Griffins sign former North Dakota forward, Hunter Johannes, to one-year contract

Hunter Johannes

North Dakota forward Hunter Johannes (28) shoots before the start of an NCAA hockey game against Boston University on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, in Boston. (AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper)AP

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GRAND RAPIDS -- A player with loads of college hockey experience is turning pro in West Michigan.

On Wednesday, the Grand Rapids Griffins announced they have signed forward Hunter Johannes to a one-year contract, which will be for the 2024-25 season. In the meantime, the 25-year-old will join the team on an amateur tryout.

Johannes comes to Grand Rapids after wrapping up his fifth year of NCAA hockey, playing this past season with the North Dakota Fighting Hawks. In 31 games, the Eden Prairie, Minnesota native scored 12 goals and 19 points, including scoring a goal in North Dakota’s loss to Michigan in the Maryland Heights Regional Semifinal last weekend. He ended the season on a three-game goal streak.

Johannes ended up playing for three schools during his collegiate career. He started out east playing for American International College, helping the Yellow Jackets to two Atlantic Hockey championships, and back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances.

The 6-foot-3 winger transferred to Lindenwood University before last season and played for the first-year Lions. In 88 total college games, Johannes registered 29 goals and 28 assists.

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Prior to playing collegiately, Johannes bounced around the junior hockey ranks, playing for the Lincoln Stars, Fargo Force and Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League, spending the 2018-19 campaign with the Bismarck Bobcats and Jamestown Rebels of the North American Hockey League.

Johannes comes to a Griffins team that is battling for playoff positioning. The team clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2019 last week.

Grand Rapids (32-19-8-4) is second in the Central Division, 10 points behind the first-place Milwaukee Admirals, but is only three points ahead of the Rockford IceHogs for third. They are set to host the Chicago Wolves on Wednesday night.

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