Griffins announce signing of Grand Rapids native Luke Glendening

Former Michigan captain Luke Glendening (shown here on the cover of the Jan. 23 issue of MiHockeyMag) has signed a one-year deal with the Grand Rapids Griffins.

The Grand Rapids Griffins just announced that they have signed their first hometown player.

Luke Glendening, an East Grand Rapids native, signed a one-year deal with the Red Wings’ American Hockey League affiliate this morning. Glendening, former captain of the Michigan Wolverines, will be the first Grand Rapids native to ever sign with the Griffins.

From the Griffins’ press release:

This spring, Glendening capped off a successful collegiate career at the University of Michigan by tying a career-high with 21 points (10-11—21) in 41 games and reaching new career bests with 10 goals and a plus-18 rating. He signed an amateur tryout with the Providence Bruins at the conclusion of his senior year, skating in three AHL contests to close out the 2011-12 season.

In 165 career games with the Wolverines, Glendening totaled 70 points (31-39—70), a plus-57 rating and 122 penalty minutes, while earning several team and conference honors. After being named an alternate captain as a sophomore, the 23-year-old served as captain in his final two seasons, becoming the eighth player in school history to captain the team for multiple seasons.

As a senior, Glendening captured the CCHA Best Defensive Forward award, beating out Notre Dame’s Riley Sheahan, who appeared in seven late-season contests with Grand Rapids in 2011-12. He also received the team’s Howard Colby Award for sportsmanship in his junior and senior seasons.

Glendening earned a scholarship in each of his four years at Michigan after initially walking onto the team and winning the most improved player award in his first season. The 5-foot-11, 193-pound forward also received the University of Michigan’s Athletic Academic Achievement award and was named a National Strength and Conditioning Association All-American as a junior. That same season, he contributed to the Wolverines’ CCHA regular season championship and appearance in the NCAA Frozen Four title game.

A 2007 graduate of East Grand Rapids High School, Glendening played hockey, baseball and football for the Pioneers, helping the school win the first of five straight Division 3 football state championships in 2006.