MIELE AND PULKKINEN NAMED TO AHL FIRST ALL-STAR TEAM

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Griffins center Andy Miele and right wing Teemu Pulkkinen on Thursday were named to the 2014-15 American Hockey League First All-Star Team.

This marks the first time that two players from the Griffins have been named to the First All-Star Team since Grand Rapids’ inaugural AHL season of 2001-02, when defenseman John Gruden and goaltender Martin Prusek earned the honors.

Miele, 26, ranks second in the AHL in scoring with 67 points (24-43—67) in 66 games, ties for first in shootout goals (3) and ranks fifth in assists (43). A native of Detroit, Mich., he also leads the Griffins in points, assists, power play points (24) and power play assists (16). Miele has recorded 22 multi-point performances this season, most notably registering a goal and four assists on Dec. 19 versus Toronto.

Last season, as a member of the Portland Pirates, Miele was named to the AHL’s Second All-Star Team after accumulating 72 points (27-45—72) in 70 games. He and Oklahoma City defenseman Brad Hunt are the only repeat honorees from last season’s all-star teams.

Detroit’s fourth choice (111th overall) in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, Pulkkinen still leads the AHL in goals with 34 and ranks fourth overall in scoring with 61 points (34-27—61) in 46 games, despite having been on recall to the Red Wings since March 7. The Vantaa, Finland, native has notched five goals, three assists, 10 PIM and a plus-five rating in 26 games with Detroit.

The 23-year-old has strung together a multitude of accomplishments this season, including taking part in the AHL All-Star Classic, tying the Griffins’ franchise record of eight consecutive games with a goal, and earning his first NHL goal on Jan. 20 versus Minnesota. On March 4 versus Oklahoma City, Pulkkinen notched his second hat trick of the season; his first career hat trick came on Jan. 29 at Iowa, when he became the second Griffin ever to record a hat trick via three power play goals.

Earlier this season, Pulkkinen became the first player in Griffins franchise history to record back-to-back 30 goal seasons (31 in 2013-14), and he is only the second Griffin to have ever logged multiple 30-goal seasons. A member of the AHL’s All-Rookie Team last season, Pulkkinen has followed in the footsteps of current Red Wing Gustav Nyquist, who was named to the all-rookie squad in 2011-12 and then the First All-Star Team in 2012-13.

The other members of the AHL First All-Star Team, as voted by AHL coaches, players and media in each of the league’s 30 member cities, are left wing Chris Bourque (Hartford); defensemen Brad Hunt (Oklahoma City) and Chris Wideman (Binghamton); and goaltender Matt Murray (Wilkes-Barre Scranton). The AHL Second All-Star Team consists of left wing Shane Prince (Binghamton), right wing Brian O’Neill (Manchester) and center Jordan Weal (Manchester); defensemen Colin Miller (Manchester) and Bobby Sanguinetti (Utica); and goaltender Jacob Markstrom (Utica).

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Griffins center Andy Miele and right wing Teemu Pulkkinen on Thursday were named to the 2014-15 American Hockey League First All-Star Team.

This marks the first time that two players from the Griffins have been named to the First All-Star Team since Grand Rapids’ inaugural AHL season of 2001-02, when defenseman John Gruden and goaltender Martin Prusek earned the honors.

Miele, 26, ranks second in the AHL in scoring with 67 points (24-43—67) in 66 games, ties for first in shootout goals (3) and ranks fifth in assists (43). A native of Detroit, Mich., he also leads the Griffins in points, assists, power play points (24) and power play assists (16). Miele has recorded 22 multi-point performances this season, most notably registering a goal and four assists on Dec. 19 versus Toronto.

Last season, as a member of the Portland Pirates, Miele was named to the AHL’s Second All-Star Team after accumulating 72 points (27-45—72) in 70 games. He and Oklahoma City defenseman Brad Hunt are the only repeat honorees from last season’s all-star teams.

Detroit’s fourth choice (111th overall) in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, Pulkkinen still leads the AHL in goals with 34 and ranks fourth overall in scoring with 61 points (34-27—61) in 46 games, despite having been on recall to the Red Wings since March 7. The Vantaa, Finland, native has notched five goals, three assists, 10 PIM and a plus-five rating in 26 games with Detroit.

The 23-year-old has strung together a multitude of accomplishments this season, including taking part in the AHL All-Star Classic, tying the Griffins’ franchise record of eight consecutive games with a goal, and earning his first NHL goal on Jan. 20 versus Minnesota. On March 4 versus Oklahoma City, Pulkkinen notched his second hat trick of the season; his first career hat trick came on Jan. 29 at Iowa, when he became the second Griffin ever to record a hat trick via three power play goals.

Earlier this season, Pulkkinen became the first player in Griffins franchise history to record back-to-back 30 goal seasons (31 in 2013-14), and he is only the second Griffin to have ever logged multiple 30-goal seasons. A member of the AHL’s All-Rookie Team last season, Pulkkinen has followed in the footsteps of current Red Wing Gustav Nyquist, who was named to the all-rookie squad in 2011-12 and then the First All-Star Team in 2012-13.

The other members of the AHL First All-Star Team, as voted by AHL coaches, players and media in each of the league’s 30 member cities, are left wing Chris Bourque (Hartford); defensemen Brad Hunt (Oklahoma City) and Chris Wideman (Binghamton); and goaltender Matt Murray (Wilkes-Barre Scranton). The AHL Second All-Star Team consists of left wing Shane Prince (Binghamton), right wing Brian O’Neill (Manchester) and center Jordan Weal (Manchester); defensemen Colin Miller (Manchester) and Bobby Sanguinetti (Utica); and goaltender Jacob Markstrom (Utica).