If you were a member of the Grand Rapids Griffins or Detroit Red Wings, one of the things you would have been looking forward to most this season would be participating in one of the outdoor games scheduled. Unless you were injured, chances are you’d see ice time in Comerica Park during the Griffins game versus the Marlies, or you would be participating in the 2014 Winter Classic at The Big House.
However, Tomas Jurco, the Grand Rapids Griffins leading point scorer, somehow found himself on the outside looking in and missing both outdoor events.
It started with a slew of injuries to the Detroit Red Wings crop of forwards. With so many players down, including guys like Stephen Weiss, Johan Franzen, Henrik Zetterberg, and more, it gave the top players from Grand Rapids an opportunity to show their skills in Detroit.
With 11 goals and 16 assists in 27 games, Jurco lead the Griffins in points and earned himself a call up. He was effective too, scoring 2 goals and adding an assist in 7 games with the Wings. But after playing the Predators on Monday night, the Wings decided to send Jurco back to Grand Rapids to continue his play there. Coincidentally, the Griffins took part in their outdoor game just hours before the Wings took on the Predators.
Two days after the game, the Winter Classic was upon us, and Jurco remained in Grand Rapids. The Red Wings prospect was off the roster for both outdoor events, and disappointed in the outcome.
“It’s a pretty big disappointment for me, but I just got to move on and play hard here every game,” he said Tuesday, on the eve of the Winter Classic. “It’s just the same game, just playing outside. For every player it’s a special night, so that’s why it’s a little disappointing. But it’s just a game so I’m not going to make a big deal of it.”
Oddly enough, when Jurco was sent back to the Griffins, the Red Wings recalled Luke Glendening. Just two days prior to the Winter Classic, Glendening picked up two goals for the Griffins in their outdoor game. Unfortunately for Jurco, while he was the odd man out, Glendening was able to play in both games.
While Jurco may be disappointed, he may continue to make an impact for years to come in Detroit.
“I think I gained a lot of confidence up there,” Jurco said about his time with the Wings. “I was playing my first games with Pav and Alfie (Pavel Datsyuk and Daniel Alfredsson), so that gives you confidence that coach puts you in those lines.
“So, coming back here I feel a little better about myself, and I think I can play at the next level if I work hard, and we’ll see in the future. Hopefully, I make it.”
