BOUND FOR DETROIT
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Detroit Red Wings on Friday recalled center Andreas Athanasiou from the Grand Rapids Griffins.
In 26 games with the Griffins, the second-year professional has recorded eight goals, eight assists (8-8—16) and nine penalty minutes. He enjoyed a season-high three-point night (1-2—3) in a 7-4 win against San Diego on Nov. 20, and then a night later he netted both Griffins goals in a 2-1 win at Chicago.
A native of London, Ontario, Athanasiou became the 151st Griffins alumnus to play in the NHL when he made his debut with Detroit earlier this season in a 4-1 loss to Dallas on Nov. 8. He tallied his first NHL goal, which proved to be the game-winner, in a 1-0 shutout of the Washington Capitals at Joe Louis Arena on Nov. 10. Detroit’s fourth choice (110th overall) in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, Athanasiou has played in six games with the Wings this season.
During the 2014-15 campaign spent in Grand Rapids, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound center earned 32 points (16-16—32), 25 PIM and a plus-17 rating in 55 regular season games, ranking among Griffins leaders in goals (4th), plus/minus (T6th) and shooting percentage (13.7%, 5th). He also tied for fifth in scoring for Grand Rapids during the 2015 Calder Cup Playoffs with nine points (5-4—9) in 16 games.
In all, Athanasiou has skated in 83 games with the Griffins since 2013-14 and shows 51 points (25-26—51) and 34 PIM.
The Griffins return from the all-star break today when they travel to Rockford to take on the Central Division-leading IceHogs at 8 p.m. EST. On Saturday, Grand Rapids returns to Van Andel Arena to play Rockford at 7 p.m.
Fans can secure their full-season, select-season or group ticket packages by calling (616) 774-4585 ext. 2. Single-game tickets for all home games are now available for purchase at all Star Tickets locations, including The Zone, online through griffinshockey.com, or by phone through Star Tickets at (800) 585-3737.