Dec. 8, 2016

By Pete Wallner, MLive
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GRAND RAPIDS - Funny how things fall into place when you're playing well, even as a rookie.

Grand Rapids Griffins first-year center Kyle Criscuolo has five goals and nine points his past seven games, including an impressive in-the-air goal that has been making the social rounds and was included in an ESPN Top 10 Plays earlier this week.

Criscuolo, an undrafted former two-year captain at Harvard, has helped the Griffins pick up points in seven consecutive games heading into Friday's home game against Central Division-leading Milwaukee. The Griffins are two points behind the Admirals with two more games played.

Criscuolo, with seven goals, 15 points and just two penalty minutes in 22 games, is the highest scoring rookie and third-leading scorer overall on the Griffins. Undersized at 5-foot-9, 175 pounds, Criscuolo has made an easy transition from the Ivy League to the AHL.

"I think after the first few games, once you start to understand the systems and don't have to think as much, that's when I began to feel more comfortable," Criscuolo said.

At Harvard, he was the first multi-year captain in nearly 70 years and contributed 19 goals and 32 points in 34 games as a senior. After he signed an amateur tryout, he joined the Griffins for four games late last season.

This year, he may have a tough time topping his goal Tuesday at Cleveland. With just over eight minutes elapsed in the first period, Matt Ford sent a scoop pass from the far boards that went over the stick of defender Dillon Heatherington and Criscuolo swatted the puck just before it landed. It blasted past goaltender Joonas Korpisalo.

"I knew Fordo was going to pass that over, and once it was in the air I just decided I was shooting no matter what, Criscuolo said, adding with a smile, "I think timing was a little lucky there."

At Harvard last season, Criscuolo was second on the team with 19 goals in 34 games while finishing third in scoring with 32 points. The team's leading scorer was highly sought-after free agent Jimmy Vesey, who signed with the Rangers.

Criscuolo signed a minor league contract March 29. In four seasons at Harvard, Criscuolo had 53 goals and 113 points in 124 games.