Photo Credit: Nicolas Carrillo/Grand Rapids Griffins
The Grand Rapids Griffins finished October 2026 tied with multiple teams for first in the AHL with 7-1-1-1, 16 points, and an 80% win percentage. They boasted the league’s top penalty kill with a success rate of 93.5% and were tied for first with 13 power play goals.
It’s clear the Griffins are on the right track to get them back to the playoffs for the fourth season in a row.
Split Opening Weekend in Cleveland
On October 2, 2026, Grand Rapids kicked off its 31st season with a commanding 5-2 win over its arch-rival, the Cleveland Monsters. Forward Sheldon Dries led the way with two goals, including one he scored off the draw.
Two days later, Cleveland took a solid 4-1 lead heading into the third period. However, Grand Rapids fired back with three goals in the back half of the third period to force overtime, where they eventually lost, 5-4. Dries (1g, 1a), Theo Rochette (0g, 2a), and Jesse Kiiskinen (2g, 0a) had two-point nights in the loss. Three of Grand Rapids’ four goals were on the power play. When they weren’t depending on dropback passes and focused on a simple style of play, the Griffins’ power play looked solid.
First Three-in-Three of the Season
Just two weeks into the season, the Griffins experienced their first three-in-three of the year. A loss to the Milwaukee Admirals was sandwiched between two wins: one against the Manitoba Moose and one against the Chicago Wolves.
Michal Postava led the Griffins to a 2-1 victory over the Moose on October 9, stopping 36 of 27 shots. Grand Rapids now has an all-time record of 19-11-0-1 in home openers, and are 4-0 under the helm of Head Coach Dan Watson.
After the game, the boys hopped on the bus and headed towards Wisconsin, where they fell to the Admirals, 4-1. On the plus side of things, rookie Carter Bear scored his first professional goal.
With a chip on their shoulder, the Griffins headed back to Michigan, arriving home a mere 12 hours before puck drop against the Chicago Wolves. Despite the lack of sleep, Kiiskinen led the way with a four-point night, featuring a hat trick, to help deliver Grand Rapids the 5-1 win. With his four-point night, Kiisken led AHL rookies in points (5-2-7) and goals (5). Among all skaters in the league, he was tied for second in goals and tied for fourth in points. Not too shabby for the second week of the season.
Weekend Sweep of Rockford
In the third week of play, the Griffins swept the Rockford IceHogs, outscoring them 9-3. Veteran forward John Leonard led the way with five goals and an assist, scoring a hat trick in the Griffins 5-1 win over the IceHogs on October 18.
Postava and Trey Augustine stopped 27 shots each in their respective games to secure different career milestones. For Augustine, stopping 27 shots meant earning his first professional win. Postava’s win gave him a 5-1 record against Rockford, featuring a 1.85 GAA, a .931 save percentage, and one shutout. At home, Postava is 3-0 with a 2.00 GAA and a .939 save percentage against the IceHogs.
Mid Week Romp Against Manitoba
On Wednesday, October 21, Augustine earned his second career AHL win when the Griffins beat the Moose, 4-3. Forward Ondrej Becher had a two-point night (1g, 1a), and Bear earned an assist, extending his point streak to five games.
Split Weekend with Cleveland
To close out October, the Griffins hosted the Monsters, and yet again split the weekend with their foe.
Despite playing a rather sloppy game on Friday, October 23, Grand Rapids was able to push the game into extra time before falling to Cleveland, 3-2, in a shootout. Augustine made a career-high 36 saves and extended his point streak to three games.
The next night, the Griffins came back with a vengeance, destroying the Monsters 5-2. Grand Rapids Captain Dominik Shine scored his third career hat trick, and defender Shai Buium extended his point streak to four games.
October Milestones
Trey Augustine
Collected his first professional result in the Griffins overtime loss to the Cleveland Monsters on October 3, 2026.
Earned first professional win on October 17, 2026 with a 4-2 win over the Rockford IceHogs.
Carter Bear
Made his professional debut on October 9, 2026.
Scored his first professional goal on October 10, 2026.
Justice Christiensen
Played in his first professional game on October 2, 2026.
Noah Dower Nilsson
Played in his first AHL game and earned his first AHL assist on October 2, 2026.
Kienan Draper
Earned his first AHL point when assisting William Lagesson’s goal on October 2, 2026.
Jesse Kiiskinen
Scored first AHL hat trick on October 11, 2026.
John Leonard
Played in his 300th AHL game on October 21, 2026.
Sutter Muzzatti
Scored his first professional goal during his professional game on October 2, 2026.
Michal Postava
Notched his first AHL regular-season assist on October 11, 2026.
Selected as the Howies Hockey Tap/AHL Player of the Week on October 12, 2026.
Theo Rochette
Scored his first AHL goal in his AHL debut on October 2, 2026.
Dominik Shine
Scored his 100th professional goal on October 11, 2026.
Scored his 100th goal with the Grand Rapids Griffins, third career hat trick, and scored his 11th unassisted goal, the most in the career of any Griffins player, on October 24, 2026.
Dan Watson
Earned his 400th win as a professional Head Coach on October 11, 2026 with a commanding 5-1 win over the Chicago Wolves.
