GRIFFINS SIGN KEVIN TANSEY

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Griffins on Thursday signed defenseman Kevin Tansey to a one-year contract.

Tansey, 24, split the 2016-17 season, his first full campaign, between the Chicago Wolves and the ECHL’s Missouri Mavericks. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound blueliner contributed three points (1-2—3), a plus-three rating and 21 penalty minutes in 19 regular season games with the Wolves and made his Calder Cup Playoff debut, skating in two games. A 2017 CCM/ECHL All-Star Classic participant, Tansey played in 44 games with the Mavericks and led all team defensemen with 13 goals while placing second among team blueliners with 31 points (13-18—31).

Tansey made his AHL debut with the Binghamton Senators at end of the 2015-16 season after completing a four-year career at Clarkson University (ECAC). Tansey totaled nine PIM in 11 contests with the Senators.

Prior to turning pro, the Hammond, Ontario, native appeared in 151 career games – one off the school’s all-time mark – with the Clarkson Golden Knights from 2011-16 and tallied 34 points (12-22—34) and 122 PIM. Tansey was named to the 2013-14 ECAC All-Academic Team and was nominated for the 2016 Hockey Humanitarian Award.

The Griffins will raise their 2017 Calder Cup championship banner and begin the defense of their title on Friday, Oct. 6 at Van Andel Arena against Manitoba when the puck drops on the 2017-18 season with Opening Night presented by Huntington Bank.

Single-game tickets will go on sale to the public on Sept. 8. 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.