Sports stats

AHL Grand Rapids Griffins

"Mr. Griffin" Returns for Seventh Season

August 1, 2002 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


Grand Rapids, MI - The Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League on Thursday re-signed defensemen Travis Richards, Dave Van Drunen and Sheldon Brookbank.

The 32-year-old Richards spent each of the last six seasons in a Griffins uniform, after becoming the second player and first American-born player to sign with the franchise on July 26, 1996. The Minnesota native has played in 458 of the 490 regular season games in team history and is the only player to have appeared in each of the Griffins' 40 playoff contests.

Richards, who has played nearly twice as many regular season games in a Griffins uniform than the next closest player (Todd Nelson - 236), can be found among the team's all-time leaders in almost every statistical category. His plus-91 rating ranks first, his 21 power play goals tie for the lead with Michel Picard, and his 132 assists place second, one behind Picard. In addition, Richards stands among Grand Rapids' best with 179 points (2nd), 362 penalty minutes (6th) and 47 goals (7th).

During the 2001-02 season, Richards placed third on the Griffins with 23 assists and tied for the scoring lead among defensemen with 29 points in 72 outings. He enjoyed his best campaign in 2000-01, notching a career-high 35 points, setting a franchise record for defensemen with 30 assists, and posting a plus-38 rating that led all International Hockey League blueliners. Though a mid-season injury forced him to miss a starting assignment in the 2001 IHL All-Star Game, Richards recovered to earn Second Team IHL All-Star honors at year's end.

Richards has played nearly his entire career in West Michigan. After representing the United States at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway, the former Minnesota Golden Gopher made his pro debut with the Kalamazoo Wings late in the 1993-94 season. He stayed with the Wings through the 1995-96 campaign, appearing in three NHL games with the parent Dallas Stars. In all, Richards has played 608 contests over the last nine seasons, registering 234 points (61-173-234) and 492 penalty minutes.

Van Drunen, 26, has been a steady contributor to the last three Griffins teams that reached the IHL Turner Cup finals (1999-00), won the IHL's final regular season championship (2000-01) and claimed the AHL's inaugural West Division title (2001-02). After splitting time between Grand Rapids and its East Coast Hockey League affiliate in Mobile from 1999-2001, Van Drunen spent nearly the entire 2001-02 campaign with the Griffins, collecting four points (2-2-4) and 56 penalty minutes in 48 games.

In 120 career games in Grand Rapids, Van Drunen has totaled 17 points (4-13-17) and 156 penalty minutes to accompany a sparkling plus-35 rating that stands eighth all-time on the team. After playing for seven teams in four minor leagues during his first two professional seasons (1997-99), he was summoned from the Griffins and made his NHL debut with the Ottawa Senators on December 13, 1999.

Van Drunen has appeared in 328 pro games during his five-year career, scoring 109 points (23-86-109) with 547 penalty minutes. He has twice been chosen to play in the ECHL All-Star Game, participating in 1998 but missing the 2001 event while on recall to Grand Rapids.

Brookbank, 21, originally signed a professional tryout with the Griffins on March 15, 2002. He appeared in six games with Grand Rapids last season, compiling one assist and 24 penalty minutes. With older brother and former Griffins defenseman Wade Brookbank, they became the third pair of brothers to play for the Griffins simultaneously. Todd and Jeff Nelson skated for Grand Rapids during its inaugural 1996-97 season, while Kevin and Kelly Miller played together during the 1999-2000 campaign.

The 6'2", 200-pound Brookbank made his pro debut last season with the ECHL's Mississippi Sea Wolves, recording 29 points (8-21-29) and 137 penalty minutes in 62 outings. He completed his junior career with the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League's Humboldt Broncos in 2000-01, earning recognition as the league's Defenseman of the Year after posting 49 points (14-35-49) in 59 games.

Check out the Grand Rapids Griffins Statistics



American Hockey League Stories from August 1, 2002


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Grand Rapids Griffins Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central