AHL American Hockey League

Griffins Rolling in Hockeytown West

Published on November 25, 2002 under American Hockey League (AHL) News Release


SPRINGFIELD, MA ... A new affiliation, a new division and some new faces haven't changed the winning ways in Grand Rapids, where the Griffins enter the last week of November riding a 13-game unbeaten streak (10-0-3-0).

The 2002-03 season brought a wave of change to western Michigan, beginning with a new affiliation agreement with their in-state neighbors, the defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings. Rookie head coach Danton Cole, a Pontiac, Mich., native who played for the Griffins as well as Michigan State, was hired to replace Bruce Cassidy, who now resides behind the Washington Capitals bench. Former Calder Cup champion Todd Nelson was tapped to be an assistant coach, and Derek King and his 830 games of NHL experience were brought in to serve as a player/assistant.

Detroit's system already boasted an impressive roster of young talent. Center Sean Avery and goaltender Joey MacDonald have already donned a Red Wings sweater this season. Defenseman Danny Groulx registered 151 points in 90 regular-season and playoff games in junior last year, and was MVP of the Memorial Cup tournament. Tomas Kopecky was the Wings' second-round pick in the 2000 draft, and Michigan State alum Bryan Adams was a member of Chicago's Calder Cup championship team in 2002.

The Red Wings also made some free-agent signings to bolster the Griffins. Stacy Roest is a former 92-point scorer in the AHL. Michel Picard is one of 63 players in AHL history to record 500 career points, and he currently shares the team scoring lead (22 points) with former Hobey Baker Award finalist Mark Mowers. Veterans Patrick Boileau and Ed Campbell anchor a defense that has allowed 2.28 goals per game, second-fewest in the league. And goaltender Marc Lamothe is 8-1-4 on the season and hasn't lost in his last 12 decisions.

The Griffins' success has truly been a team effort. Eleven different players have accounted for the team's 11 game-winning goals on the year, and captain Travis Richards, plus-minus leader Dave Van Drunen and rookie Rob Collins out of nearby Ferris State have all scored overtime goals during the current streak. Grand Rapids is 6-0 in one-goal games and 3-0-4 in OT on the year.

Grand Rapids won the West Division as the top affiliate of the Ottawa Senators in 2001-02, and currently leads the Central Division by eight points with an overall record of 11-3-4-0. The Griffins put their streak on the line Wednesday when they begin a five-game road trip in Hershey, and then spend Thanksgiving with some old friends, visiting a Binghamton Senators team littered with ex-teammates on Thursday.

BEARS TO HONOR KELLER ... The Hershey Bears will pay tribute to former defenseman Ralph Keller on Sunday, December 1, when they host the Bridgeport Sound Tigers at the Giant Center.

Keller's name will be added to the previously retired number 3 jersey of Frank Mathers. Keller played 839 career AHL games and spent his final 11 seasons with the Bears, winning Calder Cup championships in 1969 and 1974.

Former AHL broadcaster Mike Emrick will serve as master of ceremonies.

A SZUPER IDEA ... Saint John Flames goaltender Levente Szuper has announced a partnership with Baxter Foods to launch the "Szuper Kids" program, recognizing extraordinary effort or talent among local elementary school students in the areas of music, art, speech and drama.

Each participating school will be able to nominate a student in grades 1 through 5, and each nominated student will receive two tickets to a Flames game and two liters of Baxter milk.

Szuper, a successful young actor while growing up in Hungary, will attend school plays and visit classes as part of the program.

OFF THE ICE ... Members of the San Antonio Rampage will deliver Meals on Wheels to local families on Wednesday afternoon... Grand Rapids goaltender Marc Lamothe will donate $1 from every save he makes this season to the American Cancer Society; the Fox Motor Group will match Lamothe's donation... Patrons at Max & Erma's in Woodridge, Ill., were waited on by members of the Chicago Wolves at the "Get Fed by the Wolves" event to benefit Special Olympics... Manitoba raised over $12,000 for the team's Yearling Foundation at their annual Tip-a-Moose dinner on Tuesday night... The Philadelphia Phantoms Wives Charity Foundation raised $1,470 at their annual bachelor auction on Nov. 15, with rookie Wade Skolney bringing in the high bid at $425.

ETC. ... Syracuse netminder Karl Goehring has posted four shutouts in his last five games (5-0-0, 0.20, .993), and has allowed just one goal in his last 320:18 of work... Ray Emery, the Goaltender of the Year in the Canadian Hockey League last season, posted back-to-back shutouts for Binghamton over division leaders Norfolk and Hamilton last week... The Bulldogs' Jason Ward had an 11-game point streak (8+9=17) snapped on Saturday... On Ken Gernander Bobblehead Night on Saturday, the Hartford captain recorded two goals and two assists to lead the Wolf Pack to a 9-4 win over Springfield... Peter White's overtime goal capped his first hat trick since Dec. 18, 1996, and gave Philadelphia a 6-5 victory over Milwaukee on Friday... With four goals and two assists, Saint John rookie Matt Lombardi chipped in with a point on all six Flames goals in a pair of losses at Manitoba over the weekend... Houston center Rickard Wallin totaled seven points in back-to-back games against Hartford and Cleveland last week... Rick DiPietro, 7-0-4 in his last 11 starts, dressed for two games on Saturday, serving as the back-up for the New York Islanders in their matinee against the New York Rangers, and then doing the same for Bridgeport that evening against Philadelphia... Lowell allowed 13 goals in two losses to Manchester last week, and was shut out for the third time in as many meetings with Portland on Sunday... Utah is 5-0-0-1 in its last six games... Milwaukee is 8-1-0-1 against West Division opponents this season; the Admirals were 14-24-7-3 against the West a year ago... Hershey is 5-0-2 in its last seven at the new Giant Center.

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American Hockey League Stories from November 25, 2002


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