From left, the Red Wings’ Dylan Larkin, Dominik Shine, front center, Albert Johansson and Marco Kasper celebrate after defeating the Los Angeles Kings on Monday in Detroit. (AP photo)

DETROIT — It took Dominik Shine nearly a decade to make his NHL debut with the Detroit Red Wings on Monday night at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, a 5-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings.

The Northern Michigan University hockey team helped him lay the foundation for his pro career as Shine became the 22nd Wildcats player to skate in an NHL game. He’s also the first since Jared Coreau, a 2010-13 player at NMU, was also a Red Wing from 2016-18.

Interestingly, Shine and his new Wings’ teammates were facing a team coached by NMU national champion Jim Hiller, who played for Northern from 1989-92, which includes the 1991 national title. Hiller became the Kings’ 30th head coach less than a year ago last February.

Shine, 31, is a downstate Pinckney native and signed a two-year contract with the Wings for this and next season earlier on the day he debuted, according to NMU Sports Information.

He wore No. 50, totaling 9 minutes, 50 seconds of ice time in 13 shift, recording a blocked shot and two hits while leading Detroit with two takeaways.

Shine was with NMU from 2013-17, serving as an alternate captain in his final two seasons, two years he was also an All-WCHA selection and the team leader in goals. As a senior in 2016-17, he led the Wildcats with 30 points, posting a total of 48 goals and 49 assists for 97 points in 131 games.

Signed by Grand Rapids as an undrafted free agent on March 14, 2017, Shine has compiled 72 goals, 98 assists and 170 points, along with 513 penalty minutes in 462 American Hockey League games with the Grand Rapids Griffins since the 2016-17 season.

He has played seven full seasons with the Griffins, and is currently in his eighth season not counting the short time he was with them immediately after his college eligibility ended late in the 2016-2017 AHL season.

Story contents based on Northern Michigan University Sports Information press release about the former Wilcats player. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.