Hirschfeld called up to Grand Rapids

1/22/2014

Sylvania native and Northview High School graduate Alden Hirschfeld has been promoted to the American Hockey League.

The Toledo Walleye forward was loaned to the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL on Tuesday.

Hirschfeld has posted 22 points in 35 games for his hometown team this season. He ranks third on the team in scoring with five goals and 17 assists.

“It's exciting,” Hirschfeld said by phone from Grand Rapids, where he practiced with the Griffins on Tuesday. “It's nice that the hard work in Toledo paid off. I just hope I can make it work here. This is where all the guys in the ECHL want to play.”

With the Walleye, Hirschfeld has picked up 14 points (3 goals, 11 assists) in his last 19 contests.

Injuries in at the NHL level in Detroit led to call ups from Grand Rapids.

“So Grand Rapids needed guys up there,” Hirscheld said.

“I have no idea how long I'll be here. I'll just take it one day at a time.”

Hirschfeld will be with the Griffins for a three-game road trip this weekend in Texas.

Hirschfeld was the captain at Northview in 2005-06 when the Wildcats reached the state title game. Hirschfeld still holds the school record for most goals in a season with 64. He also had 35 assists for 99 points in his high school career.

Prior to turning professional, the 25-year-old appeared in 134 college games at Miami.

In his first pro season last year, Hirschfeld scored eight goals with eight assists combined between Providence in the AHL and South Carolina in the ECHL.

“The whole point of playing is to move up,” he said.

— Mark Monroe