DETROIT SENDS MARCHENKO

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Detroit Red Wings on Monday assigned defenseman Alexey Marchenko to the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Marchenko, 22, has skated in 33 games with the Griffins this season, earning 16 points (2-14—16), six penalty minutes and an AHL rookie-best plus-15 rating. A native of Moscow, Russia, Marchenko was selected last Thursday to participate in the 2014 AHL All-Star Classic. Selected by Detroit in the seventh round (205th overall) of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Marchenko made his NHL debut with the Red Wings on Jan. 4 in Dallas, becoming the 140th Griffins alumnus to play in the NHL, and finished the game with a plus-two rating.

Last season, the 6-foot-2, 212-pound defenseman notched nine points (4-5—9) with CSKA Moscow of the KHL. In 82 career KHL games, Marchenko produced 11 points (4-7—11) and 12 penalty minutes.

The Griffins will host the Chicago Wolves on Wednesday at 7 p.m., before battling the Abbotsford Heat at Van Andel Arena in consecutive tilts on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m.

Saturday’s game against Abbotsford will lead into the 12th annual Great Skate at Rosa Parks Circle, which features at least one player skating with fans for 24 consecutive hours from 10 p.m. on Saturday until 10 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, for a complete list of events, or to make a donation toward Griffins player’s participation, visit griffinshockey.com/greatskate.

Fans can secure their full-season, select-season or group ticket packages by calling (616) 774-4585 ext. 2. Single-game tickets for all home games are now available for purchase at all Star Tickets locations, including The Zone, online through griffinshockey.com, or by phone through Star Tickets at (800) 585-3737.