Rockford IceHogs (8-4-1-2) vs. GRIFFINS (6-6-0-1)

Griffins Game #14 * Home Game #6 * AHL Game #216

Season Series: 0-0-0-0 Home Series: 0-0-0-0 Road Series: 0-0-0-0
All-Time Series: 40-29-3-8 All-Time Home Series: 27-10-1-2 All-Time Road Series: 13-19-2-6

Griffins vs. IceHogs
First of 10 meetings overall, first of five at Van Andel Arena…On Nov. 6, the Chicago Blackhawks relieved Joel Quenneville of his coaching duties and named Rockford head coach Jeremy Colliton its 38th head coach in franchise history…Colliton, 33, had been the youngest active head coach in the AHL and becomes the youngest head coach currently in the NHL…On the same day, Rockford assistant coach Derek King was named the interim head coach of the IceHogs…A former Griffin, King played in Grand Rapids from 1999-01 and 2002-04 and is the franchise’s all-time leading playoff scorer (16-25—41) and ranks fifth in regular season points (73-130—203)…The Griffins finished 4-3-0-3 in the 2017-18 season series against the IceHogs, winning the last four matchups…Grand Rapids has won four straight against Rockford after a seven-game losing streak (0-4-0-3 from April 1-Dec. 23, 2017)…On home ice, the Griffins have won four meetings in a row, eight of the last nine and 13 of the last 16…Since the start of the 2012-13 season, the Griffins are 21-4-1-1 (0.815) against the ‘Hogs at the Van...In that same time frame, Grand Rapids is 11-12-0-4 (0.481) at the BMO Harris Bank Center.

Last Game (Saturday): Griffins 2 at Moose 6
Grand Rapids had its five-game point streak and three-game winning streak snapped…Manitoba earned its first regular season win against the Griffins at Bell MTS Place since April 4, 2017…Grand Rapids bettered their previous game’s output with a season-high 40 shots…Chris Terry extended his goal streak to three games.

Status Update
The Griffins had their season-high five-game point streak snapped in last Saturday’s loss at Manitoba. With a 6-6-0-1 record, Grand Rapids places seventh in the Central Division. The Griffins begin a four-game homestand with three games in four days this week. Grand Rapids hosts Rockford for the first of 10 meetings today, matches up with Ontario for the first-time ever on Friday and then faces Manitoba for the third time in the Griffins’ last five games on Saturday.

Back to School, Back to School…
When Rockford comes to town today, it will mark Grand Rapids’ 18th annual school day game, as the Griffins have hosted a weekday game with an early start time every year since the 2001-02 season. Grand Rapids owns an 11-5-0-1
record (0.676) in home matinee games and has scored seven goals in each of its last two. In last season’s rendition, the Griffins tallied five answered goals over the game’s final 29 minutes to earn a 7-4 victory against San Antonio.

Friendly Confines
The Griffins have points in four of their first five home games (3-1-0-1) and are averaging 3.60 goals at Van Andel Arena, compared to 2.75 on enemy ice.

Terr-ing It Up
The AHL’s leading scorer from a season ago, Chris Terry is on a season-high three-game goal streak, lighting the lamp four times in that stretch. In fact, in the last six games, Terry shows six goals among seven points. His team-high eight markers tie for seventh in the AHL.

No Shots For You
Grand Rapids has surrendered more than 30 shots just three times through the season’s first 13 games and ranks fifth in the AHL in shots against (26.7). The Griffins have out shot 10 of 13 opponents so far. On the flip side, Grand Rapids is averaging 36.2 shots for over its last five contests, including a season-high 40 in its last time out on Saturday at Manitoba.

Happy Camper
First-year Griffin Carter Camper recorded back-to-back multi-point games for the first time in the campaign on Nov. 4-8. He shows nine points (1-8—9) in his last eight outings. Camper paces the team in assists (9) and ties for the lead in both points (11) and multi-point games (4).

Puemped Up
Second-year Griffin Matt Puempel ties with Carter Camper for the most multi-point games of the season with four after collecting a goal and an assist in last Thursday’s victory. The Essex, Ontario, native ranks second on the team in goals (5) and third in points (10).

Add Rybar for Support
Goaltender Patrik Rybar (pronounced REE-bar) has points in his last three starts (2-0-1), showing a 1.30 GAA and a 0.944 save percentage in that span. He picked up his first victory on North American soil in his second career start on Oct. 27 in Belleville after stopping 21 of 22 shots. The 25-year-old led the Czech Extraliga in both GAA (1.73) and shutouts (7) in 36 games with Hradec Kralove last season.

Z-Score
The sixth overall selection in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft by Detroit, Filip Zadina had his season-high three-game point streak snapped in last Saturday’s loss but still shows four points (2-2—4) in the last four contests. He ties for third on the team in goals (4) and fourth in points (8). The 18-year-old is the highest Red Wings draft pick ever to suit up for the Griffins. Only three players in Griffins history were drafted higher than No. 6: Jason Spezza (No. 2 by Ottawa in 2001), Darrin Shannon (No. 4 by Pittsburgh in 1988) and Stephen Weiss (No. 4 by Florida in 2001). Dylan Larkin (selected 15th overall in the 2014 Draft) was the previous highest Red Wings draft selection to play for Grand Rapids.

Pick Ehn Up Points
Skating in his first season in North America, Christoffer Ehn shows five points (1-4—5) in the last four games. Detroit’s third choice, 106th overall, in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, Ehn also has one assist in 10 games with the Red Wings this season. He was recalled by the Wings on Nov. 6, skated in that night’s 3-2 shootout victory against Vancouver, and then was assigned back to Grand Rapids on Nov. 7. By appearing in Nov. 6’s game, Ehn became the 173rd Griffins alumnus to play in the NHL.

This Date in Griffins History
2003: Kevin Miller’s two goals in the final period break a 1-1 deadlock and propel the Griffins, who were outshot 49-16 on the night, to a 4-1 win at Milwaukee. Joey MacDonald finishes with 48 saves, his most as a Griffin.
2014: A breathtaking battle between the last two Calder Cup champions goes the way of the 2013 victors. Following Mitch Callahan’s equalizer with 1:14 left in regulation, Teemu Pulkkinen’s rocket from the top of the left circle with 0.8 seconds remaining in overtime gives the Griffins an incredible 3-2 come-from-behind victory over Texas.
2017: The Griffins tally five goals in a 9:48 span of the second period to take a 6-3 matinee win at San Antonio.

PROMOTIONS

18th Annual School Day Game presented by Rebounderz: The Griffins’ annual School Day Game has become a major educational event for West Michigan schools. Thousands of students and teachers will head to Van Andel Arena for this fun learning experience that features interactive exhibits and educational displays throughout the concourse and during the game. The educational portion will have a STEM focus, as well as a variety of information on health and wellness. All students will receive an interactive workbook to learn about how hockey relates
to everyday classroom subjects. For more information, click here.

Winning Wednesday presented by Farm Bureau Insurance: Every time the Griffins win at home on Wednesday, each fan in attendance will receive a free ticket to the next Wednesday game. To redeem a Winning Wednesday ticket, please visit the box office following the Winning Wednesday game, The Zone during normal business hours, or
the Van Andel Arena box office prior to the next Wednesday game beginning at 5:30 p.m. Fans who exchange their Winning Wednesday ticket at The Zone on a non-game day will receive 20% off the purchase of one item (excluding jerseys). One discount per person present.

Library Nights: For all Wednesday and Sunday games, fans can present their Grand Rapids Public Library card or Kent District Library card at the Van Andel Arena box office on the night of the game or at The Zone anytime during the store’s regular business hours to purchase either an Upper Level Faceoff ticket for $14, an Upper Level Center Ice ticket for $17, or a Lower Level Faceoff ticket for $20. Limit four tickets per card per person, subject to availability.

Photo by Sam Iannamico/Griffins