Red Wings Return to River City
Published on March 5, 2003 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release
Grand Rapids, Mich. - The Grand Rapids Griffins will host the 2003 Red & White Game, an annual Detroit Red Wings intrasquad contest, at Van Andel Arena on Thursday, Sept. 18 at 7:30 p.m. The event, which made its debut in 2000 and returned in 2002, will feature Detroit's top 35-45 players in a regulation 60-minute game.
As the Griffins prepare for their second season as the primary affiliate of the Red Wings, local fans will again have a unique opportunity to witness their favorite Red Wings players compete alongside Detroit's top prospects, who will form the majority of Grand Rapids' 2003-04 American Hockey League squad.
Last year's game saw Team Red defeat Team White by a 3-2 count in a shootout, as stars such as Nicklas Lidstrom, Brett Hull, Sergei Fedorov, Chris Chelios, Darren McCarty and Curtis Joseph skated alongside a number of Griffins favorites, including Michel Picard, Mark Mowers, Stacy Roest, Derek King, Travis Richards and Marc Lamothe.
Tickets for the 2003 Red & White Game will be included in all of the Griffins' full season and mini-plan ticket packages for the 2003-04 AHL season. Due to the anticipated demand by Griffins season ticket holders, it is unlikely that any single tickets to the Red & White Game will be available for sale to the general public. However, the Griffins organization will pursue an agreement to have the game televised locally.
"One reason the Red & White Game has proven to be so popular is that, because of the intrasquad format, nearly 11,000 fans can see all of their favorite Red Wings players participate in one game," said Bob Sack, senior vice president of sales and marketing for the Griffins. "That doesn't happen anywhere else except Grand Rapids."
The first Red & White Game, held on Sept. 15, 2000, raised $137,882 for four charitable organizations, while the 2002 event on Sept. 19 generated $110,000 for the Grand Rapids Griffins Youth Foundation and two local charities. Charitable proceeds for the 2003 Red & White Game will benefit the Griffins Youth Foundation and the family funds of Vladimir Konstantinov and Sergei Mnatsakanov, established by the Red Wings in the aftermath of the 1997 car accident that injured the former Wings defenseman and trainer.
In all, four NHL preseason events presented annually by the Griffins since 1999 have generated more than $302,000 for a variety of charitable and non-profit organizations. For information on Griffins 2003-04 ticket packages, fans may call (800) 2-HOCKEY ext. 3002.
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