Center Joel L'Esperance skated in his first season with the Griffins and fifth year pro during the 2022-23 campaign. He totaled 49 points (25-24—49) and 44 penalty minutes in 72 games, which included a team-high 25 goals.

Regular Season Stat Line

72 GP, 25 goals, 24 assists, 49 points, -17 rating, 44 PIM with GRG

Contract Status

Signed with Grand Rapids through the 2023-24 season

By the Numbers

49 – His 49 points tied a career high set last season with the Texas Stars.

14 – Posted a career-best 14 power-play goals, which ranked third in the AHL and tied for sixth in the team’s top 10 for a single season.

247 – He finished second on the circuit with 247 shots and ranked fifth in the team’s top 10 for a single season. His shot total was the most by a Griffin since Carl Corazzini set the franchise record of 274 in 2007-08.

9 – Registered nine multi-point games, including a season-high three points (1-2—3) on Feb. 25 versus the Cleveland Monsters.

2 – Amassed two five-game point streaks from Feb. 19-March 1 (5-2—7) and from Oct. 29-Nov. 5 (2-4—6).

5 – His five-game goal streak from Feb. 19-March 1 was the longest on the team this season and set a new career-high run.

150 – He collected his 150th pro point with an assist on Nov. 5 at the Rockford IceHogs. He later tallied his 150th AHL point with a goal on Nov. 25 versus the Manitoba Moose during his 200th AHL game.

250 – Appeared in his 250th pro game on Jan. 13 against the Iowa Wild and skated in his 250th AHL contest on April 2 at the Rockford IceHogs.

100 – Scored his 100th pro goal on March 10 against the Rockford IceHogs, which was also his 20th of the season.

72 – He played in all 72 games this season with Grand Rapids, which tied for first in the AHL. He became the first Griffin to play every game in a non-COVID impacted season since Cory Elkins and Dylan McIlrath (76) in 2017-18.

1 – Scored one game-winner this season on Dec. 7 against the Iowa Wild during his only two-goal game of the campaign.

2 – Scored on the power play in two straight contests from March 10-11.

19 – He totaled five or more shots on 19 different occasions this season, including a season-high nine shots on March 31 against the Milwaukee Admirals.

50 – Notched a career-high 50% on shootout attempts (2-for-4). His two shootout goals tied his career best set in 2019-20 with the Texas Stars.

Newsworthy

Grand Rapids Griffins | Gaming with the Griffins: Joel L'Esperance (griffinshockey.com)

Photo at top by Nicolas Carrillo/Griffins