DETROIT SIGNS DEFENSEMAN JONATHAN ERICSSON TO SIX-YEAR EXTENSION

… Red Wings Lock Up Former Ninth-Round Draft Pick Through 2019-20 Season …

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings today signed defenseman Jonathan Ericsson to a six-year contract extension. In accordance with club policy, additional details will not be disclosed.

Originally drafted by Detroit with the last pick (291^st overall) of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, Ericsson has played 292 games with the Red Wings since making his NHL debut in 2007-08. Over seven seasons with the organization, he has logged 62 points (14-48-62), a +14 rating and 242 penalty minutes. He has also posted 16 points (5-11-16), a +9 rating and 43 penalty minutes in 64 career postseason contests. This season, the 6-foot-4, 221-pound defenseman has tallied five points (1-4-5) and 16 penalty minutes in 15 games, while ranking second on the team with an average of 22:15 time on ice.

A native of Karlskrona, Sweden, Ericsson also recorded 63 points (15-48-63) and 185 penalty minutes in 136 games with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins from 2006-08. Prior to moving to North America, he skated in 81 contests with Sodertalje in the Swedish Elite League from 2003-06.


Jonathan Ericsson, Defenseman
Born Mar 2 1984  -- Karlskrona, Sweden
Height 6.04 -- Weight 220 -- Shoots L

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK

MAPLE LEAFS SIGN CONNOR BROWN

David Nonis, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, announced Friday the hockey club has signed forward Connor Brown to a three-year entry level contract.

Brown, 19, was originally selected by the Maple Leafs in the sixth round, 156th overall, in the 2012 Entry Draft. The 5-11, 170-pound winger currently leads the Ontario Hockey League in scoring this season with 46 points (19 goals, 27 assists) in 23 games for the Erie Otters. Brown also ranks second in the OHL in powerplay goals (tie-8), third in assists (27), shorthanded goals (tie-2) and game-winning goals (tie-3), fourth in goals (tie-19) and sixth in plus/minus (tie +17).

The native of Etobicoke, Ontario was named the OHL’s Player of the Week after posting three goals and four assists for seven points in three games for the week ending October 13. The Erie team captain is also representing Team OHL against Team Russia in the 2013 Subway Super Series.

In 154 career games with Erie over three seasons (2011-12 to present), Brown has registered 72 goals, 96 assists and 168 points with 63 minutes in penalties.

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK

RED WINGS RECALL NYQUIST FROM GRIFFINS

… Detroit Also Assigns Trevor Parkes to ECHL Toledo …

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings today recalled right wing Gustav Nyquist from the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins and assigned left wing Trevor Parkes to the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye.

Nyquist, 24, currently leads the Griffins and is tied for fourth in the AHL with 21 points (7-14-21) in 15 games. The Halmstad, Sweden, native has appeared in 40 career games with the Red Wings over the last two seasons, recording 13 points (4-9-13). He has also skated in 18 playoff games, notching five points (2-3-5), including an overtime-winning goal against Anaheim during the 2013 Western Conference Quarterfinals. A third-year pro, Nyquist has 143 points (53-90-143) in 137 games with Grand Rapids, in addition to seven points (2-5-7) in 10 games during the team’s Calder Cup championship run last spring.


Parkes, 22, has skated in 12 games with the Walleye this season, leading the team with 14 points (8-6-14). He has 48 points (26-22-48) in 35 career games with Toledo, and 17 points (5-12-17) in 80 games with Grand Rapids. In 2012-13, he recorded nine points (3-6-9) in 36 games with the Griffins and 30 points (14-16-30) in 19 games with the Walleye. Parkes also recorded 109 points (60-49-109) in 126 games with the QMJHL’s Montreal Juniors from 2009-11.

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK

DETROIT INKS ANDREAS ATHANASIOU TO ENTRY-LEVEL DEAL

… Fourth-Round Pick from 2012 Currently Leads Junior Team in Scoring …

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings today agreed to terms with left wing Andreas Athanasiou on a three-year entry-level contract. In accordance with club policy, additional details will not be disclosed.
Athanasiou, 19, has appeared in 22 games with the OHL’s Barrie Colts, leading the club with 26 points (9-17-26). A fourth-round pick (110th overall) of Detroit in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, Athanasiou has appeared in 206 career OHL games with Barrie and London, totaling 152 points (71-81-152), a plus-27 rating and 103 penalty minutes. He was third on the Colts during the 2013 postseason with 25 points (12-13-25) in 22 games, reaching the OHL finals for the second straight year after winning a championship with the London Knights in 2011-12.

Andreas Athanasiou
Left Wing
Born Aug 6 1994  -- Woodbridge, ONT
Height 6.02 -- Weight 200 -- Shoots L

Selected by Detroit Red Wings round 4 #110 overall 2012 NHL Entry Draft

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK

DETROIT RECALLS TREVOR PARKES FROM TOLEDO

… Fort Erie, Ontario, Native Currently Leads ECHL’s Walleye in Scoring …

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings today recalled left wing Trevor Parkes from the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye.
Parkes, 22, has split his professional career between the ECHL and AHL, logging 35 games with Toledo and 80 with Grand Rapids since 2011. The third-year pro currently leads the Walleye in scoring with 14 points (8-6-4) in 12 games. He amassed 30 points (14-16-30) in 19 games with Toledo last season, giving him 48 points (26-22-48) during his ECHL stints. A native of Fort Erie, Ont., Parkes has also skated in 80 games with the Griffins, registering 17 points (5-12-17). Prior to turning pro, he recorded 109 points (60-49-109) in 126 games with the QMJHL’s Montreal Juniors from 2009-11.


Trevor Parkes
Left Wing
Born May 13 1991  -- Fort Erie, ONT
Height 6.02 -- Weight 202 -- Shoots R

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK

2014 WINTER CLASSIC FESTIVITIES REVEALED

COKE ZERO™ FAN ZONE ADDED TO THE EXCITING LINE-UP
OF HOCKEY EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE 2014 NHL WINTER CLASSIC

The five-day, 122,000-square-foot hockey fan event in conjunction with the
SiriusXM Hockeytown Winter Festival and the NHL Winter Classic will together
create the most expansive celebration the sport of hockey has ever seen

DETROIT – Olympia Entertainment revealed today plans for the Coke Zero Fan Zone, a five-day, 122,000-square-foot hockey fan event, that will take place outside of Comerica Park December 27-31, 2013. The hockey and winter-themed event for all ages will take place in conjunction with the SiriusXM Hockeytown Winter Festival inside Comerica Park leading up to the highly anticipated 2014 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium New Year’s Day.
       
“The Coke Zero Fan Zone makes one of the biggest celebrations of hockey ever, even bigger,” said Tom Wilson, President & CEO of Olympia Entertainment. “With the Hockeytown Winter Festival events taking place inside Comerica Park in Detroit, the New Year’s Day NHL Winter Classic game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor and, now, the wide array of activities and entertainment at the Coke Zero Fan Zone, the Detroit Red Wings have created the most expansive celebration the sport of hockey has ever seen, spanning multiple facilities over the course of 15 days.”

The Coke Zero Fan Zone will be free to fans holding tickets to that day’s hockey games at the Hockeytown Winter Festival. Admission for non-ticketholders is $5 each day with tickets available for purchase at the entrance. The event will span three heated tents with hockey-themed exhibits, interactive games and activities, autograph and photo opportunities and local music and food offerings:

Hockey-themed Exhibits, Games & Activities:
·        Premier artifact exhibit hosted by the Hockey Hall of Fame
·        Full-size street hockey rink for ages five and older
·        Open skate on a full-size synthetic ice rink (hockey skates only please)
·        Hardest shot radar cage game
·        Top shot electronic hockey net game
·        Mini-sticks game
·        Bubble hockey game
·        Video game challenges

Autograph & Photo Opportunities
·        Stanley Cup display with photo opportunities
·        Q&A sessions with Red Wings and Maple Leafs alumni
·        Alumni autograph booths
·        Locker room displays and photo opportunities in the stall of a favorite Wings or Maple Leafs player

Food & Entertainment
·        SnowZilla simulated toboggan slide
·        Bounce house
·        Local musical acts
·        Popular food truck vendors
·        Detroit restaurants
·        Hot cocoa and s’mores stations
·        Fire pit warming stations

The Coke Zero Fan Zone hours complement the Hockeytown Winter Festival inside Comerica Park:

·        Friday, December 27 from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. (Great Lakes Invitational games MSU vs. MTU – 3:30 and WMU vs. U-M – 7 p.m.)
·        Saturday, December 28 from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. (GLI Consolation Game – 3:30 and GLI Championship Game – 7 p.m.)
·        Sunday, December 29 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. (OHL games London vs. Saginaw – 1:30 and Windsor vs. Plymouth – 5 p.m.)
·        Monday, December 30 from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. (AHL game Toronto Marlies vs. Grand Rapids Griffins – 5 p.m.)
·        Tuesday, December 31 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Red Wings vs. Maple Leafs Alumni Showdown games – 1 and 3:30 p.m.)


“The activities at the Coke Zero Fan Zone and the great line-up of games inside Comerica Park will bring fans from throughout the State of Michigan and Canada to experience downtown Detroit during the 15 days of the Hockeytown Winter Festival,” continued Wilson. “Local businesses will benefit from the thousands of fans who will eat, drink, shop and sleep in downtown establishments. In addition, the Coke Zero Fan Zone will create exposure and revenue for the local vendors and Detroit restaurants at the event and new fans for the local entertainers being showcased on its stages.”

The Coke Zero Fan Zone is sponsored by Bridgestone, Molson Canadian, Coke Zero, Comerica Bank, Kroger, Southwest Ontario Tourism, McDonald’s, Verizon and American Rentals.

LIKE the In Play! Magazine Facebook Page

JORDIN TOOTOO AND XAVIER OUELLET ASSIGNED TO GRAND RAPIDS

… Red Wings Host Washington on Friday to Conclude Four-Game Homestand …

The Detroit Red Wings today assigned right wing Jordin Tootoo and defenseman Xavier Ouellet to the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins.

Tootoo, 30, has appeared in eight games with the Red Wings this season, recording five penalty minutes and averaging 7:13 of ice time. The Churchill, Manitoba, native skated in 42 games with the club last season, tallying eight points (3-5-8) and 78 penalty minutes. In 536 career NHL games with Nashville and Detroit, the 5-foot-9, 199-lb., forward has 133 points (49-84-133) and 808 penalty minutes. Tootoo last played in the AHL with the Milwaukee Admirals in 2005-06. He had 49 points (23-26-49) and 399 penalty minutes with the Admirals in 100 career AHL games from 2004-06.


Ouellet, 20, has averaged 13:58 of ice time in three games with the Red Wings this season. He has also appeared in 12 games with the Griffins, registering three assists, a plus-eight rating and two penalty minutes. A native of Bayonne, France, Ouellet is in his first professional season after spending the last four years with the Montreal Juniors and Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in the QMJHL. In 223 career major junior games, he recorded 160 points (41-119-160). He also represented Canada at the 2013 World Junior Championship, finishing the tournament with three points (1-2-3) in six games.

LIKE the In Play! Magazine Facebook Page