Get to know your Griffins
As the Grand Rapids Griffins begin their 27th season overall on Friday against San Diego, let’s take a quick look at all of the coaches and players on the opening-night roster.
The Griffins’ roster is comprised of nine players who qualify as an AHL rookie and five players who are classified as veterans (260+ pro games played at NHL, AHL or top European league level).
COACHING STAFF
Head coach Ben Simon
Returns for fifth season as head coach…Led Grand Rapids to a 33-35-6-2 record (74 pts., 0.487) and a seventh-place finish in the Central Division in 2021-22 during the first full AHL season since 2018-19 due to the COVID-19 pandemic…Made NHL coaching debut during 2021-22 season when he manned the bench alongside Griffins assistant coach Todd Krygier, helping lead Detroit to a 5-2 victory over New Jersey…Became the eighth head coach in franchise history to lead the Griffins to the postseason during his first season behind the bench in 2018-19…Served as an assistant coach with Grand Rapids form 2015-18 and helped the team win the 2017 Calder Cup…During first seven seasons as coach in Grand Rapids, the Griffins compiled cumulative records of 249-179-23-24 (0.574) in the regular season and 24-14 (0.632) in the Calder Cup Playoffs…Appeared in 762 regular-season pro games from 2000-11, including 81 in the NHL and 481 in the AHL.
Assistant coach Matt Macdonald
Returns for fifth season as an assistant coach…Worked with the defensemen and helped direct the penalty kill in 2021-22 to a 75.4% effective rating…Helped guide Grand Rapids to its franchise-record seventh consecutive playoff appearance during the 2018-19 season behind a 38-27-7-4 record (0.572)…Head coach of the ECHL’s Cincinnati Cyclones from 2014-18 and assisted the club from 2012-14…Played seven pro seasons as a defenseman from 2005-12 and appeared in 385 career games.
Assistant coach Todd Krygier
Entering fourth season with the Griffins…Made NHL coaching debut during the 2021-22 season when he helped man the bench alongside Grand Rapids head coach Ben Simon, aiding Detroit to a 5-2 victory over New Jersey…Oversaw a 2019-20 power-play unit that ranked sixth in the AHL (20.9%) and powered Grand Rapids to a third-place finish in the Central Division…Improved on that performance in the shortened 2020-21 season with a power-play conversion rate of 21.5%, good for fifth in the AHL…Assistant coach at Western Michigan University from 2016-19…WMU posted a 21-15-1 record in 2018-19 and tied for fourth in the NCAA with a 3.47 goals against average…Head coach of the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks from 2013-16…Appeared in 543 NHL games and totaled 243 points (100-143—243) from 1989-98 between Hartford, Washington and Anaheim.
Assistant coach Mike Knuble
Returns for his 10th season as an assistant coach with the Griffins…Helped guide the team to the playoffs in each of his first six seasons and won the 2017 Calder Cup…Posted a 341-224-31-31 record (0.593) with Grand Rapids from 2013-22…Appeared in 1,068 NHL games and tallied 548 points (278-270—548) from 1996-2013 between Detroit, New York Rangers, Boston, Philadelphia and Washington…Won the 1997-98 Stanley Cup with the Red Wings.
FORWARDS
#9 Matt Luff | 6-3, 215 lbs.
Drafted: Undrafted
2021-22 Stats: Six points (3-3—6) and four penalty minutes in 23 games with Nashville (NHL)…Tied a career-high 31 points (14-17—31) and 14 goals in 30 games with the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL).
Career: First season as a Griffin…Sixth year pro… Appeared in a career-high 33 games during rookie season in the NHL in 2018-19 with Los Angeles and added a career-best eight goals and 11 points…Also during the 2018-19 season, registered a career-high 20 assists in the AHL with the Ontario Reign…Made NHL debut on Nov. 3, 2018 against Columbus…Notched first NHL point on a goal at St. Louis on Nov. 19, 2018…Made Calder Cup playoff debut on April 19 at Texas…Scored first AHL goal on Nov. 1, 2017 versus San Jose…Made AHL/pro debut with Ontario on April 12, 2017 at Stockton…Notched first AHL point on an assist against San Diego on April 15, 2017.
#11 Joel L’Esperance | 6-2, 210 lbs.
Drafted: Undrafted
2021-22 Stats: Registered career-high numbers in games played (62), points (49), assists (25) and shots (197) with the Texas Stars in the AHL…Amassed a career-high 11-game point streak (7-8—15) from Jan. 8-Feb. 11 and tied a career-best four-game goal streak from Jan. 28-Feb. 9.
Career: First season as a Griffin…Fifth year pro…Competed at the 2019-20 AHL All-Star Game…Bagged a career-best 30 goals with Texas during rookie season in 2018-19…Skated in an NHL career-high 18 games with the Dallas Stars during the 2018-19 season…Made NHL debut on Feb. 16, 2019 at Carolina…Potted first NHL point on a goal at Minnesota on March 14, 2019…Made AHL/pro debut on March 28, 2018 with the Texas Stars at Grand Rapids…Notched first pro point with a game-winning goal on April 7, 2018 against Rockford (AHL)…Throughout four seasons with Michigan Tech University (MTU) from 2014-18, accumulated 98 points (46-52—98) and 132 penalty minutes in 152 outings…Two-time WCHA champion with MTU from 2016-18…In the USHL from 2011-14, tallied 67 points (37-30—67) and 101 penalty minutes in 111 games.
#13 Drew Worrad | 6-1, 185 lbs.
Drafted: Undrafted
2021-22 Stats: Served as an alternate captain for Western Michigan University and placed among the NCAA leaders in points (T6th) and assists (2nd)…Competed in 39 games for the Broncos, totaling a collegiate-high 45 points (9-36—45) and 20 penalty minutes…Made AHL/pro debut on April 6 against Cleveland and finished the AHL season with four points (1-3—4) in 11 outings.
Career:
Second season as a Griffin…First year pro…Made pro debut on April 6, 2022 against Cleveland…Recorded first pro point during a two-assist night on April 9, 2022 at Toronto (AHL)…Registered first goal as a pro on April 20, 2022 at Rockford…MJHL Champion, MJHL Playoff MVP and MJHL First All-Star Team nomination in 2017-18 with Steinbach, totaling 75 points (26-49—75) in 47 regular-season games and six goals and 12 assists in 16 playoff outings.
#17 Taro Hirose | 5-10, 170 lbs.
Drafted: Undrafted
2021-22 Stats: Posted career-high numbers in games played (59), goals (15), assists (38), points (53), shots (122) and power-play goals (2) with Grand Rapids…Skated in 15 games with Detroit and totaled four points (1-3—4) and four penalty minutes.
Career: Fourth season as a Griffin…Fourth year pro…In 2020-21, finished second on the Griffins in points (28), points per game (0.97) and paced the team in assists (23), which is a career high…Named to Detroit’s opening night roster in 2019-20 and logged 26 NHL games in his inaugural full pro season…Scored seven points (1-6—7) in 10 games during his NHL debut with Detroit at the end of the 2018-19 season…During his junior season at Michigan State in 2018-19, was named a Hobey Baker Award finalist, a First Team All-American, the Big Ten Player of the Year and a unanimous All-Big Ten First Team selection…Led the NCAA in multi-point games (15) and three-point games (9), while tying for the lead with 50 points, ranking third with 1.39 points per game and second with 35 assists…50 points marked the highest total for a Spartan since John-Michael Liles notched 50 in 2002-03…Became the first Spartan to hit the 100-career point mark since 2009…All-Big Ten Second Team selection in 2017-18.
#22 Chase Pearson | 6-3, 203 lbs.
Drafted: 5th round, 140th overall, in 2015 by Detroit
2021-22 Stats: Competed in fourth season with the Griffins, totaling 18 points (7-11—18) and a career-high 18 penalty minutes in 50 games…Appeared in the NHL for the first time and finished with three games and an even plus-minus rating with Detroit…Made NHL debut on March 24 with the Red Wings at the New York Islanders.
Career: Fifth season as a Griffin…Fourth year pro…Ranked third on the Griffins’ roster with 22 points (8-14—22) in 2020-21, which tied a career high set in 2019-20, but with 31 less games played…Totaled eight goals and 14 assists during his rookie season in 2019-20…Skated in 10 games and scored two goals during his professional debut with the Griffins in 2018-19…Named Hockey East’s best defensive forward and a Hockey East Second Team All-Star in 2018-19…Posted collegiate career highs in goals (16) and points (29) as a junior at Maine in 2018-19…Led Maine in goals and ranked second in points in 2018-19…Finished second on Maine in scoring in 2017-18 with 27 points and was named to the Hockey East All-Star Honorable Mention team and All-Academic Team…Served as Maine’s captain in his sophomore and junior seasons…Represented the United States at the 2015 World Junior A Challenge.
#27 Austin Czarnik | 5-8, 170 lbs.
Drafted: Undrafted
2021-22 Stats: Accumulated 37 points (14-23—37) in 38 games with Bridgeport in the AHL… Paced Bridgeport in playoff points (10), goals (3) and assists (7) in just six games…Logged two goals and three assists in 11 games with the New York Islanders…Finally, showed two helpers in six games for the Seattle Kraken.
Career: First season as a Griffin…Eighth year pro…Recorded NHL career-high numbers in points (18), goals (6), assists (12) and games played (54) during the 2018-19 season with the Calgary Flames…Notched AHL career-best numbers in points (69), goals (25), assists (44) and games played (64) with the Providence Bruins in the 2017-18 campaign…Represented Providence at the 2017-18 AHL All-Star Game in addition to being named to the AHL Second All-Star Team…Paced all AHL rookies with 61 points (20-41—61) en route to being named to the AHL All-Rookie Team in 2015-16…Two-time captain for Miami University of Ohio from 2013-15…In 2014-15, won the NCHC title, and selected to the NCHC Second All-Star Team, NCAA West Second All-American Team and the NCAA Lowes Senior Class All-Americans Second Team…Named to the NCHC First All-Star Team and the NCAA West Second All-American Team in 2013-14…Hobey Baker Award Finalist, CCHA First All-Star Team nominee, NCAA West First All-American Team selection, CCHA Player of the Year and regular season champion in 2012-13…Selected to the CCHA All-Rookie Team and named a top three player on Team USA at the U20 World Junior Championship in 2011-12…Represented Green Bay at the 2010-11 USHL All-Star Game…Won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2009-10 U18 World Junior Championship.
#28 Trenton Bliss | 6-1, 195 lbs.
Drafted: Undrafted
2021-22 Stats: Skated in 36 games during his senior season at Michigan Tech and ranked second on the roster with 40 points (12-28—40) while his 28 assists were also a team-best and his 12 goals placed third…Made AHL/pro debut on April 1 against Texas…Finished the AHL season with three games.
Career: Second season as a Griffin…First year pro…Played four years of high school hockey in the state of Wisconsin with Appleton United, logging 174 points (91-83--174) in 90 outings…Had his best high school season in 2015-16 when he amassed 49 points (25-24--49) in 20 games...Named to the USHS All-USA Hockey Second Team in 2015-16...Went on to play two seasons of junior hockey in the USHL with Green Bay, scoring 56 times (21-35--56) in 85 contests...Competed in four campaigns with Michigan Tech University, totaling 107 points (42-65--107) in 138 games...Alternate captain for Michigan Tech in 2020-21...Ranked second on the team in points in 2021-22 with 50 (12-28--40) in 36 outings and paced the team with 28 assists…Helped lead No. 14 Michigan Tech to a NCAA Tournament appearance in 2021-22, losing 3-0 to Minnesota Duluth in the Regional Semifinal.
#32 Tyler Spezia | 5-10, 175 lbs.
Drafted: Undrafted
2021-22 Stats: Totaled career-high numbers in games played (74), goals (13), assists (22), points (35), penalty minutes (24), shots (117) and plus-minus rating (+4) with the Griffins.
Career: Fifth season as a Griffin…Fifth year pro…Bagged a career-best two game-winning goals for the Griffins in 2020-21…Notched a career-high nine points (6-3—9) and 18 penalty minutes with Grand Rapids in 2019-20…Helped lead the Toledo Walleye to their first trip to the 2019 Kelly Cup Finals after skating in all 24 postseason games and scoring 12 points…Contributed two points and skated in eight games while making his AHL debut with the Griffins in 2018-19…Two-time selection (2017, 2016) to the WCHA All-Academic Team…Scored a collegiate career-high 30 points as a junior at Bowling Green State and tied for second on the team in scoring.
#41 Cedric Lacroix | 6-1, 185 lbs.
Drafted: Undrafted
2021-22 Stats: Skated much of the season with the Tucson Roadrunners in the AHL, amassing three assists and 76 penalty minutes in 33 outings…Added three games and 17 penalty minutes with the Chicago Wolves…Began the campaign with the Indy Fuel in the ECHL where he totaled 12 points (6-6—12) and 54 penalty minutes in 19 contests.
Career: First season as a Griffin…Fifth year pro…Posted career-high numbers in games played (72), goals (22), assists (20), points (42) and penalty minutes (215) during rookie season in the ECHL with the Wheeling Nailers in 2018-19…Made ECHL/professional debut on Oct. 13, 2018 at Norfolk…Recorded first pro point on an assist against Reading (ECHL) on Oct. 28, 2018…Scored first pro goal on Nov. 9, 2018 against Greenville (ECHL)…Lit the lamp twice during AHL debut with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on April 14, 2019 versus Binghamton…Amassed 40 points (21-19—40) and 155 penalty minutes in 145 contests with the University of Maine from 2014-18, serving as an alternate captain during senior season.
#48 Jonatan Berggren | 5-11, 195 lbs.
Drafted: 2nd round, 33rd overall, in 2018 by Detroit
2021-22 Stats: Broke the Grand Rapids Griffins’ rookie single-season scoring record with 64 points (21-43—64) in 70 outings…Finished the season on an 11-game point streak (6-13—19) and was named the AHL Rookie of the Month for April when he recorded 20 points (6-14—20) in the final 14 contests.
Career: Second season as a Griffin…Fifth year pro…In 2021-22, became the first rookie to lead the Griffins in assists with 43, and the third rookie to pace the team in either points or game-winning goals…Ranked second among AHL rookies with 64 points in 2021-22 and tied for first among first-year players in the AHL with 43 assists…2020 U20 World Junior Championship Bronze Medal winner…2018 Hlinka Memorial Bronze Medal recipient…Averaged 1.5 PPG and led Sweden’s highest-level junior hockey league in scoring with 57 points (18-39—57) over 38 contests played in 2018-19, leading the circuit in both assists and points…Logged 10 points (5-5—10) in seven games during the 2017 IIHF World U18 Championship…Made pro debut with Skelleftea on Nov. 18, 2017 in the SHL at age 17…Logged three points (2-1—3) and won a gold medal with Sweden during the 2017 IIHF U17 World Hockey Challenge…Led the J20 SuperElit league in points (57) and assists (39) in 2017-18…Won a SHL silver medal with Skelleftea in 2017-18…In 2015-16, paced the TV-Pucken tournament with 18 helpers, nine goals and 27 points.
#51 Kyle Criscuolo | 5-9, 180 lbs.
Drafted: Undrafted
2021-22 Stats: Totaled 39 points (15-24—39) in 57 outings, which placed fifth on the roster for the Griffins…24 helpers tied a career best…Made NHL season debut on Dec. 1, marking first NHL game since March 5, 2018…Collected first-career NHL point with an assist on Dec. 18 against New Jersey…Logged six games with Detroit and recorded two assists, two penalty minutes and a plus-one rating.
Career: Fifth season as a Griffin…Seventh year pro…Notched a career-high 10-game points streak (7-11—18) from Nov. 20, 2021-Jan. 5, 2022…Appeared in nine NHL games with Buffalo in 2017-18…Made NHL debut on Nov. 17, 2017 against Detroit…Made AHL debut on April 2, 2016 in Toronto…2017 Calder Cup Champion as a first-year pro with Grand Rapids where he registered pro career-highs in goals (17) and assists (24)…Served as an alternate captain for Rochester from 2017-19…Logged first AHL point on an assist for the Griffins against Chicago on Oct. 14, 2016…Registered first AHL goal with Grand Rapids on Oct. 18, 2016 in Iowa…Played collegiately at Harvard from 2012-16 and captained the Crimson from 2014-16…Part of a Harvard team that won the ECAC in 2015…Named ECAC Student-Athlete of the Year twice from 2014-16 and honored on the ECAC Second All-Star Team and the All-Ivy League Second Team in both years.
#54 Givani Smith | 6-2, 216 lbs.
Drafted: 2nd round, 46th overall, in 2016 by Detroit
2021-22 Stats: Posted career-high numbers in games played (46), goals (4), points (7) and penalty minutes (108) during the 2021-22 season with the Red Wings…Added three assists and a minus-six rating…His 108 penalty minutes paced Detroit and ranked 10th in the NHL.
Career: Fifth season as a Griffin…Fifth year pro…Made NHL debut with Detroit on Oct. 25, 2019 against Buffalo…Registered first NHL point on Jan. 7, 2020 against Montreal…Netted opening NHL goal at the New York Islanders on Jan. 14, 2020…Logged AHL career highs in goals (9), assists (10) and points (19) in 2019-20…Compiled 13 points (6-7—13) in 64 games during his rookie campaign with the Griffins in 2018-19…Ranked eighth among AHL rookies with 86 PIM in 2018-19…Made his professional debut with the Griffins in 2016-17, appearing in three regular season games…Set OHL career highs with 44 points and 26 goals in 64 games with Guelph in 2016-17…Led the OHL in PIM in 2016-17 and 2015-16.
#65 Dominik Shine | 5-11, 180 lbs.
Drafted: Undrafted
2021-22 Stats: Compiled career-high numbers in goals (17), assists (15), points (32), penalty minutes (141), shots (122), power-play goals (3) and shorthanded goals (3) with the Griffins…Career-best seven-game point streak (7-3—10) from March 16-27 and a career-high four-game goal streak from March 22-27.
Career: Seventh season as a Griffin…Sixth year pro…Recorded 16 points (8-8—16) in 58 games during his rookie season with Grand Rapids in 2017-18…Made his professional debut with the Griffins on March 19, 2017 at Milwaukee…Led the WCHA in goals with 20 in 2016-17 and was named an All-WCHA Third Team selection…Served as an alternate captain during his junior and senior seasons at Northern Michigan…Finished second on Northern Michigan in points in 2015-16 and was named to the All-WCHA Second Team…Totaled three career hat tricks at Northern Michigan…Captained Lincoln (USHL) during his final two seasons from 2011-13.
#71 Cross Hanas | 6-1, 180 lbs.
Drafted: 2nd, 55th overall, in 2020 by Detroit
2021-22 Stats: Appeared in 63 games for the Portland Winterhawks in the Western Hockey League and paced the team in points (86) and assists (60) while placing fourth on the roster with 26 goals…86 points ranked ninth in the WHL and his 60 helpers finished fourth on the circuit.
Career: First season as a Griffin…First year pro…Represented Team USA at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in 2020 and picked up three points (1-2—3) in four games…Made USHL debut on Jan. 15, 2021…Made WHL debut Sept. 22, 2018 against Seattle.
#79 Kirill Tyutyayev | 5-10, 170 lbs.
Drafted: 7th round, 190th overall, in 2019 by Detroit
2021-22 Stats: Skated in rookie season in North America with the Griffins and totaled three assists in nine games before suffering a season-ending injury in early November…Bagged two helpers in AHL debut against Rockford on Oct. 15.
Career: Second season as a Griffin…Fourth year pro…2021 Belarus Champion with Yunost Minsk after totaling a professional career-high 32 points (11-21—32) in 43 outings…VHL Prospect of the Week on Feb. 10, 2020…2018 Russia U18 champion with Spartakovets Yekaterinburg…Point-per-game player in his first full MHL season (2018-19) by recording 60 points (14-41—60) in 60 contests…Added 14 points (5-9—14) in the playoffs that season to finish with the highest MHL assist and point total in the postseason…Highest-scoring player in Russia’s U18 league after racking up 114 points (47-67—114), a plus-75 rating and 31 penalty minutes in just 31 games in 2017-18.
#96 Pontus Andreasson | 5-11, 183 lbs.
Drafted: Undrafted
2021-22 Stats: Finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting in the Swedish Hockey League when he totaled 38 points (18-20—38), 22 penalty minutes and a plus-19 rating in 52 regular-season games with Lulea HF…Ranked among the SHL rookie leaders in goals (2nd), assists (T1st), points (2nd), power-play goals (2nd), power-play points (2nd), penalty minutes (2nd) and plus-minus rating (1st).
Career: First season as a Griffin…Fifth year pro…Logged a point per game in 13 playoff outings en route to reaching the 2022 SHL finals…Tallied first SHL goal on Oct. 14, 2021 against Djurgardens IF…Scored a hat trick during a four-point night in SHL playoff debut on March 31, 2022…Reached the 2021 HockeyAllsvenskan finals with Bjorkloven and recorded 11 points (4-7—11) in 16 postseason games during the run…Made SHL debut on Oct. 5, 2017 with Frolunda HC…Averaged 4.55 points per game in 2013-14 in the U16 Division 1 league in Sweden when he amassed an astounding 91 points (49-42—91) in 20 contests.
DEFENSEMEN
#3 Jared McIsaac | 6-1, 197 lbs.
Drafted: 2nd round, 36th overall, in 2018 by Detroit
2021-22 Stats: Skated in first full AHL season and notched career-highs in games played (70), goals (5), assists (19), points (24) and penalty minutes (34)…Ranked among rookie defensemen AHL leaders in points (T9th), assists (T9th), and goals (T12th).
Career: Third season as a Griffin…Third year pro… Scored first pro goal on Nov. 26 against Chicago…Made his North American and AHL debut with the Griffins on April 20, 2021 against Cleveland…Logged first AHL point on an assist in Rockford on May 1, 2021…Won a gold medal with Team Canada at the U20 World Junior Championship in 2020…QMJHL Second All-Star Team selection in 2018-19…Hlinka Memorial Gold Medal winner with Canada in 2018…Named the QMJHL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2016-17 and earned a spot on the QMJHL All-Rookie Team…Achieved the NSMMHL Rookie Defenseman Award in 2014-15…Named to the NSMBHL Rookie All-Star Team in 2013-14.
#5 Eemil Viro | 6-1, 183 lbs.
Drafted: 3rd, 70th overall, in 2020 by Detroit
2021-22 Stats: Skated in 52 games for TPS during second full season in the Liiga, Finland’s top hockey league…Bagged three goals, four assists, 55 penalty minutes and a plus-nine rating…Reached the Liiga finals.
Career: First season as a Griffin…Fourth year pro…Won back-to-back Liiga silver medals with TPS from 2020-22…Represented Team Finland at the 2021 World Junior Championship…Registered career-high numbers in games played (53), goals (4), assists (10) and points (14) in 2020-21 with TPS in the Liiga…Made pro debut on during the 2019-20 season with TPS in the Liiga, Finland’s top hockey league…Scored first pro goal on Nov. 27, 2020 at JYP…Won a silver medal with Team Finland at the 2018-19 World Hockey Championship…Won a bronze medal with Finland at the 2018-19 European Youth Olympic Winter Festival.
#18 Brian Lashoff | 6-3, 215 lbs.
Drafted: Undrafted
2021-22 Stats: Accumulated 16 points (5-11—16), 30 penalty minutes and an even plus-minus rating with the Griffins…Recorded sixth-ever game-winner on Feb. 23 at Cleveland and first-career shorthanded tally on April 9 in Toronto…Skated in 700th game as a pro on March 18 against Texas.
Career: Captain…14th season as a Griffin…13th year pro… Served as captain for the Griffins from 2020-22 during his 12th and 13th seasons with the franchise…Won the 2013 and 2017 Calder Cups with Grand Rapids, one of only three players to be a part of both championships (Mitch Callahan, Nathan Paetsch)…513 career regular season games played ranks first among active players who have spent their entire AHL career with the same club and tie for eighth all-time in league history…Appeared in 75 Calder Cup Playoff games with the Griffins, ranking second in team history…Places second on the franchise’s all-time list with 513 regular season games played…Became the 126th Griffins alumnus to play in the NHL when he debuted with Detroit and registered his first goal in the same game on Jan. 21, 2013 in Columbus…Appeared in 136 career NHL games with the Red Wings…Won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2010 World Junior Championship.
#20 Steven Kampfer | 5-11, 198 lbs.
Drafted: 4th round, 93rd overall, in 2007 by Anaheim
2021-22 Stats: Saw action in 46 regular-season games in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) with AK Bars Kazan…Amassed 30 points (11-19—30), a plus-seven rating and 49 penalty minutes, including a career-high 11 goals…Ranked among the KHL defensemen leaders in points (6th), assists (T12th), goals (2nd) and penalty minutes (2nd).
Career: Served as an alternate captain for Team USA at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, totaling one goal and three assists in four outings…Made KHL debut on Sept. 2, 2021 against Jokerit…Recorded an NHL career-high three points (1-2—3) on April 23, 2021 at Buffalo…Made NHL debut with Boston on Dec. 9, 2010 against the Islanders…Recorded first NHL point on an assist at Buffalo on Dec. 15, 2010…Scored first NHL goal on Dec. 28, 2010 at Tampa Bay…Made AHL/pro debut with Providence on April 2, 2010 versus Worcester…Notched first goal and assist in the AHL on April 9, 2010 against Springfield…Two time CCHA Champion (2007-08; 2009-10) with the University of Michigan…Reached 2008 NCAA Frozen Four…Drafted by the Anaheim Ducks with the 93rd overall pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft…Served as an alternate captain for the USA U18 team at the 2006 World Junior Championship.
#33 Albert Johansson | 6-0, 185 lbs.
Drafted: 2nd round, 60th overall, in 2019 by Detroit
2021-22 Stats: Competed in his second full season with Farjestad BK in the Swedish Hockey League, posting 25 points (5-20—25) and 24 penalty minutes in 52 games…Placed among the defensemen league leaders in points (11th), goals (T16th), and assists (11th)…SHL champion with Farjestad BK, logging eight points (2-6—8) and eight penalty minutes in 19 playoff outings.
Career: First season as a Griffin…Fourth year pro…Swedish Hockey League champion in 2021-22 with Farjestad BK, logging eight points (2-6—8) and eight penalty minutes in 19 playoff outings…Logged career-high totals in games played (52), points (25), assists (20) and penalty minutes (24) in the SHL in 2021-22…Ranked first in points (25) and assists (20) among defensemen under the age of 25 in the SHL during the 2021-22 campaign…Signed to a three-year entry-level contract by Detroit on June 5, 2020…Selected 60th overall by Detroit in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft…Made pro debut in the SHL on Nov. 1, 2018…Won a gold medal for Team Sweden at the U18 World Junior Championship in 2019.
#37 Donovan Sebrango | 6-1, 200 lbs.
Drafted: 3rd round, 63rd overall, in 2020 by Detroit
2021-22 Stats: Posted career-high numbers in games played (65), goals (1), assists (6), points (7) and penalty minutes (23) during his second season in the AHL…Scored first AHL goal on Jan. 1, 2022 at Milwaukee, which was also the game-winner…Served as an alternate captain for Team Canada at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Career: Represented Team Canada at the 2021 World Junior Championship…Appeared in 118 career OHL games from 2018-20, recording 56 points (13-43—56) and 87 penalty minutes…Began his professional rookie season with HK Levice, totaling three points (1-2—3) in five games before making his North American pro debut with Grand Rapids on Feb. 11, 2021 in Chicago…Registered first AHL point on an assist at Rockford on March 3, 2021…Twice represented Canada on the international stage, picking up two helpers and four penalty minutes in five games at the 2018 World U17 Hockey Challenge…Earned Silver at the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup after chipping in two assists and two penalty minutes in five contests…Named to the CHL Top Prospects Game for 2019-20.
#40 Wyatt Newpower | 6-4, 210 lbs.
Drafted: Undrafted
2021-22 Stats: Skated in a career-high 55 games during first season in Grand Rapids and made Griffins debut on Oct. 15 versus Rockford…Logged a career-best 54 penalty minutes…Tied career-high numbers in goals (3), assists (7) and points (10).
Career: Second season as a Griffin…Third year pro…Made 24 appearances for Cleveland during his rookie season in 2020-21, compiling 10 points (3-7—10) and a plus-10 rating…Skated in first AHL game on Feb. 12, 2021 against Rochester…Earned first AHL point, assist, and multi-point game on Feb. 22, 2021 at Rockford…Netted inaugural AHL goal on March 20, 2021 against Grand Rapids…Captained the University of Connecticut during his senior season in 2019-20…Appeared in 114 collegiate games and tallied 47 points (11-36—47)…In 2019-20, named the Hockey East Best Defensive Defenseman and earned a spot on the Hockey East Second All-Star Team.
#77 Simon Edvinsson | 6-6, 215 lbs.
Drafted: 1st round, 6th overall, in 2021 by Detroit
2021-22 Stats: Skated in 44 games during his first full season as a pro with Frolunda HC in the Swedish Hockey League…Amassed 19 points (2-17—19), 18 penalty minutes and a plus-13 rating in the regular season…Finished third in the Rookie of the Year voting in the SHL… Named best junior player in the Swedish Hockey League by Elite Prospects.
Career:
First season as a Griffin…Third year pro… Named best junior player in the Swedish Hockey League by Elite Prospects for the 2021-22 season…Finished third in the Rookie of the Year voting in the SHL in 2021-22…Drafted with the sixth overall pick by Detroit in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft…Logged 17 assists in 2021-22 for Frolunda (SHL), which was the most helpers by a junior in the league…Won a bronze medal with Team Sweden at the U18 World Junior Championship in 2021…Appeared for his home country at seven different tournaments…Earned a J18 SM Gold Medal and a U16 SM Gold Medal with Frolunda HC in 2018-19…Led the U16 SM defensemen with 11 assists in 2018-19…Won the TV-Pucken tournament in 2018-19 with Goteborg and totaled nine points (2-7—9) in six outings…Seven assists in the TV-Pucken in 2018-19 were the most by a defensemen.
GOALTENDERS
#1 Victor Brattstrom | 6-5, 196 lbs.
Drafted: 6th round, 160th overall, in 2018 by Detroit
2021-22 Stats: Appeared in 32 games during rookie season with the Griffins in the American Hockey League…Showed an 11-16-3 record with one shutout to go along with a 3.32 goals against average and a 0.894 save percentage…Made 24 saves in Griffins/AHL debut on Oct. 16 at Milwaukee…Skated in three games with the Toledo Walleye (ECHL) and posted a 2-1 ledger with a 4.25 goals against average and a 0.829 save percentage.
Career: Second season as a Griffin…Sixth year pro…Earned first AHL win on Dec. 31, 2021 against Milwaukee…First-ever AHL shutout on March 5 against Iowa, stopping 35 shots…Made professional debut with Sweden’s second-highest professional league with the Allsvenskan’s Timra IK in 2017-18, recording a 1.93 GAA and a .919 SV% in 15 outings…Helped guide Timra to a promotion to the SHL by winning the Allsvenskan league in 2017-18…Skated with Timra in the SHL in 2018-19, posting a 2.81 GAA and a .898 SV% in 23 contests…Logged a 2.40 GAA and a .921 SV% in 31 games with Timra’s U20 team from 2016-18…Paced the J20 SuperElit league with a .943 save percentage in 2016-17…Won a J18 bronze medal with Frolunda and led the south division with a .930 SV% in 2013-14.
#30 Sebastian Cossa | 6-6, 209 lbs.
Drafted: 1st round, 15th overall, in 2021 by Detroit
2021-22 Stats: First season as a Griffin…First year pro…Appeared in a career-high 46 games during the regular season in the Western Hockey League with the Edmonton Oil Kings and finished with a 33-9-3 mark and six shutouts, which placed second on the circuit… His 2.28 goals against average placed third in the league while his 0.913 save percentage tied for fourth…Won the WHL championship and named to the WHL Central First All-Star Team…Notched a 1-2 record at the Memorial Cup to go along with a 3.25 goals against average and a 0.908 save percentage.
Career: Posted a 16-3-0 record in the 2021-22 WHL playoffs along with a 1.93 goals against average, a 0.919 save percentage and five shutouts en route to a WHL Championship…Represented Team Canada at the 2022 World Junior Championship…Drafted 15th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft…Led the WHL with a 1.57 goals against average in 2020-21 as well as the best save percentage at 0.941…Totaled an eye-popping 17-1-1 record in 2020-21 with Edmonton in the WHL to go along with a league-leading four shutouts…Competed for Canada White U17 at the World Hockey Championship in 2019…Paced the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League in 2016-17 with a 1.80 goals against average and a 0.934 save percentage…Named the AMBHL Most Valuable Player and Top Goaltender in 2016-17 when he helped lead Fort Saskatchewan to a league title.
#31 John Lethemon | 6-3, 190 lbs.
Drafted: Undrafted
2021-22 Stats: Spent the majority of the campaign in the ECHL with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits, showing a 15-11-6 record to go along with a 2.69 goals against average and a 0.911 save percentage… Made AHL debut with the Ontario Reign on Feb. 27, notching a 5-1 victory behind 27 saves against Tucson…Finished the AHL season with a 2-0 record, a 2.01 GAA and a 0.931 save percentage.
Career: First season as a Griffin…Third year pro…Made professional debut in the ECHL with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits on Dec. 27, 2020, earning his first win as a pro after stopping 30 shots…Earned first shutout as a pro on May 10, 2021 recording 26 saves in a 1-0 win over the Orlando Solar Bears (ECHL)…Posted career-high numbers in wins (15), shutouts (5) and goals against average (2.13) during senior season at Michigan State University in 2019-20…Named to the 2020 Big 10 Second All-Star Team…Signed first pro contract with Greenville on Nov. 6, 2020.
#45 Jussi Olkinuora | 6-3, 205 lbs.
Drafted: Undrafted
2021-22 Stats: Competed in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) with Metallurg Magnitogorsk and notched a 20-10-2 record with a 2.45 goals against average and a 0.917 save percentage…Began the season with an eye-popping 16-0 record…Twenty wins tied for third in the KHL while his 916 saves placed seventh…Won an Olympic gold medal with Team Finland at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing…Named the MVP of the 2022 World Championship when he posted an 8-0 record with four shutouts and a 1.11 goals against average en route to a gold medal with Finland.
Career: First season as a Griffin…10th year pro…Collected a silver medal and named to the 2021 World Championship All-Star Team after showing a 5-1-1 ledger with a 1.39 goals against average…Earned a gold medal at the 2019 World Championship with Finland…Registered a Liiga playoff-best 0.946 save percentage during the 2018-19 season with the Pelicans (Finland)…Champions Hockey League champion in 2017-18 with JYP (Finland)…Finished third in the Liiga (Finland) during the 2016-17 season with JYP…Two-time ECHL Goaltender of the Week…Named to the NCAA All-American Second Team after showing a 13-6-5 mark along with a 2.36 goals against average in 2012-13 with the University of Denver…Garnered a spot on the 2011-12 Western Collegiate Hockey Association All-Rookie Team after recording a 9-8-3 record with a 2.18 goals against average…Paced the U20 SM-liiga in Finland with a 2.15 goals against average during the 2009-10 campaign.