Russo signs with Wings

The Detroit Red Wings might have found another diamond in the rough with the recent signing of free agent defenseman Robbie Russo who just graduated from Notre Dame this past spring.

The 22-year-old, 6’0,” 190 lbs. native of Westmont IL, was selected in the Fourth Round (95th overall) of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft by the NY Islanders, but never signed with the team. He enjoyed something of a breakout offensive season this past year, collecting 41 points (15g, 26a) in 40 games at Notre Dame, almost doubling his previous best of 23 points in 41 games in his sophomore season there.

Russo also picked up 20 penalty minutes and finished as a +13 player for the Fighting Irish.

Big announcement

There just might be a big announcement coming out of Grand Rapids in the next 24 hours.

Click on the team logo at the AHL league website (www.theahl.com) and a black screen comes up with the phrase in all caps– ‘A NEW ERA TAKES FLIGHT’ in the middle and below 08.18.15 — obviously referring to Tuesday’s date.

The only other item on the screen is a logo in the lower right referring to the team’s 20th Anniversary season. Newspapers in Grand Rapids or Detroit have no indication or hint at what might be coming tomorrow.

Spinnell signed

Earlier this month, the Griffins announced the signing of defenseman Steve Spinnell who played last season in Hartford.

The 24-year-old, 6’2,” 216 lbs. defender from Vernon Hills, IL picked up five points (1g, 4a) in 52 games in Hartford and also collected a goal and assist in six games with Greenville in the ECHL last season and one more goal in three playoff games with the Wolfpack.

Last season was just the second pro campaign for Spinnell, a four-year graduate of Miami of Ohio where he wore the captain’s ‘C’ in his final season. He also played a couple of seasons in the USHL before that with the Ohio Junior Bluejackets and Fargo Force.