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Grand Rapids Griffins

Three Head to Detroit's Taxi Squad

January 16, 2022 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


Grand Rapids Griffins left wing Taro Hirose
Grand Rapids Griffins left wing Taro Hirose
(Grand Rapids Griffins, Credit: Nicolas Carrillo/Griffins)

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Detroit Red Wings on Sunday reassigned left wing Taro Hirose, defenseman Luke Witkowski and goaltender Calvin Pickard to their taxi squad from the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Hirose made his NHL season debut on Dec. 18 against the New Jersey Devils, logging an even plus-minus rating and two penalty minutes. The left winger appeared in 26 outings with Detroit in 2019-20 and six last season, amassing nine points (2-7-9). The former Michigan State Spartan has 10 penalty minutes and 16 points (3-13-16) in 43 NHL games. After leading the Griffins in assists a year ago with 23, Hirose has picked off right where he left off, as he has bagged 19 helpers in the opening 30 games, which is a team high and tied for ninth in the AHL. The Calgary, Alberta, native's 27 points (8-19-27) this season pace the Griffins and are tied for 14th on the circuit.

Witkowski joined the Red Wings for the first time this year on Dec. 7 and has since been sent back to the NHL club four times now. Witkowski, 31, is in search of his first NHL game since Nov. 1, 2019. From 2017-19, the blueliner spent two full seasons with Detroit, totaling six points (1-5-6) and 91 penalty minutes in 65 outings. The former Western Michigan Bronco has appeared in 131 games in the NHL and has totaled 13 points (2-11-13) and 162 penalty minutes. Witkowski has spent eight years in the AHL with Syracuse and Grand Rapids, registering 49 points (9-40-49) and 666 penalty minutes in 285 contests. Through 24 games this season with the Griffins, the Holland, Mich., native has two assists and 47 penalty minutes, which places eighth among AHL defensemen.

Pickard has appeared in 113 NHL games throughout his career, with his most recent contest coming on May 8, 2021 against Columbus. The netminder has posted a 34-53-10 record in the NHL with a 3.01 goals against average, 0.904 save percentage and four shutouts. The 10-year-pro has seen action in 25 of the 31 games this season with Grand Rapids. He set a new AHL career high for consecutive games played (14) on Dec. 10 at Manitoba and made his 12th straight start on Dec. 22, which set a new career best for the goaltender. Pickard currently places sixth in the AHL with a 2.31 goals against average while his 0.930 save percentage ranks second.

Single-game tickets are on sale through griffinshockey.com/tickets . Fans can secure their full-season , select-season or group ticket packages by calling (616) 774-4585 ext. 2 or visit griffinshockey.com for more information.

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Grand Rapids Griffins left wing Taro Hirose
Grand Rapids Griffins left wing Taro Hirose
(Nicolas Carrillo/Griffins)		   

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