2013-14 Griffiti - Issue #4

2013-14 SEASON • ISSUE NO. 4

Ready for a Rerun Griffi s Captain Jeff Hoggan Wants Another Cup

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. 4

TABLE OF CONTENTS STARTING LINEUP

24 THE QUEST TO REPEAT Defending a Calder Cup championship presents a major challenge. After first qualifying or the playoffs, the Griffins will be poised o pursue the goal of winning the Cup a second time.

24

32 REMAKE/REMODEL With his transformation as a player nearly complete, Landon Ferraro has recast his role in a way that will ultimately make him a better pro.

42 RADIO MVP In the Griffi ’ broadcast booth, Larry Figurski is the epitome of the Most Valuable Professional, a polished and perceptive hockey authority who is plugged into the finer poi ts of the game.

58 THE BIG SHOW Calder Cup Finalists are among the many AHL players making their marks in the NHL this season.

32

ON THE BENCH 3............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 Calendar 40.........Meet the Griffi

47.........Griffins eason Ticket Holders 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:

Griffins aptain Jeff Hoggan has his eyes on the same prize as last season: a playoff erth and the opportunity to win the Calder Cup. 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 Š2014 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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PLAYERS TO WATCH UPCOMING HOME

OPPONENTS

ROCKFORD (March 29)

The IceHogs have watched the blossoming of Klas Dahlbeck (#10), a 22-year-old defenseman from Katrineholm, Sweden. Chosen by the Chicago Blackhawks in the third round (#79th overall) of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, ahlbeck has established career-high marks in goals, assists and points this season as he has anchored Rockford’s blueline with his steady presence. His improvement should earn him a long look in Chicago next season.

IOWA (April 2)

The Wild are doing their best to further the development of defenseman Tyler Cuma (#61), a fi st-round pick (23rd overall) of the Minnesota Wild in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. njuries (both knees, foot) have slowed the progress shown by the 24-year-old out of Scarborough, Ontario, who had played in only one NHL game entering this season. Cuma is considered a strong skater with excellent puckmoving skills and good ability to see the ice.

HAMILTON (April 4 and 5)

The Bulldogs have seen steady improvement in the play of 21-yearold defenseman Morgan Ellis (#44), a native of Ellerslie, Prince Edward Island. A solid all-around competitor who plays with grit and physicality, Ellis was chosen in the fourth round (117th overall) of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft y the Montreal Canadiens. He won the Kevin Lowe Trophy as the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s best defensive defenseman for his outstanding play during the 2011-12 season.

LAKE ERIE (April 18)

The Monsters are grateful that center Mitchell Heard (#48) is willing to drop the gloves for his teammates, given that the 22-year-old prospect has not been a prolific oint-producer thus far into his professional career. A hardworking forward who was able to score at the junior level, Heard recorded his fi st pro goal against the Griffins in November 2012.

A native of Bowmanville, Ontario, Heard was a second-round pick (41st overall) of the Colorado Avalanche in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

3

So much can change during the course of a hockey season.

Teams encounter hot and cold streaks. Players battle slumps. Injuries can sap a team’s ability to compete for days or weeks. Call-ups and demotions keep players bouncing between one league and another. Coaches shuffle ew players into the lineup and scramble to replace valued assets.

In the American Hockey League, the regular season is long, running from October to April, with the Calder Cup Playoffs otentially stretching play another two months into mid-June. Much can happen to cause a team to lose its focus or get sidetracked while trying to qualify for the playoffs “Our goal at the beginning of the year is to be one of the eight teams in the Western Conference to have the opportunity to compete for the Calder Cup,” said Griffins head coach Jeff lashill. “Until you get to that point, there is no use in thinking about anything else.”

Keeping a team headed in the right direction over the course of a 76-game schedule can be a daunting challenge.

“The way to get there, in my mind, is to break the season down into shorter segments,” Blashill said.

The Griffins have found success by following the cautionary wisdom of the popular idiom “Don’t bite off more than you can chew.” By trying to win two points every night with a victory, the team will ultimately collect enough points in the season standings to earn its place among the AHL’s best.

“We want to be a playoff eam for five-game segments all season long,” Blashill said. “Earning at least six out of every 10 points in each five-game segment will not only make us playoff- eady, but it makes us approach every game like a playoff eam throughout the season. That’s our focus until the very end of the season.”

The fact that the Griffins are heading into the fi al stretch of the season should not alter anything.

The target remains the same. “We don’t coach any differently as we move through the process. Our focus continues to be what it has been all season,” Blashill said. “The process doesn’t change.”

4

Everything is about “the process.” Talk to Blashill or any of the Griffins for any length of time and you’re likely to hear something about “the process.” In essence, it’s a systematic approach to learning what it takes to win, the “secret” of scoring more goals while limiting the chances of your opponent.

“All season long we want to be very tight defensively, and we want to create tons of opportunities offensively,” Blashill said. “Game 1 is just as important as Game 76. Those points you get at the beginning of the year can be just as critical as those in the end.”

The importance of every point, of course, gets magnifi d in the fi al stretch of the season when teams start jockeying for playoff osition. Games seemingly take on added signifi ance as teams get deeper into the schedule.

“It’s true that some games seem tighter toward the end of the season,” Blashill said. “They certainly get harder as you get closer to the home stretch because there’s an urgency and level of desperation in every team involved.”

But Blashill and his coaching staff f Jim Paek and Spiros Anastas do their best to keep the Griffins focused more on the task – “the process” – and less on what other teams are doing in the win-loss column.

“We have no focus on any other team except for our own,” Blashill said, who insists that he doesn’t worry about the standings. “We look at our segment board which dictates where we’re at from a season perspective.”

The strategy has obviously been working. The Griffins have strung together three separate sevengame winning streaks this season, an impressive statistic given the number of players who have been recalled by the injury-prone Detroit Red Wings.

During last year’s Calder Cup-winning season, the Griffins used 38 different players but benefitted from a nucleus of eight players who missed only five games or fewer. Th s year, with one-fi h of the season still to go, the Griffins have already employed 35 players. Injuries and recalls will cap the number of players who meet the five-game standard to no more than five, possibly fewer.

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

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The excessive player movement has had its benefits, though, both in Grand Rapids and Detroit. Young players have been thrust into expanded roles, giving them valuable ice time to improve their chances at development.

“As coaches, we’re not doing our job if we’re not helping our guys get better,” Blashill said. “Certainly with young players, there is probably as much room for growth as anybody on the roster. All of them have hopefully improved a lot over the course of the season.”

Nowhere is the growth more evident than on the Griffins blueline, where Xavier Ouellet, Ryan Sproul, Nick Jensen and AHL All-Star Alexey Marchenko all made tremendous strides. “I think they all have improved, and I hope that (Nathan) Paetsch, (Brennan) Evans and (Adam) Almquist have gotten better, too,” Blashill said.

The Griffins have not missed a beat. When the team lost Marchenko to a season-ending injury, it opened up greater opportunities for Jensen, who made his debut in December after recovering from off- eason shoulder surgery. Jensen used the increased ice time to tally six assists in a six-game span after going scoreless in his fi st 26 games.

“Nick’s done a really good job of developing,” Blashill said. “After missing the fi st half of the season, he’s really started to come into his own and has begun to show the high-level player that he is.”

Jensen is only one story. There’s Mitch Callahan, who has more than doubled his goal output from his second to his third season. There’s Teemu Pulkkinen,

who established a new team record for goals by a rookie. Martin Frk recorded eight points in 16 games after earning only one point in his fi st 23 games.

A little adversity can be good. When the Griffins struggled in January and February, it forced the team to dig a little deeper. “Hopefully you grow from all of your experiences, and from adversity you have opportunities to grow,” Blashill said. “Certainly you can grow as a team. All we’re trying to do is to try and get better every single day.”

Are the Griffins a better team for having won the Cup last season? Yes and no.

“Everybody learns from their experience and hopefully you improve on that basis,” Blashill said. “But last year is over. It’s been over for a long time. We will always cherish those great memories, and hopefully we have learned from the experience, but the challenge to win a Calder Cup is enough challenge on its own.”

Blashill feels like the Griffins have all the pieces to make another good run, but making comparisons to last year are fruitless.

“Th s is a new team and we feel like we can be a really good team when we’re playing at our highest level,” Blashill said. “In order to win in any sport you have to have talent and character, and we have those two things. That doesn’t guarantee success, but it puts us in position to have success.

“Our focus and commitment to our players is to help them get better. In turn, we think we will be a lot better team at the end of the season than we were at the beginning.”

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 WEAR THE COLORS WITH PRIDE

Petr Mrazek has a good head on his shoulders.

The unflappable goaltender is a steady presence between the pipes, staying calm and consistent game after game for the Griffins. The 22-year-old netminder was a big reason Grand Rapids won its fi st Calder Cup championship last season and why the team is positioned to potentially defend its title this year.

With Mrazek sitting atop the AHL’s 2013-14 statistical goaltending leaders, it’s no surprise that the Griffins will honor the young Czech prospect with his own bobblehead giveaway before the March 29 game against the Rockford IceHogs, presented by Michigan Office olutions.

Th ough mid-March, Mrazek had compiled an impressive 18-5-1 record with a league-best 2.01 goals against average and a stellar 0.928 save percentage. Teammate Tom McCollum has been nearly as good, ranking in the AHL’s Top 10 with a 19-11-3 record, a 2.27 goals-against average and 0.924 save percentage.

In fact, Mrazek and McCollum have an excellent shot at becoming the third Griffins goaltending tandem to win the AHL’s Harry “Hap” Holmes Memorial Award for Outstanding Team Goaltending. Martin Prusek, Simon Lajeunesse and Mathieu Choinard shared the award for 2001-02, while Marc Lamothe and Joey MacDonald won it in 2002-03.

Th ough 61 games, the Griffins had a 2.43 goals against average, which was just ahead of Norfolk (2.47), Chicago (2.49), Manchester (2.56) and Toronto (2.57).

Mrazek and McCollum usually give the Griffins a chance to win, having allowed two 6

or fewer goals in 34 games. Grand Rapids has a 31-1-2 record in those contests, having lost 2-1 once to Chicago and twice dropping 2-1 shootout decisions to San Antonio.

Griffins Repl a Championship Ring Giveaway Presented by Amway - April 5

Griffins fans will boast some bling of their own when the organization distributes replica Calder Cup championship rings to fans attending the April 5 game against the Iowa Wild. The rings are modeled after those that local company Terryberry produced for the Griffins players, staff nd ownership.

Season Finale Presented by Huntington Bank - April 18

Grand Rapids hockey fans hope to send the Griffins off n a high note as the team completes the home portion of its 2013-14 regular season with a game against the Lake Erie Monsters.

Fans can bid on the game-worn Friday Night jerseys from the season fi ale at a post-game auction.

The game also marks the last $2 Beers and $2 Hot Dogs promotion of the regular season, where fans can enjoy $2 domestic drafts nd hot dogs from 6-8 p.m. on Fridays, while supplies last.

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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.

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Games broadcast live on

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

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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

GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS

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: FirstOntario Centre 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

TM

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: Tom Rowe 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

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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!

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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 Patrick Eaves, 2013-14 Matt Ellis, 2006-07 Cory Emmerton, 2010-11 Jonathan Ericsson, 2007-08 Landon Ferraro, 2013-14 Valtteri Filppula, 2005-06 Luke Glendening, 2013-14 Mark Hartigan, 2007-08 Darren Helm, 2007-08 Jimmy Howard, 2005-06

Jiri Hudler, 2003-04 Matt Hussey, 2006-07 Doug Janik, 2009-10 Tomas Jurco, 2013-14 Jakub Kindl, 2009-10 Tomas Kopecky, 2005-06 Niklas Kronwall, 2003-04 Marc Lamothe, 2003-04 Josh Langfeld, 2006-07 Brian Lashoff, 2012-1 Brett Lebda, 2005-06 Ville Leino, 2008-09 Joey MacDonald, 2006-07 Donald MacLean, 2005-06 Alexey Marchenko, 2013-14 Darren McCarty, 2007-08 Tom McCollum, 2010-11 Derek Meech, 2006-07 Kevin Miller, 2003-04 Mark Mowers, 2003-04 Petr Mrazek, 2012-13 Jan Mursak, 2010-11

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

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

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

19

Che

March 29

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

2013-14 GR

IFF IN

SP

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

RO

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

March 29: Petr Mrazek Bobblehead Giveaway presented by Michigan Office Solutions April 2: 2013 Calder Cup Champions Poster Giveaway presented by Eikenhout April 4: 2013 Calder Cup Champions Poster Giveaway April 5: Replica Championship Ring Giveaway presented

by Amway/2013 Calder Cup Champions Poster Giveaway

March 29

ball ORE!

April 7: Griffins ooster Club Awards Banquet

M

OT IO

NAL

SCHEDULE

April 18: Season Finale presented by Huntington Bank/ Friday Night Jersey Auction/2013 Calder Cup Champions Poster Giveaway April 26: 2014 AHL Calder Cup Playoffs begin!

April 5

r?

April 2-18

OD

April 18

April 26

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SEASON-LONG PROMOTIONS $2 Beers and $2 Hot Dogs: Every Friday, enjoy $2 domestic drafts and $2 hot dogs from 6-8 p.m., while supplies last.

Get in the D-ZONE: Every Friday night is a Griffins -Zone night. Avoid the concession lines and get your $2 beers and $2 hot dogs served to you in your seats. Call (616) 774-4585 ext. 2 or visit griffinshockey.com/ dzone today!

game. Additionally, the first 300 fans o visit the Amway table in Section A will receive a gift. Fans can also enjoy a buyone, get-one-free deal on a 16 oz. Pepsi all night long at any concession stand that sells fountain drinks.

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

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.

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.

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.

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 pri e of a Lower Level Faceoff tic et (regularly $18 in advance and $20 day of game). Limit four tickets per card per person, subject to availability.

Amway Winning Wednesdays: Every time the Griffins win t home on Wednesday, each fan in attendance will receive a free ticket to the next Wednesday

Fan 4 Packs: For select games, receive four tickets and $12 in concession cash for a great low price. Valid for games on March 29 and April 5. Visit griffinshockey.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 one of the following games: April 2 and 4.

Post-Game Open Skates: March 29 and April 18.

Huntington Bank Post-Game Autograph Session: April 5.

MOS Corner Offic Presented by Michigan Office Solutions, this section, located on the terrace level above section 118, provides the best seats in the house for groups of up to 30 people, with La-ZBoy 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

Quest The

to

Repeat Story and photos

by Mark Newman

Defending a Calder Cup championship presents a major challenge. After fi st qualifying for the playoffs, he Griffins will be poised to pursue the goal of winning the Cup a second time.

Jeff oggan would love to lift the Calder Cup a third time.

He won his first championship with ouston in 2003.

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

t

Nathan Paetsch and Brennan Evans hope to have something to celebrate again later this spring.

W

inning a championship is never easy.

Doing it a second time may be even harder.

Since the Calder Cup was fi st presented in 1938, there have been only nine instances where a team has successfully defended its title.

The Grand Rapids Griffins are ready to face the challenge and become the 10th team to repeat.

Competing in the American Hockey League complicates the challenge. In its developmental role for the NHL, the AHL serves as a revolving door for talent, with players often traveling back and forth between the two leagues. Rosters change from one year to the next, making the quest to defend a championship all the more difficult.

The Griffins said goodbye to some key contributors after raising the Cup – Tomas Tatar, Gustav Nyquist and Joakim Andersson graduated to the Detroit Red Wings, Jan Mursak and Francis Pare are now playing in the KHL in Russia – but the organization welcomed the arrival of a number of promising prospects, including several young defensemen in Alexey Marchenko, Xavier Ouellet, Ryan Sproul and Nick Jensen.

Some faces have changed, but the team is not materially different.

“You know the guys have the makeup to help us to do it again,” said Griffins captain Jeff Hoggan, contemplating his team’s chances with 20 games to go in the 2013-14 regular season.

“We still have the same coaches, the same systems and much of the same personnel. We know we’re not quite where we were last year. We still have some growing to do, but we still have time.”

Nothing is assured. The Griffins must fi st qualify for the playoffs in rder to get the opportunity to defend their Calder Cup championship. After a midseason malaise that saw the team taste victory only three times in 12 games, the Griffins reeled off even straight wins heading into early March to stay atop the Midwest Division.

The quest to defend the Cup began immediately following the 2012-13 season. The Griffins re-signed Hoggan and fellow veterans Nathan Paetsch, Brennan Evans and Triston Grant, while adding another experienced player in David McIntyre from the Houston Aeros.

Veteran leadership will be crucial for the Griffins during their playoff ush.

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

25

Triston Grant, Brennan Evans, Jeff oggan and Nathan Paetsch hope to keep the Griffins heading in the ri t direction.

“Last year was not only fun, but it was also a huge learning experience,” Grant said. “It’s an experience that can never be taken away, and it should defin tely help us down the stretch this season.”

“Being in the situations that we encountered last year will certainly help,” Paetsch said. “We didn’t win one easy round, but we had players who came up big for us in clutch situations. A lot of those guys are still in this room and hopefully they’re going to help us going forward.”

Experience often counts when it matters most.

“You end up relying on those guys who have been there,” Hoggan said. “Going in, we know what needs to be done,” added Evans.

The key is to stay focused. Head coach Jeff Blashill and his staff re intent on making sure that the team keeps moving in the right direction.

“Blash always preaches process,” Evans said. “The better the process, the better the results.”

After stumbling a bit to start the season, winning just twice in their fi st six games, the Griffins strung together their fi st seven-game winning streak to move into fi st place. For the most part, the team kept up its winning ways until mid-January when it lost its footing, in part due to the callups of Luke Glendening, Riley Sheahan and Tomas Jurco to Detroit.

“Not many teams go through a season without ups and downs – it’s very rare,” Evans said. “We

got into a bit of a slump. Trying to get the ship going in the right direction was a big concern, so it was nice to put that behind us.”

“A couple of weeks ago, we might have taken a step back, but now we’re back on track and heading in the right direction,” Grant agreed.

“We defin tely want to go into the playoffs n a high note.”

With the addition of so many young players, the Griffins were bound to experience some growing pains.

“Guys are growing on the ice, but we have the expectation that they’ll take it upon themselves and become leaders,” Hoggan said. “These guys are young, but you want them to take the bull by the horns right away.”

When you’re the defending champs, expectations are high.

“It’s been a tough year because we’ve had so much (player) movement,” Grant said. “We’re fortunate to have a balanced group of young players and they’re crucial. We have young guys who have been getting better since Day 1 and that’s pretty neat to see.”

Individual improvements, however, are secondary to the success enjoyed by the organization. A team wins a Cup, not individuals.

Champions often exhibit an esprit de corps, a single-minded purpose to reach a solitary goal.

“Last year, from Christmas on, we had the

same group of guys in the lineup and everyone bonded really well. We had that feeling, that vibe that we could have something special,” Hoggan said. “Th s season, we’ve had guys going up and down, so it’s something we’re still working toward. Teams that win are those that are close on and off he ice. It’s imperative that we build chemistry and unity.”

Player promotions might seem detrimental in the short term, but they could prove benefic al in the long run. “We’re lucky that this group of guys is so interchangeable,” Grant said. “Everyone has seemingly played with everyone else, and it’s easy to create chemistry when everyone gets along. It doesn’t matter who you are playing with.”

“One of our big strengths is our depth,” Evans said. “From a team perspective, we have offense by committee. We don’t have one or two guys with a million points. That’s important in the playoffs, e pecially on the road when your opponent can match up against your top lines.

Teams that are not deep tend to not go very far in the playoffs” The fact that the Griffins put together their third seven-game winning streak into early March while Glendening, Sheahan and Jurco were playing in Detroit is a good sign. “It speaks volumes about our depth,” Evans said.

Younger players have stepped up to the challenge. Mitch Callahan has set personal highs for goals, assists and points. Teemu Pulkkinen

established a new franchise record for most goals by a rookie. Jensen stepped up his play after AHL All-Star defenseman Marchenko suffered a severe high ankle sprain that required season-ending surgery. Andrej Nestrasil was taking advantage of his increased ice time, doubling the point production from his fi st two seasons combined.

“All these guys have proven in the past that they’re good hockey players,” Nestrasil said. “Now it’s all about opportunity.”

If it’s the veterans who provide leadership by pointing the prospects in the right direction, it’s the younger players who have to rise to the challenge.

“It’s all about winning,” Nestrasil said. “If our line was producing points, but we were losing every night, it wouldn’t work. So it’s exciting that we’re producing and we’re winning. Now we’ve got to keep it going.”

The Griffins’ depth is also evident in the crease.

Goaltender Tom McCollum has enjoyed a strong season, making the most of his opportunity to play in the absence of Petr Mrazek, who has been recalled by the Red Wings several times this season.

“With Petr going up, Tommy really got a chance to play and he’s played really well for us,” Evans said. “We’re really confide t with either of them in net.”

“There’s no question about our goaltending – we don’t even worry about it,” Hoggan agreed. “If

CALDER CUP BY THE NUMBERS

2 – Calder Cups won by Griffins aptain Jeff oggan (Houston in 2003, Grand Rapids in 2013) 3 – Consecutive Calder Cups won by the Springfield Indians f om 1960-62, the only AHL team in 77 seasons to accomplish the trifecta 3 – Times that an AHL club and its NHL affil te won their league championships in the same year, most recently New Jersey and Albany in 1995 5 – Record number of Calder Cups won during the playing careers of Bob Solinger, Les Duff, Fred Glover and Mike Busniuk 6 – Calder Cups won by affil tes of the Detroit Red Wings (Pittsburgh Hornets in 1967; Adirondack Red Wings in 1981, 1986, 1989 and 1992; Grand Rapids in 2013) 8 - Calder Cups won by Frank Mathers: two as a player, two as a player-coach,

one as a head coach, and three as president/general manager 9 – Times that an AHL team has won consecutive Calder Cups, most recently Hershey in 2009 and 2010 11 – AHL titles won by Hershey, the most of any city or club 12 – Head coaches with more than one AHL championship, including Chicago’s John Anderson (2002 and 2008) 13 – Members of the Griffi ’ 2013 championship team who’ve played in the NHL this season, including six who made their NHL debuts: Adam Almquist, Chad Billins, Landon Ferraro, Luke Glendening, Tomas Jurco and Teemu Pulkkinen 16 – Goals scored by Jack Butterfiel Trophy winner (playoff VP) Tomas Tatar during the 2013 Calder Cup Playoff , the third-most in league history for a single postseason

17 – Members of the Griffi ’ 2013 championship team who’ve played for Grand Rapids this season 20 – Rosters of past champions that are featured on the plaques of the Calder Cup. The Griffi ’ 2013 plaque will remain on the Cup until 2033.

24 – Height of the Calder Cup in inches 24 – Games played by the Griffin during the 2013 Calder Cup Playoff , two shy of the maximum. Also, the number of games played by Petr Mrazek, tying the AHL playoff ecord for a goaltender.

29 – Cities that have had their AHL member club win the Calder Cup 29 – Members of the Hockey Hall of Fame who have won the Calder Cup during their careers 35 – Weight of the Calder Cup in pounds

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

50 – Division champions who’ve gone on to win the Calder Cup, including Grand Rapids in 2013 100+ - Number of players and coaches who have won both the Calder Cup and Stanley Cup in their careers 143 – AHL-record playoff poi ts tallied by former Griffin and wo-time Calder Cup champion Darren Haydar, who also holds the records for goals (63) and assists (80) 159 – AHL-record playoff games pl yed by former Griffin and t ee-time Calder Cup champion Bryan Helmer 1938 – The first ear that the Calder Cup was awarded, to the Providence Reds for winning the second InternationalAmerican Hockey League championship 2000 – Prior to Grand Rapids in 2013, the last time an AHL team played four playoff series without a single vertime game (Rochester) 27

they have an off-ni ht, we know they’re going to bounce back.”

By mid-March, the Griffins were within a few points of having the best record in the AHL. “The biggest thing is we want to keep playing good hockey,” Paetsch said. “You don’t want to get into the playoffs hen you’re not playing your best, and I think that’s the key. First and foremost, we’ve got to clinch a playoff pot, but then you’d like to go in on a high.”

When the Griffins close out the regular season in Cleveland against the Lake Erie Monsters on April 19, what will matter most is that the team will be counted among those that have qualifi d for the Calder Cup Playoffs “We’ve had a successful regular season, but in the end that really doesn’t mean much,” Paetsch said. “It just means we’re in the top 16 and that’s all that matters. You saw what can happen last year. We didn’t win the outright league title or anything, but we hit our stride at the right time.

Hopefully we can do the same this year.”

The experience of last season should be invaluable.

“Look at Syracuse last year,” Evans said, pointing to the Griffins’ opponent in the Calder

Cup Finals. “They had a great team and they found themselves back in the fi als because they knew how to win. They knew what it took and how hard it is.

“Thi gs don’t get easier in the playoffs, hings get harder every single game.”

For the younger players, it’s an opportunity to play a role in a potential championship run.

“We hope they have that hunger,” Hoggan said.

“You hope they don’t have the mindset that they saw what we accomplished last year and that’s enough. You hope they think, ‘I was here, but I want to be a bigger part of it. I want to have a bigger role.’”

“We have enough new guys who want to prove themselves,” Evans said. “Success comes with winning. You see how many guys are with the Wings right now. [Ten members of the Griffins’ Calder Cup championship team were on Detroit’s roster as of March 12.] There are guys here who want to move up, and winning defin tely helps that.”

Others will want to prove last year was no fluke. “I’m so excited,” Mrazek said. “We want to win it again.”

Mrazek said he will approach the playoffs ith

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Triston Grant formed a formidable fourth-line combination during last season’s finals with andon Ferraro and Mitch Callahan.

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Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

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the same intensity that he does every regular season game. It’s that one-game-at-a-time mindset that allows a team to persevere through the possible pitfalls of the playoffs – he grind of back-to-back games, the nagging injuries, the taxing travel schedules.

“It’s important for the vets to keep everyone on an even keel,” Evans said. “In the playoffs, ou don’t want to get too high or too low. We have a lot of competitive guys in our room – they want to win and winning is the standard. Winning the Cup again is defin tely something we aspire to.”

Will the Griffins face more pressure as defending champs? Paetsch doesn’t think so.

“Everybody experiences pressure once you get into the playoffs” he said. “We have the kind of leadership that won’t allow pressure to get to us.

We showed that last year when we got to Game 7 (against Oklahoma City). There’s no bigger pressure than a Game 7. We kept a level keel all the way through the playoffs, nd I think it will be the same this year.”

Grant said he is looking forward to the challenge of defending the Cup.

“Until you win a championship, you always end the season with that feeling of ‘Oh well, better luck next year.’ Now if we lose, we’re going to be mad because we know what it means to win it all,” Grant said. “If somebody steals your cake, you’re going to be upset.”

Hoggan, who won a championship as a rookie then waited 10 years before winning another, knows his next chance could be his last.

“As my career is winding down, I know you only get so many chances,” Hoggan said. “We want to build on that legacy in Grand Rapids.”

“It would defin tely be nice,” Evans said.

“I’m looking forward to the weather getting warm outside and having the opportunity to play into June,” Grant said. “We’re defin tely excited about the sun coming out and the snow going away. We want to be playing hockey into May and June.”

“I can’t wait,” Paetsch said. “You play hockey to get into the playoffs nd win a championship.

Last year was very special, but last year is over. It’s going to be difficult to do it again, but obviously we’re going to be ready,” Paetsch said.

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REMAKE/ REMODEL

With his transformation as a player nearly complete, Landon Ferraro has recast his role in a way that will ultimately make him a better pro. Story and photos by Mark Newman Landon Ferraro smiles when he thinks about his maturation process, how he had to modify his style of play in order to become a more responsible player at both ends of the ice, how he learned that being defensively responsible was an attribute that was just as important as being able to score goals.

Now in his third year with the Griffins, Ferraro has come to grips with the development process.

“Coming into Grand Rapids, I thought, ‘I’ll play half a year here and then I can move on,’” Ferraro said, relaxing after a recent practice at Van Andel Arena. “I don’t know one player who doesn’t think that way, but you figu e out pretty quickly that between maturing as a player and learning what role you’re going to play – not to mention building strength – it’s going to take time. I feel like I fi ally figu ed that out.”

Ferraro turned pro after a junior hockey career as a pure offensive-minded prospect.

With diligence and determination, he’s worked to discredit that description, remaking himself into a defensive force and becoming one of the top penalty killers in the American Hockey League.

“Honestly, I’m a completely different player today,” Ferraro said. “Before, I was all offense.

My attitude was ‘If you get scored on, you get scored on.’ It wasn’t that big of a deal. Now I understand that if I want to move up to the NHL, I’ve got to be a solid two-way player.”

To remodel himself as a player, Ferraro had to rethink the way he approached the game.

“Defense has to come fi st – I’ve got to be 32

sure that I’m good on that side of the puck,” he said. “I have to be really good on the penalty kill with my speed and blocking shots. I need to create energy. I need to forecheck and hit.

My play has matured. I now understand what I need to do.”

It wasn’t an easy transformation.

“Growing up, I never thought I would enjoy trying to get in front of a shot,” he said. “Now I realize it’s something that can set me apart from other players. I can be good on the power play, but I can be even better on the penalty kill with my speed and being able to read the play a bit.”

Ferraro learned that keeping the puck out of the net can be just as important as putting it in.

“I enjoy being on the PK (penalty kill),” Ferraro said. “We go through stretches on this team where we take too many penalties and our PK needs to bail us out. I like being one of the six guys who are counted on to do that.”

Griffins head coach Jeff lashill likes how Ferraro has worked to make himself into a well-rounded player.

“Landon is continuing to develop as a hockey player,” Blashill said. “Over the course of the last two seasons, he’s learned how to become a good two-way player. If you’re not a good two-way player, I don’t think you can be very effective at this level and I certainly don’t think you’re going to have much opportunity to play at the next level.”

Indeed, Blashill has high praise for Ferraro’s work ethic, especially when the Griffins fi d themselves shorthanded.

“He’s become a really elite penalty killer –

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

L

e,

Ferraro was selected by the Red Wings in the second round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

33

Ferraro made his Griffins debut in wo games at the end of the 2009-10 season.

he’s one of our top guys all the time,” Blashill said. “He’s got two great assets in his speed and his shot. He can score goals and he can really skate. What he can do now and he’s continuing to learn is to use that speed as a defensive asset just as much as an offensive asset. He can create tons of back pressure by doing a good job of winning races and getting back to our net.”

Ferraro credits Blashill for convincing him that his game needed an added dimension.

“He’s always said that my best assets are my speed and my shot, but he made me realize that I’m not going to make it on my shot alone because I don’t score enough,” Ferraro. “We had many conversations about it. He’s told me that I’m going to break into the NHL on the strength of being good defensively and being very good on the PK. And I agree with that 100 percent.”

Ferraro said it was all a matter of embracing his weaknesses.

“I feel like I’m pretty honest with my skill set and what I’m able to do and not do,” he said.

“In junior, there were times where I felt I could take over a game and here I can have games where I feel like I play really well, where I carry the puck and get lots of shots. But when I see 34

the skill set of top-end players, I realize that I can try all I want but I’m never going to be Pavel Datsyuk. I just need to play my game and use my abilities as best I can.”

He’s also trying to make himself more versatile. He’s learning to play both wings after coming into the AHL as a pure center – a competency that is a lot harder to achieve than it may sound to someone who has never played the game.

“It’s something I’m still working on,” he admitted.

“When you’re playing center, you’re down low and you’re moving all the time. As the puck starts moving up the ice, typically everything is in front of you and you can really use your speed a lot more because you can see everything. You can hit the gaps and make sure you get to the right spots.

“On the wing, you’re usually at the start of the play and everything is trying to catch up to you. The biggest change for me was playing on the left sid , which I didn’t really play until this year. It doesn’t sound like that big of a difference, but when you get the puck along the boards, I’m used to looking left ith the puck on my forehand.

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

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Ferraro tied for the team lead with fi e points (one goal, four assists) in the Calder Cup Finals, including two assists in the clinching game.

“Playing left ing, I have to look right, with the puck on my backhand, and everything’s coming at me in a different direction, which is a completely different feeling. On right wing, everything feels natural for me, but on the left, I fi d myself looking for a play beforehand because it takes another half-second to make a play, just to get the puck from my backhand to my forehand. Looking to the right the fi st time was a little surreal.”

In the long run, being able to play all three forward positions should prove to be invaluable for Ferraro’s future and should increase his opportunities at the next level.

“Instead of only four slots (centering one of four lines), I now have the ability to fill 12,” he said. “There are still things that need work. But it’s like anything in life. The fi st time you do it, you have no idea what you’re doing, but as you do it more, you grow more comfortable with it and before you know it, it’s second nature. You can just go out and play and not worry about it. You know exactly what you need to do.”

Last season marked an important step forward for Ferraro, who scored 24 goals in 72 games after recording nine goals as a rookie in 2011-12. “I felt like I had a decent fi st year and then Blash came in and he really helped my game,” Ferraro said. “He showed a lot of 36

confide ce in me early and I was lucky and started putting the puck into the net, which got me a lot more ice time.”

He was a pivotal player in the Calder Cup Playoffs ast season, even after being relegated to the fourth line when Gustav Nyquist and Joakim Andersson returned to Grand Rapids following the Red Wings’ playoff uster.

“I could tell that Blash almost felt bad about telling me that he had to move me down to another line,” Ferraro recalled. “I told him, ‘I’ve never won anything before. Honestly, I don’t care. As long as I’m still out there, I’m totally fi e with it.’ Obviously it paid off.”

Ferraro centered a ferocious fourth line with Mitch Callahan and Triston Grant during the Calder Cup Finals against Syracuse, and the trio collectively accounted for four goals and eight assists in the six games.

The whole Calder Cup run is something that Ferraro will never forget.

“The best part was the feeling after we won,” he said. “Going through the playoffs, ou’re not thinking about it, you’re just playing and playing and then you’re done. After the celebration, everything starts aching and you realize what you just put your body through.

“I didn’t feel that good physically, but at the same time, it was the best feeling because

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

you realize what can happen when you push your body to the limit. You think about how everybody worked so hard to make sure that we got it done. When you’re relaxing the next week, you have these little flashbacks of the playoffs, nd it’s just the best feeling.”

Ferraro had high hopes coming into training camp last fall, but he broke his foot in an exhibition game against the Chicago Blackhawks. He missed only three regular season games, but it took a few weeks before he felt like he was back at full strength.

“I’m not going to use that as an excuse because I was happy with my recovery and rehab,” he said. “I had a slow start, but I think I’ve been playing better lately. Obviously, I’d like to see a few more pucks go into the net, but if I keep playing the right way and be good defensively, that’s the biggest thing.”

Ferraro did his best to stay positive while watching the Red Wings recall Riley Sheahan and Luke Glendening ahead of him, and his patience was rewarded on March 18 when he made his Detroit debut at Joe Louis Arena against his favorite childhood team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, with his dad in attendance.

Ferraro has scored two goals in a game fi e times with the Griffi .

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37

Ferraro is in the fi al season of a three-year entry level contract. Next season, he will not be waiver-exempt, which means he will have to earn a spot in Detroit or the Red Wings would risk losing him on the waiver wire if they attempted to send him back to Grand Rapids.

“I do my best not to think about it,” Ferraro said. “When I get thinking about it, I can look back over every one of our games and I can tell you which ones I was thinking ahead because I didn’t play that well.

“Once you get ahead of yourself, you’re in trouble. If I’m thinking about next year, I have no chance to do well tomorrow night. It’s better to stay in the moment. You need to be mature and realize that it’s something you need to accept and that there are guys ahead of you and guys behind you and all you can do is to do the work to separate yourself.”

Not looking too far ahead is something that he hears frequently from his father, Ray Ferraro, who played 18 seasons in the NHL after starting his pro career in the AHL. “You have to make sure you’re playing your best so that when the opportunity comes, you

can take advantage of it. My dad was in the minor leagues in Binghamton when the team was affiliated with Hartford and someone broke their leg and he got his chance. And before he knew it, a couple of pucks went in and he never looked back.”

So while he bides his time in Grand Rapids, Ferraro is doing everything he can to improve all aspects of his play.

“Everybody wants to be in Detroit, but if you don’t do your work here, you’re never going to get the chance,” he said. “I feel like I’ve taken advantage of opportunities and I’ve put myself into a position where I’m ready to get a chance. But at the same time, there’s just no room right now, so I just have to keep playing here and do everything I can to make sure I’m prepared.”

Blashill remains confide t that Ferraro is on the right track.

“The past two years have been a great learning process for Landon,” Blashill said.

“He’s becoming the kind of complete two-way player that will make him an outstanding pro.”

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Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

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LOUIS-MARC AUBRY Forward 6-4, 213 lbs.

Born: 11/11/91 Arthabaska, Que.

Forward 6-0, 195 lbs.

Born: 6/1/88 St. Thomas, Ont.

BRENNAN EVANS

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Born: 1/6/82 North Battleford, Sask.

JARED COREAU

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44 CORY EMMERTON

31 MITCH CALLAHAN

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LANDON FERRARO Forward 6-0, 182 lbs.

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GLEASON FOURNIER Defenseman 6-0, 195 lbs.

Born: 9/8/91 Rimouski, Que.

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33 MARTIN FRK

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

LUKE GLENDENING

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

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10 TRISTON GRANT

Forward 6-1, 218 lbs.

Born: 2/2/84 Neepawa, Man.

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

• Fiv JEFF HOGGAN Forward 6-1, 190 lbs.

Born: 2/1/78 Hope, B.C.

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Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

41

Story by Mark Newman

In the Griffins’ broadcast booth, Larry Figurski is the epitome of the Most Valuable Professional, a polished and perceptive hockey authority who is plugged into the fi er points of the game.

In the world of hockey, players who skate “He’s a polished professional who plays on the same line often talk about chemistry. hockey, understands the game inside and They talk about how they feel like they can out, articulates the game very well and who nearly read each other’s minds, how they can loves the Griffins and Red Wings,” Kaser said. anticipate what their teammates will do, even “He makes my job so much easier, and I look before they do it. forward to getting into the broadcast booth It’s a relationship that’s almost instinctual to every night with Larry at my side.” the point where no A native of San words are necessary.

Antonio, Texas, where Words, however, he was born while his are the specialty of father was in the service, Griffins play-by-play Figurski grew up in the announcer Bob Kaser Detroit area. At the age and color analyst of 5, he started playing Larry Figurski, who hockey, eventually nonetheless have playing on a travel team developed the kind of while attending Detroit rapport that allows for Catholic Central High smooth skating back School.

Larry Figurski, left, is in his 14th season as and forth during their Figurski majored Bob Kaser’s primary color commentator. on-air description of in broadcasting and the action. cinematic arts with a minor in journalism at When Kaser joined the Griffins organization Central Michigan University, where he graduated in 2000 he needed a sidekick, someone who in 1986. He started in radio sales but quickly could offer quick analysis of the action. That moved to television, working in news and sports voice would ultimately be Larry Figurski, a local at stations in Alpena and Cadillac before heading sportscaster who had grown up with dreams of to Springfi ld, Missouri, for two years. not only playing in the NHL but someday doing He joined the sports department at WZZMhockey play-by-play.

TV in 1996, the same year that the Griffins began Figurski admitted that he was a little nervous playing in Van Andel Arena. “I’ve been covering doing color analysis at fi st, never having done the Griffins from Day 1,” said Figurski, a diehard it before. “I didn’t want to embarrass myself, the Detroit hockey fan who remembers going to a organization or my station,” he said. lot of games at the old Olympia Stadium during “You can sit on a couch and wonder how you the “Dead Wings” era, when the team was losing would call a game, but it’s not something that with regularity. you can practice, just like you can’t become a TV Kaser came to Grand Rapids about the same anchor by practicing in front of a mirror. The time that Figurski joined WOOD-TV8, not only way to get better is to do it.” long after his former employer had decided not It didn’t take long for Figurski to demonstrate to renew his contract. When the Griffins came his worth. calling, Figurski jumped at the opportunity to

42

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

man

Figurski, seen interviewing Griffins aptain Jeff Hoggan shortly after winning the Calder Cup, cohosted the team’s Calder Cup rally with Kaser and also emceed the team’s banner-raising ceremony prior to the home-opener last October.

join Kaser in the broadcast booth.

“Being a color analyst, there’s a lot of give and take,” Figurski said. “Even for someone as good as Kaser is, there is only so much that he can say.

The game’s so fast. I’m just trying to fill in the blanks. Kaser says what happened and I say why it happened. In the process, I try to convey the excitement of the game.”

There is little doubt that Figurski loves hockey.

“You can hear it in his voice,” Kaser said. “The fact that he still plays and remains a student of the game makes him very good at what he does.”

Their chemistry on the air comes very naturally. That’s important, because the non-stop action of the sport makes it a challenge for a color analyst to add commentary without bumping into the words of the play-by-play announcer.

“Working with Kaser, I don’t have to think,” Figurski said. “I can just feel it.”

Kaser said it took a little time for the pair to feel completely comfortable with each other, but now it’s hard to imagine one without the other.

“Once we get going, I often know when and even what he’s going to say, and vice versa,” Kaser said. “We rarely step on each other. It might have taken a couple of years to develop the chemistry, but now it’s almost magical and it’s been that way a long time.”

Their chemistry was tested during last year’s Calder Cup Playoffs hen Figurski was stationed at ice level between the benches while Kaser kept broadcasting from the press area high atop Van

Andel Arena.

The move to ice level afforded Figurski the time to conduct interviews with players during the fi st intermission. “Kaser and I couldn’t see each other, but yet we were able to get in and and out without any problem,” Figurski said.

Last year’s playoff un was a memorable experience, not only for the players but also for the guys in the broadcast booth. “When you follow a team so long, you get emotionally attached to the team,” Figurski said.

“To watch the players succeed and know how hard they worked and what they went through all year long, it was a big thrill,” Figurski said.

“In my own little way, I got to be a part of a championship. It was by far the best professional experience I’ve ever had.”

Figurski was the lone Grand Rapids media member to cover the Western Conference Finals games in Oklahoma City, providing WOODTV8 reports on both the Griffins and the tornado devastation of nearby Moore, Oklahoma, that preceded the team’s visit.

Figurski was thrilled to be present for the Griffi ’ Calder Cup-clinching victory in Syracuse. “The job is always fun, but it’s a lot more fun when you’re covering a winning team,” Figurski said.

He found himself in a precarious predicament during the Calder Cup Finals, when the Griffins had the opportunity to clinch the championship on home ice the same night that his parents had scheduled a dinner to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in Detroit.

“I was in a tough situation, but my parents gave their blessing,” said Figurski, who drove to Detroit to take them out to breakfast, then spent time with them before returning to Grand Rapids

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

43

“My wife is incredibly understanding,” Figurski said. “She knows how much I love doing it.”

Even a heart attack in 2008 failed to slow him down. Figurski still plays hockey on a regular basis. “I love the game,” he said. “To follow the Red Wings’ top affiliate and cover the team I love the most – and get paid to do it – is a dream come true.”

Figurski got the chance to do play-by-play for the fi st time this season while subbing for his broadcast partner, and Kaser said his sidekick In addition to his duties as a sports anchor at WOOD-TV8, Figurski is a weekend news anchor at performed admirably. “I heard enough to know the station. that Larry did a really, really good job,” Kaser for the game. “I felt an obligation to the Griffins said, “to the point that if he decided to do it full and the station for accommodating me over the time, I would feel threatened.” years, so I missed the party. And then we lost.”

As far as Kaser is concerned, he feels very His family knew how much the opportunity lucky to have a polished professional of Figurski’s meant. His dedication to his work was no caliber in the booth. surprise to his wife, Lisa, a teacher at Grandville “I’d put him up against any color analyst in our Middle School, or their two daughters. Raychel league and a good number of those in the NHL,” is a sophomore at Western Michigan University, Kaser said. “Without a doubt, he’s the best I have where she runs cross-country, while Samantha is worked with. We’re very fortunate to have him. I a sophomore at Grandville High School, where absolutely love working games with him.” she plays varsity soccer.

44

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

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THE BIG SHOW Calder Cup Finalists are among the many AHL players making their marks in the NHL this season.

Anyone wondering about the caliber of play in the American Hockey League should look at the talent that was on display during last year’s Calder Cup Finals between the Griffins and the Syracuse Crunch.

Although technically not NHL rookies, exGriffins Gustav Nyquist, Tomas Tatar and Joakim Andersson have all been valuable contributors in Detroit this season.

Th ough mid-March, Nyquist was tied for the team lead with 16 goals while Tatar had lit the lamp 14 times. Andersson, with seven goals, was one of the the Red Wings’ top faceoff en, winning 51.5 percent of his draws.

Among Detroit rookies, defenseman Danny DeKeyser was the top point-getter. In 49 games, the Western Michigan University product had four goals and 13 assists for 17 points and was a plus-6. The 24-year-old blueliner was averaging 21:09 of ice time, third on the team behind Niklas Kronwall (24:13) and Jonathan Ericsson (21:23).

Luke Glendening was still looking for his fi st NHL goal after 39 games, but the Grand Rapidsborn and bred center was making a favorable

impression with his tenacious play, having chipped in four assists in the process.

Riley Sheahan and Tomas Jurco, meanwhile, were making the most of their midseason callups, both ranking in the Top 40 in scoring among NHL rookies. University of Notre Dame product Sheahan had four goals and 10 assists in 25 games, while Slovakia-born Jurco had five goals and five assists in 26 games before being sidelined by broken ribs.

Goaltender Petr Mrazek has appeared in eight NHL games this season, sporting a goals against average of 2.01, which is identical to his AHL number. His fi st start of the season was a 14-save shutout of the Edmonton Oilers.

Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock has been impressed by the play of his rookies.

“Are they going to have a good night every night?” Babcock said. “No, but they look like real good players and we’re playing them.”

The Tampa Bay Lightning have been the benefic aries of the bounty of talent that was present in Syracuse last season. A total of seven Crunch players have played signifi ant roles

Danny DeKeyser uses his stick to slow Syrcause’s Richard Panik during Game 2 of the 2013 Calder Cup Finals.

58

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

Riley Sheahan battles Syracuse’s Andrej Sustr for the puck during Game 4 of the 2013 Calder Cup Finals.

this season on the roster assembled by general manager Steve Yzerman.

“They know each other, they trust each other, they’ve had good success together,” Yzerman said during the Lightning’s training camp. “It’s time for them to move up to the NHL. It’s not like we’re going to throw a bunch of kids out to the lions.”

Ondrej Palat and Tyler Johnson rank No. 2 and No. 3 among all NHL rookies in scoring, trailing only Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon, who came into the NHL directly from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Palat, a seventh-round pick (#208 overall) in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, ad registered 17 goals and 26 assists in 66 games. Johnson, who had gone undrafted due to his small 5-foot-9 frame, had recorded 21 goals and 21 assists in 66 games.

Other contributors in Tampa include a pair of 23-year-old right wingers: Burnsville, Minn., native J.T. Brown (four goals and nine assists in 47 games) and Slovakia-born Richard Panik (two goals, nine assists in 43 games).

The Lightning also have three promising 23-year-old defensemen. Radko Gudas (two goals and 14 assists in 57 games) and Andrej Sustr (seven assists in 38 games) are both from the Czech Republic, while Canadian Mark Barberio (five goals and five assists in 47 games)

is from Montreal, Quebec.

Of course, the Griffins and the Crunch aren’t the only AHL teams sending players to the NHL. In fact, their players represent only the tip of the iceberg. More than 100 AHL players (plus two head coaches) have made their NHL debuts during the 2013-14 season.

Dallas Eakins, who played in nine different AHL cities during his career as a defenseman, is guiding the Edmonton Oilers after serving as head coach of the Toronto Marlies the past four seasons.

Peter Horachek, who coached the San Antonio Rampage in 2013 after minor league stints in Milwaukee and Orlando among other places, replaced Kevin Dineen in Florida on Nov. 8, 2013.

Other notable rookies include Boston Bruins defenseman Torey Krug (13 goals and 22 assists in 65 games), who played last season in Providence following three years at Michigan State; New York Rangers left inger Chris Kreider (16 goals and 18 assists in 60 games), who spent 2012-13 with the Connecticut Whale; and Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele (13 goals and 21 assists in 63 games), who played 10 games in the 2012 Calder Cup Playoffs ith the St John’s IceCaps.

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

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(Through March 20, 2014

GRIFFINS RECORDS

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n.org

GRIFFINS ALL-TIME LEADERS 1.

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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 Cory Emmerton.............................................. 98 Gustav Nyquist................................................ 90 Glen Metropolit............................................... 88

GRIFFINS’ ALL-TIME LEADERS IN GOALTENDING WINS

JOEY MacDONALD

(109)

JIMMY HOWARD (90)

TOM McCOLLUM (66)

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

MIKE FOUNTAIN (55)

MARC LAMOTHE (54)

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

DANIEL LARSSON (45)

65

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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

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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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Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

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Tickets

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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.

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Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

Treating

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GRIFFINS IN THE NHL

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Pavol Demitra 3/17/97 STL at PHX Kevyn Adams 10/1/97 TOR vs. WSH Tyler Moss 10/28/97 CGY vs. PIT Michel Picard 1/6/98 STL at SJ Jeff Nelso 10/10/98 NSH vs. FLA Patrick Traverse 10/10/98 OTT at COL Mark Greig 1/7/99 PHI vs. NYI Radim Bicanek 2/1/99 OTT at VAN Robert Petrovicky 2/15/99 TB at NYI Andrei Vasilyev 3/5/99 PHX vs. DET Todd Hlushko 4/25/99 PIT vs. NJ Patrick Lalime 10/2/99 OTT at PHI Glen Metropolit 10/2/99 WSH at FLA Kevin Miller 10/31/99 OTT at ATL Karel Rachunek 10/31/99 OTT at ATL Erich Goldmann 11/11/99 OTT vs. NSH Yves Sarault 11/20/99 OTT at NJ John Gruden 11/30/99 OTT vs. CHI Mike Fountain 12/3/99 OTT at NJ Dave Van Drunen 12/13/99 OTT at TOR Petr Schastlivy 1/3/00 OTT vs. NJ John Emmons 1/6/00 OTT vs. PHX Slava Butsayev 1/28/00 OTT at BUF Aris Brimanis 2/13/00 NYI at NYR Dieter Kochan 3/28/00 TB vs. DAL

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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 Kyle Quincey 11/25/05 DET at ANA Jimmy Howard 11/28/05 DET at LA Valtteri Filppula 12/15/05 DET at FLA

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Rob Collins 12/17/05 NYI vs. COL Manny Legace 1/5/06 DET vs. STL David Gove 1/31/06 CAR at MTL Tomas Kopecky 2/28/06 DET at SJ Alexandre Giroux 3/25/06 NYR at TB Joey MacDonald 10/19/06 DET at SJ Derek Meech 12/7/06 DET vs. STL Matt Ellis 12/18/06 DET at CBJ Matt Hussey 1/26/07 DET at STL Sheldon Brookbank 2/6/07 NSH at PIT Danny Syvret 2/27/07 EDM vs. PHX Mark Hartigan 11/29/07 DET vs. TB Drew MacIntyre 12/13/07 VAN at SJ Peter Vandermeer 2/10/08 PHX vs. NSH Jonathan Ericsson 2/22/08 DET at CGY Garrett Stafford 2/23/08 DET at VAN Darren Helm 3/13/08 DET vs. DAL Mattias Ritola 3/15/08 DET vs. NSH Clay Wilson 3/25/08 CBJ at NSH Darren McCarty 3/28/08 DET vs. STL Krys Kolanos 11/4/08 MIN at SJ Landon Wilson 11/22/08 DAL vs. ANA Bryan Helmer 11/28/08 WSH vs. MTL Chris Chelios 12/13/08 DET at PHX

Niklas

Chr

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SINCE THEIR INCEPTION IN 1996, THE GRIFFINS HAVE SENT 142 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 122 SKATERS WHO HAVE WORN AN NHL SWEATER AFTER PLAYING FOR GRAND RAPIDS, ALONG WITH THE DATES OF THEIR NHL DEBUTS/RETURNS. 100 Aaron Downey 1/29/09 DET vs. DAL 101 Justin Abdelkader 1/31/09 DET at WSH 102 Ville Leino 1/31/09 DET at WSH 103 Aaron Gagnon 10/16/09 DAL vs. BOS 104 Scott Parse 10/24/09 LA at PHX 105 Doug Janik 11/3/09 DET vs. BOS 106 Ryan Keller 11/25/09 OTT at NJ 107 Jakub Kindl 12/3/09 DET vs. EDM 108 Kris Newbury 12/14/09 DET vs. PHX 109 Darren Haydar 2/10/10 COL vs. ATL 110 Andreas Lilja 3/1/10 DET at COL 111 Jeremy Williams 10/24/10 NYR vs. NJ

112 Jan Mursak 12/27/10 DET at COL 113 Chris Mueller 12/28/10 NSH vs. DAL 114 Tomas Tatar 12/31/10 DET vs. NYI 115 Cory Emmerton 1/22/11 DET vs. CHI 116 Patrick Rissmiller 2/23/11 ATL at BUF 117 Tom McCollum 3/30/11 DET vs. STL 118 Gustav Nyquist 11/1/11 DET vs. MIN 119 Fabian Brunnstrom 11/5/11 DET vs. ANA 120 Brendan Smith 11/17/11 DET at SJ 121 Mark Cullen 11/29/11 FLA at CAR 122 Chris Conner 12/2/11 DET at BUF 123 Joakim Andersson 12/27/11 DET vs. STL

124 Ty Conklin 3/21/12 DET at NYR 125 Riley Sheahan 4/7/12 DET vs. CHI 126 Brian Lashoff 1/21/13 DET at CBJ 127 Mike Knuble 1/26/13 PHI at FLA 128 Jamie Tardif 2/2/13 BOS at TOR 129 Petr Mrazek 2/7/13 DET at STL 130 Jonas Gustavsson 2/19/13 DET at NSH 131 Carlo Colaiacovo 4/1/13 DET vs. COL 132 Danny DeKeyser 10/2/13 DET vs. BUF 133 Luke Glendening 10/12/13 DET vs. PHI 134 Xavier Ouellet 10/21/13 DET vs. SJ 135 Adam Almquist 11/4/13 DET at WPG

136 Chad Billins 11/5/13 CGY at MIN 137 Patrick Eaves 12/14/13 DET vs. PIT 138 Tomas Jurco 12/15/13 DET vs. TB 139 Jordin Tootoo 12/19/13 DET vs. CGY 140 Alexey Marchenko 1/4/14 DET at DAL 141 Teemu Pulkkinen 3/14/14 DET vs. EDM 142 Landon Ferraro 3/18/14 DET vs. TOR Bold = Has played in the NHL this season (as of March 19) 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

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Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

KIDS CALDER CUP CHAMPIONS!

One hundred twelve different teams have taken to the ice during the American Hockey League’s 78 seasons, but just 30 of them have been fortunate enough to lift the Calder Cup after the season’s final gam . Find the nickname of each AHL champion by searching horizontally, vertically and diagonally, both forward and backward. Have fun!

PAGE Adirondack RED WINGS Albany RIVER RATS Binghamton SENATORS Buffalo BISONS Cape Breton OILERS Chicago WOLVES Cincinnati SWORDS Cleveland BARONS Grand Rapids GRIFFINS Hamilton BULLDOGS Hartford WOLF PACK Hershey BEARS Houston AEROS Indianapolis CAPITALS Maine MARINERS Milwaukee ADMIRALS*

New Brunswick HAWKS Norfolk ADMIRALS* Nova Scotia VOYAGEURS Philadelphia PHANTOMS Pittsburgh HORNETS Portland PIRATES Providence BRUINS Providence REDS Rochester AMERICANS Saint John FLAMES Sherbrooke CANADIENS Springfield INDIANS Springfield KINGS Syracuse STARS * Note that ADMIRALS occurs only once within the grid.

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PARTING SHOT

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The Griffins hope o finish their 18th seaso the way they started it: with their captain lifting the Calder Cup, as Jeff Hoggan di on Opening Night, Oct. 18, 2013.

Photo by Mark Newman 80

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions

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