Detroit Red Wings
Dominik Shine Lives Dream Playing First NHL Game at 31

DETROIT — Grand Rapids Griffins forward Dominik Shine was heading to buy skates for his 21-month-old son Connor when he received the call he believed was never going to come.
Red Wings assistant general manager Shawn Horcoff told 31-year-old Shine that the Red Wings wanted to change his Griffins contract to a Detroit contract, add another year to the deal, and call him up to play in Detroit Monday night.
“It was just…it was crazy,” Shine said. “I’m just so thrilled for myself. But also my parents and everyone who put in hard work to get me to where I’m at.”
Shine was born in Detroit, lived in Pinckney, played for the Little Caesars youth program, played four years at Northern Michigan.Â
Grew Up Rooting for Yzerman
“Being a kid from Detroit, it’s what you dream about,” Shine said. “You just pretend like you’re on the Red Wings or put on a jersey. But to actually be able to wear it in a regular season game and be here is just something I’ll cherish forever.”
He did the jersey proud, recording two hits, two takeaways and one blocked shot in nine minutes and 50 seconds of playing time on the fourth line with Joe Veleno and Tyler Motte.
31-year-old Dominik Shine is making his NHL debut tonight for his hometown team, the @DetroitRedWings! 🙌
📺: @NHLNetwork pic.twitter.com/9HnH096Pt5
— NHL (@NHL) January 28, 2025
“I thought he performed just like we thought he would,” said Red Wings coach Todd McLellan who has been on the job one month. “I didn’t know Dominik Shine – and shame on me — existed this morning. Again, that’s how new we are to the organization, too. So when it was time to call people up, you rely on the staff and the people around. And I like probably a lot of fans, maybe even you found out about his story today and it was motivational for our group.”
Support Group
Everyone was rooting for Shine, particularly younger players who knew him from Grand Rapids, such as Marco Kasper, Jonathan Berggren, Albert Johansson, Simon Edvinsson and Elmer Soderblom. Shine mentors the young players on the Griffins.
Shine is in his ninth season playing for the Griffins, and admits he didn’t believe he was ever going to get a shot at the NHL.
“You know, there was a point last year where I had my first child,” Shine said. “And in the American League, you’re away from your family a lot, and I was kind of thinking about, you know, maybe being done. And then once I had my kid, I realized that it’s really special for him to see me play. So I thought, maybe I’ll just play one more year and see what happens. And I just can’t believe, to be here today is just, it’s amazing. “
Earned the Promotion
Shine has 32 points in 40 games for the Griffins this season. He is plucky athlete, not timid about throwing a body check. He crunched Kings forward Alex Turcotte along the boards not long before the play went the other way and Kasper scored Detroit’s fourth goal.
“Just trying to make the right play,” Shine said. “I know how momentum goes in a game. They were kind of buzzing a little, thought maybe get a hit, do something.”
Soderblom said it was fun watching Shine, who was never drafted, get his NHL shot. Soderblom called it a “heartwarming” story.
“I think he’s one of the smartest players I’ve play with,” Soderblom said. “And it feels like he always makes the right decision out there, and he works really hard and, yeah, he can make plays.”
Shine said he was nervous before the game, but felt fine when he hit the ice. He had plenty of family and friends in the crowd. His wife, Taylor, and son Cooper were in the stands — and he saw them — when he came out for warm-up. His son recognized his dad was on the ice.
Beach Party
“My parents landed in Maui yesterday for a vacation, so they could not make it,” Shine said. “I thought that was pretty funny. My mom’s probably a little upset, but they’re watching from the beach. But I had a ton of friends and family here.”
Shine only got his chance because Patrick Kane is on injured reserve, J.T. Compher was injured and Vladimir Tarasenko was ill.
It’s hard to know what happens to Shine from here. But at the very least, he made it to the show.
When he was a kid, he just pretended to be a Red Wings player. Now he is a Red Wings player.
“To actually be able to wear it in a regular season game,” Shine said, “and be here is just something I’ll cherish forever. “
Said McLellan: “All I heard come out of people’s mouths is, he’s going to be fine. You’re actually going to really like him. That’s all I needed to hear. Give him a chance. So there was a lot of people. Trent Yawney and I are the only two people that did not know Dominic. We know him now.Â
I hope he gets more games. They didn’t miss Kane, Tarasenko, or Compher tonight. They looked quicker than normal with the line-up they had.
Great story and glad for Shine. He’s kinda been GR’s local face of the Griffins and frequently their number 1 star of the game. Other NHL teams may overlook him and pay for it. Mentored all of the former GR Wings players so great rapport. Smart call up.