
Griffins to Face Aeros in Western Conference Quarterfinals
April 21, 2013 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Grand Rapids Griffins, champions of the Midwest Division and a No. 3 seed in the Calder Cup Playoffs, will face the sixth-seeded Houston Aeros in the best-of-five Western Conference Quarterfinals.
The Griffins (42-26-4-4, 92 pts.), who are in the postseason for the first time since 2009, will begin their chase for the cup by visiting the Toyota Center for Games 1 and 2 on Friday, April 26 and Sunday, April 28, before returning to Van Andel Arena on Wed., May 1 for the first of as many as three straight home games. The complete schedule is as follows:
2013 Calder Cup Playoffs - Western Conference Quarterfinals - Best-of-Five
Game 1 Fri., April 26 GRIFFINS at Aeros 8:05 p.m.
Game 2 Sun., April 28 GRIFFINS at Aeros 6:05 p.m.
Game 3 Wed., May 1 Aeros at GRIFFINS 7 p.m. (season ticket Game A)
*Game 4 Fri., May 3 Aeros at GRIFFINS 7 p.m. (Game B)
*Game 5 Sat., May 4 Aeros at GRIFFINS 7 p.m. (Game C)
* If necessary All times Eastern and subject to change. All games on Newsradio WOOD 106.9 FM & 1300 AM.
Tickets for home Game A (series Game 3), which are included in Griffins full season ticket packages, are now on sale for $33, $27, $23, $19, $17 and $15 (additional $2 per ticket on day of game), reflecting a league-wide increase of $1 over regular season prices. Playoff tickets may be purchased in person at The Zone at Van Andel Arena and all Star Tickets locations, by phone at (800) 585-3737, or through griffinshockey.com .
In celebration of the team's return to the Calder Cup Playoffs, the Griffins are adapting their popular Friday promotion and will offer $2 beers and $2 hot dogs for all home playoff games, including Fridays, from the time doors open until one hour after the start of the game. In addition, the first 4,000 fans for Game 3 will receive a Griffins playoff poster, while the first 2,500 will receive a playoff rally towel courtesy of Auto Value Parts Stores.
This will mark the second Calder Cup Playoff meeting between Grand Rapids and Houston, following the Aeros' triumph in the 2003 Western Conference Finals. In that memorable seven-game series, the Griffins won Games 5 and 6 in overtime before falling at home in Game 7 to a Houston team that went on to win the Calder Cup.
The Griffins and Aeros (40-26-5-5, 90 pts.) met six times this season, with Grand Rapids winning the series 4-2 (1-2 at Van Andel Arena and 3-0 at the Toyota Center). Grand Rapids won each of the last three clashes, including a 5-1 win in Houston on April 2.
• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...
American Hockey League Stories from April 21, 2013
- Kessel Strikes Twice in Finale Triumph - Adirondack Phantoms
- Pirri Claims Scoring Title - Rockford IceHogs
- Rivermen Fall in Finale - Peoria Rivermen
- Bears Defeat Monarchs to Punch Ticket to Postseason - Hershey Bears
- American Hockey League Announces Opening Calder Cup Playoff Schedules - AHL
- Admirals Meet Texas in Calder Cup Playoffs - Milwaukee Admirals
- Crunch Forward Tyler Johnson Earns Willie Marshall Award - Syracuse Crunch
- Monarchs Streak Trapped by Bears - Manchester Monarchs
- Rockford's Brandon Pirri, Syracuse's Tyler Johnson Win AHL Scoring Races - AHL
- Barons Face Charlotte in Western Conference Quarterfinals of Calder Cup Playoffs - Oklahoma City Barons
- Texas Stars to Face Milwaukee Admirals in First Round of 2013 - Texas Stars
- Griffins Wrap Regular Season with 3-1 Win - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Sound Tigers Close 2012-13 Season with 4-1 Win over Pirates - Bridgeport Islanders
- Marlies to Play Rochester in Round One of Calder Cup Playoffs - Toronto Marlies
- Wolves Wrap up Season with 3-1 Defeat - Chicago Wolves
- Aeros Fall 3-0 in Regular Season Finale at Oklahoma City - Houston Aeros
- Houston Meets Grand Rapids in First Round of Playoffs - Houston Aeros
- Griffins to Face Aeros in Western Conference Quarterfinals - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Bruins Announce Dates for Conference Quarterfinals - Providence Bruins
- Bulldogs Finish 2012-2013 Season with 4-1 Loss to Amerks - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Crunch Fall in Regular Season Finale - Syracuse Crunch
- Syracuse Crunch Announce Schedule for Eastern Conference Quarter - Syracuse Crunch
- Portland Pirates to Face Syracuse Crunch in Eastern Conference Quarterfinals - Portland Pirates
- Devils Finish 2012-13 Season - Albany Devils
- Bulldogs Announce 2012-2013 Individual Award Winners - Hamilton Bulldogs
- IceCaps Close out Season with 4-3 Shootout Loss - St. John's IceCaps
- B-Sens to Face the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in Round One - Binghamton Senators
- Penguins Battle Senators in Eastern Conference Quarterfinal - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- B-Sens Defeat Rival Crunch in Regular Season Finale, 5-1 - Binghamton Senators
- Last-Minute Goal Spells End to Admirals Season - Norfolk Admirals
- Aeros Calder Cup Playoff Tickets on Sale Monday at 3:00 p.m. - Houston Aeros
- Sound Tigers Drop Pirates, Prevent Season Sweep - Portland Pirates
- Bruins Take Down Admirals 4-3 - Providence Bruins
- Falcons to Battle Monarchs in Eastern Conference Quarterfinals - Springfield Falcons
- Monarchs to Face Falcons in Calder Cup Quarterfinals - Manchester Monarchs
- Zatkoff, Thiessen Win Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's Zatkoff, Thiessen Win AHL's Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award - AHL
- Flames Recall Seven Players from Abbotsford - Abbotsford Heat
- American Hockey League Announces Suspension - AHL
- Pirates Wrap Regular Season Schedule with Trip to Bridgeport - Portland Pirates
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Grand Rapids Griffins Stories
- Griffins Continue Central Division Semifinals against Texas
- Griffins Drop Game 1 of Division Semifinal Series
- Griffins Begin Calder Cup Playoffs on Tuesday
- Griffins Announce Promotions for Central Division Semifinals vs. Stars
- Peppino's to Host Griffins Watch Parties for All Road Playoff Games

