2014-15 Griffiti - Issue #1

2014-15 SEASON • ISSUE NO. 1

Blue-Chip Blueliner Defenseman Ryan Sproul

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.

Vol. 19, No. 1

TABLE OF CONTENTS STARTING LINEUP

24 GROWING CONFIDENCE With a full season of pro hockey under his belt, Ryan Sproul is anxious to take the next step toward his dream of a regular spot in the NHL.

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30 GREECE’D LIGHTNING Andreas Athanasiou is quick. Really quick. His skating and playmaking ability could speed his path to the NHL. 42 MICHIGAN MAN Kevin Porter is happy to be back in his home state, playing in the organization that he followed in his youth.

48 CONFIDENT CONFIDANTS Pat Ferschweiler and Dave Noel-Bernier are excited to join head coach Jeff Blashill behind the bench as the new assistant coaches for the Griffins.

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59 DAY TRIPPER The AHL’s schedule makers shuffle dates to find a slate that works for 30 teams.

ON THE BENCH 2............Opposing Forces 4............Chalk Talk 6............Coming Attractions 9............Griffins Schedule 12.........AHL Tradition 15.........AHL Team Directory 19.........Detroit Red Wings 21.........Promotional Calendar

40.........Meet the Griffins 65.........Griffins Records 68.........Griffins All-Stars 69.........Penalty Calls 74.........Arena Map/Ticket Info 76.........It All Starts Here 79.........Kids Page 80.........Parting Shot

42

COVER:

Griffins defenseman Ryan Sproul is one of the top candidates to earn a spot on the Red Wings’ blue line.

Photo by Mark Newman

Griffiti magazine is published four times a year by the Grand Rapids Griffins, Van Andel Arena, 130 W. Fulton St., Grand Rapids, MI 49503. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. All contents ©2014 Grand Rapids Griffins.

For advertising information, contact Griffins Sales & Marketing, (616) 774-4585; fax (616) 336-5464. Unsolicited manuscripts and other materials will not be returned.

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OPPOSING FORCES Visits by the defending Calder Cup champions and one of the Griffins’ oldest foes highlight the first two months of games at Van Andel Arena.

LAKE ERIE (Oct. 10, Oct. 24, Nov. 12, Nov. 22, Dec. 10) FAST FACT: The Monsters scored four goals in each of their four meetings with the Griffins last season, losing only once.

SOLID IN NET: Lake Erie, the opponent in five of the Griffins’ first 11 home games this season, would like to see steady progress by 22-year-old Finnish goaltender Sami Aittokallio.

A fourth-round pick (107th overall) pick by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, Aittokallio beat Grand Rapids twice last season on the Griffins’ home ice, including a 19-save, 4-0 shutout on Feb. 5, 2014. The 6-foot-1 netminder, who played in two NHL games for the Avalanche over the past two seasons, was a standout at the 2012 World Junior Championship in Calgary, going 3-2 with a 2.52 GAA and .936 save percentage in five games for the fourth-place Finns.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING: “He has a sound combination of size and technique,” said Rick Pracey, the Avalanche’s director of amateur scouting. “He has an efficient and calm demeanor in the net.”

ROCKFORD (Oct. 29) FAST FACT: The IceHogs lost all five visits to Van Andel Arena last season while being outscored by a 22-10 margin.

RACK’N UP THE POINTS: Rockford will look for strong two-way play from Joakim Nordstrom, a 22-year-old Swede who can play wing or center. Chosen in the third round (90th overall) of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks, Nordstrom is prized for his defensive play as well as being an effective penalty killer. He made Chicago’s lineup out of training camp last season and even played seven games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Nordstrom, who had 17 goals and 16 assists in 58 games for the IceHogs last season, scored his first NHL goal when he fired the puck past New York Islanders goaltender Kevin Poulin in a 3-2 Blackhawks’ victory.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING: “He plays hard, is enthusiastic and has great speed,” said Mark Kelley, the Blackhawks’ director of amateur scouting. “He also has the intellect to complement that speed. Sometimes a player goes too fast and can’t coordinate the feet with the thinking, but Joakim combines the two very well.”

2 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

CHICAGO (Oct. 31, Nov. 5) FAST FACT: The Wolves split their season series with the Griffins a year ago, taking three out of five games in Chicago while dropping three out of five in Grand Rapids.

WORTH CZECH-ING OUT: Chicago is excited by the potential of Dmitrij Jaskin, a 21-year-old winger who left the Czech Republic to learn the North American game in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League before turning pro last season. A second-round pick (41st overall) in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft by the St. Louis Blues, Jaskin tallied 15 goals and 14 assists in 42 games with the Wolves a year ago, when he also appeared in 18 NHL games. He scored his first NHL goal against Antti Raanta of the Chicago Blackhawks in his second career game.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING: “He plays a physical game…a heavy game,” said Tim Taylor, the Blues’ director of player development. “He’s really taken a step in the work ethic and understanding what being a pro hockey player is all about.”

TEXAS (Nov. 14, Nov. 15) FAST FACT: The Stars eliminated the defending champion Griffins in six games during the second round of the 2014 playoffs before knocking out Toronto and St. John’s to win the Calder Cup. BIG RIG: Dallas has high hopes for Jamie Oleksiak, a giant defenseman whose size alone (6-7, 242) should intimidate opponents. A first-round pick (14th overall) by the Stars in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Oleksiak has huge potential, thanks to uncommon agility and athleticism for a big man. The 22-year-old Toronto native appeared in 23 NHL games over the past two seasons, registering two assists. Oleksiak was voted to the starting lineup for the Western Conference All-Stars at the 2013 AHL All-Star Classic in Providence, R.I. WHAT THEY’RE SAYING: “We need him to be a real hard defender, a real hard guy to play against,” said Dallas Stars head coach Lindy Ruff. “We know he has offense, but we want him to become a player who other teams hate to play against. That could take some time.”

OKLAHOMA CITY (Dec. 5) FAST FACT: The Barons and Griffins split a pair of contests at Van Andel Arena last season before the Griffins took the series by winning both games in Oklahoma City.

SHOULDERING EXPECTATIONS: In 2013-14, Oklahoma City witnessed a strong comeback by 21-year-old Oscar Klefbom, a skilled defenseman who suffered a seasonending shoulder injury a year earlier while playing in Sweden. A first-round pick (19th overall) in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft by the Edmonton Oilers, Klefbom played 17 games in the NHL last season in addition to 48 games with the Barons. His combination of size (6-3, 204) and skating ability makes him one of the team’s top blueline prospects.

Klefbom scored his first NHL goal against Anaheim Ducks goaltender Jonas Hiller last March in a 4-3 overtime victory.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING: “This kid has a high work ethic and he’s hungry,” said Edmonton Oilers head coach Dallas Eakins.

Now in his fifth season behind the bench of the Oklahoma City Barons, head coach Todd Nelson was the first player signed by the Grand Rapids Griffins back in 1996.

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

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There are many unknowns at the beginning of a hockey season, but Jeff Blashill would like to be sure about one thing.

Now in his third season as the Griffins’ head coach, Blashill hopes he enters the year smarter and wiser.

“From the minute I started coaching until now, I hope I’ve continued to get better,” he said. “I’m sure there have been times when I executed at a higher level than others, which means making the right decisions and handling people the right way. I hope I’ve gotten a lot better.

“I think I’ve learned a ton. The American Hockey League offers an unbelievable opportunity for coaches to learn. Since it’s not quite as media-centered as the NHL, every mistake isn’t quite as magnified as it is there, which allows you try different things and see what works. I’ve really enjoyed that learning process.

“What I’ve enjoyed the most – outside of seeing our players improve – is seeing myself get better, and I certainly hope I’ve done that the last two years.”

If there’s one area that Blashill hopes he has shown greater strength in, it’s his ability to motivate players and handle the different situations that every AHL head coach must face over the course of a season. “I hope I’ve gotten better handling players, whether it be guys who really felt they should be in the NHL and weren’t, or guys who felt they should be in our lineup and weren’t.

“You hopefully learn and grow from every situation. Systematically, I hope I’ve learned how to teach better, how to explain things better, how to help create the right habits, how to get everyone on the same page.”

At first glance, getting all of the players on the same page might be more of a challenge this season. The Griffins opened their training camp with a bare minimum of bodies as the 4 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

Red Wings chose to keep two full teams in Detroit for the bulk of their exhibition games.

Blashill seemed unfazed by the situation, which led a majority of the Griffins’ players to arrive in Grand Rapids only a matter of days before the team was scheduled to open its season. “They’re up getting great practices with Detroit and our systems are very similar, so we’ll still be able to hit the ground running,” he said.

He had plenty of reason to be optimistic after watching many of the candidates for Griffins jobs compete at a very high level during the NHL Prospects Tournament in Traverse City in mid-September.

“Even though we lost one game, I thought our team was better in every game,” he said.

“Our play in the games not only showed the continued depth of our organization, but it also gave some guys like (Tomas) Nosek, (Martin) Frk and (Colin) Campbell the opportunity to play different roles, and I thought they played really well.”

Barring some unforeseen development, the Griffins expected to open the season with two of the best netminders at the minor league level. “If we end up with Petr Mrazek and Tom McCollum, we have two guys who have proven that they are elite goalies in the AHL. You cannot ask for better than that.

“Of course, past performance is only an indicator of their potential success. They still have to execute. But it certainly feels good as a coach to know that you have two guys who have both performed at a high level. Tommy has been called upon to be the man in a ton of situations and he’s excelled, and obviously Petr’s record speaks for itself.

“We’re certainly pleased with our depth at the position. Over the course of the summer, Jared Coreau has gotten a lot better. He had a tough season last year, but he was a really good college goalie and it looks like he’s gotten

better with the things he needs to improve.”

Blashill is cautiously optimistic about this season’s defensive corps.

“We have lost a couple of really good defensemen over the last couple of years in Adam Almquist and Chad Billins, who were all-star defensemen at this level. In their absence, I’m cognizant of the fact that we’re going to have to replace two really good puckmoving, savvy defensemen.

“At the same time, we have a group of defensemen – depending upon whom the Red Wings keep in Detroit – who have gained invaluable pro experience and show the potential to be elite players, along with (Nathan) Paetsch and (Brennan) Evans, who provide great veteran leadership.”

Blashill also thinks the team could be deep in quality forwards, depending upon which players stay in Detroit or clear waivers.

“Between the returning players and the new guys, we have an opportunity to have a group that can score as well as play defense. We’re excited about their ability to play both sides of the puck.”

The Griffins will likely have speed to burn, but Blashill thinks the pace at which they play will be even more critical.

“Last year, everybody thought (Calder Cup champion) Texas was unbelievably fast, but in reality they played the game at a very fast rate.

They got the puck, guys were in the right spots, and they really got it going. Playing fast might be more important than speed, and that’s what we hope we can get going right away.”

One thing Blashill does not want to see is a slow start. “Game 1’s points matter just as much as those of Game 76,” he said. “If you can get off to a fast start, it’s way easier to stay near the top than it is to climb your way past people, so we better be ready.”

The Griffins’ ability to execute on the penalty kill and power play will be crucial.

“Game 1 will be incredibly important to our success, and our specialty teams will play a critical role right from the start,” Blashill said. “We better get on the same page as quickly as humanly possible, so we’re going to have to get real good at it in a hurry. You cannot win in today’s game without good specialty teams.”

Unknowns aside, Blashill is relatively confident that the Griffins should be strong in at least two regards.

“Depending upon what happens in Detroit, I think we’re going to have a group with really good talent and really good character, and those are two key ingredients to success. How does that fit with our makeup and mentality this season? We won’t know until we get going, but I’m looking forward to going into Day 1 as prepared as possible.”

2014-15 GRIFFINS COACHING AND TRAINING STAFF

Head Coach: Jeff Blashill

Assistant Coach: Pat Ferschweiler

Assistant Coach: Dave Noel-Bernier

Assistant Coach: Mike Knuble

Goaltending Coach: Jeff Salajko

Video Coach: Bill LeRoy

Athletic Trainer: John Bernal

Equipment Manager: Brad Thompson

Assistant Equipment Manager: Andrew Stegehuis

Strength & Conditioning Coordinator: Marcus Kinney

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

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SOMETHING FOR THE YOUNG & YOUNG AT HEART As the Griffins open the curtain on their 19th season, it seems entirely appropriate that the organization’s promotional calendar has a decidedly youth-oriented slant.

Hockey has long held a special appeal for youngsters learning to skate. 2008 Hobey Baker Award winner Kevin Porter was fit for his first pair of skates when he was only 18 months old. Red Wings prospect Andreas Athanasiou was only eight months old when his father put him on the ice for the first time. The kid known as Double-A was playing hockey already at age 4.

At the other end of the spectrum, many veteran hockey players never lose their childlike love of the game. Red Wings legend Gordie Howe is the only player to have competed in the NHL in five different decades (1940s through 1980s). Mr. Hockey, who played his last NHL game at the age of 52, also appeared in one IHL game in 1997, becoming the first to play professional hockey in six decades.

But Howe is far from unique. Chris Chelios, who continues to work with the Red Wings’ defensive prospects in Grand Rapids as an advisor to hockey operations in the Detroit front office, played his final NHL game at age 48. More recently, Jaromir Jagr was quoted as saying he would like to play until he is 50. The two-time Stanley Cup winner was the New Jersey Devils’ leading scorer last season at age 42.

So youth will be served during the 2014-15 season when the Griffins showcase a lineup filled with prospects who have either recently celebrated their 21st birthday or have yet to mark the occasion.

There will be giveaways galore, with glow sticks, superhero lunch boxes, bobbleheads, cereal bowls and texting gloves on the docket during the Griffins’ 38-game home schedule in 2014-15.

OCT. 31: HALLOWEEN COSTUME PARTY Come dressed as your favorite player, superhero, mascot, ghost or ghoul as the Griffins host their Midwest Division archrivals, the Chicago Wolves.

NOV. 5: 14TH ANNUAL MATINEE GAME An 11 a.m. start is scheduled for the matinee meeting between the Griffins and the Wolves of the Windy City.

Interactive and educational displays will be located throughout the concourse for elementary and high school students alike.

NOV. 15: LEGO NIGHT/GRIFFINS PLAYER BLOCKHEAD GIVEAWAY PRESENTED BY DTE ENERGY Lego is the popular line of colorful interlocking plastic bricks that were first created in 1949 by a Danish toymaker. The Lego name is taken from the Danish phrase leg godt, which means “play well” – a fitting sentiment as the Griffins face the defending Calder Cup champion Texas Stars in the second of back-to-back games between the last two AHL titleholders.

Kids 12 and under will receive a Griffins Player Blockhead as they enter Van Andel Arena. In addition, the first Huntington Bank post-game autograph session of the season will be held following the Griffins-Texas tilt.

NOV. 22: TEDDY BEAR TOSS PRESENTED BY J&H FAMILY STORES Bring a teddy bear or stuffed animal and toss it onto the ice when the Griffins score their first goal of the game against the Lake Erie Monsters. All stuffed animals collected will be donated to Hug-A-Bears of Kent County. Hug-A-Bears serves the community by donating teddy bears to children and families in crisis. Tens of thousands of toys have been given to those in need, from OCT. 10: OPENING NIGHT PRESENTED BY local schools to organizations such as the Kent County HUNTINGTON BANK Adoption Court and Spectrum Health’s Bereavement Chemiluminescence is the emission of light as a result Center, Camp Compass, Burn Camp and outpatient a chemical reaction. Hockey luminescence is the star surgical centers. power emitted by promising prospects. On Opening Night, the former will be present in the LED glow sticks that will be given to fans on their entrance into Van Andel Arena; the latter will be evident during the post-game auction when the Griffins make last season’s outdoor game jerseys available for bids by the public.

The game against the Lake Erie Monsters is the first of 14 Friday night beer and hot dog promotions held in conjunction with College Night. Fans can enjoy $2 hot dogs and $2 domestic drafts from 6-8 p.m., while supplies last. There is also a post-game open skate.

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O P E N TO T H E P U B L I C f o r D I N I N G & E V E N TS

2500 76th Street, Byron Center, MI 616.878.1140 | www.railsidegolf.com

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

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Games broadcast live on

All times Eastern.

Dates, opponents and times subject to change.

7:00

ADK – Adirondack CHA – Charlotte CHI – Chicago HAM – Hamilton IA - Iowa

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 UTI - Utica

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 9

Griffins President & CEO

Dear Grand Rapids Griffins Fans, The Griffins’ 2013-14 season will forever be engrained in our memories, for reasons that go far beyond the year-long celebration of our Calder Cup championship.

Never ones to be satisfied with past success, coach Jeff Blashill, his staff and players valiantly defended the Cup. We led the Midwest Division for most of the season, forged a better record than during our championship year and reached the conference semifinals before passing the torch to a worthy successor, the regular season and eventual Cup champion Texas Stars.

Given what has transpired over the last two seasons, I don’t believe there’s ever been a better time to be a Griffins fan.

Blashill, the American Hockey League’s reigning coach of the year, signed a new contract with the Detroit Red Wings over the summer that will keep him in the organization for the next three seasons. And while we’ve said goodbye to assistant coach Spiros Anastas and longtime friend Jim Paek, both of whom helped us capture the Cup in 2013 and now lead their own teams, we’re thrilled to welcome a pair of highly touted, new coaches with West Michigan ties in Pat Ferschweiler and Dave Noel-Bernier.

Last season saw the best of both worlds in terms of our affiliation with the Red Wings. The Griffins earned consecutive playoff berths for the first time since 2007, while nine of our players made their NHL debuts in Hockeytown. Several other recent Grand Rapids alumni, such as Gustav Nyquist, Tomas Tatar and Riley Sheahan, played invaluable roles in Detroit making the playoffs for a remarkable 23rd straight season.

Perhaps most impressive was our incredible attendance. We finished second out of 30 league franchises, welcomed more than 300,000 fans for the first time in our 13 AHL seasons – including more than 20,000 for our first-ever outdoor game at Comerica Park in Detroit – and finished with our highest average since 1999-2000.

As the Griffins enter season number 19, it’s humbling that your support and interest are as strong and fervent as they’ve ever been.

After witnessing these tremendous accomplishments in two seasons under coach Blashill, everyone in Griffins Nation can hardly wait to see what the third act will bring. I look forward to cheering along with you.

Sincerely,

Dan DeVos President & CEO Grand Rapids Griffins

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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 the 2014-15 American Hockey League season, our 79th year of play. We are proud to be entering what is sure to be another exciting season, continuing our tradition of excellence and bringing an entertaining, physical and highly skilled level of professional hockey to more than 6 million fans in arenas across North America.

The 2014-15 season will once again feature 30 teams who will be competing for the AHL’s historic Calder Cup championship, and 30 National Hockey League clubs who will be developing their top prospects and future stars in our cities. Last season alone, more than 240 first- and second-round NHL draft picks competed in the American Hockey League, and 347 players took the ice in both the AHL and the NHL. We take great pride in our tradition of developing the best hockey talent in the world, with over 88 percent of today’s NHL players, coaches and officials having honed their skills in the American Hockey League. Through the years, our loyal and passionate fans have enjoyed cheering for more than 100 future Hockey Hall of Famers, and have witnessed the triumphs of more than 100 Calder Cup champions who would go on to have their names engraved on the Stanley Cup as well.

We’re pleased to continue to deliver professional hockey to the great fans of Glens Falls, N.Y., and we welcome Allentown, Pa., to the league as the Adirondack Flames and Lehigh Valley Phantoms hit the ice this season. The AHL’s two newest entries will join the rest of the league in looking to dethrone the defending Calder Cup champion Texas Stars in the chase for the AHL’s 2015 title.

On behalf of all of our teams, players and staff, thank you again for your continuing support of the AHL. I wish you the utmost enjoyment of all the excitement that our 2014-15 season has in store.

Sincerely, David A. Andrews President & Chief Executive Officer American Hockey League /TheAHL

theahl.com

@TheAHL

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

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A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE since 1936 THE BEGINNINGS The American Hockey League is enjoying its 79th season of play in 2014-15, 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.

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 78th championship was captured by the Texas Stars last spring.

Photo: AHL Archives

From those roots, the American Hockey League has grown into a 30team league that provides fans with exciting, high-level professional hockey while preparing thousands of players, coaches, officials, executives, trainers, broadcasters and more for careers in the NHL.

THE PLAYERS In today’s National Hockey League more than 88 percent of the players are AHL alumni, including 2014 Norris Trophy winner Duncan Keith of the Chicago Blackhawks and 2014 Vezina Trophy recipient Tuukka Rask of the Boston Bruins. The 2014 Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings were stocked with AHL graduates as well, among them Jonathan Quick, Jeff Carter, Mike Richards, Tyler Toffoli, Dustin Brown, Slava Voynov, Alec Martinez and head coach Darryl Sutter, who was the AHL’s rookie of the year as a player in 1980.

Photo: Getty Images/LA Kings

During the 2013-14 season, more than 870 AHL alumni played in the National Hockey League, including 347 who skated in both leagues last year alone. San Jose’s Joe Pavelski, Carolina’s Eric Staal, Boston’s David Krejci, Anaheim’s Ryan Getzlaf and Nashville’s Shea Weber were among the 20 AHL graduates who led their NHL teams in scoring, and former AHL All-Stars Kari Lehtonen, Jimmy Howard, Ryan Miller, Jonathan Bernier and Ben Bishop were among the 28 AHL goaltending alumni who paced their NHL clubs in victories. More than 240 former first- and second-round draft picks developed their skills in the AHL last season, including standout rookies like Ryan Strome, Filip Forsberg, Alexander Khokhlachev and John Gibson.

Tyler Toffoli 2014 Stanley Cup Champion 2013 AHL Rookie of the Year

THE COACHES At the start of the 2014-15 season, the National Hockey League featured 20 head coaches who were former AHL bench bosses, including recent Stanley Cup champions Joel Quenneville, Claude Julien and Mike Babcock and Calder Cup winners Willie Desjardins, Jon Cooper, Bruce Boudreau, Todd McLellan, Peter Laviolette, Bob Hartley and Barry Trotz.

All-time greats like Fred Shero, Mike Keenan, Pat Quinn, Don Cherry and 2014 Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Pat Burns all coached in the AHL on their way to great NHL careers.

“Without my time in the American Hockey League, the door to the NHL does not open. The AHL gets many of its much deserved accolades for developing players, but the three years I spent in the AHL were the most important in my career to prepare me to be a head coach in the NHL.” -- Jon Cooper, Head Coach, Tampa Bay Lightning 2014 Jack Adams Award Finalist, 2012 AHL Coach of the Year and Calder Cup Champion Photo: Graig Abel/AHL

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THE LEGENDS Over nearly eight decades, the American Hockey League has been home to some of the greatest players in the history of our sport. In fact, more than 100 honored members of the Hockey Hall of Fame have been 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 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.

Photo: AHL Archives

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 ninth class of inductees, recognized in 2014, included Bill Dineen, Al MacNeil, Bob Perreault and John Slaney. They join the likes of Johnny Bower, Fred Glover, Jody Gage, Mitch Lamoureux, Eddie Shore Willie Marshall, Frank Mathers, Eddie Shore, Bruce Boudreau, Tim Tookey, Zellio Toppazzini and others as distinguished members of Honored Member, Hockey Hall of Fame Honored Member, AHL Hall of Fame the American Hockey League Hall of Fame.

THE FANS

Photo: Christina Shapiro

For the 13th consecutive season, American Hockey League teams drew more than 6.2 million fans to games across North America in 2013-14. The Hershey Bears led the league for the eighth year in a row, averaging 9,664 fans per home game, while the St. John’s IceCaps extended their sellout streak to an AHL-record 114 straight regular-season games at Mile One Centre (plus 19 in the playoffs).

Since the start of the 2001-02 season, more than 85 million fans have attended AHL games.

The Texas Stars brought a Calder Cup championship to their fans at Cedar Park Center in 2014.

Fans are also continuing to follow their teams and the league in record numbers digitally. Last season, the AHL Internet Network -- featuring theahl.com and the official Web sites of all 30 clubs -- got nearly 90 million page views from fans worldwide. Meanwhile, more than one million fans follow the AHL and its teams on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

88.4

870

347

Percentage of all NHL players in 2013-14 who were AHL graduates

Former AHL players who skated in the National Hockey League last season

AHL players who also played in the NHL in 2013-14

19

242

AHL alumni who Former 1st- and 2ndplayed for the 2014 round NHL draft picks who skated in the AHL Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings in 2013-14

“Looking back, I have a great appreciation for the time I spent in the American Hockey League and how it helped me develop as a hockey player. It gave me the opportunity to learn the professional game and play with great teammates, many of whom have gone on to successful careers at the next level.”

-- Duncan Keith, Chicago Blackhawks 2x Stanley Cup Champion, 2x Norris Trophy Winner, 2x Olympic Gold Medalist Photo: Chicago Blackhawks

theahl.com

/TheAHL

@TheAHL Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

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MVPSportsClubs.com

Health & Fitness Destination Fitness | Group Exercise | Aquatics | Basketball | Tennis | Kid’s Area

Grand Rapids | Downtown GR | Holland | Rockford

2 014 - 15 A H L D I R E C T O RY

EASTERN CONFERENCE

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

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: 2 of 8 2013-14 RECORD: 40-23-5-8, 93 pts.

WEBSITE: www.thealbanydevils.com

BINGHAMTON SENATORS

LEHIGH VALLEY PHANTOMS

NHL AFFILIATION: Philadelphia Flyers HOME ICE: PPL Center (8,578) GENERAL MANAGER: Ron Hextall HEAD COACH: Terry Murray ENTERED AHL: 1996-97 (as Philadelphia Phantoms) CALDER CUPS: Two (1998, 2005) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 10 of 18 2013-14 RECORD: 30-38-2-6, 68 pts.

WEBSITE: www.lehighvalleyphantoms.com

MANCHESTER MONARCHS

NHL AFFILIATION: Los Angeles Kings HOME ICE: Verizon Wireless Arena (9,852) GENERAL MANAGER: Rob Blake HEAD COACH: Mike Stothers ENTERED AHL: 2001-02 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 12 of 13 2013-14 RECORD: 48-19-3-6, 105 pts.

WEBSITE: www.manchestermonarchs.com

NHL AFFILIATION: Ottawa Senators HOME ICE: Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena (4,679) GENERAL MANAGER: Randy Lee HEAD COACH: Luke Richardson ENTERED AHL: 2002-03 CALDER CUPS: One (2011) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 6 of 12 2013-14 RECORD: 44-24-3-5, 96 pts.

WEBSITE: www.binghamtonsenators.com

NORFOLK ADMIRALS

BRIDGEPORT SOUND TIGERS

PORTLAND PIRATES

NHL AFFILIATION: New York Islanders HOME ICE: Webster Bank Arena (8,412) GENERAL MANAGER: Garth Snow HEAD COACH: Brent Thompson ENTERED AHL: 2001-02 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 7 of 13 2013-14 RECORD: 28-40-2-6, 64 pts.

WEBSITE: www.soundtigers.com

HARTFORD WOLF PACK

NHL AFFILIATION: Anaheim Ducks HOME ICE: Norfolk Scope (8,701) GENERAL MANAGER: Bob Murray HEAD COACH: Jarrod Skalde ENTERED AHL: 2000-01 CALDER CUPS: One (2012) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 10 of 14 2013-14 RECORD: 40-26-3-7, 90 pts.

WEBSITE: www.norfolkadmirals.com NHL AFFILIATION: Arizona Coyotes HOME ICE: Cross Insurance Arena (6,157) GM/HEAD COACH: Ray Edwards ENTERED AHL: 1993-94 CALDER CUPS: One (1994) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 15 of 21 2013-14 RECORD: 24-39-3-10, 61 pts.

WEBSITE: www.portlandpirates.com

PROVIDENCE BRUINS

NHL AFFILIATION: New York Rangers HOME ICE: XL Center (15,635) GENERAL MANAGER: Jim Schoenfeld HEAD COACH: Ken Gernander ENTERED AHL: 1997-98 CALDER CUPS: One (2000) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 14 of 17 2013-14 RECORD: 37-32-1-6, 81 pts.

WEBSITE: www.hartfordwolfpack.com

NHL AFFILIATION: Boston Bruins HOME ICE: Dunkin’ Donuts Center Providence (11,075) GENERAL MANAGER: Don Sweeney HEAD COACH: Bruce Cassidy ENTERED AHL: 1992-93 CALDER CUPS: One (1999) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 17 of 22 2013-14 RECORD: 40-25-2-9, 91 pts.

WEBSITE: www.providencebruins.com

HERSHEY BEARS

SPRINGFIELD FALCONS

NHL AFFILIATION: Washington Capitals HOME ICE: Giant Center (10,500) GENERAL MANAGER: Doug Yingst HEAD COACH: Troy Mann ENTERED AHL: 1938-39 CALDER CUPS: 11 (1947, 1958, 1959, 1969, 1974, 1980, 1988, 1997, 2006, 2009, 2010) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 64 of 76 2013-14 RECORD: 39-27-5-5, 88 pts.

WEBSITE: www.hersheybears.com

NHL AFFILIATION: Columbus Blue Jackets HOME ICE: MassMutual Center (6,784) GENERAL MANAGER: Chris MacFarland HEAD COACH: Jared Bednar ENTERED AHL: 1994-95 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 8 of 20 2013-14 RECORD: 47-23-1-5, 100 pts.

WEBSITE: www.falconsahl.com Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

15

2 014 - 15 A H L D I R E C T O RY ST. JOHN’S ICECAPS

NHL AFFILIATION: Winnipeg Jets HOME ICE: Mile One Centre (6,287) GENERAL MANAGER: Craig Heisinger HEAD COACH: Keith McCambridge ENTERED AHL: 2011-12 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 2 of 3 2013-14 RECORD: 46-23-2-5, 99 pts.

WEBSITE: www.stjohnsicecaps.com

SYRACUSE CRUNCH

NHL AFFILIATION: Tampa Bay Lightning HOME ICE: War Memorial Arena (6,099) GENERAL MANAGER: Julien BriseBois HEAD COACH: Rob Zettler ENTERED AHL: 1994-95 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 11 of 20 2013-14 RECORD: 31-32-4-9, 75 pts.

WEBSITE: www.syracusecrunch.com

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

ADIRONDACK FLAMES

NHL AFFILIATION: Calgary Flames HOME ICE: Glens Falls Civic Center (4,796) GENERAL MANAGER: Brad Treliving HEAD COACH: Ryan Huska ENTERED AHL: 2014-15 WEBSITE: www.adirondackflames.com

CHARLOTTE CHECKERS

NHL AFFILIATION: Carolina Hurricanes HOME ICE: Time Warner Cable Arena (8,200) HEAD COACH/ GENERAL MANAGER: Jeff Daniels ENTERED AHL: 2010-11 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 2 of 4 2013-14 RECORD: 37-36-1-2, 77 pts.

WEBSITE: www.gocheckers.com

CHICAGO WOLVES

NHL AFFILIATION: St. Louis Blues HOME ICE: Allstate Arena (16,692) GENERAL MANAGER: Wendell Young HEAD COACH: John Anderson ENTERED AHL: 2001-02 CALDER CUPS: Two (2002, 2008) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 9 of 13 2013-14 RECORD: 45-21-5-5, 100 pts.

WEBSITE: www.chicagowolves.com

16 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON PENGUINS NHL AFFILIATION: Pittsburgh Penguins HOME ICE: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza (8,050) GENERAL MANAGER: Jim Rutherford HEAD COACH: John Hynes ENTERED AHL: 1999-00 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 13 of 15 2013-14 RECORD: 42-26-3-5, 92 pts.

WEBSITE: www.wbspenguins.com

WORCESTER SHARKS

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 8 2013-14 RECORD: 36-34-4-2, 78 pts.

WEBSITE: www.sharksahl.com

GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS

NHL AFFILIATION: Detroit Red Wings HOME ICE: Van Andel Arena (10,834) GENERAL MANAGER: Ryan Martin HEAD COACH: Jeff Blashill ENTERED AHL: 2001-02 CALDER CUPS: One (2013) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 8 of 13 2013-14 RECORD: 46-23-2-5, 99 pts.

WEBSITE: www.griffinshockey.com

HAMILTON BULLDOGS

NHL AFFILIATION: Montreal Canadiens HOME ICE: FirstOntario Centre (8,819) GENERAL MANAGER: Marc Bergevin HEAD COACH: Sylvain Lefebvre ENTERED AHL: 1996-97 CALDER CUPS: One (2007) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 12 of 18 2013-14 RECORD: 33-35-1-7, 74 pts.

WEBSITE: www.hamiltonbulldogs.com

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 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 0 of 1 2013-14 RECORD: 27-36-7-6, 67 pts.

WEBSITE: www.iowawild.com

LAKE ERIE MONSTERS

NHL AFFILIATION: Colorado Avalanche HOME ICE: Quicken Loans Arena (20,093) HEAD COACH: Dean Chynoweth ENTERED AHL: 2007-08 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 1 of 7 2013-14 RECORD: 32-33-1-10, 75 pts.

WEBSITE: www.lakeeriemonsters.com

TM

2 014 - 15 A H L D I R E C T O RY MILWAUKEE ADMIRALS

NHL AFFILIATION: Nashville Predators HOME ICE: BMO Harris Bradley Center (17,845) GENERAL MANAGER: Paul Fenton HEAD COACH: Dean Evason ENTERED AHL: 2001-02 CALDER CUPS: One (2004) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 12 of 13 2013-14 RECORD: 39-24-6-7, 91 pts.

WEBSITE: www.milwaukeeadmirals.com

OKLAHOMA CITY BARONS

NHL AFFILIATION: Edmonton Oilers HOME ICE: Cox Convention Center (6,400) GENERAL MANAGER: Bill Scott HEAD COACH: Todd Nelson ENTERED AHL: 2010-11 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 4 of 4 2013-14 RECORD: 36-29-2-9, 83 pts.

WEBSITE: www.okcbarons.com

TORONTO MARLIES

NHL AFFILIATION: Toronto Maple Leafs HOME ICE: Ricoh Coliseum (7,851) HEAD COACH: Gord Dineen ENTERED AHL: 2005-06 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 6 of 9 2013-14 RECORD: 45-25-2-4, 96 pts.

WEBSITE: www.marlies.ca

UTICA COMETS

NHL AFFILIATION: Vancouver Canucks HOME ICE: Utica Memorial Auditorium (3,815) DIRECTOR OF HOCKEY OPERATIONS: Pat Conacher HEAD COACH: Travis Green ENTERED AHL: 2013-14 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 0 of 1 2013-14 RECORD: 35-32-5-4, 79 pts.

WEBSITE: www.uticacomets.com

ROCHESTER AMERICANS

NHL AFFILIATION: Buffalo Sabres HOME ICE: Blue Cross Arena at the Rochester War Memorial (10,662) GENERAL MANAGER: Tim Murray HEAD COACH: Chadd Cassidy ENTERED AHL: 1956-57 CALDER CUPS: Six (1965, 1966, 1968, 1983, 1987, 1996) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 44 of 58 2013-14 RECORD: 37-28-6-5, 85 pts.

WEBSITE: www.amerks.com

ROCKFORD ICEHOGS

NHL AFFILIATION: Chicago Blackhawks HOME ICE: BMO Harris Bank Center (5,895) GENERAL MANAGER: Mark Bernard HEAD COACH: Ted Dent ENTERED AHL: 2007-08 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 3 of 7 2013-14 RECORD: 35-32-5-4, 79 pts.

WEBSITE: www.icehogs.com

SAN ANTONIO RAMPAGE

NHL AFFILIATION: Florida Panthers HOME ICE: AT&T Center (6,374) HEAD COACH: Tom Rowe ENTERED AHL: 2002-03 CALDER CUPS: None SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 3 of 12 2013-14 RECORD: 30-37-3-6, 69 pts.

WEBSITE: www.sarampage.com

TEXAS STARS

NHL AFFILIATION: Dallas Stars HOME ICE: Cedar Park Center (6,863) GENERAL MANAGER: Scott White HEAD COACH: Derek Laxdal ENTERED AHL: 2009-10 CALDER CUPS: One (2014) SEASONS IN PLAYOFFS: 4 of 5 2013-14 RECORD: 48-18-3-7, 106 pts.

WEBSITE: www.texasstarshockey.com

2014-15 PLAYOFF FORMAT Eight teams in each conference will qualify for the 2015 Calder Cup Playoffs: The three division winners will be seeded first through third in order of points, and the next five teams in order of points will be seeded fourth through eighth.

The conference quarterfinals will be best-of-five series; the conference semifinals, conference finals and Calder Cup Finals will be best-of-seven series.

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

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

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Trust Belle Tire For The Best Tire Shopping Experience In West Michigan!

When You Shop At Belle Tire You’ll Always Get: • The Lowest Tire Price, Period!

• The best installation package value • The best people in the business • Tires that are right for your vehicle, budget and driving style • ASE certified technicians to get the job done right

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Twelve West Michigan locations to choose from.

Call 888-GO-BELLE or go to belletire.com to find the location nearest you.

DETROIT

RED WINGS TOP AFFILIATE

Grand Rapids Griffins (13th Season) through 2016-17

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, Assistant General Manager

COACHING STAFF

Photo: Getty Images

Mike Babcock, Head Coach Tony Granato, Assistant Coach • Jim Hiller, Assistant Coach Andrew Brewer, Assistant Coach – Video Jim Bedard, Goaltending Coach Peter Renzetti, Strength and Conditioning Coach

Tomas Jurco and eight other Griffins made their NHL debuts with the Red Wings during 2013-14. Playing alongside recent Grand Rapids alumni such as Riley Sheahan and Tomas Tatar, they helped Detroit extend its remarkable streak of consecutive Stanley Cup Playoff appearances to 23 seasons.

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 Mitch Callahan, 2013-14 Ty Conklin, 2011-12 Chris Conner, 2011-12 Danny DeKeyser, 2013-14 Aaron Downey, 2008-09 Patrick Eaves, 2013-14 Matt Ellis, 2006-07 Cory Emmerton, 2010-11 Jonathan Ericsson, 2007-08 Landon Ferraro, 2013-14 Valtteri Filppula, 2005-06 Luke Glendening, 2013-14 Mark Hartigan, 2007-08 Darren Helm, 2007-08 Jimmy Howard, 2005-06 Jiri Hudler, 2003-04 Matt Hussey, 2006-07 Doug Janik, 2009-10 Tomas Jurco, 2013-14 Jakub Kindl, 2009-10 Tomas Kopecky, 2005-06 Niklas Kronwall, 2003-04 Marc Lamothe, 2003-04

Josh Langfeld, 2006-07 Brian Lashoff, 2012-13 Brett Lebda, 2005-06 Ville Leino, 2008-09 Joey MacDonald, 2006-07 Donald MacLean, 2005-06 Alexey Marchenko, 2013-14 Darren McCarty, 2007-08 Tom McCollum, 2010-11 Derek Meech, 2006-07 Kevin Miller, 2003-04 Mark Mowers, 2003-04 Petr Mrazek, 2012-13 Jan Mursak, 2010-11 Anders Myrvold, 2003-04 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 Ryan Sproul, 2013-14 Garrett Stafford, 2007-08 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).

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

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One of Michigan’s premier golf destinations. “ - Places to Play” “One of the 25 best golf courses in Michigan” -GOLF DIGEST

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

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

www.togc.net

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

Casual and inviting surroundings.

Diverse menu. Breathtaking views.

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

Year-round Golf Lessons.

Join the Academy!

Call 616-363-GOLF

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

Call 616-828-6780

2014-15 GRIFFINS PROMOTIONAL SCHEDULE

MARK YOUR

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

Oct. 10: Opening Night presented

by Huntington Bank/LED Glowstick Giveaway/2013 Griffins Outdoor Game Jersey Auction Oct. 13: Pups & Pucks Fall Walk-A-Thon at Mackenzie’s Animal Sanctuary t

Nov. 18: Tip-A-Griffin at Uccello’s Restaurants t

Jan. 9: ‘80s Night Jan. 10: Griffins Winter Hat Giveaway presented by Comerica Bank t

Nov. 22: Teddy Bear Toss presented

by J&H Family Stores/Team Poster Giveaway/Season Ticket Holder Party t

Oct. 21: Griffins Booster Club Meet the Team Banquet Oct. 31: Halloween Costume Party Nov. 5: 14th Annual Matinee Game (11 a.m. start) t

Nov. 15: Lego Night presented by DTE Energy/Griffins Player Blockhead Giveaway (kids 12 and under) t

Dec. 5: Blue/Red Jersey Auction t

Jan. 24: Superhero Lunch Box Giveaway presented by Pepsi (kids 12 and under)/Scout Night/Fan Design Jersey Auction #1/East Grand Rapids vs. Grand Rapids Christian High School Hockey (pre-game) t

Dec. 27: 2015 Team Calendar Giveaway presented by Fox Motors Dec. 31: 18th Annual New Year’s Eve Celebration presented by Farm Bureau/ Post-Game Fireworks t

Jan. 24-25: 13th Annual Great Skate Winterfest at Rosa Parks Circle. continued on next page Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

21

Jan. 31: Griffins Texting Gloves Giveaway presented by DTE Energy/ Social Media Seminar (pre-game) t Feb. 7: Mitch Callahan Bobblehead Giveaway presented

by Lake Michigan Credit Union/Mascot Mania/Grandville vs. Detroit Catholic Central High School Hockey (pre-game) Feb. 10: Griffins & Sled Wings Game at Griff’s IceHouse Feb. 13: Purple Community Game presented by Van Andel Institute/ Purple Jersey Auction t

Feb. 14: Griffins Jersey Scarf Giveaway presented by Centennial Securities Feb. 17: Griffins Booster Club Silent Auction Feb. 21: Star Wars Night presented by Consumers Energy t

March 14: Griffins Cereal Bowl Giveaway presented by Flagstar Bank t

March 16: Corks, Pucks & Brews at the Goei Center March 20: ‘90s Night/Fan Design Jersey Auction #2 t

March 22: Dog Day at Van Andel presented by Nestle Purina/$1 Pepsi Drinks and $1 Ice Cream from 3-5 p.m.

April 4: Tomas Jurco Bobblehead Giveaway presented by Michigan Office Solutions April 6: Griffins Booster Club Awards Banquet April 18: Season Finale presented by Huntington Bank/Friday Night Jersey Auction

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 D-Zone night. Avoid the concession lines and get your $2 beers and $2 hot dogs served to you in your seats. Call (616) 774-4585 ext. 2 or visit griffinshockey.com/dzone today! The D-Zone seven-game pack includes games on Oct. 10, Nov. 14, Dec. 5, Jan. 9, Feb. 13, March 20 and April 17, and the 14-pack includes all Friday games.

Military Nights: Every home game, current members of our military can purchase up to four Upper Level tickets for $14 each or four Lower Level Faceoff tickets for $18 each with a valid military ID. The offer also extends to veterans who present a VA ID or discharge papers.

College Nights: Every Friday, college students can show their ID to purchase an Upper Level ticket for $14 (or $13 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. Limit one ticket per ID. Free Ride Friday on The Rapid: Ride the Rapid to and from any Friday game and enjoy a complimentary fare by showing your ticket to that night’s game. Visit ridetherapid.org for schedule information, routes and maps.

22 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

Wednesday is Hockey Night: For all Wednesday games from December through March (excluding Dec. 31), show your Griffins ticket at participating Arena District restaurants and bars to enjoy Happy Hour specials before the game and Hockey Night specials afterward. Visit griffinshockey. com/hockeynight for a list of participating establishments.

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

Fans can also enjoy a buy-one, get-one-free deal on a 16 oz. Pepsi all night long at any concession stand that sells fountain drinks. (Winning Wednesday and BOGO Pepsi offers exclude Dec. 31.)

Post-Game Parties at Peppino’s: Every Wednesday night (excluding Dec. 31), join Griffins players and staff for the official post-game party at Peppino’s Sports Grille downtown.

Library Nights: For every Sunday and Wednesday game (excluding Dec. 31), fans can present their Grand Rapids Public Library card or Kent District Library card at the Van Andel Arena box office on the night of the game or at The Zone anytime during the store’s regular business hours to purchase either an Upper Level ticket for $14 (regularly $16 advance and $19 day of game) or a

Lower Level Faceoff ticket for $18 ( (regularly $20 advance and $23 day of game). Limit four tickets per card per person, subject to availability.

Friends & Family 4-Packs: Available for all Saturday games, each pack incudes four tickets and $12 in concession cash for a great low price.

Visit griffinshockey.com/f4p or call (616) 7744585 ext. 2.

Pepsi Reading Goals: Children with Griff’s Reading Goals bookmarks who have completed the required three hours of reading can redeem their bookmark for two free Upper Level tickets to any of the following games: Bookmark #1 - Nov. 12 and 22; Dec. 10 and 27; and Jan. 21; Bookmark #2 - Feb. 18; March 22; and April 1, 4 and 8.

Post-Game Open Skates: Oct. 10; Nov. 14; Dec. 31; Jan. 10; Feb. 14; March 22; and April 18.

Huntington Bank Post-Game Autograph Sessions: Nov. 15; Dec. 27; Jan. 31; Feb. 21; March 14; and April 4.

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

Call (616) 774-4585.

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

Story and photos

by Mark Newman

Growing

Confidence With a full season of pro hockey under his belt, Ryan Sproul is anxious to take the next step toward his dream of a regular spot in the NHL.

24 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

Ryan Sproul was not much different from most boys growing up in Mississauga, west of Toronto.

He played a lot of sports, trying his luck at soccer, baseball, basketball, golf, volleyball and, naturally, hockey.

His dream, of course, was to someday play in the National Hockey League.

Sproul was a bit unusual in one respect. His favorite NHL team was not the nearby Maple Leafs but the Tampa Bay Lightning, a result of his having a grandfather in Florida and the fact that his favorite player, Martin St. Louis, was a star on the team.

He watched the Leafs – they were always on TV – but, in his words, the hometown team wasn’t a big deal for him. He’d rather be playing hockey himself.

His parents, Phil and Paulette, were supportive of his athletic endeavors. His dad, an executive in the travel and tourism industry, was his coach for several years, and his brother Kyle, a year younger, served as his practice partner.

“My brother is a goalie so I had the opportunity to shoot on him whenever I could,” Sproul said. “A lot of parents want their kids to do stuff like that, but I just went along and did my

thing, nothing special.”

Sproul was a forward growing up. He liked being on the offensive side of the puck. Scoring goals was fun – there was no way around that fact – and he was able to use his skating ability and his shot to put up his share of points.

“I played forward until I was 13-14 years old, when I switched to defense,” Sproul said. “There were too many forwards, so they put me on defense and I have stuck with it ever since.”

With his impressive shot and willingness to jump into the play, Sproul discovered that he could score goals almost as easily from the blueline as he could as a forward. But he still had room to grow.

He played an extra midget season at age 16 after being cut by the Junior A Bramalea Blues in 2009, then got into a handful of Junior A games with the Vaughan Vipers as a 17-year-old.

Then something happened: he grew four inches over the course of a summer. It threw him for a loop. “I was sleeping every day,” he recalled, noting that he was always hungry or tired.

When barely 6-foot, Sproul had hardly merited a second look in the eyes of most scouts. At 6-foot-4, he was a legitimate prospect.

Sproul was chosen by the Red Wings in the second round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

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The added inches could have crushed his natural abilities and confounded his coordination but did not. “I didn’t feel all that gangly,” Sproul said. “I was pretty fortunate that my skills stayed with me. Actually, it might have helped me in terms of getting faster and a harder shot.”

Having a longer stride meant he was quicker.

More leverage on a longer stick added power to what was already a cannon-like shot.

Colleges – most notably, the University of Michigan and Lake Superior State – came calling.

He thought he wanted to play junior hockey instead. He wasn’t sure.

He started the 2010-11 season at the Ontario Junior A level to reserve his NCAA eligibility.

“It was a very big decision,” he recalled. “I didn’t know if I wanted to go the junior route or not. I was fine with going to school. It was more about the path I wanted to take to make it to the NHL, which is my dream, obviously.

“My agent did a really good job. We sat down and talked about it with my parents. They were supportive of whatever I wanted to do. I missed the first couple of weeks of my junior career to make the decision.

“At the end of the day, I felt it would be quicker to go through junior (than college). My choice was to go the OHL route. I really thought I could do it.”

Ending his courtship with colleges, Sproul reported to the OHL’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in late September. The team had drafted Sproul in the sixth round of the OHL Priority Selection the previous year.

“When I first got drafted, I didn’t even know what or where the Soo was,” he said. “Being seven hours away from your family when you’re 17 years old can be tough.”

Sproul would have opportunities to secondguess his decision. “As the team’s seventh defenseman, I was sitting a lot or barely getting into games,” he said. “As one of the younger guys, I knew there would be some question of ice time.”

It took 17 games before Sproul registered his first point. “The beginning of that year was definitely tough for me,” he said. “A lot of games I sat there wondering if I had made the right decision. It was definitely playing with my head.

Finally, the coach gave me the opportunity and I did the best I could with it.”

Once Sproul got started, he really got rolling.

26 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

He tallied 32 points in his last 42 games of the 2010-11 season, a pace that would have put him in the top 10 scorers among OHL defensemen, prorated for a full season.

Sproul was rewarded by being selected in the second round (55th overall) of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. He was surprised but honored to be selected by the Red Wings. “I think I talked to them for maybe 10 minutes at the NHL Combine,” he said. “It never crossed my mind that I was going to get picked by them.”

Sproul sprouted four inches in the summer before his draft season.

Sproul was honored as the Canadian Hockey League’s Defenseman of the Year in 2013.

But there were some serious challenges ahead.

He suffered a broken jaw in his post-draft season.

He had a plate surgically inserted a day after he was hit by a deflected puck during a game.

The following season, he broke his wrist, losing several weeks of action in the process.

“When you break bones or you’re out for any reason, the adversity is tough,” he said. “For me, the wrist was a longer process because it took longer for the bone to heal, but the jaw was by far the worst pain I’ve ever had.”

He persevered. “I don’t know if I have ever seen a player...push so hard to come back early from injuries,” Greyhounds general manager Kyle Dubas said at the time.

Sproul returned to action with a singular mindset. He wanted to improve, focusing specifically on his ability to shut down the opposition. He worked closely with Joe Cirella, an assistant coach who had a 14-year NHL career.

“I worked on my defense a lot,” Sproul said.

“Joe Cirella was there my last two years and he helped me out defensively. He did a good job of teaching me things that I can do in the ‘D’ zone.”

Sproul also got advice from Jiri Fischer, the

Red Wings director of player development who had been a promising young defenseman himself before a heart condition cut his career short.

Switching from offense to defense was a challenge. “It was a big adjustment. It’s still an adjustment for me today,” Sproul said. “I want to play offense. I grew up playing offense, and it’s been part of my game my whole life, so I don’t want to lose it. But a big part of my game is just working on my ‘D’ and adding into my versatile game.”

He capped his junior career by being named the OHL’s most outstanding defenseman. He was a landslide winner in the voting among the OHL’s GMs, taking 80 of 95 possible points after a 201213 season in which he led the league’s blueliners with 20 goals and 66 points in only 50 games.

“We didn’t have the results we wanted as a team, but it was a great honor,” Sproul said.

“Personally, it was a big deal. I honestly did not see it coming at all. I had stiff competition from Ryan Murphy and Cody Ceci, who are NHL players now.”

Sproul also became the first player in Greyhounds franchise history to be honored Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

27

as the Canadian Hockey League’s Defenseman of the Year, an award which was first presented following the 1987-88 season. Sproul accepted the award during Memorial Cup festivities in Saskatoon, Sask., where he and his parents were flown. “It was nice to receive the award and I’m very grateful for it,” he said.

He saw his first action as a pro in two lateseason games with the Griffins, then served as a “black ace” with Grand Rapids during the first two rounds of the team’s 2013 Calder Cup Playoffs.

His pro career began in earnest in rather dramatic fashion when he scored a pair of goals in the Griffins’ season-opening 8-1 win in Rockford a year ago. He went on to record 11 goals and 21 assists in 72 games.

“I thought last year went pretty well,” Sproul said. “It was a huge transition, coming from junior and especially being an offensive defenseman. To turn pro and learn a lot of the defensive stuff, to learn how to play a fullrounded game, I think I did okay.”

Sproul gives a lot of credit to Griffins head coach Jeff Blashill and his former assistant,

Jim Paek, for keeping him headed in the right direction. “I had a lot of help,” he said. “I think I probably could have done a little bit better, but it was a good learning experience.”

Blashill sees nothing but good things ahead for his young defenseman.

“Ryan is an extremely talented player with an unreal skill set,” Blashill said. “Over the last year, he’s taken that skill set and really learned how to be effective in pro hockey.

“When you’re younger, you can get away with a lot of things, and your habits might not be where they need to be in order to be successful in pro hockey. He’s changed a lot of his habits away from the puck, defensive habits like gapping, how to defend properly, how to move his feet, how to break out pucks, how to think about what he’s going to do with the puck before he gets it. Those are habits that improve over time, and I thought they improved greatly last year.”

Sproul saw his confidence grow the more he played. “For me, confidence is huge. If I’m not playing confident, I’m not playing my best. I felt more confident as the year went on.”

He even got his feet wet in the NHL.

Sproul was named to the 2013-14 American Hockey League All-Rookie Team.

28 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

Sproul was first called up Feb. 25 to practice with the Red Wings as players were still slowly trickling back from the Olympic break, but he returned to Grand Rapids the following day. He finally made his NHL debut when he suited up for Detroit in the team’s regular-season finale on April 13 in St. Louis.

“Whether it was the last game of the season or midseason, it was nice to get that game under my belt,” Sproul said. “I had a lot of nerves, but I tried to turn the nerves into energy. Your mind goes blank for a little bit, but eventually you settle in and it’s just another game.”

The 21-year-old registered three shots on goal, two hits, two blocked shots and logged 18:25 of ice time while making a favorable impression.

“He’s 6-foot-4, he can skate, he shoots BBs, he’s smart and he moves the puck,” said Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock.

Sproul, who was named to the 2013-14 American Hockey League All-Rookie Team, knows he needs to get bigger and stronger.

Former Red Wings director of scouting Joe McDonnell once described him as being “weak as a noodle.”

“It’s really tough for me to put on weight.

I’ve tried for years now,” Sproul said. “I work out all summer to put on weight and as soon as I start skating, I sweat and lose all of it. I try not to worry about it because it’s really tough for me to do.”

Ultimately, he knows his size can work to his advantage. “A lot of guys have the size, but they don’t know how to use it,” he said. “I know I’ve got to learn to use my size. For me, it’s using quick feet to my advantage. To be a big body is obviously a plus, especially in the game today.”

Sproul entered training camp with only one goal: to make the Red Wings’ roster. “It’s no longer enough to get called up and just get in a couple of games,” he said. “I want to make the Wings and earn a steady spot on the roster.”

And if he finds that he still has to wait for his chance, he will make the most of his time in Grand Rapids. “If it doesn’t work out, I’ll take it with a grain of salt,” he said. “I’ll go back down and do whatever I can to become a leader. I want to have the coach’s trust that I can play the whole game. I’ll do whatever he wants me to do out there.”

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

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Gr Lig

Story and photos

by Mark Newman

Athanasiou has long been considered one of the fastest players his age.

“Ever to excel, to do better than others, and to bring glory to your forebears, who indeed were very great...This is my ancestry; this is the blood I am proud to inherit.”

– from Homer’s Iliad 30 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

eece’d htning

Andreas Athanasiou is quick. Really quick.His skating and playmaking ability could speed his path to the NHL.

In the ancient Olympic Games, a herald would announce the name of the winner, his father’s name and his homeland before the Hellanodikis (Greek judge) would place a sacred olive tree wreath, or kotinos, on the winner’s head.

Andreas Athanasiou wears a hockey helmet, not an olive branch, but he finds great peace in pursuing the same athletic ideals that once drove his ancestors.

It is not enough to be fast. One must be the fastest.

Indeed, Athanasiou (ath-ehn-uh-SEE-you) will tell you that his need for speed is in his blood.

His father, Stan, was born in Athens; his mother is from Guyana on the northern coast of South America. Living in Canada, they raised a family for which sport was almost second nature.

Andreas’ oldest sibling and only sister, Alisha, played soccer and baseball. His older brother, Dimitri, participates in extreme sports, and his little brother, Nicholas, enjoys playing recreational sports.

“My parents were incredibly supportive,” said Athanasiou, whose father played basketball and ran cross country. “They always went to whatever games we were playing.”

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

31

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Athanasiou was already in skates when he was eight months old. “My dad would hold me or push me in a chair,” he said. “I just fell in love with it. My earliest memory is that I would hold his hand and he would slingshot me down the ice. I always wanted to go faster. I couldn’t go fast enough.”

The family lived in London, Ontario, where Andreas was born, then moved to Mississauga for about a year when he was 5, before eventually settling in Vaughan, a bedroom community north of Toronto.

“I remember we’d be on the big hill in winter and I wanted to go straight down as fast as I could,” he said. “I was a little speed demon. As a little kid, I had no fear.”

At school, his athletic pursuits extended beyond hockey to soccer and basketball as well as track and field. He won the York Region Cross Country Run in grades 4, 5 and 6 and came in second in grade 8 when he was named athlete of the year.

Athanasiou was also a good student, scoring good grades at Emily Carr Secondary School while he was the youngest player on the Toronto

Titans, a midget minor team in the Greater Toronto Hockey League.

He was usually one of the fastest skaters in whatever league he played. By the time he was drafted in the fourth round of the OHL draft by the London Knights, he was highly regarded for his wheels. “I guess I had that fast twitch,” he said. “I did my best to make sure that never went away.”

His speed gained him entry into the junior ranks, but it didn’t guarantee him ice time.

Disappointed with how much he got to play in London, he asked for a trade after his second year with the Knights. “I felt like I produced for the amount of ice time I got, but I didn’t get as much opportunity in London because of all the talent on the team,” he recalled.

Once considered a possible top-15 pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, Athanasiou slid all the way to the fourth round, where the Red Wings selected him with the 110th overall pick.

London subsequently traded his junior rights to the Barrie Colts for two second-round picks (2013, 2015) and a third-round pick (2014).

Athanasiou blossomed in Barrie, where he was

Athanasiou was selected in the fourth round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

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Athanasiou scored 49 goals last season for the Barrie Colts, where he played for Hall of Famer Dale Hawerchuk.

given an expanded role. He recorded 29 goals and 38 assists for 67 points in 66 games during 2012-13, then exploded a year ago with a 49-goal season.

The speedster, who registered 41 goals in his last 45 games with Barrie, gives credit to Colts head coach Dale Hawerchuk for showing confidence in his ability.

“He’s a Hall of Famer, so he knows all the little things about the game,” Athanasiou said. “He was an offensive-minded guy when he played, so he’d pull me aside and show me little things. Even now when you see him on the ice, you can see what he can still do. I tried to watch him and take as much from him as I could.”

Hawerchuk, meanwhile, was more than a little impressed by Athanasiou’s speed and agility.

“You could see from scrimmages that, if you just let off the gas pedal a little bit on this guy, he chips it by you, and he’s gone,” Hawerchuk once told the Barrie Examiner newspaper. “His speed and his quickness are probably second to none.”

Athanasiou is still learning to harness his speed. He can dipsy-doodle his way through the ice with the best; his ability to “dangle” has twisted more than a few defenders into knots.

34 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

In elementary school, he played sepak takraw, a form of kick volleyball that is especially popular in Southeast Asia. His school made it all the way to Calgary for the All-Canada championship, where it eventually lost to a team from Thailand.

“I think playing it helped my hockey,” he said.

“Those awkward positions for some guys aren’t so awkward for me. Flexing my skates, I might be able to kick it up. I like to play around with the puck.”

No matter how tight or limited the space, Athanasiou has the talent to turn nothing into something fairly quickly, and he knows it.

He believes he has the talent to play in the NHL, and he will let you know it, not out of arrogance, but out of a supreme confidence in his ability to show what Griffins head coach Jeff Blashill calls “flashes of brilliance.”

“I’m very confident in my abilities,” he said. “I think I have what it takes to make it to the next level, but I also know there are a lot of people who have what it takes. It’s how bad you want it.

It’s how hard you are willing to work.”

Athanasiou saw action in two AHL games with the Griffins at the end of last season before appearing in six Calder Cup Playoff contests.

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Following his junior career, Athanasiou appeared in a handful of Griffins games late last season.

36 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

“I was so happy to get that chance to see what being a pro is, not just on the ice, but also how guys act off the ice. You learn what it takes.”

He knows it will take a lot to get to the next level. He is ready to pay his dues.

“This is a smart organization. They know what they are doing,” Athanasiou said. “Wherever they put me, I’ll be more than happy because they’re obviously doing something right to be able to make the playoffs for so long. I know in the long run, they know the plan.”

Blashill believes Athanasiou has the talent to excel.

“He skates and makes plays at full speed that most guys don’t do. It’s just a matter of him learning to do that every day, and he won’t be denied the success at the level that he ultimately wants to play, which is the NHL. “He has to learn that in pro hockey you cannot afford to have bad days. You can have great days and good days. If he can learn to bring that level of consistency, he’s going to be a really, really good player.”

In preparation, Athanasiou worked hard on his strength and conditioning this summer with

trainer Ray LeBlanc.

“Whenever I’m in the gym, he’s there and he watches over every aspect of my training, whether it’s my form or my technique or the little things to get that extra jump,” he said. “I’ve known him since I was a little kid. He really knows the science behind the sport.”

Athanasiou is looking for every edge he can.

“Getting the chance to turn pro, I want to make the most of it,” he said. “I’m playing with grown men now, so I’ve got to be prepared. That’s why I’ll come ready to play every day.”

He continues to get encouragement from his family – from his Greek godparents, who live in London, Ontario, where he celebrated many Greek traditions and holidays, to his father, who is a pilot for Air Canada.

“He’s my dad, so I look up to him,” Athanasiou said, no pun intended. “I remember being in kindergarten and being so happy to have him come into school. It was cool to have him come in and talk about his career. Flying a plane is such a cool job.”

Flying down the ice in a Red Wings jersey would be pretty cool, too.

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ANDREAS ATHANASIOU Forward 6-2, 200 lbs.

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5 22

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

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JARED COREAU

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27

Goaltender 6-5, 235 lbs.

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32 MARTIN FRK

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Forward 6-0, 195 lbs.

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MITCH CALLAHAN

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LANDON FERRARO Forward 6-0, 182 lbs.

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13 RYAN SPROUL

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Porter captained the University of Michigan Wolverines to a Frozen Four appearance in 2008.

Story by Mark Newman / Photos courtesy Getty Images

Michigan Man

42 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

Kevin Porter is happy to be back in his home state, playing in the organization that he followed in his youth.

To Griffins fans, Kevin Porter may seem like the new kid on the block, but it’s a block that he’s been around a few times.

At the age of 28, Porter admits he is “one of the older guys now,” although it doesn’t seem that long ago that he was starting his pro career in the Phoenix Coyotes organization after four years of college hockey at the University of Michigan.

He still remembers how it felt to be a freshfaced first-year pro back in 2008-09 and what it meant when a certain veteran went out of his way to make him feel welcome.

The fact that the player just happened to be the Coyotes’ captain made an even bigger impression on the rookie.

“Shane Doan had me come for dinner, had me over just to hang out,” Porter said. “He didn’t

need to do that. He was much older, had his family, had his kids, but he took it upon himself to hang out with the rookies and just be nice.

“Pro hockey is tough, so when the captain shows you support like that by being friendly and taking you under his wing, it’s nice. You feel more comfortable and it becomes easier to play.”

With his arrival in the Red Wings organization – which happens to be his fourth in the past six years – Porter is embracing the opportunity to pay it forward, to extend a hand to guys who are breaking into the pro ranks.

“I learned from the older guys who showed me the way when I first came in, and that’s what I’ve been trying to do now with the young kids,” he said. “Now that I’m one of the older guys, I enjoy being able to take a leadership role.”

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

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Porter won the Hobey Baker Award as college hockey’s best player.

44 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

A veteran of 206 NHL games entering the At the University of Michigan, he played 2013-14 season, Porter finds it almost hard to for one of the best coaches in the county. Red fathom that he is now entering his seventh pro Berenson helped teach him what it would take season. It doesn’t seem all that long ago that the to be successful in the pros. “He’s obviously a Northville native was growing up on the east side great coach and he expects a lot from his players,” of the state, dreaming of the day that he could Porter said. “I had a great four years there; it was play for the Red Wings. something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”

He was a rink rat from a very young age, During his freshman season, he learned as learning to skate when he was 18 months old much about himself as he did about hockey. while his dad coached “We had a lot of seniors, his older brothers’ so I knew I wasn’t going hockey teams. to come in and be a goal After John Porter scorer. I had to work my “retired” to the role of way into the lineup. I was chauffeur for his four on the penalty kill and hockey-playing sons, played on the third and Kevin played squirt fourth lines. I had to play and pee wee for Viktor hard every night and not Fedorov, father of NHL make mistakes.” star Sergei Fedorov, Porter showed steady who would have a improvement during his profound influence on sophomore and junior his budding career. seasons, increasing his Playing for Fedorov point production from was “different,” 24 to 38 to 58. Before his according to Porter. senior year, he thought “He had a different seriously about signing a style of teaching; he pro contract. He had been - Jeff Blashill emphasized a lot of selected by Phoenix in the skill,” Porter recalled. “We learned how to play fourth-round (119th overall) in the 2004 NHL with the puck instead of dumping the puck Entry Draft before enrolling at Michigan. down the ice. Even on the penalty kill, we weren’t “I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t some debate, allowed to dump it down. You had to learn how but a degree is something I wanted to get, to control the puck, how to skate it out of the something that was important to me,” said Porter, zone. I think learning how to play with the puck who would eventually earn his bachelor’s degree was good for my development at a young age.” in general studies. “I decided to come back.”

Porter competed for the storied Little Caesars His decision was well worth it. He was named and Honeybaked AAA hockey programs team captain, an honor that the modest Porter before graduating to the U.S. National Team found quite humbling. “Obviously, a lot of great Development Program in Ann Arbor. players have gone to Michigan, so to be the “When you’re there, your whole life is hockey,” captain my senior year was awesome,” he said. he said. “You go to school, you go to the rink, you “Then to have a great year and go to the Frozen work out, you come home, you eat dinner, do a little Four when Michigan hadn’t gone in so long was homework, go to bed and then do it all over again.” even better.”

Playing for Team USA allowed Porter to get Porter recorded 33 goals and 30 assists in 43 a taste of international competition. His teams games, centering a line with senior Chad Kolarik earned one silver medal and a pair of fourthand freshman Max Pacioretty. “Chad and I had place finishes. “Those were great experiences,” he played together for four years and Max just fit in said. “I got to play for different coaches, and it’s really well,” he said. “We had a lot of chemistry always good to get someone else’s perspective on together.” things and learn from them.”

Porter ended up winning the Hobey Baker

“He’s a complete player. His NHL coaches have told me that he’s a guy you can put on the ice because you can trust him.

Those type of guys play a lot of minutes for us.”

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

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Award, college hockey’s version of the Heisman Trophy.

“We had one of the best lines in college hockey that year, so I owe a lot to them. Would I have rather won a national championship? For sure, so it was a little bittersweet.”

When he finally turned pro, Porter split his first season between Phoenix and the team’s minor league affiliate, the AHL’s San Antonio Rampage. He saw less NHL action during his second year when he was traded to the Colorado Avalanche.

His first full season for Colorado was his best in the NHL. He recorded 14 goals and 11 assists in 74 games. “We didn’t have a great team, so I got to play a lot on the second line and occasionally the first,” he said.

Things didn’t go as well his second year in Denver. His career hit a rut when he was

scratched 43 times during the 2011-12 season.

“We had a lot of guys on one-way contracts and I had a couple of surgeries during the offseason.

I don’t know if that was the problem or what happened. That’s just the way it goes sometimes.”

He got a fresh start in the Buffalo organization, where he played the last two seasons. One of his teammates was former Griffins captain Matt Ellis.

“He’s just a great leader – not a ton of skill, but he knows that’s not his game. He just goes out and works hard, and everyone just follows his lead, which is awesome.”

Porter is coming off back-to-back 19-goal seasons. When the opportunity came to join the Red Wings organization this year, he jumped at the chance.

“I grew up watching the Wings, always loved them, so it’s great to be in the organization,” said Porter, who admitted that he always got a little

Porter is coming off back-to-back 19-goal seasons in the Buffalo Sabres organization.

46 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

nervous whenever he played against Detroit. “It would be pretty cool to play in a Wings jersey.”

He is willing to wait for the opportunity. “I’m pretty excited about this coming year because Grand Rapids is only two hours from home. I’m excited to be able to play in front of family and friends again.”

Griffins head coach Jeff Blashill is glad to have a player of Porter’s caliber on his roster. “He’s a complete player. His NHL coaches have told me that he’s a guy you can put on the ice because you can trust him. Those type of guys play a lot of minutes for us.”

Porter is not afraid of hard work. “It’s important,” he insists. “I’ve seen too many guys with a lot of skill who wouldn’t put in the work, which is unfortunate. I decided long ago that I wasn’t going to be one of those guys.”

And so Porter plans on leading by example, showing the kind of work ethic that endeared him to Berenson and other coaches since his Michigan days. He’ll do more than bide time because he’s got his sights set on Detroit. He wants the chance to pull that Red Wings sweater over his head.

“Hopefully, it’s a home game,” he said. “But even if it’s an away game, it would be pretty special.”

As a member of Team USA, Porter built his confidence by playing against some of the best international players his age.

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Pat Ferschweiler and Dave Noel-Bernier are excited to join head coach Jeff Blashill behind the bench as the new assistant coaches for the Griffins.

Dave Noel-Bernier

Conf i Confi

48 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

Story by Mark Newman

Pat Ferschweiler

ident dants

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

49

Pat Ferschweiler

Birds of a feather flock together.

Recently hired as assistant coaches to support Griffins head coach Jeff Blashill, Pat Ferschweiler and Dave Noel-Bernier are new to the organization, but they are not unfamiliar faces in West Michigan.

Ferschweiler has been an assistant and associate head coach at Western Michigan University since being hired by Blashill as an assistant coach for the school in 2010. A 1993 WMU graduate, Ferschweiler spent three seasons with the Broncos before turning pro, later playing six seasons with the Kansas City Blades when the IHL team was owned by Dan DeVos. Noel-Bernier has served as the director of hockey for the Eagles Ice Center (formerly Jolly Roger) and the Grand Rapids Blades youth program since 2013. Noel-Bernier, who was also an assistant coach for the Grand Rapids Christian High School varsity team last season, played six seasons at the minor professional level, including two stints with the United Hockey League’s Muskegon Fury.

Ferschweiler replaces longtime Griffins 50 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

assistant coach Jim Paek, who left after nine seasons to become director of the Korea Ice Hockey Association and head coach of the Korean Men’s National Team. Noel-Bernier steps in for Spiros Anastas, who accepted the head coaching position at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta.

Both Ferschweiler and Noel-Bernier are enthusiastic about their new roles.

“I’m excited to work at this level and experience the pro game again,” Ferschweiler said, “and I’m excited to work with Jeff again.

He’s a big-time person and big-time coach.”

“I’m extremely excited to be here,” said Noel-Bernier, echoing his new colleague. “It’s a terrific opportunity to work with an unbelievable coaching staff and a great organization.”

Ferschweiler, 44, admits that the decision to leave Western was not easy, especially after four consecutive winning seasons, including the first back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances in the school’s history.

“Leaving was a very hard thing to do,” he said.

“I’m very proud of the program and what we did there. I’ll always feel a part of the Broncos, but this opportunity was too great to pass up. It allows me to advance myself as a coach and get better.”

As a player, Ferschweiler was, in his words, “not overly physically gifted but one who worked really hard and played the game fairly smart.”

After two seasons in the ECHL, he played six seasons in Kansas City, his best goal-scoring year coming in 1997-98 when he lit the lamp 16 times in 79 games.

“My years at Kansas City were outstanding,” Ferschweiler said. “We had a great organization.

Doug Soetaert was a fantastic GM and Paul MacLean, who was there my last three years, was one of the favorite coaches I ever had.”

In fact, Ferschweiler said he feel he owes a good deal of his coaching philosophy to MacLean, who later served as an assistant coach in Detroit for five years before being named head coach of the Ottawa Senators in 2011.

“Paul MacLean was a huge influence on me in terms of the way I think about hockey,” he said. “I appreciated his preparation and the way he communicated with players. He had a demanding style, but he wasn’t demeaning.”

Ferschweiler gravitated to coaching after

initially considering a different profession. A finance major at WMU, he contemplated a career in money management.

“My last three summers playing pro I spent at Merrill Lynch,” he said. “I thought I was going to be a financial advisor, but coaching was always in the back of my mind. Then I got an opportunity in Kansas City to work with hockey at a younger level. I just planted my own flower down there and let it grow.”

In 2004, Ferschweiler took on the role of general manager and head coach of the Russell Stover Under-18 team of the Midwest Elite Hockey League. In six seasons at the helm of the U18 team, Ferschweiler established the club as one of the country’s elite hockey programs and led the team to numerous Midwest Regional Championships.

Simultaneously, Ferschweiler acted as the director of hockey for the Kansas City Stars youth organization from 2005-09, helping to train coaches at both the travel and house level.

“I brought hockey to me in Kansas City,” he said. “I built my own opportunity down there.

We created an environment where kids could

Dave Noel-Bernier

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love the process: the process of working hard, the process of getting better, the process of competing. That’s what we strove for.”

Of course, “process” is something that Blashill continuously preaches, so Ferschweiler discovered the two were on the same page when he joined Blashill’s staff at Western for the 201011 season.

“I think one of the reasons Jeff brought me to Western is that we believe the exact same thing,” Ferschweiler said. “Our job is to make our players better every single day, and if we do, at the end of the year we will have a much better team. All of these guys have an aspiration to play at a higher level. In college, they want to play pro. In the minors, they want to play in the National Hockey League. Our job is to make sure they get better every day.”

Of course, the trick is to figure out how to help them get better. “To me, it’s 20 different answers for 20 different players,” Ferschweiler said. “They all need something different. Some are talented physically and need more on the mental side. Others are very strong mentally, but need more help with their skills.”

Whatever it takes, Ferschweiler doesn’t believe in sugarcoating things. “I think players want honesty,” he said. “Players crave honest feedback, without attacking them, of course. We’re here to get better together. The question is: How can we do it?”

From his perspective, talent alone does not guarantee a golden ticket to the next level. “I believe 100 percent that work ethic is a skill – it’s just like stickhandling, shooting, passing,” Ferschweiler said. “If you don’t have a work ethic, you can develop it. If you don’t develop a work ethic, it’s going to hurt you just like not being a good skater will hurt you.”

Ferschweiler considers himself a teacher, first and foremost. “That’s my background,” he insists.

“I have taught at all levels of hockey, from the youngest kids all the way up. Once you figure out how things work, you can repeat it.”

Blashill thinks the Griffins are getting one of the best teachers in the game. “Pat’s been a coach for a long time,” he said. “He knows how to coach the little nuances of the game and knows how to help guys get better. He’s one of the best skill development guys I’ve been around.”

Prior to joining the Griffins, Noel-Bernier served as an assistant coach for the Muskegon Lumberjacks from 2010-13.

52 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

The fact that the two have worked together previously bodes well for their relationship going forward.

“I have total trust in Pat,” Blashill said. “I could leave the ice and he could coach it. I feel like he would do every bit the same job, if not better, that I would do. We see hockey in the same way. He’s certainly not afraid to tell me things that he wants to do differently, but we don’t look at it from totally different angles.

We know each other really well, and I think we complement each other.”

Although Blashill is less familiar with Noel-Bernier, he is no less confident that the Griffins are getting a great assistant. “Dave played in college and pro; he’s coached a lot at different levels. He’s very, very smart and very hardworking,” Blashill said. “While there will be a bigger learning curve with Dave than Pat, his learning curve will be lessened because of his intelligence and work ethic. He brings lots to the table.”

Growing up in Quebec, Noel-Bernier started going to hockey rinks when he was very young.

2013-2014.pdf 1 9/25/13 While hisGraffiti father, Mario Bernier, enjoyed

1:32 PM

Ferschweiler played six seasons with the IHL’s Kansas City Blades after graduating from Western Michigan University.

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hockey, it was his mother, Jocelyn Noel, who played the sport. A goaltender in an era when there was less opportunity for women, his mother made sure that he got to the rink as much as possible.

“My mom was at the rink with me a lot,” Noel-Bernier recalled. “Every chance she could, she got me out there when I was little. She’d stay and get out on the ice with me. The biggest thing she told me was, ‘Work hard and listen to your coaches.’”

He played college hockey at the University of Nebraska-Omaha (UNO), becoming a member of the school’s inaugural Division I team in 1997 and their first CCHA squad in 1999. He spent three seasons as a teammate of current Griffins captain Jeff Hoggan.

Noel-Bernier, who graduated magna cum laude with a degree in exercise science in 2001, started thinking about a future in coaching while at UNO. “I’ve always been very passionate about the sport of hockey, so I knew I wanted to coach eventually.”

His two stints with the Muskegon Fury came under the tutelage of two former Griffins.

Current Oklahoma City Barons head coach Todd Nelson coached the United Hockey League team to the Colonial Cup championship in 2004; Bruce Ramsay was the head coach of the Fury during Noel-Bernier’s final pro season in 2006-07.

“I enjoyed playing for both of them,” said Noel-Bernier, who also played three seasons of pro hockey in Germany. “They were completely different.

“Nellie taught me to be patient. We were an older team when I got there and I was a younger guy who liked to go-go-go, and he taught me how to slow things down a bit. Ramsay was more heart. He was all about playing extremely hard.

That’s what he demanded of his players.”

When he decided to become a coach himself, Noel-Bernier wasn’t sure where he would focus his attention. “With my background in strength and conditioning, I wasn’t sure if it was going to be in the weight room or on the ice. I got to

t

“Dave played in college and pro; he’s coached a lot at different levels. He’s very, very smart and very hardworking.” - Jeff Blashill

54 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

t

“He (Pat) knows how to coach the little nuances of the game and knows how to help guys get better.”- Jeff Blashill

do both when I started, but I really like being behind the bench.”

Upon retiring as a player, Noel-Bernier returned to UNO and served as director of hockey operations from 2007-10, while also acting as their video coordinator and assistant strength and conditioning coach. After three seasons coaching in Omaha, he accepted a position as an assistant coach with the Muskegon Lumberjacks.

Noel-Bernier, who spent parts of three seasons (2010-13) with the Lumberjacks before joining Grand Rapids Christian High School and the Grand Rapids Blades, has helped to produce more than 15 NHL draft picks and 50 Division I players since 2007.

He takes pride in his ability to communicate with players. “I think being positive is very important,” he said. “I’m an extremely positive guy, and I bring a lot of energy. Being a pro hockey player not that long ago helps. I’ve been through a lot of the things they will encounter.”

Noel-Bernier hopes that Griffins players won’t hesitate to bend his ear.

“I think it’s important to have an open dialogue with your coaches,” he said. “If things are not going the way you want, ask questions.

‘Why am I not playing? What should I be doing?’

We’re coaches. We’re here to help them. We want them to succeed.”

Like Blashill and Ferschweiler, Noel-Bernier believes in the “process:” that all the drills and practices, all the little tips and tricks, everything that is experienced during the course of a long season, are all steps in the process of becoming better individually and, ultimately, better as a team.

“Once you get to the game, your job as a coach is pretty much done,” Noel-Bernier said. “You can manage a game, but it’s the process, all the stuff you do before the game during the week and the previous weeks that really counts.”

While working for the Griffins, the 38-year-old Noel-Bernier will continue developing Grand Rapids Christian and Grand Rapids Blades

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

55

players at the Eagles Ice Center.

“I’ll have a full plate, but this is an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up, working with knowledgeable people at this level,” he said.

“I’ve been fortunate to work under some good coaches, and I can tell you the staff I’m with right now is incredible. I’m learning every day.”

Like Noel-Bernier, Ferschweiler wants to make the most of the opportunity.

“We all have aspirations to get better,” he said.

“I’m a process guy, so I believe you need to keep progressing. In the end, good organizations

find good people. If you do a good enough job, another opportunity will find you.”

Both Ferschweiler and Noel-Bernier believe the Griffins’ coaching staff should be able to gel, given that they all share similar philosophies.

“Chemistry is created from familiarity and continuity, and that comes from really knowing each other and knowing the expectations,” Ferschweiler said. “We need to make sure that when we leave the coaches room, we’re all on the same page.

“We’re all here to get better together.”

Ferschweiler comes to the Griffins from Western Michigan University, where he was an assistant coach and associate head coach.

56 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

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y a D er p p i Tr The AHL’s schedule makers shuffle dates to find a slate that works for 30 teams.

On the surface, a schedule is nothing more than a calendar with a bunch of dates.

In the case of the Griffins’ 2014-15 schedule, it’s a 76-game slate that features 38 home games, including the team’s 18th annual New Year’s Eve celebration and 14th annual Matinee Game.

But then consider there are 30 American Hockey League teams, each with its own requirements and traditional games, and it becomes evident that fitting 1,140 contests into the space of six months is no simple undertaking.

In an era when almost everything is

computerized, the AHL’s hockey operations department still approaches the task in a rather antiquated fashion.

The schedule-making starts with the AHL’s equivalent of a blank canvas: a giant magnetic board hanging on a wall in downtown Springfield, Mass.

The multi-dimensional board, which is nearly six feet long and four feet high, represents a significant amount of time (192 days) and space (hundreds of thousands of highway and air miles). When complete, it becomes the road map Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

59

for 30 teams’ journeys to the Calder Cup. The making of the 2014-15 AHL schedule was a process that took several months.

The AHL’s constitution calls for each member club to submit to the league, in February of the previous season, a list of “primary” and “secondary” dates on which their team will be available to play at home, along with “blackout” dates when playing at home is not possible because of other events in their arena.

In the spring, the AHL confirms for each team a list of guaranteed dates for the upcoming season -- dates on which the team is assured of playing a home game, albeit without a specific opponent just yet. This allows clubs to begin making preparations and drumming up interest in the coming year.

Last June, for example, the Griffins announced eight guaranteed home dates for the 2014-15 season, including their home opener on Oct. 10 at Van Andel Arena.

Once a schedule format (who plays whom, and how often) is designed by and approved by the AHL’s Board of Governors, the schedule truly begins to take shape.

The schedule board hangs on one full wall in the office of Michael Murray, the AHL’s vice president of hockey operations. He and Melissa Caruso, the league’s director of hockey administration, are charged with transforming the board from its blank starting point to a collage of markers representing the 2014-15 slate.

Creating the schedule is a tedious process, not unlike putting together a 5,760-piece jigsaw puzzle without a picture on the box from which to work. Although computerized scheduling programs have been considered in the past, the manual process continues to produce the best results.

The league’s teams are identified on the big board by magnets of different shapes and colors: green triangle, yellow square, black star, red circle. Each team also gets a cup filled with 38 magnets, one representing each of its home opponents as prescribed by the schedule format.

The teams are lined up on the board from top to bottom by division, with dates stretching from left to right. What results is essentially a 192-by30 framework: 5,760 blank spaces in which to fill a total of 1,140 games.

From there, the hockey operations department works essentially non-stop to fill in the holes on the board.

Care must always be given to logistics and travel considerations. Obviously, a team can’t be scheduled at home and on the road on the same night. The schedule modification plan introduced in 2011, in the interest of player safety and the quality of competition, means teams are not permitted to be scheduled for four games in a five-night span.

Trips to St. John’s, Texas/San Antonio/ Oklahoma City, the Midwest or New England continued on page 62

During the process of schedule making, the AHL board is a mishmash of magnetic colors and shapes.

60 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

Overtime Changes Highlight New AHL Rules

With new overtime rules for 2014-15, shootouts like this one from last season’s outdoor game at Comerica Park might be less frequent.

Four days of meetings in mid-July prompted several rule changes which are being implemented during the 2014-15 season.

The AHL’s Board of Governors concluded its annual meeting with a complete revamp of the extra session that follows any regular season game that ends in a tied score.

The sudden-death overtime period is now seven minutes (7:00) in length and will be preceded by a “dry scrape” of the entire ice surface.

In addition: • Teams will change ends at the start of overtime.

• Full playing strength will be 4-on-4 until the first whistle following three minutes of play (4:00 remaining), at which time full strength will be reduced to 3-on-3 for the duration of the overtime period.

• If the game is still tied following overtime, a winner will be be determined by a threeplayer shootout.

Playoff games will still be decided by sudden death, with play continuing until one team scores.

In a further attempt to discourage fighting, the AHL has adopted a revised rule for major penalties.

Rule 20.4 states that an automatic game misconduct will be applied to any player who has been assessed two major penalties for fighting or three major penalties for any infraction in the same game. A game misconduct penalty requires the immediate suspension of a player for the balance of the game.

Another rule change was implemented in the interest of player safety.

Rule 9.6 states that any player on the ice whose helmet comes off during play will be assessed a minor penalty unless he immediately (a) exits the playing surface or (b) puts the helmet back on with the chin strap properly fastened.

The new rule will force players to securely use their chin straps and will eliminate the possibility of any player staying on the ice during play without having a protective helmet in place.

“With the full support of the league’s Competition Committee and Player Development Committee, the Board has approved these changes with the betterment of our game and the safety of our players in mind,” said David Andrews, AHL president and CEO. Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

61

call for multiple games in one stretch for visiting teams from outside the region. The annual Christmas and All-Star breaks must be kept clear of games. And all the while, the schedule makers have to factor in travel considerations (long overnight bus trips, day-of-game flights, border crossings, etc.) and other special circumstances, like “school-day” matinees or off-site games like outdoor contests or games played in NHL arenas.

The last pieces of the puzzle cannot be put in place until the National Basketball Association finalizes its own schedule. That’s because four AHL teams – the Charlotte Checkers, the Milwaukee Admirals, the San Antonio Rampage and the Lake Erie Monsters – share arenas with NBA teams that generally receive priority on dates in their buildings. Because those four teams are all in the AHL’s Western Conference, most of the Eastern schedule can be penciled in earlier, but the NBA’s schedule release signals the beginning of the end of the process.

All AHL teams are part of the scheduling process throughout, receiving drafts and providing guidance and feedback to help ensure everyone’s schedule is as ideal as possible.

While there’s no pleasing everybody, procedures are in place to resolve potential issues.

Once all the magnets are in position, the board is transcribed into an electronic spreadsheet — creating one master schedule and 30 individual team schedules — and the proofreading begins.

Each club receives a copy of its draft and may request changes with the mutual consent of all other teams involved, either swapping opponents on two or more dates or moving dates altogether.

Teams also determine the start times for all of their home games, although early starts against a visiting opponent that played the previous night must get approval.

After requested changes are approved by the AHL and incorporated into the schedule, the master schedule is ready for approval by the Board of Governors. Once it’s been officially ratified, teams are notified of the approved schedule and its release is made available to the public – the final step in a long, arduous process.

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RECORD BOOK AND LEADERS

Games Played

2013-14:

Adam Almquist........................ 73

ALL-TIME: Travis Richards....................... 655 ACTIVE LEADER: Landon Ferraro (29th)............ 200 SINGLE-SEASON: 5 players tied......................... *82

MICHEL PICARD

Goals Michel Picard............................158 Landon Ferraro (T20th)...............48 Donald MacLean (2005-06)......*56 Teemu Pulkkinen........................31

NATHAN PAETSCH

Points

2013-14:

Teemu Pulkkinen..................... 59

ALL-TIME: Michel Picard......................... 380 ACTIVE LEADER: Landon Ferraro (28th).............. 98 SINGLE-SEASON: Michel Picard (1996-97)........ 101

Plus/Minus Travis Richards ..................... +131 Nathan Paetsch (T15th).......... +31 Ivan Ciernik (2000-01)...........*+41 Mitch Callahan........................ +23

Goalie Games Played

Goals Against Average Martin Prusek..........................1.83 Petr Mrazek (5th).....................2.23 Martin Prusek (2001-02)........*1.83

2013-14: Tom McCollum......................... 46 Petr Mrazek..............................2.10

ALL-TIME: Joey MacDonald.................... 210 ACTIVE LEADER: Tom McCollum (3rd).............. 159 SINGLE-SEASON: Joey MacDonald (2004-05).... *66

JOEY MacDONALD

ALL-TIME: ACTIVE LEADER: SINGLE-SEASON: 2013-14:

Shutouts Joey MacDonald....................... 20 Tom McCollum (7th).................. 5 5 players tied............................. 6 Petr Mrazek................................ 3

PETR MRAZEK Saves Joey MacDonald.....................5,362 Tom McCollum (3rd)...............3,886 Joey MacDonald (2004-05)....1,785 Tom McCollum.......................1,158

Assists Michel Picard.................................. 222 Nathan Paetsch (T38th).................... 54 Jiri Hudler (2005-06)........................ 60 Adam Almquist................................ 49

DARRYL BOOTLAND Penalty Minutes Darryl Bootland............................1,164 Brennan Evans (18th)..................... 259 Darryl Bootland (2005-06)............. 390 Brennan Evans................................ 111 Wins Joey MacDonald............................. 109 Tom McCollum (3rd)......................... 69 Joey MacDonald (2004-05).............. 34 Mike Fountain (2000-01).................*34 Tom McCollum.................................. 24

MARTIN PRUSEK Save Percentage Martin Prusek...............................0.930 Petr Mrazek (T4th).......................0.919 Joey MacDonald (2003-04)..........0.936 Petr Mrazek..................................0.924

* Led League

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

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

2014 AHL All-Star Alexey Marchenko Photo by Jeff Parsons/AHL

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

2011 AHL All-Star Ilari Filppula

Photo by JustSports Photography/AHL

GRIFFINS ALL-STARS 1996-97 1997-98 1998-99 1999-00

2000-01

2001-02

2002-03 2003-04

2004-05 2005-06

2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14

2013 AHL All-Star Petr Mrazek Jeff Nelson, Michel Picard, Pokey Reddick Photo by Alan Sullivan/AHL 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, Bruce Cassidy (co-coach) Chris Bala, John Gruden, Kip Miller, Martin Prusek, Petr Schastlivy, Bruce Cassidy (head coach), Gene Reilly (asst. coach) Marc Lamothe, Mark Mowers Jiri Hudler, Niklas Kronwall, Travis Richards, Nathan Robinson Niklas Kronwall, Joey MacDonald Valtteri Filppula, Jiri Hudler, Donald MacLean Derek Meech, Kip Miller Jonathan Ericsson, Jimmy Howard Jakub Kindl, Daniel Larsson Patrick Rissmiller 2012 AHL All-Star Gustav Nyquist Ilari Filppula, Brendan Smith Photo by PhotoGraphics Photography/AHL Gustav Nyquist Chad Billins, Petr Mrazek, Gustav Nyquist Alexey Marchenko, Jeff Blashill (head coach)

2010 AHL All-Star Patrick Rissmiller

Photo by Sports Action Photography/AHL

2009 AHL All-Star Jakub Kindl

Photo by JustSports Photography/AHL

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74 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

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Sports Medicine Institute

Official Orthopaedic Physicians of the

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

Grand Rapids Griffins Since Game 1.

Thomas M. Matelic, M.D.

Excellent medicine. Personalized care.

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

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

IT A

GRIFFINS IN THE NHL

LL STARTS HERE

Since their inception in 1996, the Griffins have sent 145 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 seven years and in seven of the last 10 seasons.

In chronological order, here are the 20 goalies and 125 skaters who have worn an NHL sweater after playing for Grand Rapids, along with the dates of their NHL debuts/returns.

1................Pavol Demitra...............................................3/17/97 STL at PHX 2................Kevyn Adams............................................. 10/1/97 TOR vs. WSH 3................Tyler Moss....................................................10/28/97 CGY vs. PIT 4................Michel Picard........................................................1/6/98 STL at SJ 5................Jeff Nelson................................................ 10/10/98 NSH vs. FLA 6................Patrick Traverse........................................10/10/98 OTT at COL 7................Mark Greig.........................................................1/7/99 PHI vs. NYI 8................Radim Bicanek..............................................2/1/99 OTT at VAN 9................Robert Petrovicky...........................................2/15/99 TB at NYI 10.............Andrei Vasilyev.............................................3/5/99 PHX vs. DET 11.............Todd Hlushko...................................................4/25/99 PIT vs. NJ 12.............Patrick Lalime...............................................10/2/99 OTT at PHI 13.............Glen Metropolit.........................................10/2/99 WSH at FLA 14.............Kevin Miller.................................................10/31/99 OTT at ATL 15.............Karel Rachunek.........................................10/31/99 OTT at ATL 16.............Erich Goldmann....................................11/11/99 OTT vs. NSH

KEVYN ADAMS, 2006 CAROLINA

76 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

17.............Yves Sarault................................................... 11/20/99 OTT at NJ 18.............John Gruden.............................................11/30/99 OTT vs. CHI 19.............Mike Fountain................................................12/3/99 OTT at NJ 20.............Dave Van Drunen...................................12/13/99 OTT at TOR 21.............Petr Schastlivy..................................................1/3/00 OTT vs. NJ 22.............John Emmons..............................................1/6/00 OTT vs. PHX 23.............Slava Butsayev............................................1/28/00 OTT at BUF 24.............Aris Brimanis..................................................2/13/00 NYI at NYR 25.............Dieter Kochan...............................................3/28/00 TB vs. DAL 26.............Jani Hurme.........................................................4/9/00 OTT vs. TB 27.............Shane Hnidy................................................10/5/00 OTT at BOS 28.............Donald MacLean...................................10/14/00 TOR vs. OTT 29.............David Oliver................................................. 11/4/00 OTT vs. CBJ 30.............Jamie Rivers.............................................. 11/12/00 OTT at CAR 31.............Sean Gagnon............................................11/26/00 OTT at NYR 32.............Joel Bouchard..........................................11/29/00 PHX at COL 33.............Mike Crowley.............................................12/8/00 ANA at MIN 34.............Ivan Ciernik....................................................1/23/01 OTT at NYI 35.............Darren Rumble.................................................2/6/01 STL at COL 36.............Joel Kwiatkowski.......................................2/19/01 OTT at BUF 37.............Todd White....................................................2/19/01 OTT at BUF 38..........Chris Neil....................................... 10/3/01 OTT at TOR 39.............Toni Dahlman..............................................1/3/02 OTT vs. WSH 40.............Steve Martins...............................................1/11/02 OTT at FLA 41.............Kip Miller...............................................................1/17/02 NYI at SJ 42.............Jody Hull...............................................................2/4/02 OTT at TB 43.............Dmitry Afanasenkov.........................................2/6/02 TB at FLA 44.............Simon Lajeunesse............................................3/7/02 OTT at SJ 45.............Martin Prusek.............................................3/23/02 OTT vs. ATL 46.............Chris Bala.........................................................3/27/02 OTT at NYI 47.............Neil Little..........................................................3/28/02 PHI at CAR 48.............Josh Langfeld................................................3/30/02 OTT vs. TB 49.............Gaetan Royer....................................................4/1/02 TB vs. NYR 50..........Jason Spezza..............................10/24/02 OTT at BOS 51.............Sean Avery....................................................10/29/02 DET vs. SJ 52.............Jason Doig......................................................12/3/02 WSH at PIT 53.............Jason Williams............................................12/5/02 DET at PHX

NIKLAS KRONWALL, 2008 DETROIT

54.............Patrick Boileau........................................12/19/02 DET vs. DAL 55.............Stacy Roest.................................................2/20/03 DET vs. EDM 56.............Wade Brookbank................................... 10/9/03 NSH vs. ANA 57.............Julien Vauclair..........................................10/25/03 OTT at MTL 58..........Jiri Hudler.....................................10/29/03 DET vs. STL 59.............Curtis Joseph...........................................10/30/03 DET at NSH 60.............Darryl Bootland........................................11/8/03 DET vs. NSH 61.............Mark Mowers............................................11/19/03 DET vs. CBJ 62.............Nathan Robinson...................................11/28/03 DET vs. NYI 63.............Blake Sloan.......................................................12/4/03 DAL at LA 64..........Niklas Kronwall........................... 12/10/03 DET at BUF 65.............Ryan Barnes..............................................12/15/03 DET vs. FLA 66..........Chris Kelly........................................ 2/5/04 OTT vs. TOR 67.............Marc Lamothe...........................................2/23/04 DET at EDM 68.............Anders Myrvold........................................2/26/04 DET at CGY 69.............Mathieu Chouinard...................................2/29/04 LA at ANA 70.............Brett Lebda......................................................10/5/05 DET vs. STL 71.............Mark Eaton........................................................10/5/05 NSH vs. SJ 72.............Chris Osgood................................................10/29/05 DET at CHI 73..........Kyle Quincey.............................11/25/05 DET at ANA 74..........Jimmy Howard.............................11/28/05 DET at LA 75..........Valtteri Filppula............................12/15/05 DET at FLA 76.............Rob Collins.................................................12/17/05 NYI vs. COL 77.............Manny Legace................................................1/5/06 DET vs. STL 78.............David Gove..................................................1/31/06 CAR at MTL 79..........Tomas Kopecky.................................2/28/06 DET at SJ 80.............Alexandre Giroux.........................................3/25/06 NYR at TB 81..........Joey MacDonald...........................10/19/06 DET at SJ 82.............Derek Meech...................................................12/7/06 DET vs. STL 83..........Matt Ellis......................................12/18/06 DET at CBJ 84.............Matt Hussey...................................................1/26/07 DET at STL 85..........Sheldon Brookbank..........................2/6/07 NSH at PIT 86.............Danny Syvret...........................................2/27/07 EDM vs. PHX 87.............Mark Hartigan............................................ 11/29/07 DET vs. TB 88..........Drew MacIntyre............................ 12/13/07 VAN at SJ 89.............Peter Vandermeer..................................2/10/08 PHX vs. NSH 90..........Jonathan Ericsson....................... 2/22/08 DET at CGY 91.............Garrett Stafford.......................................... 2/23/08 DET at VAN 92..........Darren Helm................................. 3/13/08 DET vs. DAL 93.............Mattias Ritola.............................................3/15/08 DET vs. NSH 94.............Clay Wilson....................................................3/25/08 CBJ at NSH 95.............Darren McCarty............................................3/28/08 DET vs. STL 96.............Krys Kolanos.....................................................11/4/08 MIN at SJ 97.............Landon Wilson......................................11/22/08 DAL vs. ANA 98.............Bryan Helmer........................................ 11/28/08 WSH vs. MTL 99.............Chris Chelios .............................................12/13/08 DET at PHX 100..........Aaron Downey.........................................1/29/09 DET vs. DAL 101........Justin Abdelkader...................... 1/31/09 DET at WSH 102........Ville Leino.................................... 1/31/09 DET at WSH

103..........Aaron Gagnon.......................................10/16/09 DAL vs. BOS 104..........Scott Parse.....................................................10/24/09 LA at PHX 105..........Doug Janik..................................................11/3/09 DET vs. BOS 106...........Ryan Keller..................................................... 11/25/09 OTT at NJ 107........Jakub Kindl.................................12/3/09 DET vs. EDM 108........Kris Newbury............................12/14/09 DET vs. PHX 109...........Darren Haydar............................................2/10/10 COL vs. ATL 110..........Andreas Lilja...................................................3/1/10 DET at COL 111...........Jeremy Williams.........................................10/24/10 NYR vs. NJ 112..........Jan Mursak.................................................12/27/10 DET at COL 113.......Chris Mueller............................12/28/10 NSH vs. DAL 114........Tomas Tatar................................12/31/10 DET vs. NYI 115........Cory Emmerton........................... 1/22/11 DET vs. CHI 116...........Patrick Rissmiller.........................................2/23/11 ATL at BUF 117 ..........Tom McCollum ..........................................3/30/11 DET vs. STL 118 .......Gustav Nyquist ..........................11/1/11 DET vs. MIN 119 ...........Fabian Brunnstrom........................................11/5/11 DET vs. ANA 120 ........Brendan Smith..............................11/17/11 DET at SJ 121.........Mark Cullen.................................11/29/11 FLA at CAR 122........Chris Conner................................ 12/2/11 DET at BUF 123........Joakim Andersson....................12/27/11 DET vs. STL 124........Ty Conklin .....................................3/21/12 DET at NYR 125.......Riley Sheahan.................................4/7/12 DET vs. CHI 126........Brian Lashoff................................. 1/21/13 DET at CBJ 127..........Mike Knuble...................................................1/26/13 PHI at FLA 128..........Jamie Tardif.....................................................2/2/13 BOS at TOR 129........Petr Mrazek .....................................2/7/13 DET at STL 130....... Jonas Gustavsson.......................2/19/13 DET at NSH 131.......Carlo Colaiacovo...........................4/1/13 DET vs. COL 132.......Danny DeKeyser.........................10/2/13 DET vs. BUF 133.......Luke Glendening.......................10/12/13 DET vs. PHI 134.......Xavier Ouellet...............................10/21/13 DET vs. SJ 135.......Adam Almquist ..........................11/4/13 DET at WPG 136.......Chad Billins...................................11/5/13 CGY at MIN 137.......Patrick Eaves...............................12/14/13 DET vs. PIT 138.......Tomas Jurco.................................12/15/13 DET vs. TB 139.......Jordin Tootoo............................12/19/13 DET vs. CGY 140.......Alexey Marchenko.........................1/4/14 DET at DAL 141.......Teemu Pulkkinen .....................3/14/14 DET vs. EDM 142.......Landon Ferraro........................... 3/18/14 DET vs. TOR 143.......Calle Jarnkrok..............................3/21/14 NSH at CGY 144.......Mitch Callahan.............................. 3/25/14 DET at CBJ 145.......Ryan Sproul................................... 4/13/14 DET at STL Bold = Played in the NHL during the 2013-14 season.

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

All photos by Getty Images except Niklas Kronwall (Dave Reginek).

SHELDON BROOKBANK, 2013 CHICAGO

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

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78 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

‘‘

KIDS

‘‘

WHAT’S IN A NAME? William Shakespeare

Almost every hockey player has a nickname, from Tommy Boy (Tom McCollum) and Nesty (Andrej Nestrasil) to Soups (Colin Campbell) and even Two Dogs (Jeff Hoggan). All of the cities around the American Hockey League have nicknames, too. Try to match each market with its correct moniker.

Good luck!

NICKNAMES

PAGE AHL CITIES

1. Alamo City 2. Hometown USA 3. Park City 4. Brew City 5. Hogtown 6. Forest City 7. Cradle of the Union 8. Insurance City 9. Windy City 10. Flower City 11. City of Legends 12. City of Seven Hills 13. Hartford of the West 14. The Big Friendly 15. Band City USA 16. Beer City USA 17. Hornet’s Nest 18. Handshake City 19. Chocolate Town 20. Birthplace to Basketball 21. Steeltown 22. Bat City 23. Salt City 24. Queen City 25. Diamond City 26. City of Gardens 27. America’s North Coast 28. Tree City 29. Carousel Capital of the World 30. Beehive of Industry

Albany, NY Allentown, PA (Lehigh Valley) Austin, TX (Texas) Binghamton, NY Bridgeport, CT Charlotte, NC Chicago, IL Cleveland, OH (Lake Erie) Des Moines, IA (Iowa) Glens Falls, NY (Adirondack) Grand Rapids, MI Hamilton, ON Hartford, CT Hershey, PA Manchester, NH Milwaukee, WI Norfolk, VA Oklahoma City, OK Portland, ME Providence, RI Rochester, NY Rockford, IL San Antonio, TX Springfield, MA St. John’s, NL Syracuse, NY Toronto, ON Utica, NY Wilkes-Barre, PA Worcester, MA

UTICA, NY

ALLENTOWN, PA

ROCKFORD, IL

HAMILTON, ON

SAN ANTONIO, TX

CLEVELAND, OH

HERSHEY, PA

AUSTIN, TX

BINGHAMTON, NY

SPRINGFIELD, MA

1. San Antonio 2. Glens Falls 3. Bridgeport 4. Milwaukee 5. Toronto 6. Portland

7. Albany 8. Hartford 9. Chicago 10. Rochester 11. St. John’s 12. Worcester

ANSWERS

13. Des Moines 14. Oklahoma City 15. Allentown 16. Grand Rapids 17. Charlotte 18. Utica

19. Hershey 20. Springfield 21. Hamilton 22. Austin 23. Syracuse 24. Manchester

25. Wilkes-Barre 26. Rockford 27. Cleveland 28. Norfolk 29. Binghamton 30. Providence

Join the Griffins Kids Club! See page 37 for details.

Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

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PARTING SHOT

There aren’t many AHL teams that can match the experience of Hall of Fame defenseman Chris Chelios (foregound) and Kentwood native Mike Knuble, who provide an invaluable service to the Griffins in their supporting roles. The pair combined to play 42 seasons in the NHL, logging a total of 2,719 games and winning four Stanley Cups.

Photo by Mark Newman 80 Grand Rapids GRIFFINS

CADILLAC CHARLEVOIX CHICAGO GRAND RAPIDS MARQUETTE NEGAUNEE TRAVERSE CITY

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