Before hopping on a bus for the Griffins’ first-ever trip to Belleville this weekend, third-year Griffin and second-year captain Matthew Ford spent some time catching up on a number of topics.

Where has the team improved the most this month?
I think just with the amount of turnover that Grand Rapids has had this year compared to any of these other years, it’s just coming together. Even these last couple of days, we’ve added a lot of new guys here and a lot of new faces. We’re finding ways that we can be more cohesive as a group and play a pro-hockey style that can have success.

Whenever there’s a new coach, people always want to know: what’s the difference between the old guy and the new guy?
Things haven’t changed a ton. Benny obviously had his hands on a lot of things last year. He was a big part of our success the year we won and the last couple of years. His role has changed because he’s now manning the ship, but he’s always been one of the guys these last couple of years that really controlled the Xs and Os and the details to our hockey. He’s been unbelievably patient with our young guys. He’s a really good teacher in terms of having patience with the young guys but also showing them what it takes to be a pro on a daily basis. I think it’s a valuable tool not only for Grand Rapids’ success but for this organization’s success in the long run.

How do you balance being a leader on this team with having a family at home?
I feel like anything I’ve done I’ve always just tried to go all in. When I’m here, being one of the guys that’s supposed to set an example and do things the right way, I try to do that on a daily basis and be 100%. When I go home, my wife and I both work, and we try to give our son every opportunity. I try to put the hockey aside, whether we’re winning or a game doesn’t go well. You go home and you gotta put a smile on your face and you have fun with your family. That’s what it’s all about.

Your buddy (and former Griffin), Ben Street, is getting a chance in Anaheim and scored his first NHL goal earlier this month. [Editor’s note: He now has three goals in 10 games.] What kind of conversations have you had with him?
We’ve always talked, even during the summer. What a story of perseverance from him. He made that change going for an opportunity, looking for an organization where maybe he’d get that opportunity at the next level. It goes to show at this level, how good of a league this is. He played here for so long and obviously he was so important to the groups we had. He could easily be in that conversation for one of the MVPs the year we won, and he was a huge part of our success both years he was here. To be almost 32 years old and score his first NHL goal, it just goes to show a lot of guys not to give up on your dream. I could tell my kid that story, but I could also tell guys that are here and 25-26 years old, it’s never too late to give yourself that opportunity. He’s just day-to-day working to be the best player he can. He doesn’t change the way he does things from when he was here. He’s a true professional.

I count Grand Rapids as your eighth AHL city and the one you’ve been in the longest. What makes Grand Rapids different?
At different points in my career I had different goals. I’ve always tried to make the most of my opportunities. Early in my career, I was trying to make it to be an everyday American League guy in Charlotte and Cleveland. After establishing myself in Cleveland, I tried to readjust my goals and that new goal became trying to get an NHL contract or play in the NHL. That brought me to Washington’s organization and Philadelphia’s organization in both Hershey and Adirondack and also to Springfield. I can honestly say I gave myself every chance I could.

As the years passed, I went into my seventh or eighth year pro and it turned into finding a good opportunity where I was happy not only for myself, but looking at building a family with my wife, Cassie. We’d been living in Dallas at the time in the summer and we made Oklahoma City home and then I got an opportunity to go play in California where I’m originally from, so playing close to family. Bakersfield was unbelievable; but then coming here to Grand Rapids, it was kind of the combination of finding a place that was a good setup for my family and a place we’d feel at home; but also, I wanted to win something. I wanted to do something special while I had an opportunity and I’ve always seen the Grand Rapids teams as having success and winning and I wanted to be a part of that. It’s hard to pick, but obviously that first year was pretty special to be a part of a championship team and playing an important role within that group. Obviously at this point in my career, it’s one of the things I cherish the most and now feeling like I’m home. I don’t feel like things have changed in this organization. They give us every tool from the staff – it’s a first-class organization – to the right players and put us in a situation to be successful. Despite the slow start here, I think there’s a confidence amongst this group and that’s obviously why I signed on to be here for a few more years. I’ve become attached to this city, to the players, to this organization.

What’s your favorite thing now about Grand Rapids that you didn’t know about before moving here?
This is pretty much where my son’s grown up. The city itself, there’s tons of restaurants, and being a little big city, you have all those amenities of a big city without the hustle and bustle. For me, there’s an outdoor rink right across the street from where we live here and I’m able to go out there with my son. It’s a place that I feel like I call home now.

Your son gained some notoriety during last season’s playoffs by doing the post-game interviews with you. Is he on skates yet?
He went on skates last year for the 24-hour skate. Right now, he’s just learning to get balance. I think this year we’re going to get him on the ice a lot more when the opportunities present themselves, whether it’s here at the Van Andel when we’re not working or we’re not practicing or outdoor when I get an opportunity during a break.

Last question for you. Have you pulled any good pranks yet this year?
I think guys are still feeling me out. If you ask other guys, there’s probably a couple things here or there. Usually it’s with the younger guys. Maybe when it’s something casual trying to get them to wear a suit but that’s about it.


Photo at top by Sam Iannamico/Griffins