GRIFFINS SHUFFLE BLUELINE
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Griffins on Tuesday signed defenseman Ryan Sproul (SPROHL) to an amateur tryout and assigned defenseman Bryan Rufenach to the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye. Additionally, the Detroit Red Wings today reassigned defenseman Gleason Fournier to the Walleye from the Griffins.
Sproul, 19, was Detroit’s third choice (55th overall) in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. The Mississauga, Ontario, native led all OHL defensemen with 23 goals and tied for third with 54 points (23-31—54) in 61 games this season as a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. In 122 career games with Sault Ste. Marie, Sproul has recorded 87 points (37-50—87) and 89 penalty minutes.
Rufenach, 22, has recorded two assists and 11 penalty minutes in 13 contests with Grand Rapids this season. The Barrie, Ontario, native ranks fourth on Toledo and 16th among ECHL defensemen with 31 points (12-19—31) in 51 games. Rufenach has also added 32 penalty minutes and a team-high five power play goals with the Walleye.
A native of Rimouski, Quebec, Fournier has skated in 13 games with the Griffins this season, recording four points (1-3—4) and 14 penalty minutes. The 20-year-old defenseman also has 17 points (2-15—17) and 32 penalty minutes in 52 games with Toledo. Detroit’s fourth choice (90th overall) in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Fournier is in his first professional season after recording 133 points (31-102—133) in 237 career games with the QMJHL’s Rimouski Oceanic.
Sproul joins Grand Rapids as it prepares for a three-in-three this weekend. The Griffins will start with back-to-back home games on Friday at 7 p.m. versus Charlotte and Saturday at 7 p.m. versus Oklahoma City, before traveling to Toronto for a 3 p.m. start on Sunday. Tickets are available at griffinshockey.com.
Sproul, 19, was Detroit’s third choice (55th overall) in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. The Mississauga, Ontario, native led all OHL defensemen with 23 goals and tied for third with 54 points (23-31—54) in 61 games this season as a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. In 122 career games with Sault Ste. Marie, Sproul has recorded 87 points (37-50—87) and 89 penalty minutes.
Rufenach, 22, has recorded two assists and 11 penalty minutes in 13 contests with Grand Rapids this season. The Barrie, Ontario, native ranks fourth on Toledo and 16th among ECHL defensemen with 31 points (12-19—31) in 51 games. Rufenach has also added 32 penalty minutes and a team-high five power play goals with the Walleye.
A native of Rimouski, Quebec, Fournier has skated in 13 games with the Griffins this season, recording four points (1-3—4) and 14 penalty minutes. The 20-year-old defenseman also has 17 points (2-15—17) and 32 penalty minutes in 52 games with Toledo. Detroit’s fourth choice (90th overall) in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Fournier is in his first professional season after recording 133 points (31-102—133) in 237 career games with the QMJHL’s Rimouski Oceanic.
Sproul joins Grand Rapids as it prepares for a three-in-three this weekend. The Griffins will start with back-to-back home games on Friday at 7 p.m. versus Charlotte and Saturday at 7 p.m. versus Oklahoma City, before traveling to Toronto for a 3 p.m. start on Sunday. Tickets are available at griffinshockey.com.
23 RYAN SPROUL * Defenseman
Height: 6'3" Weight: 186 Shoots: Right Born: 1/13/93 in Mississauga, Ontario
Drafted: Detroit's 3rd choice (55th overall) in 2011 NHL Entry Draft
Height: 6'3" Weight: 186 Shoots: Right Born: 1/13/93 in Mississauga, Ontario
Drafted: Detroit's 3rd choice (55th overall) in 2011 NHL Entry Draft
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
| 2008-09 | Vaughan | GTHL | 31 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 14 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 2009-10 | Bramalea | ON-Jr. A | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Vaughan | ON-Jr. A | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2010-11 | Vaughan | ON-Jr. A | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Sault Ste. Marie | OHL | 61 | 14 | 19 | 33 | 36 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | |
| 2011-12 | Sault Ste. Marie | OHL | 61 | 23 | 31 | 54 | 53 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |