GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Griffins signed defenseman Marcus Crawford to a one-year contract for the 2026-27 season.   

Crawford was named the 2025-26 ECHL Defenseman of the Year and MVP when he led the league with 86 points (14-72—86) and 72 assists in 70 regular-season games with the Kansas City Mavericks to go along with 125 penalty minutes and a plus-49 rating. The 29-year-old then totaled 14 points (2-12—14) in 17 postseason games, leading the Mavericks to the 2026 Kelly Cup Finals. Crawford has spent six seasons in the ECHL split between the Toledo Walleye (2018-20), Orlando Solar Bears (2019-20) and Kansas City (2019-22; 24-26). During his time in the ECHL, the defenseman has 260 points (53-207—260), 459 penalty minutes and a plus-62 rating in 350 regular-season outings. 

Crawford has competed in eight-career AHL games during the 2018-19 season with the Griffins and notched four penalty minutes and a minus-two rating during his rookie campaign. 

From 2022-24, the ninth-year pro suited up for the Cardiff Devils in the EIHL and produced 112 points (13-99—112), 157 penalty minutes and a plus-72 rating in 108 career regular-season games. Crawford was named the EIHL Defenseman of the Year in both campaigns and led all defensemen in points in 2022-23 (9-48—57) and 2023-24 (4-51—55). In addition, Crawford led Cardiff to a third-place finish in the Continental Cup in both 2022-23 and 2023-24. Throughout his pro career, the Ajax, Ontario, native has 401 points (70-331—401), 652 penalty minutes and a plus-153 rating in 498 appearances between the AHL, ECHL and EIHL, adding 21 points (5-16—21), 55 penalty minutes and a plus-five rating in 40 playoff contests. 

Prior to turning pro, Crawford spent four seasons in the OHL with the Saginaw Spirit from 2014-18, accumulating 149 points (23-126—149), 174 penalty minutes and a minus-39 rating in 252 regular-season games.  

Fans can secure their full-season, select-season or group ticket packages by calling (616) 774-4585 ext. 2 or visit griffinshockey.com for more information. Single-game tickets for the Griffins’ 2026-27 season will go on sale to the public later this summer through griffinshockey.com/tickets. Be sure to sign up to receive the Griffins Nation newsletters to be the first to know when tickets go on sale.