Griffins Game #14 * Home Game #6 * AHL Game #195

Season Series: 0-1-0-0 Home Series: 0-0-0-0 Road Series: 0-1-0-0
All-Time Series: 58-39-9-11 All-Time Home Series: 36-12-5-5 All-Time Road Series: 22-27-4-6

IceHogs at Griffins
Second of eight meetings overall, first of four at Van Andel Arena…Dating back to the final meeting of the 2019-20 season, Grand Rapids now has points in 14 of the last 18 games (11-4-2-1, 0.694) against the IceHogs...The Griffins are 20-15-6-6 since the 2017-18 season against Rockford and have outscored the IceHogs 130-122. At home since 2017-18, Grand Rapids 13-3-4-3 against the IceHogs, outscoring Rockford 68-50...The Griffins have points in 12 of the last 13 meetings against Rockford in West Michigan (7-1-2-3)...Rockford comes into the contest with a 2-2-0-0 road record this season while Grand Rapids is 3-1-1-0 at home...Rockford is Grand Rapids’ fourth-most frequent opponent (Milwaukee 204, Chicago 184, Cleveland 119), as tonight’s game marks the 118th meeting between the two franchises...Griffins head coach Ben Simon served as an assistant in Rockford for two seasons (2011-13).

Last Time Out
In the last matchup this campaign between Toronto and the Griffins, the Marlies prevailed in an overtime thriller with a 3-2 win at Van Andel Arena. The Griffins finished the season series with a 2-1-1-0 record. After scoring the game-winner last night, Cross Hanas was the hero once again by notching the game-tying goal with 10 seconds to go in the final frame. However, Joey Anderson’s 5-on-3 tally at 3:28 in overtime played spoiler and lifted Toronto to a win. Hanas now has a team-leading seven goals and is second in total points for Grand Rapids (7-4–11). Victor Brattstrom recorded 32 saves, the second most of the campaign for the Swede. Givani Smith led Grand Rapids with two points (1-1—2).

Roster Shake Up
- Nov. 5—F Austin Czarnik recalled by Detroit
- Nov. 7—D Seth Barton reassigned from Toledo by Detroit; F Austin Czarnik and F Matt Luff reassigned by Detroit
- Nov. 8—F Austin Czarnik and F Matt Luff recalled by Detroit
- Nov. 10—F Jonatan Berggren and F Givani Smith recalled by Detroit
- Nov. 11—F Givani Smith reassigned by Detroit; G John Lethemon assigned to Toledo by Grand Rapids
- Nov. 12—F Trenton Bliss reassigned to Toledo by Grand Rapids
- Nov. 13—F Trenton Bliss recalled by Grand Rapids

This Date in Griffins History
2001: Defenseman Travis Richards, Grand Rapids' all-time leader in games played, suits up for his 400th regular season contest in a Griffins uniform, becoming only the third active AHL player to reach that milestone with his current team. Grand Rapids loses 1-0 to Milwaukee.

Grab the Confetti
The Griffins will compete in its 1000th regular-season home contest today versus the Rockford IceHogs. The franchise appeared in its 2000th regular-season game last Wednesday, Nov. 9 at Cleveland. The Griffins are also eight road wins away from 500 as a franchise.

Criss Cross Applesauce
Rookie Cross Hanas had himself quite the weekend, compiling four points (2-2—4) in two games. Hanas played the role of hero on Nov. 11 against Toronto with an overtime winner to cap off his season-high three-point night (1-2—3). He returned the following day and tallied the game-tying goal with 10 seconds remaining to garner a point for the Griffins in a 3-2 overtime defeat. Hanas leads the team with seven goals, which also ranks second among rookies in the AHL, and his 11 points (7-4—11) are tied for sixth on the circuit among first-year players.

Pontus Pilate
After a slow start that saw him tally one point (0-1—1) in the first seven games, Pontus Andreasson has gotten things going on the offensive side of the ice. Andreasson has driven the Griffins’ offense as of late with a current three-game point streak (2-3—5) and has seven points in the last five outings (2-5—7). The Munkedal, Sweden, native bagged his first goal in North America on Nov. 11 against Toronto to conclude a three-point contest (2-1—3). In 2021-22 in the Swedish Hockey League, Andreasson finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting when he totaled 38 points (18-20—38) in 52 games. The 24-year-old signed a one-year contract with Detroit this past offseason.

Take the Over
The Griffins averaged just 2.75 goals a game during the 2021-22 season while giving up 3.16. However, this campaign has been much different, as Grand Rapids is averaging 3.31 goals while conceding 4.08. Nine of their 13 games so far have had seven or more total goals scored, with five of those contests having eight or more tallies. The Griffins have not had a game that has seen fewer than five goals.

Hot Starts
It seems as though every franchise in the American Hockey League has had a promising start to the season. In fact, 25 of the 32 teams in the AHL are 0.500 or above entering the sixth week of play. In the Central Division, every team is above 0.500 except for the reigning Calder Cup champions, the Chicago Wolves (0.409). Every team in the Atlantic and eight of the 10 teams in the Pacific are above the 0.500 mark. The odd division out is the North, where four of the seven teams are below 0.500.

Back and Forth We Go
After beginning the campaign with a 2-1-0-0 mark, the Griffins went on to trade wins and losses in the next seven contests. In three straight two-game series from Oct. 14-Nov. 4, Grand Rapids dropped every opening game but went on to win the following night. However, the Griffins broke that trend this past weekend when they defeated the Marlies in game one of the two-game weekend series before dropping game two in overtime.

Jumping for Joel
Joel L’Esperance saw his team-high five-game point streak (2-4—6) come to an end on Nov. 9 at Cleveland. However, L’Esperance still has seven points (3-4—7) in his last eight appearances. The Brighton, Mich., native is tied for third on the roster with 10 points (5-5—10) in the first 13 games to begin his career in Grand Rapids and his three power-play goals are tied for ninth in the AHL. L’Esperance signed a two-year contract with the Griffins this past offseason.

Inching Closer to No. 200
Jonatan Berggren made his NHL debut with Detroit on Thursday, Nov. 10, becoming the 196th Griffins alumnus to compete in the NHL. On Sunday, Nov. 6, forward Austin Czarnik became the 195th Griffin to appear in the NHL when he made his Red Wings debut. Previously, Matt Luff became the 194th Griffin in the NHL when he made his season debut with Detroit on Thursday, Oct. 27 at the Boston Bruins.

Young Guns
Rookies Simon Edvinsson and Cross Hanas have made their presences known to begin their AHL careers. Edvinsson, the sixth overall pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, is tied for fourth among first-year players with seven assists. With seven goals in 13 games, Hanas is second among rookies in the AHL and tied for eighth among all skaters on the circuit.

Bobbing for Apples
Taro Hirose has been known for his passing abilities throughout four seasons with the Griffins. In fact, the former Michigan State Spartan has had at least 22 assists in each AHL campaign in his career. This season has been no different, as Hirose has totaled a team-leading 10 helpers in 13 games, which is tied for sixth in the league and his seven power-play assists are tied for first in the AHL. Hirose saw his five-game point streak (1-5—6) come to an end on Nov. 5 but has points in nine of the 13 contests this season.

AHL Leaderboard Tracker
Austin Czarnik—Three power-play goals are tied for ninth
Simon Edvinsson—Seven assists are tied for fourth among rookies
Cross Hanas—Seven goals are second among rookies and tied for eighth among all skaters, 11 points (7-4—11) are tied for sixth among first-year players
Taro Hirose—Ten assists are tied sixth, seven power-play assists are tied for first
Joel L’Esperance—Three power-play goals are tied for ninth
Donovan Sebrango—Three goals are tied for fourth among defensemen

Milestones
Givani Smith bagged his 50th point in the AHL and as a Griffin with a goal on Nov. 12 versus Toronto. Dominik Shine skated in his 300th game as a Griffin, in the AHL and as a pro on Nov. 11 against Toronto and Eemil Viro joined Shine with his 150th contest as a pro.
Austin Czarnik—One assist from 150 in the AHL
Joel L’Esperance—Four points from 150 in the AHL

Photo by Todd Reicher/IceHogs