City of Rockford, Mich., Changes Name to Griffinville
May 5, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release
Griffinville, Mich. Sign
(Grand Rapids Griffins)
GRIFFINVILLE, Mich. - The city council of Rockford, Mich., on Tuesday unanimously voted to change the name of its town to Griffinville for the next two weeks, while the Grand Rapids Griffins take on the Rockford (Ill.) IceHogs during the American Hockey League's Western Conference Semifinals.
Games 1 and 2 of the series are slated for Van Andel Arena this Wednesday, May 6 and Friday, May 8. If necessary, Games 6 and 7 would take place in Grand Rapids on Tuesday, May 19 and Wednesday, May 20.
This represents the second name change in the history of the city, which is located 14 miles north of Grand Rapids on the Rogue River. Founded as the village of Laphamville in 1856, the city ironically earned its previous moniker in 1865 on the suggestion of a newly arrived resident from Rockford, Ill., after the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad Company had urged the village's residents to adopt a shorter name.
"Given the high stakes of the Calder Cup Playoffs and our city's ardent support of the Griffins, the last thing we want is for anyone to confuse us with our namesake in Illinois, or to think that we have any residual affinity for anything from there, including the IceHogs," said Griffinville City Manager Michael Young, who had served that same role for Rockford since 1995. "This change, which will remain in effect until May 20 or the conclusion of the Griffins-IceHogs series, reaffirms our residents' allegiance to the Griffins. We hope they 'Bring it back'!"
As part of this change, the Griffinville city council recommends that all Griffins fans like and check-in with the new Griffinville Facebook page.
Images from this story
 Griffinville, Mich. Sign |
 Griffinville, Mich. Sign |
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