Grand Rapids Griffins - American Hockey League [AHL] Griffins Gaining Steam on MLN Sports Zone

Griffins Gaining Ground (Again)
Grand Rapids takes familiar place among AHL's best.

12.07.04 - The Grand Rapids Griffins are at it again, climbing toward the top of the AHL standings in a familiar story that they hope has a happy ending in 2004-05.

The Griffins, top development team of the NHL's Detroit Red Wings, are owners of the AHL's best record since the league's merger with the IHL.

In fact, they have posted 149 wins and a .628 points percentage in 261 games since start of the 2001-02 season.

Grand Rapids has two division titles and a second-place finish to its credit, and finds itself tied with Milwaukee atop the West Division with a record of 15-5-1-0 through Sunday Dec 5.

However, the Griffins have yet to drink from the Calder Cup, and are still looking for the franchise's first AHL championship.

Under third-year head coach Danton Cole, the Griffins have won 10 of their last 12 games (with nine of the 10 wins by a single goal), and are a perfect 7-0-0-0 away from Van Andel Arena this season.

One of four AHL teams averaging fewer than two goals against per game, Grand Rapids is winning primarily with defense, starting in goal with first-year starter Joey MacDonald and his 12-5-0 record, 1.78 goals-against average and four shutouts.

The Griffins' leading scorer is even a defenseman: 2000 first-round draft pick Niklas Kronwall, whose seven goals and 20 points lead all AHL blueliners this season.

Veterans Bryan Helmer and Travis Richards join Kronwall in anchoring the defense corps, where they are joined by former Memorial Cup MVP Danny Groulx, rookies Derek Meech, Brett Lebda and Paul Ballantyne.

Ballantyne has already skated in 15 games this year after appearing in just 16 AHL contests combined from 2002-04.

Offensively, Eric Manlow leads Griffins forwards with 15 points, while Eric Himelfarb is among the league's rookie leaders with 12 points.

In addition, Blake Sloan, who has never scored more than 10 goals in seven professional and four collegiate seasons, already has seven in 21 games.

Matt Ellis and Darryl Bootland, former junior teammates (and roommates) at Toronto St. Michael's, have been nightly contributors as well, as has Todd Robinson, with seven points in 12 games since joining the Griffins from Muskegon (UHL) last month.

Also coming on strong recently is Nathan Robinson, an AHL All-Star in 2004, who has eight points in his last eight games.

Grand Rapids is managing this magnificent run without star Jiri Hudler, who has returned to his home in the Czech Republic to be with his ailing father.