BORKOWSKI, CAITO JOIN GRIFFINS
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Griffins have signed forward Mike Borkowski and defenseman Matthew Caito to standard player’s contracts for the 2016-17 season.
A 6-foot, 182-pound center, Borkowski scored three points (2-1—3) in 12 games as a member of the Binghamton Senators while on an amateur tryout during the 2015-16 season. He joined the Senators after his four-year collegiate career with the Colgate Raiders (ECAC) concluded earlier in March. Borkowski, 24, made his AHL debut on March 13 – a 6-1 Binghamton win over Rochester – and notched his first pro goal in the same game.
The Kanata, Ontario, native skated in 133 career games with Colgate and registered 87 points (30-57—87), including 17 multi-point games. Serving as captain his senior season, Borkowski ranked third on the team in points (13-9—22), second in goals (13), first in power play goals (4) and second in shots (117). He was named to the ECAC All-Tournament Team in 2015 and was a two-time ECAC All-Academic Team selection (2013, 2014).
Prior to his collegiate career, Borkowski played with the Cornwall Colts (CCHL) during the 2011-12 season and was named to the CCHL Second All-Star Team after tying for fifth in the league with 87 points (28-59—87) in 61 games. He also appeared in 162 games with the Cumberland Grads (CJHL-CCHL) from 2008-11 and accounted for 113 points (40-73—113).
After finishing a four-year collegiate career at Miami (OH) University (CCHA-NCHC), Caito made his professional debut with the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye in 2015-16, playing in eight games and accumulating five points (2-3—5). The 5-foot-11, 187-pound blueliner also played in six Kelly Cup Playoff games with the Walleye and produced a goal and an assist (1-1—2).
Caito, 22, skated in 151 career games with Miami and accumulated 72 points (16-56—72), 125 penalty minutes and a plus-16 rating. As a senior, Caito ranked second among the team’s defensemen with 11 points (4-7—11). He posted a career-best 24 points (4-20—24) and was named an All-NCHC Honorable Mention during his junior year in 2014-15, as the Redhawks captured the NCHA Tournament Championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. In his freshman campaign, he was an All-CCHA Honorable Mention and a CCHA All-Rookie Team selection after showing 21 points (5-16—21) in 42 games.
The Coto de Caza, Calif., native played one season with Dubuque (USHL) in 2011-12 before entering college and tied for 15th among USHL defensemen in scoring with 26 points (7-19—26) in 59 regular season games.
The Griffins will begin the home portion of their 2016-17 season with Opening Night presented by Huntington Bank on Friday, Oct. 14 at Van Andel Arena. Additional home dates confirmed by the American Hockey League include: Dec. 31, Jan. 7, Jan. 21, Feb. 4 and Feb. 25.
Single-game tickets will go on sale to the public in September. 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.
MIKE BORKOWSKI * Center
Height: 6’0" Weight: 182 Shoots: Left Born: 5/30/1992 in Kanata, Ontario
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
| 2008-09 | Cumberland | CJHL | 59 | 7 | 22 | 29 | 22 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 2009-10 | Cumberland | CJHL | 62 | 19 | 33 | 52 | 28 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 2010-11 | Cumberland | CCHL | 41 | 14 | 18 | 32 | 30 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 2011-12 | Cornwall | CCHL | 61 | 28 | 59 | 87 | 44 | 16 | 8 | 21 | 29 | 10 |
| 2012-13 | Colgate | ECAC | 36 | 3 | 14 | 17 | 23 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 2013-14 | Colgate | ECAC | 39 | 8 | 20 | 28 | 22 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 2014-15 | Colgate | ECAC | 21 | 6 | 14 | 20 | 4 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 2015-16 | Colgate | ECAC | 37 | 13 | 9 | 22 | 26 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Binghamton | AHL | 12 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | |
| AHL/PRO TOTALS | 12 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
MATTHEW CAITO * Defenseman
Height: 5’11" Weight: 187 Shoots: Right Born: 8/13/1993 in Coto de Caza, Calif.
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
| 2011-12 | Dubuque | USHL | 59 | 7 | 19 | 26 | 71 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| 2012-13 | Miami (OH) | CCHA | 42 | 5 | 16 | 21 | 38 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 2013-14 | Miami (OH) | NCHC | 38 | 3 | 13 | 16 | 20 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 2014-15 | Miami (OH) | NCHC | 39 | 4 | 20 | 24 | 47 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 2015-16 | Miami (OH) | NCHC | 32 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 20 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Toledo | ECHL | 8 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | |
| PRO TOTALS | 8 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | ||