Who are Axel Sandin Pellikka & Michael Brandsegg-Nygård?

Axel and Michael or Pelli and Brandy are a couple of the newest additions to the Grand Rapids Griffins. Having been roommates and best friends when Brandy moved to the SHL, their hockey careers have been intertwined every since.

Axel Sandin Pellikka

Pelli is a 20 year old defenseman from Gällivare, Sweden. He's 5'11 and has only been playing in the AHL since a few games at the end of their season.

Pelli played for Skellefteå AIK most of his life, joining the Swedish national team in the 2021/22 season. He's one of the top prospects coming out of Sweden having carried the A in the Swedish U20 team in 23/24 and the C in the U20 24/25 season.

If his name is somewhat familiar to Canucks fans, this is the same player to share the U20 team with Jonathan Lekkerimäki, Elias Pettersson, and Tom Willander of Canucks fame. With Lekki and Junior even being in a video with Pelli found HERE

This year alone, Pelli was also the recipient of two different awards. Winning the 2025 Elite Prospects Award and 2025 Fjällräven Young Player of the Year. He also set multiple records in the SHL being

Most goals by a junior defenceman in a single SHL season (12)
Most career goals by a junior defenceman in the SHL (24)
Most career SHL playoff points by a junior defenceman (15)

His transition into North American arenas has been a little rough, with many eyes on him causing scrutiny due to his perfomance. Though it's expected he will continue to play with the Griffins in the next season.

Outside of hockey, Pelli has a bit of a story. Coming from a small mining town, it is expected to literally crumble in on itself in the coming years. Leaving nothing but a hole as houses are moved to the next town over. It's where he grew up and learned to skate, with his childhood home and rink still standing as of right now. At age 13 he left his hometown to live with his grandparents as he pursued hockey, eventually joining Skellefteå not long after.

Michael Brandsegg-Nygård

Brandy is a 19 year old left winger from Oslo, Norway. He's 6'1 and has only been playing in the AHL since a few games at the end of their season.

He mostly played for the Norwegian leagues up until 2022 where he joined the Swedish nationell teams. From then til 2024, Brandy played for Mora IK and the Norwegian national team. He joined Skellefteå on a loan where he met and became roommates with Axel and they quickly became best friends.

In the SHL he did decently well with 11 points in the regular season 42 games and 6 points in the 11 playoff games he played. He moved over to the Griffins the same time Pelli was and played the same amount of games, netting 3 points n the last 3 playoff games.

Not much is known about Brandy due to him mostly staying out of the spotlight and general attitude towards media. People tend to flip-flop on how they feel about him. Believing him to either save the team in their rebuild of someone that isn't worth the risk. Being set next to Pelli has not helped the comparisons as well.

Pelli & Brandy

So Pelli and Brandy's hockey careers have become pretty intertwined since becoming team (and room) mates in 2024. Pelli was drafted by the Red Wings in 2023 and Brandy in 2024. Since being taken into the Griffins, they've been generally seen together and even moved in together when coming to Grand Rapids.

They've been quoted on saying the fact they have each other during this move has been making everything easier for them and are always close. Social media admins have also taken the opportunity to use their friendship for content which gets gems like Brandy saying his favourite think about Pelli is "his temper." and that he "likes to ragebait him" so he gets mad. The Red Wings have also posted their prospect reports together. Basically where one goes, one is close to follow.

Though there are some concerns on whether or not Brandy will be one to follow Pelli up into the NHL. Pelli is seen as a prospect that is going to change the game. Someone who need some time to adapt to American ice but will exceed expectations. Brandy on the other hand isn't given the same light. Coming with Pelli, the two have been compared to each other somewhat, despite how different their games are. Brandy has always tended to stay out of the spotlight and his performance was nothing to write home about. This has left some fans impatient on his development and with how the Red Wings rebuild is going, a lot of pressure is put on the both of these boys.

Rumors always spread. These rumors are usually that Pelli will be someone called up to the NHL while Brandy is left in the Griffins and to be forgotten. I don't believe this to be true, however you never know what management is thinking, especially one as volatile as the Red Wings. The two constantly praise each other and are basically attached at the hip, so it's would be heartbreaking if they were to be seperated.

Currently Brandy is at the Red Wings development camp (even talking about how much he loves playing with Pelli and hopes to play with him for many years to come) while Pelli is at home with family. There's not much to say on what next season holds. Especially due to the fact both boys only played 5 AHL games in total, with 3 of those five being losing playoff games on rinks different than the ones they were used to. But I fully believe that they will stay together and that is how they'll thrive.

Thanks for reading! The real Red Wings and Griffins fan is actually my boyfriend so feel free to ask any questions to him as well.