GRIFFINS ADD DEFENSIVE DUO
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Detroit Red Wings on Thursday reassigned defenseman Gleason Fournier (FOHR-nyay) to the Grand Rapids Griffins from the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye. Additionally, the Griffins recalled defenseman Bryan Rufenach (ROOF-uh-nahk) from Toledo.
Fournier, 20, has 17 points (2-15—17) and 32 penalty minutes in 52 games with the Walleye this season. He’s also appeared in three games with Grand Rapids, recording a goal in his AHL debut on Nov. 18 versus San Antonio and adding an assist in his third game, Nov. 27 versus Oklahoma City. Fournier, Detroit’s fourth-round choice (90th overall) in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, is in his first professional season after four seasons with the QMJHL’s Rimouski Oceanic, where he recorded 133 points (31-102—133) in 237 games.
Rufenach, 22, is tied for third among ECHL defensemen with 11 goals and tied for third on Toledo with 28 points (11-17—28) in 48 games. The Barrie, Ontario, native also recorded one assist in three contests with Grand Rapids this season. Detroit’s fifth choice (208th overall) in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, Rufenach is also in his first professional season, notching 55 points (21-34—55) in 136 games with Clarkson University from 2007-11.
The pair will join the Griffins for the team’s three games in three nights this weekend. Grand Rapids will look to extend its three-game winning streak when it hosts Rochester and Oklahoma City on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. before traveling to Hamilton to take on the Bulldogs on Sunday at 5 p.m. Tickets are available at griffinshockey.com.
Fournier, 20, has 17 points (2-15—17) and 32 penalty minutes in 52 games with the Walleye this season. He’s also appeared in three games with Grand Rapids, recording a goal in his AHL debut on Nov. 18 versus San Antonio and adding an assist in his third game, Nov. 27 versus Oklahoma City. Fournier, Detroit’s fourth-round choice (90th overall) in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, is in his first professional season after four seasons with the QMJHL’s Rimouski Oceanic, where he recorded 133 points (31-102—133) in 237 games.
Rufenach, 22, is tied for third among ECHL defensemen with 11 goals and tied for third on Toledo with 28 points (11-17—28) in 48 games. The Barrie, Ontario, native also recorded one assist in three contests with Grand Rapids this season. Detroit’s fifth choice (208th overall) in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, Rufenach is also in his first professional season, notching 55 points (21-34—55) in 136 games with Clarkson University from 2007-11.
The pair will join the Griffins for the team’s three games in three nights this weekend. Grand Rapids will look to extend its three-game winning streak when it hosts Rochester and Oklahoma City on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. before traveling to Hamilton to take on the Bulldogs on Sunday at 5 p.m. Tickets are available at griffinshockey.com.