WINGS' TOP PICK JOINS GRIFFINS

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Griffins on Thursday signed forward Cory Emmerton to an amateur tryout and announced that goaltender Stefan Liv has been recalled by the Detroit Red Wings.

Emmerton, 18, was Detroit’s first pick (41st overall) in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. He signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Red Wings on Wednesday after recently finishing his season with the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League.

Despite missing most of this season’s second half with a broken ankle, Emmerton scored a career-high 29 goals and added 37 assists in just 40 games under the tutelage of former Griffins coach Bruce Cassidy. The Frontenacs’ season ended March 30 with a 4-1 series loss to Oshawa in the OHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, but he led the club with five goals and seven points (tied) during the playoffs.

Emmerton enjoyed a breakout season with Kingston in 2005-06, pacing the club and ranking among the OHL’s leaders with 90 points (11th), 64 assists (T9th) and a plus-37 rating (1st). He was chosen to participate in the OHL All-Star Game, the CHL Top Prospects Game and the ADT Canada-Russia Challenge.

Emmerton will be available to play on Friday when the Griffins host the Toronto Marlies at 7 p.m.

Liv, 26, has been summoned to Detroit for the second time this season. In his first year in North America, the Swedish stopper shows a 15-14-2 record, two shutouts, a 2.95 goals against average and a 0.897 save percentage in 33 games for Grand Rapids.

Liv is expected to serve as the Red Wings’ backup tonight when they visit Chicago at 8:30 p.m. EDT.