GRIFFINS SIGN KROLL, RELEASE WALSH

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Griffins on Tuesday signed defenseman Johann Kroll to a professional tryout and released left wing Mike Walsh.

Kroll, 25, shows seven points (1-6—7), 14 penalty minutes and a plus-four rating in 24 games with ECHL South Carolina this season. During his rookie campaign in 2008-09, the Plymouth, Minn., native tallied 22 points (1-21—22) in 40 games with the Stingrays in addition to logging 28 AHL contests between Hershey (2) and Syracuse (26), where he earned two assists with the Crunch.

Upon completing a four-year career at Ohio State, during which he totaled 27 points (4-23—27) in 153 games for the Buckeyes, Kroll made his AHL debut by skating in four games with Rochester at the end of the 2007-08 season, recording one assist. He will be available to make his Griffins debut on Wednesday when Grand Rapids hosts the San Antonio Rampage at 7 p.m.

Walsh, 26, has spent parts of the last four seasons with the Griffins since graduating from Notre Dame in 2006. He appeared in 18 contests this season, netting two goals and five PIM.