RUSSO THE RED WING

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Detroit Red Wings have recalled defenseman Robbie Russo from the Grand Rapids Griffins.

A 2017 AHL All-Star Classic participant, Russo, 24, has skated in 56 games this season and leads all team defensemen in scoring with 31 points (7-24—31) while tying for 15th among league blueliners. The 6-foot, 195-pound defenseman also places among the team’s leaders with a plus-14 rating (T1st), 24 assists (T2nd) and 115 shots (5th).

Should he debut with the Red Wings, Russo will become the 161st Griffins alumnus to play in the NHL.

During a historic rookie campaign in 2015-16 in which he was named to the AHL Second All-Star Team and the All-Rookie Team, Russo tallied 39 points (5-34—39) in 71 games to establish a new Griffins record for rookie defensemen and place eighth on the team’s all-time rookie scoring list. His plus-40 rating paced the AHL and finished as the second-best total in franchise history. Combined with this season’s league accolade, Russo is the first player in franchise history to be named to a year-end All-Star Team, an All-Rookie Team and an All-Star Classic.

The New York Islanders’ fourth choice, 95th overall, in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Russo played four seasons (2011-15) at the University of Notre Dame, where he racked up 94 points (28-66—94) in 142 games and was a member of the 2013 CCHA Championship team. Serving as captain in his senior campaign, Russo was named an NCAA East Second Team All-American and to the Hockey East First All-Star Team as he finished second on the team in scoring with a career-best 41 points (15-26—41).

A Westmont, Ill., native, Russo played two seasons for the U.S. National Development Team prior to college and captained Team USA to a gold medal at the 2011 18U World Junior Championship.

The Griffins and Red Wings are both in action on Tuesday night. Grand Rapids travels to San Antonio at 8 p.m. EST while Detroit plays at Toronto at 7:30 p.m.

Single-game tickets are currently on sale. 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.