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AHL Grand Rapids Griffins

Coetzee, Ouellet and Sproul Assigned to Griffins

April 17, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Detroit Red Wings on Thursday assigned right wing Willie Coetzee and defensemen Xavier Ouellet and Ryan Sproul to the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Ouellet, 20, has skated in 68 games with Grand Rapids this season, netting 16 points (4-12 - 16), a plus-three rating and 22 penalty minutes. The 6-foot, 200-pound blueliner has also suited up in four games with Detroit, registering four shots and two PIM. Detroit's second choice (48th overall) in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Ouellet made his NHL debut with the Wings on Oct. 21 versus the San Jose Sharks.

Sproul, 21, became the 145th Griffins alumnus to play in the NHL when he made his debut with Detroit on April 13, registering three shots and 18:25 of ice time. A native of Toronto, Ontario, Sproul has potted 31 points (10-21 - 31) and 49 PIM in 71 appearances with the Griffins this season and ties for second in scoring among Grand Rapids defensemen. On April 9, Sproul was named to the 2013-14 AHL All-Rookie Team along with teammate Teemu Pulkkinen.

Coetzee, 23, returns to the Griffins following a season-long injury. A native of Johannesburg, South Africa, Coetzee has accumulated 27 points (11-16 - 27) in 89 career AHL games with Grand Rapids since 2009. In his 2012-13 campaign, the 5-foot-10, 185-pound right wing played in 64 games with the ECHL's Toledo Walleye, leading the team in scoring with 68 points (28-40 - 68). In 100 career games with the Walleye, he has recorded 88 points (37-51 - 88) and 26 penalty minutes.

The Griffins will return to Van Andel Arena on Friday to battle the Lake Erie Monsters in their regular season home finale, before closing out the campaign with a rematch against the Monsters at Quicken Loans Arena on Saturday. Both games will begin at 7 p.m.

Fans can secure their full-season, select-season or group ticket packages by calling (616) 774-4585 ext. 2. Single-game tickets for all home games are now available for purchase at all Star Tickets locations, including The Zone, online through griffinshockey.com, or by phone through Star Tickets at (800) 585-3737.

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