From the Grand Rapids Griffins:
GRIFFINS RE-SIGN ELSON AND SHINE
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Griffins on Monday re-signed forwards Turner Elson and Dominik Shine to one-year contracts.
The 25-year-old Elson tallied 21 points (9-12—21), a plus-12 rating and 49 penalty minutes in 57 games during his first season as a Griffin in 2017-18. His plus-12 rating marked a career high and tied for third on the team. Making his Calder Cup Playoff debut, Elson scored a pair of goals in five games.
Since debuting with the Abbotsford Heat at the end of the 2011-12 season, Elson has appeared in 232 career AHL contests between Abbotsford (2011-14), Adirondack (2014-15), Stockton (2015-16), San Antonio (2016-17) and Grand Rapids and compiled 87 points (43-44—87) and 193 PIM. He logged back-to-back career-high 30-point campaigns in 2014-15 with Adirondack and 2015-16 with Stockton.
A 6-foot, 195-pound forward, Elson made his NHL debut with the Calgary Flames on April 9, 2016, against Minnesota and logged his first NHL point on an assist.
Elson won the 2014 Kelly Cup as a member of the ECHL’s Alaska Aces, tallying 15 points (5-10—15) in 18 regular season games before scoring 11 points (7-4—11) in 21 postseason tilts.
A native of New Westminster, British Columbia, Elson appeared in 254 games with Red Deer of the Western Hockey League from 2009-2013 and racked up 151 points (72-79—151) and 337 PIM. He placed second on the Rebels in goals (26), assists (31) and points (57) during his final campaign in 2012-13.
Skating in his first full professional season in 2017-18, Shine, 25, accounted for 16 points (8-8—16), a plus-four rating and 54 PIM in 58 games with the Griffins. He also played in five postseason contests while making his Calder Cup Playoff debut.
The 5-foot-11, 180-pound winger made his pro debut with the Griffins at the end of the 2016-17 campaign, recording three assists and seven PIM in eight appearances.
Prior to turning pro, Shine competed four seasons (2013-17) at Northern Michigan University (WCHA), where he posted 97 points (48-49—97) and 185 PIM in 131 games and served as a two-time alternate captain.
During his senior year in 2016-17, Shine paced the conference with 20 goals in 33 contests en route to his second-straight 30-point season and was named to the All-WCHA Third Team.
A native of Pinckney, Mich., Shine played four seasons for the USHL’s Lincoln Stars from 2009-13 and served as captain during his final two years. He totaled 134 career points (64-70—134) and 503 PIM in 188 regular season contests while chipping in five points (2-3—5) and 22 PIM in 15 postseason appearances.
Led by first-year head coach Ben Simon, the Griffins will begin the home portion of their 2018-19 season on Friday, Oct. 12 at Van Andel Arena with Opening Night Presented by Huntington Bank. Additional home dates confirmed by the American Hockey League include Dec. 31, Jan. 19, Jan. 26, Feb. 9 and Feb. 16.
Single-game tickets will go on sale to the public in September. 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.
