GRIFFINS SEND THREE TO TOLEDO
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Griffins on Friday sent three players to the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye. Forward Evan Rankin was released from his professional tryout, while forward Willie Coetzee and defenseman Sebastien Piche were reassigned by the Detroit Red Wings.
Rankin, 24, earned two points (1-1—2) and seven penalty minutes during his 10-game stint with Grand Rapids. While making his Griffins debut on Jan. 5, the Portage, Mich., native tallied the game-winning goal in Grand Rapids’ 3-2 victory over Hamilton. He returns to Toledo, where he ranks among the Walleye’s leaders with 12 goals (T2nd) and 24 points (6th) in 30 contests.
Coetzee, 20, notched four points (3-1—4) and a plus-two rating during a three-game stint for Toledo in early December. He currently shows five assists in 25 games for Grand Rapids.
Piche, 22, has skated in 20 games for the Walleye this season, ranking second among team blueliners with 13 points (3-10—13). He has one assist in 10 games for the Griffins.
The Griffins, whose roster has been bolstered recently by the return of forwards Cory Emmerton, Jan Mursak and Tomas Tatar from the Red Wings, will host the Rockford IceHogs tonight at 7 p.m.
Rankin, 24, earned two points (1-1—2) and seven penalty minutes during his 10-game stint with Grand Rapids. While making his Griffins debut on Jan. 5, the Portage, Mich., native tallied the game-winning goal in Grand Rapids’ 3-2 victory over Hamilton. He returns to Toledo, where he ranks among the Walleye’s leaders with 12 goals (T2nd) and 24 points (6th) in 30 contests.
Coetzee, 20, notched four points (3-1—4) and a plus-two rating during a three-game stint for Toledo in early December. He currently shows five assists in 25 games for Grand Rapids.
Piche, 22, has skated in 20 games for the Walleye this season, ranking second among team blueliners with 13 points (3-10—13). He has one assist in 10 games for the Griffins.
The Griffins, whose roster has been bolstered recently by the return of forwards Cory Emmerton, Jan Mursak and Tomas Tatar from the Red Wings, will host the Rockford IceHogs tonight at 7 p.m.