| HISTORY |
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2004-05:
- Had strong regular season with Cedar Rapids, finishing tied for 16th in USHL scoring (60-27-25-52).
- Production slowed in USHL post-season (11-0-4-4).
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2005-06:
- Invited to U.S. world junior team 43-man evaluation camp, but didn't make squad.
- Had solid freshman year at Michigan State (44-10-12-22).
- Earned regular shifts on top three lines and ice time on both special teams.
- Helped Michigan State win Central Collegiate Hockey Association banner.
- Fell just shy of advancing to Frozen Four, losing 5-4 to Maine in East Regional final.
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2006-07:
- Formed Michigan State's top line with Tim Kennedy and Tim Crowder (35-15-18-33).
- Fired 103 shots on goal, accumulated 91 penalty minutes and finished with a plus-6 rating.
- Won bronze with U.S. team at world junior championship in Sweden in January (7-0-2-2).
- Helped Spartans to 15-10-3 Central Collegiate Hockey Association record.
- Michigan State lost 5-1 to Michigan in Central Collegiate Hockey Association semifinals.
- Won NCAA Midwest Regional final (2-1 win over Notre Dame) to advance to NCAA Frozen Four.
- Named Frozen Four's most outstanding player as Michigan State wins NCAA title in April.
- Scored winner with just 18.9 seconds to go in 3-1 win over Boston College for championship.
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2007-08:
- Posted career highs in goals (19), assists (21), points (40) and PIMs (107) as Michigan State junior.
- Spartans missed CCHA tournament for first time in 17 years, and falling in NCAA West Regional final.
- Made NHL debut with Red Wings before signing three-year entry-level contract the next day.
- Played in two games, averaging 12:13 of ice time and registering six shots and five hits.
- Stayed on as a Black Ace for the Red Wings' playoff run.
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2008-09:
- Appeared in five NHL pre-season games with Red Wings (5-1-1-2, plus-1, 11 shots).
- Survived until the second-to-last round of cuts before being sent to AHL's Grand Rapids.
- Got off to scorching hot offensive start (7-7-2-9) on the farm.
- Put together impressive season, finishing second in team scoring (76-24-28-52).
- Placed eighth in the AHL rookie scoring race and tied for third in goals.
- Also had 102 PIMs, 195 shots, 10 PPG and a minus-2 rating en route to the AHL all-rookie team.
- Appeared in two games with the Red Wings during the regular season.
- Scored all of his AHL playoff points (6-2-8) in six-game first-round win over Hamilton.
- Joined Red Wings after AHL elimination and got into 10 NHL playoff games.
- Averaged seven minutes, had 32 hits and scored goals in Games 1 and 2 of the Stanley Cup Final.
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