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AHL Grand Rapids Griffins

Helmer, Manlow headline Motor City quartet

July 22, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


Grand Rapids, Mich. – The Detroit Red Wings, NHL affiliate of the Grand Rapids Griffins, have announced the signings of centers Eric Himelfarb and Eric Manlow and defensemen Bryan Helmer and Brett Lebda. Each could play for the American Hockey League club during the 2004-05 season.

Helmer, 32, split last season between the NHL's Phoenix Coyotes and the AHL's Springfield Falcons. After missing four months due to a shoulder injury, he returned to log 17 games with Phoenix and register seven points (1-6—7) in nine appearances for Springfield. A 1998 First Team AHL All-Star with Albany, Helmer has scored 324 points (82-242—324) in 552 AHL contests over his 11-year career. He has also earned ice time in the NHL during each of the last six seasons, totaling 23 points (8-15—23) in 134 games with Phoenix, St. Louis and Vancouver.

The 29-year-old Manlow played the last two seasons in the New York Islanders organization. In just 40 games with the AHL's Bridgeport Sound Tigers in 2003-04, he led the club with 27 assists, tied for third with 35 points (8-27—35), and shared second with a plus-15 rating. That served as an encore for a 2002-03 campaign in which he ranked second on the team with 59 points (19-40—59) and 40 assists in 62 games. Manlow, who contributed two assists in 18 games with the Islanders last season, has totaled six points (2-4—6) in 37 NHL contests over the last four seasons, while compiling 254 points (79-175—254) in 314 AHL games since 1996.

Himelfarb and Lebda each made his professional debut with the Griffins during the final weeks of the 2003-04 regular season. Himelfarb, 21, made immediate offensive contributions, recording his first professional goal on his first shot in his March 31 debut versus Milwaukee, and finishing with five points (2-3—5) in seven games. He also notched three assists in four playoff appearances. Prior to joining Grand Rapids, Himelfarb completed his stellar junior career with Kingston of the Ontario Hockey League, pacing the Frontenacs and ranking among the league leaders with 37 goals (T8th in OHL), 70 assists (2nd) and 107 points (4th) in 67 games. During his five OHL seasons, he led his team in scoring three times while finishing third on two other occasions.

Lebda, 22, contributed one assist in six regular season games for the Griffins, before appearing in each of the team's four playoff contests. He spent the majority of last season at Notre Dame, earning Second Team All-CCHA mention as a senior. A finalist for the league's top offensive defenseman award after posting 24 points (6-18—24) in 39 games, Lebda helped lead the Fighting Irish to their first-ever NCAA tournament appearance, a 5-2 loss to Minnesota on March 27 at Van Andel Arena.

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