ELLIS NAMED AHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Griffins center Matt Ellis has been named the CCM Vector/American Hockey League Player of the Week for the period ending Feb. 18, the league announced on Monday.

Ellis, 25, recorded four goals, two assists, six points and a plus-two rating in three games last week. In Friday’s 5-2 win over San Antonio, he scored shorthanded, on the power play and at even strength into an empty net to secure his first hat trick as a Griffin and his first pro hat trick since March 8, 2003, during his rookie season with ECHL Toledo. The Griffins’ captain also added an assist for his second four-point game of the campaign, and he extended his franchise record with the 11th shorthanded goal of his career.

On Saturday, Ellis scored his team-high 20th goal of the season in a 4-2 victory over the Rampage, matching his AHL high established last season and becoming just the fifth player in Griffins history to record back-to-back 20-goal campaigns. After notching an assist in Sunday’s loss at Peoria, he shows points in four straight contests (5-2—7) and in seven of his last eight games as a Griffin (6-5—11).

Ellis stands second on the club with 40 points and places among the AHL’s leaders with four shorthanded goals (T2nd), five game-winning goals (T4th) and 193 shots (5th). His four shorthanded goals have also tied his own team record from the 2004-05 season.

In his fourth season with Grand Rapids, he ranks among the Griffins’ all-time leaders with 11 shorthanded goals (1st), 765 shots (3rd), 267 games played (5th), 144 points (5th), 63 goals (T6th), 10 game-winning goals (T7th) and 81 assists (8th).

Ellis made his NHL debut with the Detroit Red Wings on Dec. 18, 2006, and has totaled five games with the parent club. The first Griffin this season to be named AHL Player of the Week, Ellis will receive an etched crystal award in recognition of his achievement prior to an upcoming Griffins home game.