DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings today assigned goaltender Tom McCollum to the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins.
McCollum, 28, was recalled by the Red Wings on Tuesday to serve as the team’s backup goalie during the team’s 5-4 overtime loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. The ninth-year pro has made 34 appearances for Grand Rapids this season, posting an 18-13-3 record, 2.71 goals-against average, 0.909 save percentage and one shutout. He has won each of his last six starts, helping the Griffins climb to a second-place tie in the Central Division on the heels of a seven-game point streak (6-0-0-1) with five games to play in the AHL’s regular season. The Sanborn, N.Y., native became the Griffins’ all-time leader in wins this season and shows a 133-106-13 record, 2.73 goals-against average, 0.907 save percentage and nine shutouts in 278 career AHL games between the Griffins, Stockton Heat and Charlotte checkers. He also owns a 14-11 record, 2.58 goals-against average, 0.915 save percentage and one shutout in 28 AHL playoff games and was a member of the Griffins’ 2013 Calder Cup championship team.
McCollum has also appeared in three career games for the Red Wings, making his NHL debut in a relief effort during the 2010-11 season and most recently appearing in two games during the 2014-15 campaign, earning his first NHL win on Jan. 15, 2015 vs. Buffalo and posting a 0.91 goals-against average and 0.960 save percentage. Originally drafted by the Red Wings in the first round (30th overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, McCollum played 160 games with the OHL’s Guelph Storm and Brampton Battalion from 2006-09 prior to his professional career, sporting an 85-51-20 record, 2.33 goals against average, 0.920 save percentage and 16 shutouts. He also represented the United States on two occasions, winning a silver medal at the IIHF Under-18 World Championship in 2007 and appearing in five games during the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship.
