Griffins sign Chad Billins to one-year deal

July 12, 2012September 18, 2012 MiHockey Staff

Billins Action CCHAspotlight — Marysville native Chad Billins signed a one-year deal with the Grand Rapids Griffins. (This photo - used in the March 5 issue of MiHockeyMag - was courtesy of the Ferris State Bulldogs, and edited for our 'senior spotlight' feature)

By Michael Caples –

First Luke Glendening, now Chad Billins.

The Griffins added another former CCHA star and Michigan native to their 2012-13 line-up today, as the club announced that they signed former Ferris State defenseman Chad Billins to a one-year deal.

Billins, a Marysville native, signed an amateur tryout deal with the club on April 12, but did not appear in any of the Griffins’ final games.

The former co-captain of the Ferris State Bulldogs helped lead his school to the 2012 NCAA Frozen Four, where they finished as national runner-up to Boston College. In his 149 games with the Bulldogs, Billins recorded 67 points and 108 penalty minutes. He posted 29 points in 43 games in his senior season, during the Bulldogs’ regular-season CCHA championship.

Also in his senior season, Billins was named the CCHA Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and he was named to the All-CCHA First Team line-up. He finished second in CCHA defensemen scoring (25 points), behind Boston Bruins prospect and Livonia native Torey Krug.

The 23-year-old defenseman played for the USHL’s Waterloo Black Hawks in 2007-08, finishing fourth among the league’s defensemen with 36 points (10-26—36) in 60 games. Billins also suited up for the Alpena IceDiggers of the NAHL from 2005-07.