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AHL Grand Rapids Griffins

New Opponents Listed on Griffins' 2002-03 Schedule

August 1, 2002 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


Grand Rapids, MI - The Grand Rapids Griffins on Thursday released their schedule for the 2002-03 season, their first as the primary affiliate of the Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings and second as members of the American Hockey League.

The Griffins' 80-game schedule features 15 of the AHL's 27 other teams, including four who will enjoy their first trips to Van Andel Arena. The Binghamton Senators, new affiliate of the NHL's Ottawa Senators, will have numerous former Griffins on their roster when they make their lone Grand Rapids appearance on January 15. The San Antonio Rampage will make their first of five visits on November 22, while the Syracuse Crunch (Jan. 10-11) and Philadelphia Phantoms (Feb. 12) will also make their West Michigan debuts.

Beginning with their season opener versus the Cleveland Barons on Saturday, October 12, the Griffins will play 28 of their 40 home games on either a Friday (13), Saturday (12) or Sunday (three). Grand Rapids starts its seventh season by playing three straight and 12 of its first 18 games at home, and concludes it by staging 11 of its final 15 games in enemy territory.

Traditional games and rivals highlight the Griffins' schedule. After playing host to 6,841 students and businesspeople during last season's inaugural weekday matinee game, Grand Rapids will host the Manitoba Moose in a noon start on Tuesday, November 12. The Utah Grizzlies will provide the opposition for the Griffins' annual New Year's Eve tilt, and the defending Calder Cup champion Chicago Wolves return to Van Andel Arena for the season's third game on Saturday, October 19. The Griffins will welcome the Hershey Bears for their home finale on March 30, one of three Sunday games that will feature a new 4:00 p.m. faceoff time.

The Griffins will face two particularly daunting challenges during their first season in the Central Division. Starting with a home game against the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks on December 26, they will play a brutal gauntlet of five games in six nights. In addition, a seven-game road trip from March 7-18 ties for the longest in franchise history. The Griffins have fared extremely well during such tasks in past years, posting a perfect 5-0 record during their most recent five-in-six stretch (Dec. 26-31, 2000) and showing a 6-1 mark in their only other seven-game road marathon (Mar. 25-Apr. 7, 2000).

Griffins full season and mini-plan ticket packages, all of which include the 2002 Red & White Game featuring the Red Wings on September 19, are currently on sale through the team's office at (800) 2-HOCKEY. Single game tickets will go on sale at a to-be-determined date in early September.

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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.

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