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Augustine Makes Pro Debut in Losing Effort
Chicago Wolves maul lackadaisical Griffins 4-1...
By Jason Kasiorek
www.griffinscentral.com
April 11, 2026
Griffins fans got their first look at former Michigan State Spartan Trey Augustine in net, but an off night by the team in front of him spoiled the debut in a 4-1 loss. Aside from the first goal-which he'd probably want back-Augustine looked comfortable, turning aside 26 shots and flashing quickness on several point-blank chances. The breakdowns around him were the story, though, including three shorthanded breakaways during the same power play. Michael Brandsegg-Nygard scored the Griffins' only goal, his 20th of the season.
First Period
With Michal Postava recalled to Detroit and the recently signed Augustine in the house, the night was primed for the latest in a recent series of introductions to the next wave of the organization's top prospects. The diminutive netminders introduction as starter drew a boisterous reaction from the crowd. The Griffins fed off that energy for a while in the beginning, attacking the wolves net in waves. Eddie Genborg with speed entered the zone with the puck on his stick but was taken down with no call. Lombardi in on net and he too was taken down and as he slid into the end boards, the Wolves Foote slashed him, touching off a big scrum. On the ensuing Griffins powerplay, Michael Brandsegg-Nygard ripped a shot from the circle past Kochetkov for a 1-0 lead. Kotchetkov was making his second appearance on an injury conditioning stint from the parent Carolina Hurricanes but would only last the first period.
The Wolves were ill tempered most of the night with several stick fouls and extra-curriculars behind the play. Former Griffin Givani Smith hit Antti Tuomisto and then the two engaged in a pushing and shoving match before they skated away. The Griffins had a couple of good chances in a flurry including a rip from Amadeus Lombardi from the slot with Tyler Angle screening. Erik Gustafsson weaved his way through defenders for a dangerous chance in front but was slashed by Heimosalmi, setting up another powerplay. This time the man-advantage unit didn't click, with nothing to show for the two minutes, not even a shot on goal. Augustine came way out of the net to play the puck, stared down the Wolves forechecker, and didn't bite on the fake, retaining control of the puck. Lombardi and Angle creating magic at the line with a crossing play that confused the Wolves defense and allowed Lombardi to get free for a shot.
A delay of game penalty to the Wolves gave Grand Rapids its third straight powerplay, but this one didn't perform to script. A Griffins turnover led to Noah Philp streaking up the middle, he got the angle he wanted with Gustafsson in front and wired a shot in, high stick-side to know the score at one. A few seconds later, Vierling had a shorthanded breakaway and this time Augustine was up to the task and made a nice save with the leg pad. He was forced to make another save on yet another shorthanded breakaway as the Wolves had more quality scoring chances than the Griffins did on their powerplay. In the dying seconds of the period, Sheldon Dries with a partial break, and sniped a shot from the wing that Kotchetkov saved. Shots on Goal: GR 8 - Chi 7.
t hit Cossa and continued on into the net. Great work by Antti Tuomisto to bulldog former Griffin Givani Smith, forcing him to flee the zone to retain possession of the puck.
Shots on Goal: GR 9 - Chi 7.
Second Period
The Wolves started netminder Miftakhov in the second period and he continued to frustrate the Griffins' shooters, picking up where he left off in previous games with Chicago. Lombardi took the puck behind the net and came out for the wrap-around, but Miftakhov just got in front of it. Gabriel Seger got clear for a nice chance but couldn't solve the Wolves netminder. John Leonard had a breakaway and tried to go five-hole, but Miftakhov just closed it off. Sheldon Dries heads up pass to hit Leonard on the doorstep but was stopped again. Brandsegg-Nygard was whistled off for interference, giving the wolves their first man-advantage. Augustine stood tall with a pair a stops on Chicago's Fensore, and then the Griffins had a great shorthanded chance 2-on-1, but Leonard was stoned. Shots on Goal: GR 14 - Chi 11.
Third Period
Eddie Genborg with a nice chance in front of a partially open net, but he fired it over the top. The Griffins defense hung Augustine out to dry with two Wolves in front and Ryan Suzuki notches a goal in close, stick-side, no chance for the Griffins netminder. Chicago controlled the puck for long periods of time in the Griffins end, as they couldn't seem to clear. It looked like the wolves were on a five-minute powerplay. Shai Buium took a bad holding penalty, setting up the Wolves third goal by Philp and extending their lead to 3-1. William Lagesson taken out along the boards and stayed down for a while with no call. This was followed by Leonard being sent off on a marginal roughing call and he was not happy, letting the officials know what he thought of the call.
The Griffins managed to kill off the penalty and weather that storm. Gustafsson up the gut with speed for a great chance and then Dries just missed on the rebound. Eddie Tralmaks made a slick play to thread the puck between a defender's legs and then step around him for a scoring chance. As Miftakhov flopped to the ground on the save, it appeared Tralmaks made contact with him, later replays showed it was his own defenseman. This touched off a big scrum as the Wolves goalie played dead for several minutes. No penalty was called and the irate Wolves were then flagged for a delayed call as Heimosalmi went for high-sticking. The ensuing powerplay was uneventful as neither team had a scoring chance. Augustine was summoned to the bench for the extra attacker with two minutes left in the game. The Griffins had a couple of decent chances before a turnover ended up on the stick of Felix Unger Sorum and was deposited in the empty net for the final margin 4-1. Shots on Goal: GR 5 - Chi 12. For the game: GR 27 - Chi 30.
Starting Lines:
#55 Genborg - #15 Dries - #19 Leonard
#81 Rychlovsky - #49 Stachowiak - #34 Tralmaks
#28 Brandsegg-Nygard - #93 Lombardi - #77 Angle
#11 Seger - #25 Becher - #51 Watson
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Pairs:
#56 Gustafsson - #4 Tuomisto
#37 Lagesson - #8 Buium
#22 Wallinder - #23 Johansson
Goaltenders:
Starter: #30 Trey Augustine
Backup: #33 Cossa
Scratches:
#16 Kiiskinen
#21 Bantle
#29 Danielson (Injured)
#41 Kannok Leipert
#42 Milne
#47 Doucet
Power Play:
#93 Lombardi - #15 Dries - #28 Brandsegg-Nygard
#56 Gustafsson - #19 Leonard
#55 Genborg - #49 Stachowiak - #34 Tralmaks
#25 Becher - #93 Lombardi
Penalty Kill:
#15 Dries - #19 Leonard
#37 Lagesson - #4 Tuomisto
#81 Rychlovsky - #11 Seger
#22 Wallinder - #23 Johansson
Observations:
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