GRIFFINS SIGN FORWARDS SANDLAK AND FORD
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Griffins have signed forward Carter Sandlak to a standard player’s contract for the 2016-17 season and forward Matthew Ford to a two-year deal.
During the 2015-16 season, Ford, 31, led the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors in goals (27) and points (27-24—51) while appearing in 64 games. The 6-foot-1, 207-pound winger also played two seasons (2013-15) under current Griffins head coach Todd Nelson when he was coach of the Oklahoma City Barons from 2010-15. Ford accounted for 100 points (44-56—100) during his two seasons under Nelson, including setting a career-high in both points (19-34—53) and assists (34) during the 2014-15 campaign. Ford was additionally recognized as Oklahoma City’s AHL Man of the Year in 2014-15 for his community involvement.
Chicago’s eighth-round (256th overall) selection in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, Ford has racked up 306 points (149-157—306) and 359 penalty minutes in 480 career AHL games between the Hartford Wolf Pack (2008-09), Lake Erie Monsters (2008-11), Hershey Bears (2011-12), Adirondack Phantoms (2011-13), Springfield Falcons (2012-13), Oklahoma City Barons (2013-15) and Bakersfield Condors (2015-16). Ford has played in 21 career Calder Cup Playoff games, most recently with Oklahoma City in 2015, and tallied 13 points (5-8—13) and 24 PIM.
A native of West Hills, Calif., Ford played four seasons (2004-08) at the University of Wisconsin (WCHA) prior to turning professional. Ford totaled 39 points (21-18—39) in 124 games during his collegiate career and helped the Badgers claim the 2006 NCAA National Championship. He was also named the USHL’s Rookie of the Year in 2003-04 after scoring 68 points (37-31—68) in 60 games for the Sioux Falls Stampede.
Sandlak, 23, has split his first two professional seasons between the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers and the ECHL’s Florida Everblades. During the 2015-16 campaign, the Vancouver native compiled 12 points (5-7—12) and 30 PIM in 26 games for the Everblades and one point (0-1—1) and four PIM in 10 games with the Checkers.
The 6-foot-2, 205-pound winger made his professional debut with the Checkers in 2014-15 and recorded four points (2-2—4) and 69 PIM in 44 regular season games. He also chipped in three points (0-3—3) in three games as a member of the Everblades.
Before beginning his pro career, Sandlak played in 272 games with Guelph (2009-11), Belleville (2010-13) and Plymouth (2013-14) of the Ontario Hockey League and registered 122 points (59-63—122) and 375 PIM. He logged his most productive season in 2013-14 with Plymouth, setting career highs in goals (24), assists (24) and points (48).
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.
MATTHEW FORD * Right Wing
Height: 6’1" Weight: 207 Shoots: Right Born: 10/9/84 in West Hills, Calif.
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
| 2003-04 | Sioux Falls | USHL | 60 | 37 | 31 | 68 | 60 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 2004-05 | Wisconsin | WCHA | 21 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 18 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 2005-06 | Wisconsin | WCHA | 31 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 14 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 2006-07 | Wisconsin | WCHA | 39 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 38 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 2007-08 | Wisconsin | WCHA | 33 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 30 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 2008-09 | Charlotte | ECHL | 28 | 21 | 17 | 38 | 25 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 21 |
| Hartford | AHL | 25 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 10 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | |
| Lake Erie | AHL | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | |
| 2009-10 | Charlotte | ECHL | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Lake Erie | AHL | 45 | 13 | 14 | 27 | 28 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | |
| 2010-11 | Lake Erie | AHL | 76 | 26 | 16 | 42 | 46 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 8 |
| 2011-12 | Hershey | AHL | 39 | 10 | 18 | 28 | 47 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Adirondack | AHL | 31 | 19 | 12 | 31 | 31 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | |
| 2012-13 | Adirondack | AHL | 35 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 16 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Springfield | AHL | 18 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | |
| 2013-14 | Oklahoma City | AHL | 73 | 25 | 22 | 47 | 71 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 2014-15 | Oklahoma City | AHL | 69 | 19 | 34 | 53 | 34 | 10 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 8 |
| 2015-16 | Bakersfield | AHL | 64 | 27 | 24 | 51 | 60 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| AHL TOTALS | 480 | 149 | 157 | 306 | 359 | 21 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 24 | ||
| PRO TOTALS | 511 | 170 | 176 | 346 | 390 | 27 | 7 | 11 | 18 | 45 | ||
CARTER SANDLAK * Left Wing
Height: 6’2" Weight: 205 Shoots: Left Born: 5/18/93 in Vancouver, British Columbia
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
| 2009-10 | Guelph | OHL | 61 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 61 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 13 |
| 2010-11 | Guelph | OHL | 22 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 25 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Belleville | OHL | 34 | 9 | 7 | 16 | 44 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | |
| 2011-12 | Belleville | OHL | 34 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 52 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| 2012-13 | Belleville | OHL | 60 | 9 | 14 | 23 | 98 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 34 |
| 2013-14 | Plymouth | OHL | 61 | 24 | 24 | 48 | 95 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 2014-15 | Charlotte | AHL | 44 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 69 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Florida | ECHL | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 14 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | |
| 2015-16 | Charlotte | AHL | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Florida | ECHL | 26 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 30 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | |
| AHL TOTALS | 54 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 73 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| PRO TOTALS | 83 | 7 | 13 | 20 | 117 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||