AHL Grand Rapids Griffins

Perfect homecoming

October 25, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


Get Comfortable: Fresh off a flawless three-game road trip, the Griffins return home tomorrow night to face Rochester and start an unprecedented nine-game home stand that will last through Nov. 18. The previous franchise record was a seven-game stand from Feb. 18-28, 1999, during which Grand Rapids compiled a 5-1-1 mark.

So Far, So Good: The Griffins have tied the best start in franchise history at 4-0, matching the 2000-01 squad that went on to post the best record in team history (53-22-7, 113 pts.) and claim the IHL's final regular season championship. In addition, their 3-0 road start ties a team mark accomplished each season from 2000-01 to 2002-03. Grand Rapids, Hartford (4-0) and Manchester (4-0) stand as the AHL's last undefeated teams.

Scary-Good Promotions: This Friday's game against Chicago is "Meet Your Griffins Night." The first 3,000 fans will receive a commemorative team poster, and Griffins players will sign autographs in the stands for 15 minutes after the game. Fans can purchase the "Subway Family Four Pack," which offers four tickets, four Subway Fresh Meal Deals and parking, for just $44, and families can enjoy live music, games and activities on the arena concourse as part of the Friday Fun Fest. On Saturday, the Griffins will present the "Haunted Van Halloween Bash," with players donning special orange and black jerseys that will be offered to fans in a post-game auction to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters. As a day-of-game special at the box office, adults wearing a costume can purchase a ticket, hot dog and beverage of choice (soda or beer) for just $15, while kids 12 and under in costume can get a ticket, hot dog and soda for $10. Kids can go trick-or-treating on the arena concourse, and all fans who bring their skates can hit the ice for 45 minutes during the Max & Erma's Post-Game Family Fun Skate With WSNX.

Coaching Accomplishments: With Sunday's triumph at San Antonio, Danton Cole set a franchise record with his 96th win as the Griffins' head coach (96-50-16-2, 0.640), surpassing the 95 victories of Bruce Cassidy (2000-02). That contest also marked Cole's 164th regular season game behind Grand Rapids' bench, equaling the standard set by Guy Charron (1998-2000).

Welcome Back: Florida Panthers assistant coach Guy Charron, who guided the Griffins to an 85-62-17 mark during his two seasons at the helm (1998-2000), is working with the San Antonio Rampage coaching staff during the NHL's labor impasse. When he walks behind the visitors' bench this Saturday, it will mark his first game at Van Andel Arena since June 5, 2000, when the Griffins fell by a 3-1 count to the Chicago Wolves in the sixth and deciding game of the IHL Turner Cup finals.

Hooray for Hudler: During the two-game set in San Antonio, Jiri Hudler displayed his sniper skills by scoring four goals on just six shots, including three goals on four shots Sunday for his first AHL hat trick. He capped off the trick with an overtime game-winner (0:28), his second in two seasons as a Griffin (1/10/04 vs. CLE). For the season, Hudler leads the Griffins and ranks among the AHL's leaders with five goals (T4th), nine points (T4th) and three power play goals (T1st). His five goals are the most ever for a Griffin after four games (eight players with three), while his nine points tie the franchise record (Mark Mowers 2-7—9 in 2002-03, Michel Picard 3-6—9 in 1997-98).

Big Mac: Joey MacDonald currently ranks among the AHL's top netminders with four wins (T1st), a 1.71 GAA (7th) and a 0.946 save percentage (4th). MacDonald's 4-0 start is a personal best and one win shy of the franchise record (5-0), set by Mathieu Chouinard during the 2000-01 season. Thanks to MacDonald, the Griffins rank second in the AHL in goals allowed per game (1.75), despite uncharacteristically ranking 20th in shots allowed (32.25).

Kronwall Kudos: With six assists and seven points, Niklas Kronwall is off to the most prolific start ever for a Griffins defenseman. Through the first four games of a season, the previous best efforts by a Grand Rapids blueliner were four assists (twice) and four points (four times). Kronwall's seven points (2nd) and six assists (T1st) place him among the AHL's top defensemen, while his plus-six rating ties for fifth overall in the league.

Working Overtime: With Sunday's 4-3 overtime win at San Antonio, the Griffins have won their last 10 regular season games that were decided in overtime, as well as their last 11 that were decided after regulation time (includes their 3-2 shootout win over Cleveland on Oct. 15). The Griffins' last OT loss came on Nov. 30, 2002 at Chicago, and their all-time record in AHL regular season games decided during the five-minute overtime period now stands at 15 wins and two losses.

Special Play: Much of the Griffins' early success this season can be attributed to their special teams performances. They rank fourth in the league on the power play (6-25, 24.0%) and eighth in penalty killing (28-31, 90.3%), after going 4-for-16 (25.0%) and 16-for-17 (94.1%) in those respective areas during the weekend set at San Antonio.

This Week's Scouting Report

Tue., Oct. 26 vs. Rochester Americans (0-2-1-1) – Van Andel Arena – 7 p.m.

TV: None. Radio: WOOD 1300 AM/WHTC 1450 AM at 6:40 p.m. Season Series: First of two meetings overall, first and only in Grand Rapids. All-Time Series: 5-4-1-0 Overall, 2-2-1-0 Home. NHL Affiliation: Buffalo Sabres. Head Coach: Randy Cunneyworth (5th season). The American Way: Former MSU backstop Ryan Miller is 0-3 with a 5.64 GAA and a 0.833 save percentage...Creasemate Tom Askey shut out the Griffins in three consecutive meetings during the 2001-02 season...Former Michigan star Jason Botterill has four goals and six points in four outings.

Fri., Oct. 29 vs. Chicago Wolves (2-2-1-0) – Van Andel Arena – 7:30 p.m.

TV: None locally. Radio: WOOD 1300 AM/WHTC 1450 AM at 7:10 p.m. Season Series: 1-0-0-0 Overall, 0-0-0-0 Home. Second of 10 meetings overall, first of five in Grand Rapids. All-Time Series: 32-18-4-1 Overall, 16-6-4-0 Home. NHL Affiliation: Atlanta Thrashers. Head Coach: John Anderson (8th season). Wolf Tracks: The Wolves lost 5-1 to the Griffins in their Oct. 16 home opener...AHL All-Star Kari Lehtonen is 2-3 with a 3.78 GAA and a 0.888 save percentage...Steve Maltais, in his 11th season in Chicago, leads the club with nine points (6-3—9) in five games...The Wolves have killed just 72.4% of opponent power plays, ranking second-to-last in the AHL.

Sat., Oct. 30 vs. San Antonio Rampage (2-3-1-0) – Van Andel Arena – 7:30 p.m.

TV: None. Radio: WOOD 1300 AM at 7:10 p.m. Season Series: 2-0-0-0 Overall, 0-0-0-0 Home. Third of eight meetings overall, first of four in Grand Rapids. All-Time Series: 14-7-1-0 Overall, 6-3-1-0 Home. NHL Affiliation: Florida Panthers. Head Coach: Steve Ludzik (2nd season). On a Rampage: The Griffins connected on four of 16 power plays during their two-game weekend road sweep of San Antonio, while allowing the Rampage just one goal in 17 chances...Former Griffins defenseman Joel Kwiatkowski (2000-02) now patrols the Rampage's blue line...San Antonio boasts four top-nine NHL draft picks on its roster, including defenseman Jay Bouwmeester and forwards Stephen Weiss, Nathan Horton and Petr Taticek.

This Week's Games

Tue., Oct. 26 Rochester Americans at GRIFFINS 7 p.m. WOOD 1300 AM/WHTC 1450 AM

Fri., Oct. 29 Chicago Wolves at GRIFFINS 7:30 p.m. WOOD 1300 AM/WHTC 1450 AM

Sat., Oct. 30 San Antonio Rampage at GRIFFINS 7:30 p.m. WOOD 1300 AM

Last Week's Results

Fri., Oct. 22 GRIFFINS 3 at San Antonio Rampage 1 3-0-0-0, 6 pts. (T1st, West Division)

Sun., Oct. 24 GRIFFINS 4 at San Antonio Rampage 3 OT 4-0-0-0, 8 pts. (T1st)

Check out the Grand Rapids Griffins Statistics



American Hockey League Stories from October 25, 2004


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