• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Other Leagues
AHL
Grand Rapids Griffins

Mitch Callahan a Champion Again

By Melissa Burgess June 15th, 2017

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

As Grand Rapids Griffins forward Mitch Callahan raised the Calder Cup Tuesday night, it was a familiar feeling. For Callahan, being a champion isn’t exactly new. The 2017 Calder Cup victory marked his third championship in nine years.

Callahan, 25, has spent six seasons in Grand Rapids, winning two Calder Cups as an American Hockey League champion. Both times, the Griffins defeated Syracuse in six games to capture the AHL championship.

Callahan scored a goal Tuesday with Syracuse netminder Mike McKenna out behind the net. Callahan totaled four points in six Calder Cup Final games, part of a 16-point performance in 19 playoff games.

.@Mcally15 🔥#CrushTheCrunch #GoGRG pic.twitter.com/AchlXoTIBf

— Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) June 14, 2017

The win topped off a regular season in which Callahan registered 16 goals and 27 assists for 43 points in 66 games. He notched a pair of game-winning goals, eight power-play tallies and was one point shy of his AHL-best.

His 2017 playoff performance was the best of his AHL career; in 2013, he registered 11 points (6-5) in 24 playoff games, with two goals and three assists in six games as the Griffins captured the championship.

Success With Kelowna Rockets

Prior to his time with the Griffins, Callahan was a champion in the Western Hockey League. He and the Kelowna Rockets captured the Ed Chynoweth Cup in six games in 2009, in his rookie season. Then 18, Callahan notched one assist and eight penalty minutes in the championship series. The Rockets reached the Memorial Cup Final, falling to the Windsor Spitfires. Callahan registered one assist in three games on a team that included Tyler Myers, Jamie Benn and Mikael Backlund.

The introduction to the WHL didn’t take long. He quickly stepped into an enforcer role and received 20 fighting majors in 18 games over the course of the regular season. Following his rookie season, Callahan was drafted 180th overall by the Detroit Red Wings. Post-draft, the winger completed two additional seasons in Junior before moving up.

Callahan’s Development

The Whittier, California native grew physically and developed his game during his time with the Rockets. He stayed gritty, but his offensive side also developed. He nearly doubled his point production from his rookie WHL season (27) to his sophomore year (47) and helped lead the team to the top of the B.C. Division in his third and final Junior season in 2010-11.

(Mark Newman/Flickr)

That season, Callahan finished second on the Rockets with 23 goals, and added 31 assists, for a career-high 54 points in 62 games. Moreover, he also captured a bronze medal with Team USA at the IIHF World Junior Championships.

In his three seasons in the WHL he developed as a gritty player who didn’t shy away from a fight – he was handed 51 fighting majors over that time. Quietly over the years, however, he’s toned down the fighting and the offensive side of his game has developed as a result.

Onto the Pros

Following Juniors, Callahan made his way to the AHL. He appeared in 48 games in his first season due to injuries, registering nine points. A whopping 103 penalty minutes proved that Callahan maintained an edge to his game in the shortened season. He found his legs over the next few seasons including the 2013 Calder Cup championship season where his point production doubled, and also made his NHL debut on March 25, 2014.

Callahan returned to the NHL for four games with the Red Wings this season, coming up after Detroit traded Steve Ott to the Montreal Canadiens.

Callahan’s gritty side and growing offensive ability helped shape him into a well-rounded player. He’s put on roughly 20 pounds which also brings him up to the professional level.

Detroit has re-signed Callahan to a one-year deal each of the past two summers. Even so, they’ll once again have to decide whether or not to let him walk in free agency this year. At any rate, Callahan will keep grinding in hopes of securing a long-term spot in the NHL.

  • Tags
  • Kelowna Rockets
  • Mitch Callahan
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 27th 12:15 PM
Archives

The Best of ‘Mr. Goalie’ Glenn Hall

Jan 27th 12:05 PM
Column

Prospects News & Rumors: Savoie, Dorofeyev & Duke

Jan 27th 11:15 AM
Archives

Best NHL Players Not in the Hockey Hall of Fame

Jan 27th 11:05 AM
Calgary Flames

Flames’ Newcomers Have Been Hit and Miss

Jan 27th 10:25 AM
Ottawa Senators

Senators’ 2020-21 Early Recap and Predictions

Jan 27th 10:15 AM
Boston Bruins

Bruins Weekly: Prospects, Smith, Chara & More

Jan 27th 10:05 AM
Calgary Flames

Flames’ Weak First Period Proves to Be Costly in Loss to Maple Leafs

Jan 27th 9:55 AM
Other Leagues

Sabres Prospects: 5 Amerks Players to Watch When the AHL Resumes

Jan 27th 9:45 AM
Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights Inaugural Roster – Where Are They Now?

Jan 27th 9:35 AM
Colorado Avalanche

3 Takeaways From Avalanche’s 7-3 Trouncing of Sharks

Editor’s Picks
Wayne Gretzky - The Great One's 10 Most Unbreakable Records

Wayne Gretzky - The Great One's 10 Most Unbreakable Records

Test Your Wayne Gretzky Knowledge With Our Quiz

Test Your Wayne Gretzky Knowledge With Our Quiz

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information