bill LeRoy

Athletic Trainer: John Bernal

Equipment Manager: Brad Thompson

Assistant Equipment Manager: Andrew Stegehuis

Strength & Conditioning Coordinator: Marcus Kinney

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Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

5

COMING ATTRACTIONS A REAL HOOT

Griffins plan a salute to the Grand Rapids Owls hockey team.

(39), Dean McGee (35), Archie King (30), Rick Dorman (30), Mark Izzard (27) and Flesch (26).

The Owls were backstopped by goaltender Winning the Calder Cup championship Gordie Laxton, a former fi st-round draft ick of culminated a 100-game journey for the 2012-13 the Pittsburgh Penguins, who recorded a 3.08 goalsGrand Rapids Griffins, a path that covered 76 regular against average while appearing in 63 regular season season and 24 playoff c ntests, so it’s no surprise that games. the organization deemed the achievement worthy of The 1978-79 team was nearly unbeatable at home. a season-long celebration.

Playing at Stadium Arena in Comstock Park, the Griffins fans attending the Saturday, Owls went 27 consecutive Dec. 14 game will receive a games without a loss on home mini championship ice, setting an IHL record banner, courtesy of that stood until the league Centennial Securities. disbanded following the And when the 2000-01 season.

Griffins take the ice Many longtime hockey against Milwaukee, fans have fond memories they will be wearing of the Owls and the team’s jerseys commemorating colorful collection of one of their hockey players, from the flashy predecessors, the Grand Flesch with his unique ls w orative O Rapids Owls. haircuts to the dynamic re commem ch 4, 1999. o rs fi s The Griffin ring a game on Mar The Owls never won Dorman with his reputation jerseys du a championship, but the as one of the toughest players, pound-for-pound, to team came close in 1979, reaching the IHL’s Turner ever play in the IHL. Cup Finals before losing to the Kalamazoo Wings in Griffins fans will be able to bid on their choice seven games. of Owls commemorative jerseys following the Dec. The 1978-79 Owls squad was an offensive 14 contest when the team holds a post-game jersey juggernaut, averaging more than 4.5 goals per game auction. on the way to a 50-win season. The team had two 40DEC. 30 INAUGURAL OUTDOOR GAME goal and five 30-goal scorers, along with two other The Griffins will face the Toronto Marlies in players who had at least 25 goals. their fi st-ever outdoor hockey game at Comerica It was a close-knit but young team, with players Park. More than 30,000 tickets have already been all 22 to 24 years of age, except for two – John sold for the 5 p.m. game between the AHL Western Flesch and Guido Tenesi – who were the club’s elder Conference rivals. For the Griffins’ perspective on statesmen at 25. playing hockey outdoors, see the story about their Kim Davis, 21, who had appeared in one NHL experiences on p. 32. game with the Pittsburgh Penguins the previous year, DEC. 31 NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATION was the Owls’ leading scorer with 103 points (44 Hockey fans can help the Griffins welcome 2014 goals, 59 assists) in 80 games, impressive totals given by attending the 17th annual New Year’s Eve game. that he also racked up 235 penalty minutes.

The Griffins will face the Marlies in a 6 p.m. contest Henry Taylor, who along with Tenesi had that will be followed by an indoor fi eworks show. played with the infamous Hanson Brothers on the Fans are encouraged to bring their skates and take Johnstown Jets three years earlier, led the team with part in the post-game open skate on the Van Andel 47 goals. Other top scorers included Tom Mullen Arena ice.

6

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

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All times Eastern.

Dates, opponents and times subject to change.

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Primary Affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings

LE – Lake Erie MIL – Milwaukee OKC – Oklahoma City RCH – Rochester RFD – Rockford

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

SA – San Antonio TEX – Texas TOR – Toronto

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 9

CA L D E R C U P

CHAMPIONS

Dear Grand Rapids Griffins Fans, At our championship rally on June 19 at Van Andel Arena, Griffins captain Jeff oggan gestured toward the Calder Cup and told the thousands in attendance that “you, the fans, have earned this…this belongs to you.”

Truer words have never been spoken.

It’s a long and interesting journey that we’ve traveled together, and now we celebrate the start of the 18th season of Griffins hockey as defending Calder Cup champions!

From the drop of the fi st puck in 1996, to our move to the AHL in 2001, to the start of our affiliation with the Detroit Red Wings in 2002 and all the seasons that have followed, we’ve watched hundreds of hockey games at Van Andel Arena.

We enjoyed most of them, were heartbroken at other times, but we were together through it all. And after proudly watching more than a dozen Griffins go on to win the Stanley Cup, many as members of the 2008 Red Wings, we fi ally earned the right to hoist our own championship trophy, the fi st ever for a pro hockey team from Grand Rapids.

Since Day One, our players, coaches and staff ave worked tirelessly toward the goal of bringing a championship home. To accomplish it, and to be able to share the Calder Cup with everyone in West Michigan, has brought pride and joy beyond words.

We had an outstanding team last season, a special group of men who gave so much of themselves both on and off he ice. That’s what made them champions.

But this incredible journey we’ve experienced never would have been possible without you. We never wavered in our goal, you never wavered in your support, and the result was something we’ll all cherish for a lifetime.

However, the journey is not over. As you’ve discovered, once you drink from the cup, you realize there’s nothing quite like that taste, and it really makes you want to do it again. That’s our goal for this season, as a city, an organization and a fan base.

Jeff lashill and his coaching staff elcome back a solid core of veterans and numerous battle-tested prospects who will be joined by several promising rookies. The challenge of repeating is never easy, but as always, the one thing we can promise is another thrilling ride.

Sincerely,

Dan DeVos President & CEO Grand Rapids Griffins

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Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

DAVID A. ANDREWS

PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE

American Hockey League

One Monarch Place – Springfield, MA 01144 Phone: (413) 781-2030 Fax: (413) 733-4767 Dear Fans, It is my great pleasure to welcome you to another exciting season of American Hockey League action.

We are proud to be entering our 78th season of continuous play, bringing a tradition of excellence and an entertaining, physical, and highly skilled level of play to more than 6 million hockey fans annually across North America.

Once again in 2013-14, there are 30 teams competing for the historic Calder Cup championship and all 30 National Hockey League clubs are developing their top prospects and draft picks in the AHL. Last season more than 270 first- and second-round NHL draft picks competed in the American Hockey League, and 346 players took the ice in both the AHL and the NHL. We continue to be proud of our tradition of developing the best hockey talent in the world, with over 87 percent of today’s NHL players, coaches and officials having honed their skills in the American Hockey League. Our loyal and passionate fans through the years have enjoyed cheering for more than 100 future Hockey Hall of Famers, and have rooted for more than 100 Calder Cup champions who would go on to have their names engraved on the Stanley Cup as well.

In this Olympic year we are excited to bring an international twist to our schedule: In December, the Rochester Americans will represent the AHL at the prestigious Spengler Cup tournament in Davos, Switzerland. And in February, Färjestad BK -- one of the top teams in the Swedish Hockey League -- will face off against the AHL’s best at the 2014 AHL All-Star Classic in St. John’s, N.L. We’re pleased to welcome the fans in Iowa and Utica back to the AHL as the Iowa Wild and Utica Comets begin play this fall, joining the rest of the league in looking to dethrone the defending Calder Cup champion Grand Rapids Griffins in the chase for the AHL’s 2014 crown.

On behalf of all of our teams, thank you again for your continuing support and I wish you the utmost enjoyment in following your club through what is sure to be another terrific season.

Sincerely,

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

/TheAHL

theahl.com

@TheAHL

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

11

HISTORY

The American Hockey League is enjoying its 78th season

of play in 2013-14, 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, Pittsburgh, Providence, Springfield and Syracuse.

A Tradition of Excellence

LEGENDS

Photo: New York Times

Over the past three-quarters of a century, the American Hockey

Adam Oates Honored Member, Hockey Hall of Fame 1986 Calder Cup Champion

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League has been home to some of the greatest players in the history of our sport. In fact, more than 100 honored members of the Hockey Hall of Fame have been affiliated with the AHL during their careers.

All-time greats like George Armstrong, Toe Blake, Gump Worsley, Terry Sawchuk, Glenn Hall, Brad Park, Ken Dryden and Brett Hull came through the AHL ranks and now find themselves enshrined in Toronto, and the coveted Calder Cup trophy is inscribed with the names of legendary AHL alumni like Patrick Roy, Larry Robinson, Gerry Cheevers, Andy Bathgate,Tim Horton, Al Arbour, Emile Francis, Doug Harvey and Billy Smith.

The American Hockey League has created its own legends as well, and in 2006 began

honoring them with the formation of the AHL Hall of Fame. The eighth class of inductees, recognized in 2013, included Harvey Bennett, Ken Gernander, Jim Morrison and Peter White. They join the likes of Johnny Bower, Fred Glover, Jody Gage, Mitch Lamoureux, Willie Marshall, Frank Mathers, Eddie Shore, Bruce Boudreau, Tim Tookey, Zellio Toppazzini and others as distinguished members of the American Hockey League Hall of Fame.

I

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

Photo: AP

n today’s National Hockey League more than 87 percent of the players are AHL alumni, including 2013 Norris Trophy winner P.K. Subban of the Montreal Canadiens and 2013 Lady Byng and Art Ross Trophy recipient Martin St. Louis of the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 2013 Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks were stocked with AHL graduates as well, among them Duncan Keith, Patrick Sharp, Corey Crawford, Bryan Bickell, Brandon Saad, Dave Bolland and head coach Joel Quenneville.

12

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Corey Crawford 2013 Stanley Cup Champion

Graig Abel Photograaphy

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Frank Calder, the National Hockey League’s president at the time, was instrumental in the forming of the new league, and his name would be given to its championship trophy. The first Calder Cup was won by the Syracuse Stars in 1937; the 77th championship was captured by the Grand Rapids Griffins last spring.

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in the National Hockey League, including 346 who skated in both leagues last year alone. Philadelphia’s Claude Giroux, Boston’s Brad Marchand, Anaheim’s Ryan Getzlaf and Minnesota’s Zach Parise were among the 21 AHL graduates who led their NHL teams in scoring, and former AHL All-Stars Pekka Rinne, Tuukka Rask, Cory Schneider, Braden Holtby and Jimmy Howard were among the 27 AHL goaltending alumni who paced their NHL clubs in victories. More than 270 former first- and second-round draft picks developed their skills in the AHL last season, including 2013 AHL scoring champion Brandon Pirri and 2013 Calder Cup Playoffs MVP Tomas Tatar.

Edmonton Oilers defenseman Justin Schultz was an All-Rookie Team selection in both the NHL and the AHL in 2012-13.

COACHES

At the start of the 2013-14 season, the National Hockey League featured 23 head coaches who

were former AHL bench bosses, including recent Stanley Cup champions Joel Quenneville (Chicago, 2010, 2013), Claude Julien (Boston, 2011), Dan Bylsma (Pittsburgh, 2009), Mike Babcock (Detroit, 2008), Randy Carlyle (Anaheim, 2007), Peter Laviolette (Carolina, 2006) and John Tortorella (Tampa Bay, 2004).

“The American Hockey League has been essential in developing my potential both as a player and as a coach.

Being able to hone my skills and improve at a high level of competition was key to reaching my goals of playing in the NHL, becoming a head coach and winning the Stanley Cup.” -- Dan Bylsma, Head Coach, Pittsburgh Penguins and 2014 U.S. Olympic Team 2011 Jack Adams Award Winner, 2009 Stanley Cup Champion FANS

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or just the second time in league history, more than 6.5 million fans attended regular-season AHL games in 2012-13, and the average of 5,710 fans per game was the third-largest ever. The Hershey Bears paced the league for the seventh year in a row, averaging 10,046 fans per game last season, and showcase games in Philadelphia, Buffalo, Toronto, Washington and Montreal all drew better than 18,500 fans each.

Graig Abel Photograaphy

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During the 2012-13 season, more than 800 AHL alumni played

Photo: Steven Christy

ason ence ckey ue to t the New gfield

The Toronto Marlies and Hamilton Bulldogs squared off at a sold-out Air Canada Centre on Boxing Day last season.

STARS

The AHL All-Star Classic showcases the league’s top talent each

Photo: Alan Sullivan/AHL

year in an All-Star Skills Competition and All-Star Game. The 2013 Dunkin’ Donuts AHL All-Star Classic was held in front of capacity crowds in Providence, R.I., and televised live across the U.S. and Canada.

Photo: AP

Of the 630 players to take part in the AHL All-Star Classic since 1995, more than 93 percent have competed in the National Hockey League, including Patrice Bergeron, Daniel Briere, Ryan Callahan, Zdeno Chara, Niklas Kronwall, Chris Kunitz, Ryan Miller, Bobby Ryan, Jason Spezza and Eric Staal. /TheAHL

theahl.com

Ryan Hamilton 2013 AHL All-Star Game MVP

@TheAHL

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

13

2 013 - 14 A H L D I R E C T O RY

EASTERN CONFERENCE

ATLANTIC DIVISION: Manchester, Portland, Providence, St. John’s, Worcester NORTHEAST DIVISION: Adirondack, Albany, Bridgeport, Hartford, Springfiel EAST DIVISION: Binghamton, Hershey, Norfolk, Syracuse, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton

ADIRONDACK PHANTOMS

NHL AFFILIATION: Philadelphia Flyers HOME ICE: Glens Falls Civic Center (4,794) GENERAL MANAGER: Paul Holmgren HEAD COACH: Terry Murray ENTERED AHL: 1996-97 (as Philadelphia Phantoms) CALDER CUPS: Two (1998, 2005) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 10 of 17 2012-13 RECORD: 31-38-3-4, 69 pts.

WEBSITE: www.phantomshockey.com

NHL AFFILIATION: Washington Capitals HOME ICE: Giant Center (10,500) GENERAL MANAGER: Doug Yingst HEAD COACH: Mike Haviland ENTERED AHL: 1938-39 CALDER CUPS: 11 (1947, 1958, 1959, 1969, 1974, 1980, 1988, 1997, 2006, 2009, 2010) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 64 of 75 2012-13 RECORD: 36-31-3-6, 81 pts.

WEBSITE: www.hersheybears.com

MANCHESTER MONARCHS

NHL AFFILIATION: Los Angeles Kings HOME ICE: Verizon Wireless Arena (9,852) GENERAL MANAGER: Rob Blake HEAD COACH: Mark Morris ENTERED AHL: 2001-02 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 11 of 12 2012-13 RECORD: 37-32-3-4, 81 pts.

WEBSITE: www.manchestermonarchs.com

ALBANY DEVILS

NHL AFFILIATION: New Jersey Devils HOME ICE: Times Union Center (6,691) GENERAL MANAGER: Chris Lamoriello HEAD COACH: Rick Kowalsky ENTERED AHL: 2006-07 (as Lowell Devils) CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 1 of 7 2012-13 RECORD: 31-32-1-12, 75 pts.

WEBSITE: www.thealbanydevils.com

BINGHAMTON SENATORS

HERSHEY BEARS

NORFOLK ADMIRALS

NHL AFFILIATION: Anaheim Ducks HOME ICE: Norfolk Scope (8,701) GENERAL MANAGER: Bob Murray HEAD COACH: Trent Yawney ENTERED AHL: 2000-01 CALDER CUPS: One (2012) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 9 of 13 2012-13 RECORD: 37-34-4-1, 79 pts.

WEBSITE: www.norfolkadmirals.com

NHL AFFILIATION: Ottawa Senators HOME ICE: Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena (4,679) PRESIDENT: Tim Smith HEAD COACH: Luke Richardson ENTERED AHL: 2002-03 CALDER CUPS: One (2011) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 5 of 11 2012-13 RECORD: 44-24-1-7, 96 pts.

WEBSITE: www.binghamtonsenators.com

PORTLAND PIRATES

BRIDGEPORT SOUND TIGERS

PROVIDENCE BRUINS

NHL AFFILIATION: New York Islanders HOME ICE: Webster Bank Arena (8,412) GENERAL MANAGER: Garth Snow HEAD COACH: Scott Pellerin ENTERED AHL: 2001-02 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 7 of 12 2012-13 RECORD: 32-32-7-5, 76 pts.

WEBSITE: www.soundtigers.com

HARTFORD WOLF PACK

NHL AFFILIATION: New York Rangers HOME ICE: XL Center Veterans Memorial Coliseum (15,635) GENERAL MANAGER: Jim Schoenfeld HEAD COACH: Ken Gernander ENTERED AHL: 1997-98 CALDER CUPS: One (2000) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 14 of 16 2012-13 RECORD: 35-32-6-3, 79 pts.

WEBSITE: www.hartfordwolfpack.com 14

NHL AFFILIATION: Phoenix Coyotes HOME ICE: Androscoggin Bank Colisee (3,677) GENERAL MANAGER: Brad Treliving HEAD COACH: Ray Edwards ENTERED AHL: 1993-94 CALDER CUPS: One (1994) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 15 of 20 2012-13 RECORD: 41-30-3-2, 87 pts.

WEBSITE: www.portlandpirates.com NHL AFFILIATION: Boston Bruins HOME ICE: Dunkin’ Donuts Center Providence (11,075) GENERAL MANAGER: Peter Chiarelli HEAD COACH: Bruce Cassidy ENTERED AHL: 1992-93 CALDER CUPS: One (1999) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 16 of 21 2012-13 RECORD: 50-21-0-5, 105 pts.

WEBSITE: www.providencebruins.com

SPRINGFIELD FALCONS

NHL AFFILIATION: Columbus Blue Jackets HOME ICE: MassMutual Center (6,784) GENERAL MANAGER: Chris MacFarland HEAD COACH: Brad Larsen ENTERED AHL: 1994-95 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 7 of 19 2012-13 RECORD: 45-22-5-4, 99 pts.

WEBSITE: www.falconsahl.com Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

2 013 - 14 A H L D I R E C T O RY ST. JOHN’S ICECAPS

WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON PENGUINS

NHL AFFILIATION: Winnipeg Jets HOME ICE: Mile One Centre (6,287) GENERAL MANAGER: Craig Heisinger HEAD COACH: Keith McCambridge ENTERED AHL: 2012-13 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 1 of 2 2012-13 RECORD: 32-36-3-5, 72 pts.

WEBSITE: www.stjohnsicecaps.com

NHL AFFILIATION: Pittsburgh Penguins HOME ICE: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza (8,050) GENERAL MANAGER: Ray Shero HEAD COACH: John Hynes ENTERED AHL: 1999-00 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 12 of 14 2012-13 RECORD: 42-30-2-2, 88 pts.

WEBSITE: www.wbspenguins.com

SYRACUSE CRUNCH

WORCESTER SHARKS

NHL AFFILIATION: Tampa Bay Lightning HOME ICE: War Memorial Arena (6,159) GENERAL MANAGER: Julien BriseBois HEAD COACH: Rob Zettler ENTERED AHL: 1994-95 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 11 of 19 2012-13 RECORD: 43-22-6-5, 97 pts.

WEBSITE: www.syracusecrunch.com

NHL AFFILIATION: San Jose Sharks HOME ICE: DCU Center (5,400) GENERAL MANAGER: Joe Will HEAD COACH: Roy Sommer ENTERED AHL: 2006-07 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 3 of 7 2012-13 RECORD: 31-34-4-7, 73 pts.

WEBSITE: www.sharksahl.com

WESTERN CONFERENCE MIDWEST DIVISION: Grand Rapids, Chicago, Iowa, Milwaukee, Rockford NORTH DIVISION: Hamilton, Lake Erie, Rochester, Toronto, Utica WEST DIVISION: Abbotsford, Charlotte, Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Texas

ABBOTSFORD HEAT

NHL AFFILIATION: Calgary Flames HOME ICE: Abbotsford Entertainment & Sports Centre (7,046) GENERAL MANAGER: Jay Feaster HEAD COACH: Troy G. Ward ENTERED AHL: 2009-10 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 2 of 4 2012-13 RECORD: 34-32-4-6, 78 pts.

WEBSITE: www.abbotsfordheat.com

CHARLOTTE CHECKERS

NHL AFFILIATION: St. Louis Blues HOME ICE: Allstate Arena (16,692) GENERAL MANAGER: Wendell Young HEAD COACH: John Anderson ENTERED AHL: 2001-02 CALDER CUPS: Two (2002, 2008) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 8 of 12 2012-13 RECORD: 37-30-5-4, 83 pts.

WEBSITE: www.chicagowolves.com

NHL AFFILIATION: Detroit Red Wings HOME ICE: Van Andel Arena (10,834) HEAD COACH: Jeff Blashil ENTERED AHL: 2001-02 CALDER CUPS: One (2013) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 7 of 12 2012-13 RECORD: 42-26-4-4, 92 pts.

WEBSITE: www.griffinshock .com

HAMILTON BULLDOGS

NHL AFFILIATION: Montreal Canadiens HOME ICE: Copps Coliseum (8,819) GENERAL MANAGER: Marc Bergevin HEAD COACH: Sylvain Lefebvre ENTERED AHL: 1996-97 CALDER CUPS: One (2007) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 12 of 17 2012-13 RECORD: 29-41-1-5, 64 pts.

WEBSITE: www.hamiltonbulldogs.com

NHL AFFILIATION: Carolina Hurricanes HOME ICE: Time Warner Cable Arena (6,800) HEAD COACH/ GENERAL MANAGER: Jeff Daniel ENTERED AHL: 2010-11 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 2 of 3 2012-13 RECORD: 42-26-4-4, 92 pts.

WEBSITE: www.gocheckers.com

CHICAGO WOLVES

GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS

IOWA WILD

NHL AFFILIATION: Minnesota Wild HOME ICE: Wells Fargo Arena (8,162) GENERAL MANAGER: Jim Mill HEAD COACH: Kurt Kleinendorst ENTERED AHL: 2013-14 WEBSITE: www.iowawild.com

LAKE ERIE MONSTERS

NHL AFFILIATION: Colorado Avalanche HOME ICE: Quicken Loans Arena (20,093) DIRECTOR OF AHL OPERATIONS: David Oliver HEAD COACH: Dean Chynoweth ENTERED AHL: 2007-08 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 1 of 6 2012-13 RECORD: 35-31-3-7, 80 pts.

WEBSITE: www.lakeeriemonsters.com

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

15

2 013 - 14 A H L D I R E C T O RY MILWAUKEE ADMIRALS

TORONTO MARLIES

OKLAHOMA CITY BARONS

UTICA COMETS

NHL AFFILIATION: Nashville Predators HOME ICE: BMO Harris Bradley Center (17,845) GENERAL MANAGER: Paul Fenton HEAD COACH: Dean Evason ENTERED AHL: 2001-02 CALDER CUPS: One (2004) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 11 of 12 2012-13 RECORD: 41-28-4-3, 89 pts.

WEBSITE: www.milwaukeeadmirals.com NHL AFFILIATION: Edmonton Oilers HOME ICE: Cox Convention Center (7,500) GENERAL MANAGER: Bill Scott HEAD COACH: Todd Nelson ENTERED AHL: 2010-11 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 3 of 3 2012-13 RECORD: 40-25-2-9, 91 pts.

WEBSITE: www.okcbarons.com

NHL AFFILIATION: Vancouver Canucks HOME ICE: Utica Memorial Auditorium (3,847) DIRECTOR OF HOCKEY OPERATIONS: Pat Conacher HEAD COACH: Travis Green ENTERED AHL: 2013-14 WEBSITE: www.uticacomets.com

ROCHESTER AMERICANS

NHL AFFILIATION: Buffalo abres HOME ICE: Blue Cross Arena at the Rochester War Memorial (10,662) GENERAL MANAGER: Darcy Regier HEAD COACH: Chadd Cassidy ENTERED AHL: 1956-57 CALDER CUPS: Six (1965, 1966, 1968, 1983, 1987, 1996) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 43 of 57 2012-13 RECORD: 43-29-3-1, 90 pts.

WEBSITE: www.amerks.com

ROCKFORD ICEHOGS

NHL AFFILIATION: Chicago Blackhawks HOME ICE: BMO Harris Bank Center (5,895) GOVERNOR: Mark Bernard HEAD COACH: Ted Dent ENTERED AHL: 2007-08 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 3 of 6 2012-13 RECORD: 42-31-2-1, 87 pts.

WEBSITE: www.icehogs.com

SAN ANTONIO RAMPAGE

NHL AFFILIATION: Florida Panthers HOME ICE: AT&T Center (6,374) GENERAL MANAGER: Michael Santos HEAD COACH: Peter Horachek ENTERED AHL: 2002-03 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 3 of 11 2012-13 RECORD: 29-38-2-7, 67 pts.

WEBSITE: www.sarampage.com

TEXAS STARS

NHL AFFILIATION: Dallas Stars HOME ICE: Cedar Park Center (6,863) GENERAL MANAGER: Scott White HEAD COACH: Willie Desjardins ENTERED AHL: 2009-10 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 3 of 4 2012-13 RECORD: 43-22-5-6, 97 pts.

WEBSITE: www.texasstarshockey.com 16

NHL AFFILIATION: Toronto Maple Leafs HOME ICE: Ricoh Coliseum (7,851) GENERAL MANAGER: Dave Poulin HEAD COACH: Steve Spott ENTERED AHL: 2005-06 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 5 of 8 2012-13 RECORD: 43-23-3-7, 96 pts.

WEBSITE: www.marlies.ca

2013-14 PLAYOFF FORMAT Eight teams in each conference will qualify for the 2014 Calder Cup Playoffs: The three division winners will be seeded first th ough third in order of points, and the next fi e teams in order of points will be seeded fourth through eighth.

The conference quarterfinals will b best-of-fi e series; the conference semifinal , conference finals and alder Cup Finals will be best-of-seven series.

Teams will be re-ordered after the firs round so that the highest-remaining seed plays the lowest-remaining seed.

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

CBP-3150-Griffins-MM.pdf

1

9/24/13

1:34 PM

Legacy.

SM

It’s what success builds.

At Comerica Bank, we’re proud supporters of the Calder Cup Champion Grand Rapids Griffins.

Here’s to a winning 2013-14 season!

comerica.com Member FDIC. Equal Opportunity Lender.

One of Michigan’s premier golf destinations.

P hi the W

“ - Places to Play” “One of the 25 best golf courses in Michigan”

Our beautiful Rees Jones signature course is designed to provide a challenging test of golf, while accommodating golfers of all skill levels.

Just minutes from downtown Grand Rapids, see for yourself why this stunning jewel has been rated one of the best golf courses around.

Photo: Getty Images

-GOLF DIGEST

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4100 Thousand Oaks Drive, Grand Rapids | East Beltline and 5 Mile - go East one mile | 616.447.7750

Casual and inviting surroundings.

Diverse menu. Breathtaking views.

Thousand Oaks is a name synonymous with attention to detail, sumptuous dining and unblemished nature. Once reserved for small parties and business meetings, Thousand Oaks now presents Grand Oaks Banquet and Meeting Facility to accommodate gatherings of all sizes. Nestled into a private, 425-acre setting, yet just minutes from Downtown Grand Rapids, Grand Oaks Banquet Facility offers a refreshing alternative for meetings, receptions, and private parties. From the intimate setting of the Birch Room that seats 60 Guests, the expanse of the Grand Oaks Hall that accommodates up to 350 persons, Grand Oaks Banquet Facility can meet most reception needs in style. Our high performance facility, with its pre-function area, offers a flawless setting for professional meetings and personal events. With a full line of projection screens, audio/visual equipment, stage and wireless business center, Grand Oaks is versatile, reliable, and priced ala-carte to most budgets.

18

Year-round Golf Lessons.

Join the Academy!

Call 616-363-GOLF

More than a great place to visit–it’s a great place to live.

Call 616-828-6780

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

DETROIT

RED WINGS

s.

Petr Mrazek became just the second goalie in history to win his ECHL, AHL and NHL debuts in the same season by making 26 saves for the Red Wings in a 5-1 win at St. Louis on Feb. 7, 2013.

TOP AFFILIATE

Photo: Getty Images

Grand Rapids Griffins (12th Seaso Through 2016-1

ARENA

Joe Louis Arena Seating Capacity: 20,066

INFO

Phone: (313) 394-7000 www.detroitredwings.com

STANLEY CUPS

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

MANAGEMENT

Ken Holland, Executive VP/General Manager Ryan Martin, Asst. GM/Hockey Administration

COACHING STAFF

Mike Babcock, Head Coach Tom Renney, Associate Coach Bill Peters, Assistant Coach Keith McKittrick, Assistant Coach — Video Jim Bedard, Goaltending Coach Peter Renzetti, Strength and Conditioning Coach

.7750

anse of eds in rsonal versatile,

e to o live.

GRIFFINS WHO HAVE EARNED THEIR WINGS*

Justin Abdelkader, 2008-09 Adam Almquist, 2013-14 Joakim Andersson, 2011-12 Sean Avery, 2002-03 Ryan Barnes, 2003-04 Patrick Boileau, 2002-03 Darryl Bootland, 2003-04 Fabian Brunnstrom, 2011-12 Ty Conklin, 2011-12 Chris Conner, 2011-12 Danny DeKeyser, 2013-14 Aaron Downey, 2008-09 Matt Ellis, 2006-07 Cory Emmerton, 2010-11 Jonathan Ericsson, 2007-08 Valtteri Filppula, 2005-06 Luke Glendening, 2013-14 Mark Hartigan, 2007-08 Darren Helm, 2007-08 Jimmy Howard, 2005-06

Jiri Hudler, 2003-04 Matt Hussey, 2006-07 Doug Janik, 2009-10 Jakub Kindl, 2009-10 Tomas Kopecky, 2005-06 Niklas Kronwall, 2003-04 Marc Lamothe, 2003-04 Josh Langfeld, 2006-07 Brian Lashoff, 2012-1 Brett Lebda, 2005-06 Ville Leino, 2008-09 Joey MacDonald, 2006-07 Donald MacLean, 2005-06 Darren McCarty, 2007-08 Tom McCollum, 2010-11 Derek Meech, 2006-07 Kevin Miller, 2003-04 Mark Mowers, 2003-04 Petr Mrazek, 2012-13 Jan Mursak, 2010-11

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

Anders Myrvold, 2003-04 Kris Newbury, 2009-10 Gustav Nyquist, 2011-12 Xavier Ouellet, 2013-14 Kyle Quincey, 2005-06 Mattias Ritola, 2007-08 Jamie Rivers, 2003-04 Nathan Robinson, 2003-04 Stacy Roest, 2002-03 Riley Sheahan, 2011-12 Brendan Smith, 2011-12 Garrett Stafford, 2007-0 Tomas Tatar, 2010-11 Jason Williams, 2002-03

* 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) and Carlo Colaiacovo (2012-13).

19

M C

Fitness | Group Exercise | Sports Performance | Aquatics | Basketball Tennis | Kid’s Stuff | Soccer | Lacrosse | Football | Volleyball | & MORE!

What More Could You Ask For? West Michigan’s Sports and Fitness Leader

Get Fit. Have Fun! GRAND RAPIDS | DOWNTOWN GR | HOLLAND | ROCKFORD | KENTWOOD

IFF IN

SP

Jan. 18: Joakim Andersson Bobblehead Giveaway presented

by Nestle Purina/ Outdoor Game Jersey Auction

GR

Dec. 14: Mini Banner Giveaway presented by Centennial Securities/ Grand Rapids Owls Jersey Auction

2013-14

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

RO

M

OT IO

NAL

SCHEDULE

March 3: 3rd Annual Corks, Pucks & Brews at the Goei Center, to benefit Easter Seals Michigan March 7: Purple Community Game presented by Van Andel Institute/ Purple Jersey Auction

Jan. 18-19: 12th Annual Great Skate Winterfest at Rosa Parks Circle

March 8: Star Wars Night presented

by Consumers Energy March 29: Petr Mrazek Bobblehead Giveaway presented by Michigan Office Solutions April 5: Replica Championship Ring Giveaway presented by Amway April 7: Griffins ooster Club Awards Banquet

Dec. 30: Inaugural Outdoor Game at Comerica Park

April 18: Season Finale presented by Huntington Bank/Friday Night Jersey Auction

ball ORE!

Feb. 3: Griffins ooster Club Silent Auction

r?

Feb. 15: Jeff Hoggan alder Cup Figurine Giveaway presented by Lake Michigan Credit Union

Dec. 31: 17th Annual New Year’s Eve Celebration/ Post-Game Fireworks Jan. 11: Snow Globe Giveaway presented by Comerica Bank

OD

Feb. 18: 9th Annual Griffins/Sle Wings Sled Hockey Game at Griff’s IceHouse Feb. 21: Salute to Heroes Night/ Camouflage Jersey Auction Feb. 22: Team Trading Card Set Giveaway

Check out our Season-Long Promotions on the next page!

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.

specials before the game and Hockey Night specials afterward. Visit griffinshockey.com/hockeynight for a list of participating establishments.

Get in the D-ZONE: 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 to get your seven-pack or 14-pack tickets today!

Amway Winning Wednesdays: Every time the Griffin win at home on Wednesday, each fan in attendance will receive a free ticket to the next Wednesday game. Additionally, the first 300 fans to visit the Amway table in Section A will receive a gift.

H&R Block College Nights: Every Friday, college students can show their ID to purchase an upper bowl ticket for $13 (or $11 in advance at The Zone) and stop by the McFadden’s concourse table to receive a free pass to the post-game party at McFadden’s.

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.

Wednesday is Hockey Night: For all Wednesday home games from December through March, show your Griffin ticket at participating Arena District restaurants and bars – including Peppino’s Sports Grille, home of the Griffi ’ Wednesday post-game parties with the players – to enjoy Happy Hour

Sunday is Fun Day!: Every Sunday, enjoy $1 Pepsi drinks and $1 ice cream from 3-5 p.m.

Military Nights: Every home game, current members of our military can purchase up to four upper bowl tickets for $13 each (or $11 in advance at The Zone) with a valid military ID. The offer also extends to veterans who present a VA ID or discharge papers.

Library Nights: For every Sunday and Wednesday game, fans can present their Grand Rapids Public Library card or Kent District Library card at the Van Andel Arena box office on the night of the game or at The Zone anytime during the store’s regular business hours to save $7 off the price of a Lower Level Faceoff ticket (regularly $18 in advance and $20 day of game). Limit four tickets per card per person, subject to availability.

Fan 4 Packs: For select games, receive four tickets and $12 in concession cash for a great low price. Valid for games on Dec. 14; Jan. 11 and 18; Feb. 15 and 22; March 8 and 29; and April 5. Visit griffinsho ey. com/f4p or call (616) 774-4585 ext. 2.

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: Bookmark #1 - Dec. 20; Bookmark #2 - Feb. 5 and 23; March 5; and April 2 and 4.

Post-Game Open Skates: Dec. 31; Jan. 11; Feb. 22; March 29; and April 18.

Huntington Bank Post-Game Autograph Sessions: Dec. 14; Jan. 11; Feb. 15; March 8; and April 5.

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

All promotions and dates subject to change. For more information, visit griffins ckey.com.

Join the conversation with Stop by the Social Media Hub behind section 104 on game night to subscribe to our Griffins Nation email, snap a pic at our photo kiosk and see your social media messages displayed on our TV! /grgriffins

/griffinshockey

/griffinshockey

Check out griffinshockey.com/socialmedia to follow us on all of our social channels.

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

22

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

S

NO BUS FOR GUS

Story and photos

by Mark Newman

Having fi ally been promoted to Detroit full time, Gustav Nyquist can look forward to fli hts aboard the Red Wings’ jet after completing the long journey from highly touted college player to NHL regular.

For the ideal illustration of how to “mind your Ps and Qs,” you need look no further than Gustav Nyquist.

There are many theories behind the origin of the phrase for watching your tongue and being on your best behavior, but all of them might pale in comparison to the story of the Swedish hockey player who came to North America to play college hockey for the Maine Black Bears.

After leading his team in points for all three of his seasons at Maine, including 2009-10 when he was the NCAA regular-season scoring leader, Nyquist came to Grand Rapids as a relatively high draft ick (4th round, 121st overall in 2008) of the Detroit Red Wings.

He recorded an assist in his fi st AHL game, then scored his fi st goal in his second game off a pass from Jamie Tardif. He became a consistent high scorer for the Griffins – one of the best in the team’s history (see sidebar on p. 27) – and continued at a point-per-game pace while waiting for the opportunity to play in Detroit.

Nyquist scored his fi st career NHL goal off 24

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

pass from Pavel Datsyuk against Steve Mason of the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 26, 2012, a year and a day after making his debut with the Griffins. He looked ready to make his mark in the NHL, but the lockout at the beginning of the 2012-13 season forced him back to Grand Rapids.

He continued to excel with the Griffins, leading the team in scoring for a second straight season (60 points in only 58 games) and helping the team become one of the best in the AHL. He saw action in a couple of post-lockout games in Detroit, then was recalled by the Red Wings on March 20 for the balance of the regular season and playoffs After the Red Wings were eliminated by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks, Nyquist returned to Grand Rapids with Joakim Andersson and Danny DeKeyser and helped the Griffins win their fi st-ever Calder Cup championship.

Having accomplished about all he could in the AHL, it seemed like the time had come for

Nyquist to fi ally show what he could do in the NHL once and for all. But Detroit’s free agent signings of Daniel Alfredsson, Stephen Weiss and Dan Cleary last summer put the organization in a numbers crunch, and Nyquist – who could be sent back to Grand Rapids without being exposed to waivers until playing two more NHL contests – found himself the odd man out.

Here is where Nyquist minded his Ps and Qs. Some players might have protested, but Nyquist stayed quiet. Others might have chosen to pout, but Nyquist had no quarrel with the situation. Knowing the Red Wings were in a quandary, Nyquist remained professional.

While Red Wings fans and media types quibbled on the Internet about the unfairness of the circumstances, Nyquist remained polite and patient, continuing to persevere on the ice while becoming almost philosophical about his status.

“Obviously, I hear about it from the media, but I’m trying not to think about it too much,” he said in early November. “It’s nothing I can control. If I start thinking about it, it’ll get to be too much.”

Nyquist’s poise under duress came as no surprise to Griffins head coach Jeff lashill.

“What I know for sure is that Gus Nyquist is a really good person, a really good teammate who carries himself really well in the locker room and who plays to win hockey games,” Blashill said.

“He’s done a great job of controlling what he can control and that’s his play, and he’s obviously played very well for us. He’s one of the best players in the league, and where he plays isn’t up to him.”

The Red Wings publicly proclaim their process of over-ripening prospects, but Nyquist had long passed the use-by date. He was more than ready.

“I’ve been working hard every day to be ready when that call comes,” Nyquist said after a Griffins practice. “That’s all I can worry about down here. If I don’t do my best, I’m not going to be ready when that call comes. While I’m in Grand Rapids, it’s important for me to play as well as possible.”

It had to be a relief for all parties involved when Nyquist was recalled to Detroit on Nov. 21.

A day earlier, the Red Wings had learned they would be without DeKeyser for 3-6 weeks due to a separated shoulder, thereby opening a roster spot for Nyquist.

Nyquist scored a pair of goals in his first game wit the Red Wings this season.

True to form, Nyquist did everything that was expected of him and more in his fi st game back with the Red Wings, a 4-3 victory over Carolina.

He scored just 17 seconds into the game when he collected a loose puck at the bottom of the right circle, then scored the eventual game-winner on a breakaway with 4:04 left in he game. His two goals helped Detroit break a seven-game losing streak.

“I wanted to bring as much energy as possible and come out to play with speed and creativity,” he said. “The fi st goal was just a lucky bounce right on my stick. I tried to put it on net as fast as possible and it squeaked through the five-hole. It was nice to get that quick one.

“On the second goal, ‘Z’ (Henrik Zetterberg) made a great play off he wall. He knew I was coming up the middle and I just skated, made a move and shot the puck. It was nice to see it go in.”

Nyquist played on the top line with Zetterberg, the Red Wings’ captain, and Johan Franzen, a fellow Swede who was nicknamed “Mule” by former Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman.

“Obviously I’ve been given a great opportunity, playing on a line with Z and Mule,” Nyquist said.

They’re obviously fun players to play with; you get to touch the puck a lot. It’s always nice when you can score a couple goals.”

Nyquist was held scoreless in his next two

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

25

GUSTAV NYQUIST’S LEGACY IN GR CAREER GRIFFINS STATS: 137 Games, 53 Goals, 90 Assists (8th all time), 143 Points (10th all time) One of only four players in franchise history to play in at least 100 games and average more than one point per game: • Michel Picard – 380 pts. in 364 games (1.0440 per game) • Kip Miller – 208 pts. in 203 games (1.0246 per game) • Gustav Nyquist – 143 pts. in 137 games (1.0438 per game) • Donald MacLean – 107 pts. in 104 games (1.0288 per game) Nyquist (2011-12 and 2012-13) and Picard (1996-97 and 1997-98; 2002-03 and 2003-04) are the only players in Griffins hi ory to lead the team in scoring games, but tallied goals in his fourth and fi h games back, adding an assist as well. After five games, he had four goals – more than he had in 22 games last season with the Red Wings.

He’s showing the consistency that had become a hallmark of his time with the Griffins.

“He’s been a great American Hockey League player by consistently performing at a high level,” Blashill said. “That’s all he could do and he’s done it. Consistency is one of his greatest strengths, both from a point-generation standpoint and also in his general play.

“More nights than not, he’s a highly impactful player in the game, and on the nights that he’s not, he’s not a liability defensively. He’s still a good player from the defensive side of the puck.”

In fact, his defensive play might be what he has improved the most since turning pro.

“Coming from college, it’s defin tely a different game here, and it takes a little while to adjust to the pro style, which is a little more structured,” Nyquist said. “The biggest change is the speed of the game. Everything happens a lot faster up here; you’ve got to be a lot quicker.”

“Coach Blash has worked hard to help me improve so I can be a better defensive player.

Offense frequently comes from good defense.

I think that’s something I’ve learned over the course of my time in Grand Rapids.”

Nyquist credits Blashill and his predecessor, 26

in consecutive seasons (Picard also led the team in 1999-00). Kip Miller is the only other player to lead the Griffins in scoring in multiple seasons (2001-02 a 2006-07).

Nyquist (2012 and 2013) and Jiri Hudler (2004 and 2006) are the only Griffins o play in multiple AHL All-Star Games.

Nyquist set the franchise’s rookie scoring record with 58 points in 2011-12, and became the fi th-fastest player in Griffins hi ory to score 100 points (102 games).

ACCOLADES: • 2013 Calder Cup champion • 2012-13 AHL First All-Star Team • 2013 AHL All-Star Classic • 2011-12 AHL All-Rookie Team • 2012 AHL All-Star Classic Curt Fraser, for showing him how to become a better two-way player. He has always been a steady point producer. Learning how to shut down the other team’s top lines took time.

“Looking back, Grand Rapids was a great learning opportunity for me,” Nyquist said. “I got to play in a lot of different situations and I learned a lot from my coaches, plus we always had a great group of guys in the locker room to show the way. The whole city, the coaching staff and the team have been great to me.”

Nyquist made the most of his opportunities in Detroit last season, showing that he was a capable NHL player who could be accountable on the ice.

“I would have liked to have contributed a little more offense-wise, but I thought with Andy (Joakim Andersson) and Damien Brunner we had a good line going in the playoffs, nd we did some good things. I thought the whole team did.

I was pretty satisfi d with my play.”

Nyquist was crushed when the Red Wings lost 2-1 to the Blackhawks in Game 7 of conference semifi als after having built a commanding 3-1 series lead.

“People say we took the champions to the fi al game, that no one expected that, but everyone in our locker room felt we had a really good thing going. We believed in ourselves. Even though we did a lot of good things, we were pretty disappointed to have lost.”

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

Nyquist was happy when the Red Wings informed him and Andersson that they would be coming back to Grand Rapids for the end of the Calder Cup Playoffs “We were told right after Game 7 in Chicago that we were going to fly down to Oklahoma City the next day to rejoin the Griffins,” Nyquist said. “We were really happy. We felt like we were still part of this team after having played more than half of the season in Grand Rapids, and we weren’t ready to spend time on the beach.”

Nyquist said he felt the Griffins had something special early in the season after a tough start in which the team won only one of its fi st six games.

“Coach told us it was a process and that if we kept doing the right things, things would turn around. A lot of the young guys developed and improved, and after that bad start, we won eight in a row, beating a lot of good teams in that stretch. I think that’s when a lot of us felt we had a really good thing going.

“We weren’t thinking about a championship.

Our goal was to be a playoff eam and once you get in the playoffs, nything can happen. When me and Andy saw how good they were doing in the playoffs, e were really excited to come back and contribute as much as possible.”

Nyquist had seven points (two goals, five

assists) in 10 playoff g mes as the Griffins came back to eliminate Oklahoma City in seven games, then knocked off yracuse in six games to win the franchise’s fi st Calder Cup. “It was my fi st time winning anything,” Nyquist said. “Going all the way was a tremendous experience. The leadership from the veterans was unbelievable. (Jeff) Hoggan, (Brennan) Evans, (Nathan) Paetsch and Bubba (Triston Grant)– those guys are great leaders.

“Winning the Calder Cup was a great experience. It’s something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”

When Nyquist signed a new two-year contract with the Red Wings last August, he knew a spot in Detroit was far from guaranteed.

“We all knew that the forwards would be fi hting for spots,” he said. “We knew they had too many guys up there, that some guys were going to be beat out for a spot on the roster. I obviously thought about it, but all I could control was to play as best as I possibly could in camp.”

Nyquist refused to get down on himself or his situation when he came back to Grand Rapids.

He recorded 21 points (seven goals, 14 assists) in 15 games during his time with the Griffins, tying him for fourth in AHL scoring at the time of his recall. “I wanted to be a role model for the younger guys,” he said. “We all felt like we have

Nyquist tallied 21 points in 15 games before his Nov. 21 recall to the Red Wings.

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

27

Nyquist enjoyed the highest-scoring rookie season in franchise history in 2011-12.

a great team in Grand Rapids again. It’s exciting and a lot of fun to come to the rink every day when you’re winning.”

Now that he’s in Detroit, Nyquist is intent on showing the Red Wings that the NHL is where he belonged all along.

“I want to be a consistent player and play my best every day,” he said. “All of the great players are everyday players. You look at Kronner (Niklas Kronwall), Z and Pav – it seems like they never have a bad day. Even though some games they don’t score, they still do so many good things defensively, they shut down the other top lines.

They never stop working.

“For a young player, seeing how hard those guys work is impressive. Even though they score 80 to 100 points, they still work the hardest. The Red Wings have won four Stanley Cups over the past 20 years and they’re still not done. They’re still working hard every day. That’s what I want to do as well. I want to be a consistent player and play hard every day.”

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BANNER ACHIEVEMENT

The Griffins’ Calder Cup championship banner was designed and manufactured locally – in the kitchen and living room of a Grandville seamstress.

Looking into the rafters of Van Andel Arena, names such as Picard, Miller, King, Howard, Hudler, Tatar and Nyquist may come to mind when one ponders the accomplishments of the various Griffins teams honored with division, conference and league titles.

But there’s one name – the common thread that runs through all the banners – that remains unknown to most fans.

Jenn Bellgraph is the seamstress who has sewn those super-colossal tributes to the accomplishments of her hometown hockey team.

Hockey and stitches go together, most certainly in the world of Bellgraph, who was honored to be asked to create the giant red Calder Cup championship banner that now hangs inside the south end of Van Andel Arena.

30

The commemorative banner is displayed alongside several traditional navy blue Griffins banners, all of which were handmade by Bellgraph in her Grandville home.

Bellgraph admits she was thrilled when she got the latest call from Tim Gortsema, the Griffins’ senior vice president of business operations. “I wasn’t sure they would call me again, but the Calder Cup banner was something I had been thinking about since the playoffs ast spring,” she said.

She was honored by the challenge. She beamed with pride when she was allowed to be on the ice when the banner was raised before the team’s home opener against Milwaukee on Oct. 18.

“It was very exciting – really cool just to be there,” Bellgraph said. “To be a small part of all the pomp and circumstance, with the crowd going crazy, was very cool.”

Bellgraph’s talents are unusual, and it might seem like the chances of discovering her would be about as good as fi ding a needle in a haystack. However, she happened to be in the right place at the right time.

In the 1990s, Bellgraph was working for DP Fox Sports and Entertainment as an executive assistant before ownership had even started the fl dgling franchise. When the organization sought quotes in 1996 from flag companies to display logo banners, she volunteered to do it for a fraction of the cost.

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

Bellgraph, whose handiwork usually consists of prom dresses and memory quilts, tackled the initial assignment as she has with subsequent requests when the Griffins have won division, conference or league titles, or when the organization retired the number of longtime player Travis Richards.

Working with an overhead projector, she beams pictures on fabric stretched out on a wall and stencils in the shapes of the desired logos and trophies. Over the years, she has accumulated the necessary templates for numbers and letters.

The 10-by-14-foot Calder Cup banner was a challenge because it was twice as big as any she had previously made, so large that the design literally draped her whole living room – not that her hockey-loving family minded.

Her husband, Brian, coaches the Grand Rapids Flames, the varsity hockey team of the Grand Rapids Public Schools that includes a number of players from the Grand Rapids Griffins Youth Foundation hockey program.

Her oldest son, Logan, 18, is a hockey referee when he’s not running cross-country or track for Grandville High School. Eleven-year-old Ian, meanwhile, is a Grandville Middle School student who plays Pee Wee hockey.

“No one was allowed to come into the living room unless they were only wearing socks – and clean ones at that,” Bellgraph said. “My husband had to clear out all the furniture so I had enough

room. People thought it was cool to come over and be able to sit on our couch in the kitchen.”

The kitchen is where Bellgraph does all her work. For the Calder Cup banner, she bought 19 yards of 60-inch wide duck cloth, a sturdy heavyweight fabric that is easier to sew than canvas. “I guess easy is a relative term,” she admits.

She fi ds the work enjoyable, but stressful.

“When I get going, I have to concentrate because it’s a lot of math,” she said. “It’s the same as creating a dress pattern, only on a much larger scale.”

Working on the project at night and on weekends – Bellgraph is now a legal assistant at the law fi m of Van Dam & Jesson PLC – she required about three weeks to complete the championship banner, as well as an additional week each for the team’s division and conference title banners.

She fin shed with a week to spare, although not without some stress. “I came down with an upper respiratory infection where I couldn’t get out of bed,” she said. “I was relieved when everything was fin shed.”

Watching the players raise the banner to the rafters is an experience she will never forget. “To be invited onto the ice was an amazing thrill,” she said, noting that she would gladly do it again.

The Griffins are hoping to give her that opportunity.

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

31

HAVE ICE, WILL TRAVEL The Griffins look forward to facing the Toronto Marlies on Dec. 30 at Comerica Park in their fi st-ever outdoor game.

Story by Mark Newman.

Photos by Getty Images.

The Red Wings celebrate their win over the Blackhawks in the 2009 NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field.

32

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

L

Griffins defenseman Nathan Paetsch has a mental circle drawn around the date of Monday, Dec. 30.

Like his teammates, Paetsch is excited about the opportunity to play outdoors when the Griffins host the Toronto Marlies at Comerica Park in Detroit. The game was shelved last year due to the NHL lockout.

“I was so excited last year when I saw that we were playing an outdoor game, and then it got cancelled, so I was pretty disappointed,” Paetsch said. “It’s great to get it back on the schedule.”

Hockey, of course, is no stranger to the outdoors. In its earliest days, the sport was played outdoors on rivers, lakes and other natural ice surfaces. In fact, at the fi st Winter Olympics in 1924 in Chamonix, France, games were held outdoors. Various international and exhibition games were held outdoors over the years, but the sport had largely moved indoors.

The Cold War – the historic game between Michigan State University and the University of Michigan at Spartan Stadium in 2001 – is largely credited with starting the current popular trend of playing hockey outdoors.

The Griffins’ outdoor game is part of the SiriusXM Hockeytown Winter Festival, which will conclude with a Dec. 31 doubleheader between alumni from the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs. The Winter Festival also includes the Great Lakes Invitational on Dec. 2728 and an Ontario Hockey League doubleheader on Dec. 29. All games will be held at Comerica Park.

The 2014 NHL Winter Classic will pit the Red Wings against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on New Year’s

Day. It’s the second appearance by the Red Wings in the marquee event, having faced the Chicago Blackhawks at Wrigley Field on Jan. 1, 2009.

For the majority of Griffins, as well as the franchise itself, the Comerica Park contest will be their fi st outdoor game. Five Griffins have taken part in outdoor games, either in college or the professional ranks.

As a member of the Buff lo Sabres, Paetsch participated in the inaugural Winter Classic in 2008, facing the Pittsburgh Penguins in the fi st regular-season outdoor professional ice hockey game to be played in the United States.

Paetsch recorded one shot during 12:49 of ice time on 21 shifts hile playing on a temporary ice rink built on the football fi ld of Ralph Wilson Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Buff lo Bills.

“The whole experience was awesome,” Paetsch recalled. “It was so cool because everything about the game was new; nobody knew what to expect.”

Both teams wore vintage jerseys as Pittsburgh won 2-1 in a shootout on a goal by Sidney Crosby. Game-time temperatures were around the freezing mark, with snow falling much of the game, especially during the third period.

A total of 71,217 people attended the event, establishing an NHL attendance record. The crowd broke the former NHL record of 57,167 set at the outdoor Heritage Classic between the Montreal Canadiens and Edmonton Oilers in Edmonton, Alberta, on Nov. 22, 2003.

“It was loud, but it was a different loud,” Paetsch said. “That many people make a different noise. It’s like a heavier loud, not booming like inside an enclosed space. But it was intense.”

Paetsch remembers the game was a blast, in spite of the snowy conditions that made play a

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

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little more challenging.

Glendening said the game at Camp Randall “I remember skating and getting hit in the face Stadium was a memorable experience. with snow,” he said. “One time I tried to clear “The biggest thing I took away from the event the puck, took a slapshot and the puck stopped is that you have to enjoy it while you’re there,” by their blueline because there was just so much Glendening said. “It’s a momentous occasion and snow at that point.” when it’s over, you wish you could have another.”

Ice conditions were less than favorable as well.

Luckily for Glendening, he got two more “We knew the ice was going to be rough; we chances at Michigan – and both of those times, discussed it before the game,” Paetsch said. “The the Wolverines came out victors. whole experience was new to everyone, including Michigan beat Michigan State 5-0 in The Big the ice makers. I think they stopped the game 10 Chill at the Big House on Dec. 11, 2010, when to 15 times to fill holes in the ice.” the Wolverines played host to a record crowd of Th near113,411 in the freezing hockey rematch Luke Glendening leaves the ice after warmups temperature between the two before The Big Chill at the Big House in 2010. didn’t bother rivals. Permanent Paetsch. “I lighting was don’t remember added to ever being too Michigan cold,” he said.

Stadium for the “Of course, event, which I grew up in opened with Saskatchewan, fi eworks and a so I was used flyover by a B-2 to skating in Stealth Bomber. a lot colder “It was special temperatures.” just because it Luke was at the Big Glendening, House, and I had on the other gone to a lot of hand, probably football games shudders when there when I he remembers was younger,” the Camp Randall Classic that was held on the Glendening said. “Also, every year at Michigan, night of Feb. 6, 2010 before 55,031 fans – the we had to run the stairs there, so I had some second-largest crowd ever to witness a college torturous memories of the place, so to be able to hockey game – as his Michigan Wolverines lost be there and play a game in front of that many to the Wisconsin Badgers. people was just awesome.”

The Badgers won 3-2, thanks to a pair of goals Glendening’s third outdoor game at Michigan by future Griffins and Red Wings defenseman came at Progressive Field in Cleveland on Jan. Brendan Smith, but it was the frigid temperatures 15, 2012, in the Frozen Diamond Faceoff. The that Glendening won’t forget. Wolverines head No. 13-ranked Wolverines beat the No. 2-ranked coach Red Berensen refused to wear a winter coat Ohio State Buckeyes 4-1 in front of 25,864 fans even though the thermometer dipped into the on the converted baseball diamond. single digits with the wind chill.

“The weather was OK, not the worst,” “It was freezing, but coach didn’t have a coat Glendening said. “Playing in a baseball park was on until the third period,” Glendening said. “I cool because the fans were right on top of us think he got sick after that.” along the baseline, so that was fun. Actually, all Berensen might have already felt ill from the of the outdoor games have been fun. They’ve all way the Wolverines lost. Michigan had a 2-1 been special. All had a little different feeling, and lead until late in the game when Smith scored I’ve enjoyed every one of them.” power-play goals at 14:28 and 18:38. Even so, Like Glendening, Teemu Pulkkinen has played Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

35

in three outdoor games. The fi st time was the 2011 Talviklassikko on Feb. 5, 2011 at Helsinki Olympic Stadium, which was built for the 1940 Olympics that were cancelled due to World War II. A Finnish Elite League-record crowd of 36,644 watched HFK beat Jokerit 4-3 despite two goals from Pulkkinen.

“The weather was perfect,” Pulkkinen recalled.

“It was the fi st outdoor game in Finland and there were so many people, it was amazing.”

His Jokerit team fared no better in the 2012 Talviklassikko, losing 3-2 in a shootout to HIFK before 34,264 fans on Feb. 4, 2012 at Helsinki Olympic Stadium.

“I remember it was very cold,” he said. “We had blankets and heaters under the bench, plus we wore hats under our helmets. At the same time, it was a lot of fun.”

Pulkkinen got to play on the same ice five days later when Finland hosted Russia in a Euro Hockey Tour match in front of 25,036 fans who braved 5-degree temperatures. Russia blanked Finland 2-0 in the game which featured cheerleaders, fi eworks and an appearance by

Hockey Bird, the mascot of the 2012 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship.

There were fi eworks and plenty of flag waving when Adam Almquist took part in the 2011 Swedish Elite League’s Outdoor Classic on a makeshift ice ink at Elmia Arena in Jönköping, Sweden, on Dec. 10, 2011.

Dubbed the Jubilee Match because the event celebrated HV71’s 40th anniversary, the game broke the attendance record for a sports event in Jönköping, topping the 18,582 that attended a soccer game in 1950.

“It was an awesome experience, absolutely amazing,” Almquist said. “The weather was actually pretty bad, really cold. My parents and some friends were freezing, but I didn’t feel it.

It was a little rainy and a little snowy, so the ice wasn’t the best.”

Almquist’s HV71 team lost a 1-0 shootout to Linköpings. “We didn’t score, but it happens,” he said. “When the ice is bad, you have to keep things a little simpler, stay away from the fancy plays.”

Calle Jarnkrok played in the 2012 Swedish Elite League Outdoor Classic. His Brynäs IF

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“I grew up team beat Timrå Nathan Paetsch defends Pittsburgh’s IK 3-0 on Dec. Ryan Malone during the inaugural NHL playing hockey 8, 2012, before Winter Classic in Buffalo in 2008 outdoors,” said Xavier Ouellet, 15,009 fans in who grew Gävlebocken up outside Arena in Gävle, Sweden.

Montreal.

“Th s will Jarnkrok had one be my fi st assist. outdoor game “We had some and I can’t luck – it was a wait to do good weather it. It’s going day,” he said. “It to be a great was still pretty experience.” cold, very cold “I hope there will be a lot of people watching actually, about [5 degrees Fahrenheit]. But it was because a big crowd really adds to the feeling of a great experience. The whole atmosphere was a the game,” Pulkkinen said. “When the stadium lot of fun.” was full in Finland, it was With rave reviews from players who an amazing feeling. My have participated in outdoor games, it’s no only advice is to enjoy surprise that the Griffins are excited about the the game. It’s going to opportunity to play in Comerica Park on Dec. be fun.”

30. Game time is 5 p.m. More than 30,000 tickets had been sold as of press time, with the rest available through Ticketmaster.com for $18, $28 and $38 apiece.

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BRENNAN EVANS

Defenseman 6-4, 230 lbs.

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PATRICK EAVES

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44 CORY EMMERTON

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LANDON FERRARO Forward 6-0, 182 lbs.

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GLEASON FOURNIER Defenseman 6-0, 195 lbs.

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33 MARTIN FRK

Forward 6-0, 205 lbs.

Born: 10/5/93 Pelhrimov, Czech Republic 40

LUKE GLENDENING

Forward 5-11, 195 lbs.

Born: 4/28/89 Grand Rapids, Mich.

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23 TRISTON GRANT

Forward 6-1, 218 lbs.

Born: 2/2/84 Neepawa, Man.

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

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3

42 PETR MRAZEK

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ANDREJ NESTRASIL

TOMAS JURCO

34 DAVID MCINTYRE

Goaltender 6-2, 215 lbs.

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

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TEEMU PULKKINEN Forward 5-11, 185 lbs.

Born: 1/2/92 Vantaa, Finland

39 JORDIN TOOTOO Forward 5-9, 198 lbs.

Born: 2/2/83 Churchill, Man.

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

MAREK TVRDON Forward 6-2, 215 lbs.

Born: 1/31/93 Nitra, Slovakia

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Ouellet was selected by the Red Wings in the second round (48th overall) in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft

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Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

Story and photos

by Mark Newman

FATHER’S FOOTSTEPS

Xavier Ouellet has a hockey pedigree but is intent on becoming a regular in the NHL on his own merit.

When a boy follows in his father’s footsteps, liked the job you have to do on defense. I ended there is always the question of whether it was up really liking the position, so I just stayed nature or nurture. there.”

Is the decision to pursue the same profession a It was also at age 14 that Ouellet had a rude matter of genes or jeans? Is it some chromosomal awakening. material that genetically pushes a boy in the same Cut from his Bantam AA team, Ouellet direction, or is it some deep-seated desire that is wondered whether he was really cut out to intrinsically embraced by a boy who wants to put become a professional player like his father or on the same pair of pants as his father? whether he had deluded himself into thinking he For Xavier Ouellet, it may be a little of the was destined to play. former and a lot of the latter.

“I was really disappointed – being cut really As the son of Robert Ouellet, who played hurt me,” Ouellet said. “That’s when I had a talk hockey professionally in France and Germany, with my dad and he said, ‘If you really want to Xavier was almost born with skates on his feet. play hockey, you have some stuff o do.’ That’s “I grew up in a hockey environment, so I just fell when I really started to put in the effort by in love with the ice,” he recalls. working out and practicing all I At age 20, Ouellet could.”

“I remember watching every game that I could.” to hanging is showing the kind outAccustomed By the age of five, Xavier was with friends during the going to hockey practice three of poise and puck summer, he rededicated himself times a week. His mom, Mariehockey. If he was going to prowess that some to Josée, drove him to practice or truly excel at the game, it would to the rink to see his dad play. scouts believe could require extraordinary effort.

“I can remember going into the The fact that his father played eventually make him a professionally would matter little (dressing) room sometimes,” he said.

Top-4 defenseman. in the long run.

His father never pushed, At age 16, Ouellet was a never prodded. “He was really fi st-round pick of the Montreal supportive, but he never tried to coach me. He Juniors in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey always said, ‘There’s a reason you have a coach,’ League, where he would play the next two and he didn’t want to interfere,” Ouellet said. years before the franchise moved to Blainville“The only thing that mattered was that I had fun.” Boisbriand.

Like his father, young Xavier played center.

He credits head coach Pascal Vincent and “As I grew up, I would ask him, ‘What can I do?’ assistant coaches Dominique Ducharme and He really helped me with the mental part of the (former Griffins defenseman) Joel Bouchard with game, how to get ready for warmups, how to providing the necessary guidance while showing prepare for a game.” great faith in his play. “They gave me a lot of Up to his teenage years, playing hockey was responsibility at a young age and helped me grow almost second-nature for Xavier, who was born in my junior career,” he said. in Bayonne, France. Age 14, however, was a Ouellet earned the trust of his coaches. His major turning point in his career. excellent work ethic and steady performance “We had a defenseman who couldn’t play for allowed him to become a solid two-way blueliner, our summer team, so we needed someone, and I a young player who was mature beyond his years. just tried it and found I liked it,” Ouellet said. “I His strong hockey sense and vision, along with Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

43

He came into training camp with the Red Wings with one thing on his mind. “My goal has always been to play in the NHL. I didn’t know when it would be, but it was my main goal,” said Ouellet, who knew adjusting to pro hockey would be a challenge.

Five games into his AHL career, Ouellet got the good news. He was recalled by the Red Wings and made his debut against the San Jose Sharks on Oct. 21.

“I wanted to scream and yell everywhere, but I kept my emotions in control,” he said. “I wasn’t that nervous or scared – more excited than anything. I couldn’t wait for the game to start.

When my fi st shift w s done, I was really into the game and I felt pretty good.”

Ouellet logged 17:15 of ice time and, by all reports, did everything that was expected of him.

“I thought he was real good, I thought he was steady,” said Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock. “I liked him through training camp, (so) it’s not a big surprise to me. He’s smart, doesn’t make lots of mistakes.

“As a young D, often it’s not so much what you do, it’s how few mistakes you make.

Conscientious, trustworthy, you get to play a lot.

He did a good job.’’

Ouellet was recalled a second time in early November, earning starts against the Tampa Bay Lightning and Winnipeg Jets. “I’ve always been motivated, but playing a couple of NHL games gave me a little taste of what it’s like and made me hungrier to get back,” he said.

At age 20, Ouellet is showing the kind of poise and puck prowess that some scouts believe could eventually make him a Top-4 defenseman.

“Xavier is a very mature young player, and that shows in his game,” said Griffins head coach Jeff Blashill. “He handles risk management very well; he doesn’t take more risk than the reward. He’s able to be a fairly effici t hockey player in the sense that he can create offense and defend well without giving up much. That’s why when he’s gone up to Detroit, he’s done a good job because he’s played a fairly simple and manageable game.”

In less than two months, Ouellet has earned the faith of his coaches in both the AHL and NHL. “If you can earn the coach’s confide ce that you’re good defensively, no matter what position you play, you’re going to be put into a lot more C

M

Ouellet’s father Robert played for the French hockey team at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan.

his ability to make a great fi st pass, propelled him to near the top of many teams’ draft l sts.

It was no surprise when Ouellet was selected in the second round (48th overall) by the Red Wings in the 2011 NHL Draft. e had already established himself as a top prospect before fin shing his junior career with two solid seasons as captain of his team.

Ouellet also represented Canada at the 2013 World Junior Championship in Ufa, Russia, notching three points (one goal, two assists) in six games. “It didn’t go as well as we wanted as a team, but as a player, it was a great learning experience,” he said.

He joined the Griffins at the end of last season, and although he didn’t see action in any games, witnessing the team’s run to the Calder Cup championship was an invaluable experience.

“I had no idea what the AHL was like, so to come last year and see a few games, it really helped,” he said. “It’s not fun to watch from the stands, but there are good things that you can get out of the experience, and I think watching the team helped me a lot in terms of getting ready for this season.”

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Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

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positions throughout the game, and he’s gained the confide ce of the coaching staffs in oth Grand Rapids and Detroit,” Blashill said.

Of course, Ouellet is still young, so he’s bound to make mistakes. “There are always little things that I know I need to improve, so the more I play, the better I feel,” he said. “I know when I play a strong game defensively, I’m happy for the night.

If I get points, that’s a bonus because I want to contribute offensively too.”

Ouellet wants to be an asset at both ends of the ice. “I want to be the defenseman who can do everything, whether it’s being on the ice when we need a goal or when we need to shut down the other team,” he said. “I want to work on every aspect of my game.”

With more games under his belt, Ouellet hopes to polish his play.

“I’m still adjusting,” he admits. “I want to get better every day and get ready to become a good defenseman in the NHL.” Ouellet was a First Team All-Star in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League the past two seasons.

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Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

LI

LIFE FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC CENTRES

PUCK HAPPY

Nothing pleases Teemu Pulkkinen – and his coaches – more than shooting the puck and scoring goals.

Story and photos by Mark Newman

48

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

Teemu Pulkkinen has always been happiest when he’s playing hockey. He’s always enjoyed the game, and as a kid nothing made him happier than heading outdoors with his friends and his older brother Toni.

“We did everything – running, biking and playing soccer – but playing hockey was the best,” he recalled about growing up in Vantaa, Finland, a city about 10 minutes from the capitol city of Helsinki.

Pulkkinen started as a goalie but soon discovered that was not for him. “I played the position for about a year and then one game, I let in too many goals,” he said. “I told my mom that I’m not going to be a goalie anymore.”

He discovered it was more fun to score than to be scored upon. “When you lose games, you feel like you’re all alone. Of course, you’re only part of the team, but as a goalie, you feel responsible.

It was fun, but when you’re the goalie, it’s serious.”

Pulkkinen moved to forward and the rest, as they say, is history.

As a 15-year-old playing Junior C U-16 hockey in Finland, he scored 47 goals in 22 games. As a 16-year-old in Junior B U-18, he recorded 36 goals in 32 games. The following year, as a 17-year-old, he scored 20 goals in 17 Junior A games, often playing against guys who were two or three years older.

He clearly knew how to shoot the puck and score.

“When my father played, he had a good shot,” Pulkkinen said. “He always told me to practice and shoot the puck – that’s the way you score goals. I wanted to learn, so I practiced a lot.”

Pulkinnen started playing in Finland’s top professional league when he was barely 18 years old. During his fi st full season in the Liiga, which is colloquially called the Finnish Elite League, he was almost a point-per-game player, recording 18 goals and 36 assists for 54 points in 55 games. “I had great linemates and got lots of ice time,” he explained.

His play at the international level was equally impressive. A look at his IIHF numbers for two World Junior and two U-18 championships reveals an astounding 26 goals and 24 assists for a total of 50 points in just 25 games. “I played a lot with Mikael Granlund, who’s now playing with the Minnesota Wild. He’s one of the best Finnish hockey players at the moment, and he’s a great playmaker, so we had a great line, good power play.”

Even so, the points, it seemed, came almost too easily. Perhaps it was a blessing for his development when he struggled a bit during his second and third seasons at the pro level in Finland.

Pulkkinen played on the same Finnish hockey team as former Griffi Valtteri and Ilari Flippula during last season’s NHL lockout.

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

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“I didn’t get as much ice time and my selfpleased with Pulkkinen’s progress. confide ce went down – that’s how it goes in “Teemu is one of those guys where the puck hockey,” he said. “When you get lots of ice time, seems to follow him around the ice,” Blashill you feel good about yourself and you score goals. said. “It’s probably because he’s a pretty smart But if you don’t score, everybody starts waiting player offensively, and he fi ds a way to win for you. You don’t like to think about pressure, puck battles. When he’s got the puck on his stick, but it happens when you don’t score goals. he’s got a real weapon of a shot. As he learns to Everything becomes hard.” hit the net even more often, he’ll be even more He was successful.” eager to come Being smart to North positionally – America and “Skate to where joined the the puck’s going, Griffins near not where it’s the end of the been,” according to 2012-13 AHL Wayne Gretzky – is season. He saw not something that action in two Pulkkinen claims regular season to have learned games, then from his father or played in 14 his brother or even playoff g mes his coaches, but is before Gustav rather a skill he just Nyquist picked up as he and Joakim played the game.

Andersson “It comes from rejoined the the time when I Griffins for was a young kid the team’s fi al and I played so playoff ush. many games,” “I wanted Pulkkinen said. to see how “You just enjoy things go – I yourself when didn’t expect you’re playing anything,” he as a young kid said. “I just and you learn wanted to have where to go. It just fun, and it comes naturally. was really fun.

I don’t know if it’s When the guys something that you Pulkkinen was named the SM-Liiga Rookie of the Year for the 2010-11 season. came back can learn. In fact, from Detroit, at my age, I think I didn’t play in the fi als, but I was very happy it’s something you can’t learn anymore.” when the guys fin shed the job and reached our One thing Pulkkinen has learned is that goal of winning the Calder Cup.” when you have the puck and the space, you Pulkkinen is playing a bigger role this season, shoot. “When Teemu shoots the puck, he has especially with the departure of Andersson, a chance to score from anywhere on the ice,” Nyquist and Tomas Tatar from the Griffins’ Blashill said. lineup. He is getting more ice time and more Pulkkinen had seven goals in his fi st 19 power play time, too. games, a pace that would give him 28 for the Griffins head coach Jeff lashill has been season – but he hopes that’s only a beginning.

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Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

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“I have to score more and do better,” he said.

“I’m going to work hard every day.”

If there’s one area where he will have to improve, it’s his two-way play. He will have to become a better defensive player to become a regular in the NHL. “The improvement that Teemu will need to show will lead him to become a complete player,” Blashill said. “He needs to learn how to play from the defensive side of the puck, how to make stops in the defensive zone – all habits that come over time. I believe he’s getting better at those habits and that he will continue to improve.”

Pulkkinen knows that no matter how many goals he scores, it’s going to be his defense that will help him excel at the next level. “That’s a big point for me,” he said. “In a smaller rink, you have to know where to go and what to do in certain situations defensively. I have more to learn, but I think it’s been a good experience so far.”

In the end, it’s his shot, his ability to score, that will get him noticed. It’s what led Ari Vuori, the Red Wings’ scout in Finland, to compare him to Hockey Hall of Famer

Jari Kurri and for Detroit scout Haken Andersson to call him “a poor-man’s Brett Hull” – suggestions which make the young Pulkkinen blush.

“I don’t want to be like anybody else – I just want to be myself,” Pulkkinen said. “People can think what they want, but the most important thing is how I see myself. It’s what I do inside the rink, and it’s all about having fun. I’m not looking to be anybody else.”

And so he continues to have a good time, especially on a team that has the potential to repeat as Calder Cup champions.

“If you look at our lineup, we have so many good players,” he said. “I can honestly say it’s like we have too many good players. So for me, I just have to make sure I play good every night to keep my spot.

I know I have to score goals – that’s why I’m here – and that’s what I want to do. Score goals and have fun – that’s what it’s all about.”

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Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

Pulkkinen was the Red Wings’ fourth pick (111th overall) in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

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THE PUCK STOPS HERE Experienced goaltenders are prized by their teams in a league that emphasizes youth.

In its role as the development league of the NHL, the A former fourth-round draft AHL tends to value youth over experience. To make pick of the Red Wings (121st player development a top priority, the league enforces overall in 2001), MacIntyre has a veteran rule that limits the number of experienced seen NHL action with two teams, players that can dress for every game. appearing in two games with the Vancouver Canucks The veteran stipulation excludes goaltenders for a during the 2007-08 season and two games with the couple of reasons. First, goaltenders tend to take longer Buff lo Sabres in 2011-12. to develop than skaters. Second – and perhaps more MacIntyre split last season with three teams. He importantly – it’s logical to keep experienced goaltenders played two games in the KHL with Prague Lev, then on the ice to best approximate the scoring challenges that appeared in 10 games with the Reading Royals in the skaters will face when promoted to the NHL. ECHL before fin shing the year in Toronto. MacIntyre There are currently at least a dozen veteran led the Marlies to the second round of the playoffs, goaltenders playing between the pipes in the AHL, where they lost to Grand Rapids in six games. including a couple who will be familiar to anyone who One of the oldest goaltenders in the AHL is San has followed the Grand Rapids Griffins over the past Antonio Rampage netminder Scott Clemmensen, decade.

36, who is currently in his fi h year with the Florida Joey MacDonald, 33, is now with the red-hot Panthers organization after previous NHL stints with Abbotsford Heat after starting the season with the New Jersey Devils and Toronto Maple Leafs. the Calgary Flames. The Griffins’ career leader in A 6-foot-3 native of Des Moines, Iowa, Clemmensen goaltending wins with 109, MacDonald was 3-3-1 with has posted a 67-52-22 record with a 2.74 goals-against the Flames when Calgary put him on waivers on Nov. average and a 0.907 save percentage during a 10-year 2 following a 4-3 NHL career. His loss to the Detroit best NHL season Red Wings. came in 2008-09 The 6-foot when he went MacDonald, who 25-13-1 in New has seen action Jersey with a 2.44 with the Boston GAA and a save Bruins, New percentage of York Islanders 0.917 – not bad for and Toronto a former eighthMaple Leafs as round pick (215th well as Calgary overall) of the and Detroit, is Devils in the 1997 now looking NHL Entry Draft for another Joining opportunity to Clemmensen Griffins anchise goaltending wins leader Joey MacDonald add to his 42 on the Rampage has switched uniforms, now wearing the jersey of the red-hot career NHL roster is Dov West Division-leading Abbotsford Heat. victories.

Grumet-Morris, “Some people come down (to the AHL) . . . and they 31, a Harvard University product who is back in San mope,” MacDonald told the Abbotsford News. “But Antonio, where he played during his fi st pro season you’ve got to work hard and get back up there. That’s in 2005-06. In between his Rampage stints, Grumetmy job now – to win every single game I get in and put Morris has made AHL stops in Portland, Hamilton, some pressure on myself, and it’ll happen.”

Manitoba, Milwaukee and Hartford, as well as ECHL Another elder statesman is Drew MacIntyre, 30, appearances in Cincinnati and Greenville. He also who played with the Griffins during the 2004-05 and served as a Griffins backup for several games and spent 2005-06 seasons. Currently with the Toronto Marlies, two seasons playing hockey in Austria. the 6-foot-1 native of Charlottetown, Prince Edward A native of Evanston, Ill., Grumet-Morris is still Island, has 163 career AHL wins on his resumé, which waiting for his fi st opportunity to play in the NHL. includes AHL stops in Manitoba, Milwaukee, Chicago, In the meantime, he will be trying to top his best Hamilton and Rochester.

AHL season for wins. He posted a 19-13-1 record

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two seasons ago with the Rampage when he had a 2.33 GAA and a save percentage of 0.921. The former fi h-round draft ick (161st overall in 2002) of the Philadelphia Flyers made an AHL career-high 43 starts last season.

Yann Danis, 32, was the 2011-12 winner of the Aldege “Baz” Bastien Memorial Award as the AHL’s outstanding goaltender as voted by coaches, players and members of the media in each of the league’s 30 cities.

The native of Lafontaine, Quebec, was also named a 2011-12 AHL First Team All-Star.

Currently covering the crease for the Adirondack Phantoms, the 5-foot-11 Danis has played in the NHL with the Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders, New Jersey Devils and Edmonton Oilers. Danis entered the season with 140 career AHL wins, which puts him second among active goaltenders – 23 behind MacIntyre and one ahead of MacDonald.

For veteran goaltenders, the AHL presents an opportunity to showcase their tools to foster a return to the NHL rather than fin sh out their playing days in the AHL. Every year, there is at least a goalie or two that uses the developmental league to reinvigorate their careers.

Rick DiPietro, 32, hoped the AHL could be his stepping stone. But the No. 1 overall pick in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft ound the comeback trail too rocky for his liking.

The former New York Islanders netminder inked a pro tryout with the Charlotte Checkers after the Islanders bought out the 15-year, $67.5 million contract he signed in 2006.

“I don’t think I could go to sleep at night not knowing that I gave it one last try to see what I could do,” DiPietro told the New York Times.

Unfortunately for DiPietro, things did not work as planned. He was nicked for four goals in his fi st AHL start, a 5-2 loss to the Griffins on Oct. 30, then fared no better in his next three starts, losing by scores of 5-3, 5-3 and 4-3.

DiPietro eventually asked to be released from his tryout, a request that was granted by Carolina general manager Jim Rutherford, who had signed DiPietro to play for the Hurricanes’ minor league team.

“He doesn’t have his confide ce now,” Rutherford, a former NHL goalie, told the Times. “That position, more than any other position in hockey, it’s important to have your confide ce.”

On the opposite end of the spectrum is Hershey Bears netminder David Leggio, 29, who is riding high with confide ce following the best season of his career.

The Clarkston University product was a workhorse for the Rochester Americans last season when he appeared in an AHL-best 64 games, posting a 38-24-1 record with a 2.56 GAA and a save percentage of 0.924.

Even so, Leggio was deemed expendable after the Buff lo Sabres acquired Matt Hackett, a younger prospect with NHL experience.

Matt Climie is in his third season with the Chicago Wolves.

Leggio, a 6-foot native of Williamsville, N.Y., signed a new two-way contract with the Washington Capitals this past summer in hopes of earning a spot with his play in Hershey this season.

“I’m a battler and I love to compete,” Leggio told The Patriot-News. “Every day I want to get better. Every day I want to improve.”

Leggio is not alone in his quest.

Matt Climie, 30, is in his third season with the Chicago Wolves. The Bemidji State University alumnus has seen action in a handful of NHL games with the Dallas Stars and Phoenix Coyotes and is hoping to earn his way into a backup position.

Mike McKenna, 30, is now in Springfi ld, his ninth AHL city following stops in Norfolk, Milwaukee, Omaha, Portland, Lowell, Albany, Binghamton and Peoria. McKenna, who had 110 AHL career victories entering this season, has played in the NHL with the Tampa Bay Lightning and New Jersey Devils.

Jeff eslauriers, 29, has played for 12 teams during his decade in the pros. A native of St. Jean-Richelieu, Quebec, Deslauriers, who has played in the NHL with the Edmonton Oilers and Anaheim Ducks, is off o the best start of his career with a 10-3-2 record and a 2.34 GAA and 0.900 save percentage.

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

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(Through Dec. 5, 2013

GRIFFINS RECORDS

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GAMES PLAYED Travis Richards.............................................. 655 Michel Picard................................................. 364 Francis Pare.................................................... 363 Jamie Tardif.................................................... 316 Derek Meech.................................................. 304 Ryan Oulahen................................................ 302 Darryl Bootland............................................ 293 Logan Pyett.................................................... 288 Matt Ellis........................................................ 282 Dave Van Drunen......................................... 280

GOALS Michel Picard................................................. 158 Francis Pare.................................................... 102 Tomas Tatar..................................................... 87 Jamie Tardif...................................................... 78 Kip Miller......................................................... 75 Derek King....................................................... 73 Darryl Bootland.............................................. 72 Matt Ellis.......................................................... 69 Jiri Hudler........................................................ 65 Tomas Kopecky............................................... 63 ASSISTS Michel Picard................................................. 222 Travis Richards.............................................. 182 Francis Pare.................................................... 135 Kip Miller....................................................... 133 Derek King..................................................... 130 Jiri Hudler...................................................... 114 Tomas Tatar................................................... 109 Gustav Nyquist................................................ 90 Glen Metropolit............................................... 88 Jeff Nelson........................................................ 87

GRIFFINS’ ALL-TIME LEADERS IN GOALTENDING WINS

JOEY MacDONALD

(109)

JIMMY HOWARD (90)

MIKE FOUNTAIN (55)

SINGLE-SEASON TOP TEN

GOALS 1. Donald MacLean...........*56......................2005-06 2. Michel Picard...................46......................1996-97 3. Jiri Hudler........................36......................2005-06 4. Mark Mowers...................34......................2002-03 Jeff elson........................34......................1996-97 6. Slava Butsayev..................33......................2000-01 Michel Picard...................33......................1999-00 8. Jeremy Williams..............32......................2009-10 Tomas Kopecky...............32......................2005-06 Michel Picard...................32......................2002-03 Derek King.......................32......................2000-01 ASSISTS 1. Jiri Hudler........................60......................2005-06 2. Jeff elson........................55......................1996-97 Michel Picard...................55......................1996-97 4. Glen Metropolit...............53......................1998-99 5. Michel Picard...................52......................2002-03 6. Derek King.......................51......................2000-01 7. Valtteri Filppula...............50......................2005-06 8. Darren Haydar.................49......................2008-09 9. Eric Manlow.....................48......................2005-06 Stacy Roest.......................48......................2002-03 POINTS 1. Michel Picard.................101......................1996-97 2. Jiri Hudler........................96......................2005-06 3. Jeff elson........................89......................1996-97 4. Donald MacLean.............88......................2005-06 5. Michel Picard...................84......................2002-03 6. Derek King.....................*83......................2000-01 7. Mark Mowers...................81......................2002-03 Glen Metropolit...............81......................1998-99 9. Darren Haydar.................80......................2008-09 10. Eric Manlow.....................73......................2005-06 PENALTY MINUTES 1. Darryl Bootland............390......................2005-06 2. Matt Ruchty...................364......................1996-97 3. Chris Neil.......................354......................2000-01 4. Wade Brookbank...........337......................2001-02 5. Darryl Bootland............336......................2004-05 6. Darcy Simon..................327......................1996-97 7. Peter Vandermeer.........310......................2004-05 Bruce Ramsay................310......................1997-98 9. Bruce Ramsay................306......................1996-97 10. Chris Neil.......................301......................1999-00 *Led League

MARC LAMOTHE (54)

TOM McCOLLUM (52)

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

DANIEL LARSSON (45)

65

Sports Medicine Institute

Official Orthopaedic Physicians of the

William W. Schwab, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Grand Rapids Griffins Since Game 1.

Thomas M. Matelic, M.D.

Excellent medicine. Personalized care.

Peter C. Theut, M.D. Michael R.F. Jabara, M.D.

Phone 616-459-7101 www.OAMichigan.com/SMI

NHL AFFILIATIONS

Ottawa Senators 1999-2002, Detroit Red Wings 2002-Present

SEASON RECORDS (IHL 1996-2001, AHL 2001- Present)

YEAR GP 1996-97 82 1997-98 82 1998-99 82 1999-00 82 2000-01 82 2001-02 80 2002-03 80 2003-04 80 2004-05 80 2005-06 80 2006-07 80 2007-08 80 2008-09 80 2009-10 80 2010-11 80 2011-12 76 2012-13* 76 * Won Calder Cup 68

W 40 38 34 51 53 42 48 44 41 55 37 31 43 34 36 33 42

L 30 31 40 22 22 27 22 28 35 20 32 41 25 39 34 32 26

T OTL SOL PTS GF - - 12 92 244 - - 13 89 225 - - 8 76 256 - - 9 111 254 - 4 3 113 279 11 0 - 95 217 8 2 - 106 240 8 0 - 96 195 - 2 2 86 200 - 1 4 115 323 - 6 5 85 226 - 2 6 70 210 - 6 6 98 255 - 3 4 75 244 - 2 8 82 227 - 7 4 77 245 -- 4 4 92 234

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

GA 246 242 281 200 196 178 177 166 200 247 244 245 226 265 254 249 205

FINISH 10 of 19 11 of 18 15 of 16 2 of 13 1 of 11 4 of 27 2 of 27 5 of 28 17 of 28 1 of 27 17 of 27 25 of 29 8 of 29 26 of 29 23 of 30 24 of 30 7 of 30

NISH of 19 of 18 of 16 of 13 of 11 of 27 of 27 of 28 of 28 of 27 of 27 of 29 of 29 of 29 of 30 of 30 of 30

(* = Led League) SCORING 1996-97.......Michel Picard......................... 101 points 1997-98.......Michel Picard........................... 69 points 1998-99.......Glen Metropolit....................... 81 points 1999-00.......Michel Picard........................... 68 points 2000-01.......Derek King.............................. 83 points * 2001-02.......Kip Miller................................ 56 points 2002-03.......Michel Picard........................... 84 points 2003-04.......Michel Picard........................... 54 points 2004-05.......Niklas Kronwall....................... 53 points 2005-06.......Jiri Hudler............................... 96 points 2006-07.......Kip Miller................................ 72 points 2007-08.......Carl Corazzini........................... 60 points 2008-09.......Darren Haydar......................... 80 points 2009-10.......Jeremy Williams...................... 63 points 2010-11.......Ilari Filppula ........................... 64 points 2011-12.........Jamie Johnson /Gustav Nyquist/

Tomas Tatar............................. 58 points 2012-13........ Gustav Nyquist.............................60 points GOALS 1996-97.......Michel Picard..................................... 46 1997-98.......Michel Picard..................................... 28 1998-99.......Glen Metropolit................................. 28 1999-00.......Michel Picard..................................... 33 2000-01.......Slava Butsayev.................................. 33 2001-02.......Petr Schastlivy.................................. 22 2002-03.......Mark Mowers..................................... 34 2003-04.......Kevin Miller....................................... 27 2004-05.......Eric Manlow...................................... 21 2005-06.......Donald MacLean................................ 56 * 2006-07.......Matt Ellis........................................... 26 2007-08.......Carl Corazzini..................................... 24 2008-09.......Darren Haydar................................... 31 2009-10.......Jeremy Williams................................ 32 2010-11.......Jamie Tardif...................................... 27 2011-12.......Tomas Tatar....................................... 24 2012-13.......Landon Ferraro.................................. 24

PENALTY MINUTES 1996-97.......Matt Ruchty.................................... 364 1997-98.......Bruce Ramsay.................................. 310 1998-99.......Jared Bednar................................... 220 1999-00.......Chris Neil......................................... 301 2000-01.......Chris Neil......................................... 354 2001-02.......Wade Brookbank............................. 337 2002-03.......Ryan Barnes.................................... 151 2003-04.......Ryan Barnes, Darryl Bootland........... 175 2004-05.......Darryl Bootland............................... 336 2005-06.......Darryl Bootland............................... 390 2006-07.......Darryl Bootland............................... 222 2007-08.......Kyle Quincey.................................... 149 2008-09.......Aaron Downey................................. 126 2009-10.......Paul Crosty...................................... 170 2010-11.......Greg Amadio................................... 230 2011-12.......Garnet Exelby.................................. 177 2012-13.......Triston Grant................................... 196 GOALTENDING WINS 1996-97.......Pokey Reddick........................(30-14-10) 1997-98.......Ian Gordon.............................. (23-16-4) 1998-99.......Neil Little................................ (18-21-5) 1999-00.......Jani Hurme.............................. (29-15-4) 2000-01.......Mike Fountain......................... (34-10-6) * 2001-02.......Martin Prusek........................... (18-8-5) 2002-03.......Marc Lamothe......................... (33-18-8) * 2003-04.......Joey MacDonald....................... (22-12-3) 2004-05.......Joey MacDonald....................... (34-29-2) 2005-06.......Jimmy Howard.......................... (27-6-2) 2006-07.......Jimmy Howard........................ (21-21-3) 2007-08.......Jimmy Howard........................ (21-28-2) 2008-09.......Daniel Larsson......................... (22-12-2) 2009-10.......Daniel Larsson ........................ (23-24-2) 2010-11.......Jordan Pearce.......................... (20-15-5) 2011-12.......Joey MacDonald....................... (11-11-3)

Tom McCollum......................... (11-16-0) 2012-13.......Petr Mrazek............................. (23-16-2)

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

69

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

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

2012 AHL All-Star Gustav Nyquist

Photo by PhotoGraphics Photography/AHL

2010 AHL All-Star Patrick Rissmiller

Photo by Sports Action Photography/AHL

GRIFFINS ALL-STARS 1996-97

1997-98

1998-99 1999-00

2000-01

2001-02

2002-03 2003-04

2004-05 2005-06

2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13

Jeff elson, Michel Picard, Pokey Reddick Ian Gordon, Kerry Huffman Michel Picard Robert Petrovicky, Maxim Spiridonov John Gruden, Jani Hurme, Kevin Miller, Petr Schastlivy Mike Fountain, Joel Kwiatkowski, Travis Richards, Todd White Chris Bala, John Gruden, Kip Miller, Martin Prusek, Petr Schastlivy Mark Mowers, Marc Lamothe Jiri Hudler, Niklas Kronwall, Travis Richards, Nathan Robinson Niklas Kronwall, Joey MacDonald Valtteri Filppula, Jiri Hudler, Donald MacLean Kip Miller, Derek Meech Jonathan Ericsson, Jimmy Howard Jakub Kindl, Daniel Larsson Patrick Rissmiller Ilari Filppula, Brendan Smith Gustav Nyquist Chad Billins, Petr Mrazek, Gustav Nyquist

2009 AHL All-Star Jakub Kindl

Photo by JustSports Photography/AHL

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

2011 AHL All-Star Ilari Filppula

Photo by JustSports Photography/AHL

2009 AHL All-Star Daniel Larsson

Photo by JustSports Photography/AHL

PENALTY CALLS

Nyquist

I/AHL

ilppula

aphy/AHL

arsson

hy/AHL

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

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VISIT PHPA.COM Your source for PHPA news, officially licensed collectors items, and PHPA merchandise.

PROUD TO REPRESENT PLAYERS IN THE AHL, CHL, AND ECHL

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Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

STAY CONNECTED

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Tickets

Van Andel Arena

VIP Glass

$32

DAY OF GAME $34

Lower Level Preferred

$26

$28

Lower Level Center Ice

$22

$24

Lower Level Faceoff

$18

$20

VIP Edge

$18

$20

Upper Level Preferred

$16

$18

Upper Level

$14

$16

ADVANCE

Suites & Hospitality Areas Call for pricing and availability

www.startickets.com or 616.222.4000 THE ZONE Located on the West side of Van Andel Arena ONLINE griffinshockey.com Seats may not be available in all price categories.

For season, game-plan and group ticket information, call 616.774.4585 or 1.800.2.HOCKEY.

74

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

Treating

Sports Injuries At the Metro Health Sports Medicine Center, we know athletes. You train hard, you play hard and sometimes you get injured. When that happens, turn to the team that’s been treating area athletes for more than 15 years.

From concussion care to fractures and sprains, we’ll get you in quickly and back to your activities sooner.

Open Saturdays 9-11 am during the fall sports season

Proud to be the official medical provider for the Grand Rapids Griffins.

(616) 252-7778 metrohealth.net Your Health. Our Passion.

GRIFFINS IN THE NHL

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Dieter Kochan 3/28/00 TB vs. DAL Jani Hurme 4/9/00 OTT vs. TB Shane Hnidy 10/5/00 OTT at BOS Donald MacLean 10/14/00 TOR vs. OTT David Oliver 11/4/00 OTT vs. CBJ Jamie Rivers 11/12/00 OTT at CAR Sean Gagnon 11/26/00 OTT at NYR Joel Bouchard 11/29/00 PHX at COL Mike Crowley 12/8/00 ANA at MIN Ivan Ciernik 1/23/01 OTT at NYI Darren Rumble 2/6/01 STL at COL Joel Kwiatkowski 2/19/01 OTT at BUF Todd White 2/19/01 OTT at BUF Chris Neil 10/3/01 OTT at TOR Toni Dahlman 1/3/02 OTT vs. WSH Steve Martins 1/11/02 OTT at FLA Kip Miller 1/17/02 NYI at SJ Jody Hull 2/4/02 OTT at TB Dmitry Afanasenkov 2/6/02 TB at FLA Simon Lajeunesse 3/7/02 OTT at SJ Martin Prusek 3/23/02 OTT vs. ATL Chris Bala 3/27/02 OTT at NYI Neil Little 3/28/02 PHI at CAR Josh Langfeld 3/30/02 OTT vs. TB

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Gaetan Royer 4/1/02 TB vs. NYR Jason Spezza 10/24/02 OTT at BOS Sean Avery 10/29/02 DET vs. SJ Jason Doig 12/3/02 WSH at PIT Jason Williams 12/5/02 DET at PHX Patrick Boileau 12/19/02 DET vs. DAL Stacy Roest 2/20/03 DET vs. EDM Wade Brookbank 10/9/03 NSH vs. ANA Julien Vauclair 10/25/03 OTT at MTL Jiri Hudler 10/29/03 DET vs. STL Curtis Joseph 10/30/03 DET at NSH Darryl Bootland 11/8/03 DET vs. NSH Mark Mowers 11/19/03 DET vs. CBJ Nathan Robinson 11/28/03 DET vs. NYI Blake Sloan 12/4/03 DAL at LA Niklas Kronwall 12/10/03 DET at BUF Ryan Barnes 12/15/03 DET vs. FLA Chris Kelly 2/5/04 OTT vs. TOR Marc Lamothe 2/23/04 DET at EDM Anders Myrvold 2/26/04 DET at CGY Mathieu Chouinard 2/29/04 LA at ANA Brett Lebda 10/5/05 DET vs. STL Mark Eaton 10/5/05 NSH vs. SJ Chris Osgood 10/29/05 DET at CHI

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Niklas

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Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

E

SINCE THEIR INCEPTION IN 1996, THE GRIFFINS HAVE SENT 136 PLAYERS TO THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE, 15 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 FIVE OF THE LAST SIX YEARS AND IN SEVEN OF THE LAST NINE SEASONS. IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER, HERE ARE THE 20 GOALIES AND 116 SKATERS WHO HAVE WORN AN NHL SWEATER AFTER PLAYING FOR GRAND RAPIDS, ALONG WITH THE DATES OF THEIR NHL DEBUTS/RETURNS. 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 Bold = Has played in the NHL this season (as of Dec. 3) Italics = Had name engraved on the Stanley Cup after playing for Grand Rapids All photos by Getty Images except Niklas Kronwall (Dave Reginek).

Niklas Kronwall, 2008 Detroit

Kevyn Adams, 2006 Carolina

Mark Eaton, 2009 Pittsburgh

Chris Kelly, 2011 Boston

Tomas Kopecky, 2010 Chicago

Sheldon Brookbank, 2013 Chicago

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

77

K

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Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

KIDS

PAGE

A GRASSY PARAFFIN GREMLIN (=Griffins Player Scramble)

Unscramble the goofy words to form the name of a Griffins p yer. Good luck!

PLAYERS Adam Almquist Mitch Callahan Patrick Eaves Cory Emmerton Brennan Evans Landon Ferraro Gleason Fournier Luke Glendening Triston Grant Jeff oggan Calle Jarnkrok Tomas Jurco Alexey Marchenko David McIntyre Petr Mrazek Richard Nedomlel Andrej Nestrasil Xavier Ouellet Nathan Paetsch Teemu Pulkkinen Riley Sheahan Ryan Sproul Jordin Tootoo

ANAGRAMS 1. Surly Apron 2. Knee Led Lunging 3. Unlike Meek Punt 4. Evil Euro Latex 5. Pheasant Chant 6. Door Joint, Too 7. My Remote Corn 8. Feral Donor Ran 9. Landholder Crime 10. A Madam Quilts 11. Hernia Slay He 12. Unsealing Roofer 13. Starting Torn 14. Private Cakes 15. Alarm Cheeky Oxen 16. Jilts Arena Nerds 17. Gaff en Jog 18. Ran Even Banns 19. Cinch Llama Hat 20. Jello Rack Rank 21. Dynamic Divert 22. Major Scout 23. Tzar Perk Me

A MADAM QUILTS

Our apologies to Tom McCollum. We couldn’t come up with a scramble for your name!

MAJOR SCOUT

UNLIKE MEEK PUNT

SURLY APRON

PHEASANT CHANT

MY REMOTE CORN

ALARM CHEEKY OXEN

JELLO RACK RANK

CINCH LLAMA HAT

KNEE LED LUNGING ANSWERS 1. Ryan Sproul 2. Luke Glendening 3. Teemu Pulkkinen 4. Xavier Ouellet

5. Nathan Paetsch 6. Jordin Tootoo 7. Cory Emmerton 8. Landon Ferraro 9. Richard Nedomlel

10. Adam Almquist 11. Riley Sheahan 12. Gleason Fournier 13. Triston Grant 14. Patrick Eaves

15. Alexey Marchenko 16. Andrej Nestrasil 17. Jeff Hogga 18. Brennan Evans 19. Mitch Callahan

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

79

20. Calle Jarnkrok 21. David McIntyre 22. Tomas Jurco 23. Petr Mrazek

PARTING SHOT

W

Griffins p yers pose with the championship banner and Calder Cup before the team’s home opener on Oct. 18, 2013 at Van Andel Arena.

Photo by Mark Newman

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Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

PARTING SHOT

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