The Grand Rapids Griffins are a professional
hockey team in the
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary Minor league#Ice hockey, developmental league for the National Hockey League (NHL). Since the 2010–11 AHL se ...
(AHL) based in
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city and county seat of Kent County, Michigan, Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city had a population of 198,917 which ranks it as the List of municipalities in Mi ...
, and play home games at
Van Andel Arena
Van Andel Arena is a 12,000 plus seat multi-purpose arena, situated in the Heartside district of Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States. The arena attracted over five million patrons in its first 5 years, 1996–2001. It is home to the Grand Rapid ...
. They are the AHL affiliate to the
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings (colloquially referred to as the Wings) are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit. The Red Wings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the East ...
of the
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranked professional ...
and are the
2013
File:2013 Events Collage V2.png, From left, clockwise: Edward Snowden becomes internationally famous for leaking classified NSA wiretapping information; Typhoon Haiyan kills over 6,000 in the Philippines and Southeast Asia; The Dhaka garment fact ...
and
2017
File:2017 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: The War Against ISIS at the Battle of Mosul (2016-2017); aftermath of the Manchester Arena bombing; The Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 ("Great American Eclipse"); North Korea tests a ser ...
Calder Cup
The Calder Cup is the trophy awarded annually to the playoff champions of the American Hockey League. It was first presented in 1937 to the Syracuse Stars.
The cup is made of sterling silver mounted on a base of Brazilian mahogany. In its curr ...
champions.
The franchise began in the now-defunct
International Hockey League in 1996 and merged into the AHL in 2001. Three players have since had their numbers retired.
Franchise history
The return of professional hockey to Grand Rapids
The team is the third
International Hockey League (IHL) franchise in Grand Rapids, following the
Grand Rapids Rockets
The Grand Rapids Rockets are a defunct International Hockey League team. They were members of the IHL from the 1950–1951 season to 1955–1956 season. They were based in Grand Rapids, Michigan and played their home games in Stadium Arena. The ...
of the 1950s and the
Grand Rapids Owls of the late 1970s, and owes its existence to the construction of a 10,000-plus capacity arena in the downtown area. Following the project's authorization,
Amway executives Dave Van Andel and
Dan DeVos
Daniel G. DeVos (born ) is an American businessman and sports executive. He is the son of Helen June (Van Wesep) and Amway co-founder Richard DeVos.
Business
Since 1993, DeVos has served as president and chief executive officer (CEO) of DP Fo ...
formed West Michigan Hockey, Inc., in January 1995 with the intent of securing a minor league hockey franchise. The group promptly began discussions with the IHL,
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary Minor league#Ice hockey, developmental league for the National Hockey League (NHL). Since the 2010–11 AHL se ...
(AHL) and
East Coast Hockey League
The ECHL (formerly the East Coast Hockey League) is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, with teams scattered across the United States and Canada. It is a tier below the American Hockey League (AHL).
The E ...
(ECHL) to gauge interest in the Grand Rapids market.
Also that month, Bruce Saurs, owner of the IHL's
Peoria Rivermen Peoria Rivermen is the name of four minor league hockey clubs:
*Peoria Rivermen (IHL), named as such 1984–1996, formerly the Peoria Prancers 1982–1984
*Peoria Rivermen (ECHL), 1996–2005
*Peoria Rivermen (AHL), 2005–2013
*Peoria Rivermen (SP ...
, visited Grand Rapids to discuss with the group potential relocation of his team.
In April, however, the IHL's board of directors voted to waive one of its expansion criteria – that the city's metropolitan area comprise at least one million people – and grant West Michigan Hockey a franchise for US$7 million. The league ultimately was swayed by the community's response, which included over 8,000 season ticket requests, and the new, fully financed arena.
At the announcement of a "name the team" contest in June 1995, DeVos hinted that the group was looking for something "with a face ... with a personality, that we can translate into a mascot of some sort".
"Grand Rapids Griffins" was chosen as the winning entry, and the logo and colors of the hockey club were unveiled in November. The logo was designed by Sean Michael Edwards Design, Inc., a New York firm whose portfolio includes logos for the
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in the Miami metropolitan area. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern ...
and
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, West division. The team joined the American League ...
. In keeping with the traditional theme desired by the club, navy blue and gold were chosen as the primary colors, along with hunter green, red and silver accents. "We didn't want to be trendy in any way", DeVos said.
In January 1996,
Bob McNamara, former IHL goaltender and assistant general manager of the
Cleveland Lumberjacks, was appointed general manager of the Griffins.
His first move was to hire
Dave Allison, who had briefly coached the
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators (french: Sénateurs d'Ottawa), officially the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club and colloquially known as the Sens, are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a membe ...
that season, as head coach.
Among the first players to join the team were defensemen
Todd Nelson and
Travis Richards
Travis John Richards (born March 22, 1970) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman. He played briefly in the National Hockey League with the Dallas Stars.
Richards played ten seasons for the minor-league Grand Rapids Griffins. He ...
and goaltender
Pokey Reddick
Eldon Wade "Pokey" Reddick (born October 6, 1964) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender in the National Hockey League from 1986–87 to 1993–94.
Playing career
As a youth, Reddick played in the 1977 Quebec International Pee ...
, all of whom brought
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranked professional ...
(NHL) experience.
On the business side, the Griffins secured a deal with
WOOD-AM to broadcast all regular season and playoff games in their inaugural season.
Rich Kincaide then left his sportscaster position at
WJR
WJR (760 AM) is a commercial radio station in Detroit, Michigan, owned by Cumulus Media, with a news/talk format. Most of WJR's broadcast studios, along with its newsroom and offices, are in the Fisher Building in Detroit's New Center area. A ...
in Detroit to become the Griffins' play-by-play announcer and director of communications.
The team also signed agreements with
WZZM and
WWMT to televise a handful of games each.
Following lengthy negotiations with the City of Grand Rapids,
a DeVos-owned company took over operations of Belknap Ice Arena, which was then renovated for use as the Griffins' practice facility.
Independent years (1996–99)
McNamara filled the Griffins' 1996–97 inaugural season roster with IHL and AHL veterans (notably
Michel Picard,
Jeff Nelson and
Don McSween
Donald Kennedy McSween (born June 9, 1964) is an American former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for two clubs in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Playing career
A defenseman known for his adept puck ...
) and a handful of prospects. He also signed affiliation agreements with the
Muskegon Fury
Muskegon ( ') is a city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Muskegon County. Muskegon is known for fishing, sailing regattas, pleasure boating, and as a commercial and cruise ship port. It is a popular vacation destination because of the expans ...
of the
Colonial Hockey League (CHL) and the
Mississippi Sea Wolves of the ECHL.
The Griffins won their inaugural game on the road against the
Indianapolis Ice,
but lost the home opener to the
Orlando Solar Bears
The Orlando Solar Bears are a professional ice hockey team that plays their home games at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. They play in the South Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference and are affiliated with the Tampa Bay Lightning of t ...
six days later.
An early-season record of 9–10–2 improved after the addition of
Pavol Demitra
Pavol Demitra (; 29 November 1974 – 7 September 2011) was a Slovak professional ice hockey player. He played nineteen seasons of professional hockey, for teams in the Czechoslovak First Ice Hockey League (CSL), National Hockey League (NHL), S ...
, who was acquired in a trade with the
Las Vegas Thunder in late November, and NHL veteran
Danton Cole
Danton Edward Cole (born January 10, 1967) is an American former professional hockey player and the former head coach of the Michigan State Spartans men's ice hockey, Michigan State Spartans men's hockey team. He had guided the USA Hockey Nationa ...
, who signed with the team after a stint in the
German Ice Hockey League
The Deutsche Eishockey Liga (for sponsorship reasons called "PENNY Deutsche Eishockey Liga") (; English: ''German Ice Hockey League'') or DEL, is a German professional ice hockey league and the highest division in German ice hockey. Founded in ...
(DEL).
The Griffins were paced by the top forward line of Picard, Jeff Nelson and Demitra;
all three averaged over one point per game during the regular season.
Demitra left the Griffins in March 1997 after signing a contract with the
St. Louis Blues,
and scored over 300 goals in sixteen NHL seasons.
He was replaced on the first line by rookie
Kevyn Adams
Kevyn William Adams (born October 8, 1974) is an American former professional ice hockey Centre (ice hockey), center and current general manager of the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League. During his career, Adams played for the Toronto ...
,
who went on to play in ten NHL seasons.
Grand Rapids finished in last place in a strong Northeast Division with a record of 40–30–12;
the team's opening round playoff series with Orlando ended in a 3–2 loss.
Picard was voted a first-team all star by the league's coaches after finishing fourth in league scoring with 46 goals and 55 assists in 82 games.
The franchise's first season was considered a success by the IHL,
which held its 1997 All-Star Game in front of a capacity crowd at the 10,834-seat
Van Andel Arena
Van Andel Arena is a 12,000 plus seat multi-purpose arena, situated in the Heartside district of Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States. The arena attracted over five million patrons in its first 5 years, 1996–2001. It is home to the Grand Rapid ...
. Thirty-nine of forty-one home games were also sellouts, and the Griffins set an IHL record with season ticket sales capped at 7,000.
Before the 1997–98 season, the Griffins selected
Glen Metropolit
Glen David Metropolit (born June 25, 1974) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who most notably played over 400 games in the National Hockey League (NHL)
Playing career
Early years
A native of Toronto, Ontario, Metropolit was nev ...
and two other players in the IHL expansion draft – postponed a year due to extended labor negotiations between the league and its players – signed NHL journeymen forwards
Mark Greig
William Mark Greig (born January 25, 1970) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey right winger who played nine seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Hartford Whalers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Calgary Flames and Philadelphia Flyers ...
and
Ed Patterson
Edward Patterson (born November 14, 1972) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. Patterson is currently the head coach of the Kamloops Storm of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League.
Biography
Patterson was born in Delta, ...
,
and re-signed Michel Picard. Most of the previous season's defensive core also returned,
though Don McSween was traded following
Kerry Huffman
Kerry Huffman (born January 3, 1968) is a Canadians, Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played for the Philadelphia Flyers, Quebec Nordiques and Ottawa Senators in the National Hockey League (NHL) and is currently a profession ...
's signing early in the season.
Goaltender Pokey Reddick requested and was granted a trade after splitting playing time with
Ian Gordon early in the season;
Patrick Lalime
Patrick Lalime (born July 7, 1974) is a Canadian ice hockey commentator and former professional ice hockey player who played twelve seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Ottawa Senators, St. Louis Blues, Chicago ...
signed with the team shortly thereafter.
By December, the Griffins were contending for first place in the Northeast Division, largely on the strength of their goaltending and the top forward line of Picard, Metropolit and Greig.
Picard was recalled by the St. Louis Blues in January for fifteen games;
Chris Lindberg
Christopher Lawrence Lindberg (born April 16, 1967) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player.
Lindberg was a member of the Canadian 1992 Winter Olympics ice hockey team, winning a silver medal. He would also play professionally in th ...
signed with the team shortly after Picard's recall, but was later suspended by the IHL after bolting to play for Swiss team
EV Zug
EV Zug is a professional men's ice hockey team from Zug, Switzerland. It is a member of the National League and plays its home games at the Bossard Arena.
History
EV Zug won its first championship in the 1997–98 season, and the second one in t ...
.
The Griffins' record fell to 30–25–7 by March, and disagreements over what changes needed to be made prompted McNamara to fire head coach Dave Allison.
McNamara assumed the coaching duties for the final twenty games of the regular season, as well as the playoffs, in which the Griffins were swept in the first round by the
Cincinnati Cyclones
The Cincinnati Cyclones are a professional ice hockey team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The team is a member of the ECHL. Originally established in 1990, the team first played their games in the Cincinnati Gardens and now play at Heritage Bank Cen ...
.
Picard, with 28 goals and 41 assists in 58 games, again led the team in scoring,
though another recall to the Blues left him unavailable for the playoffs.
In July 1998,
Guy Charron
Guy Joseph Jean Charron (born January 24, 1949) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre. He played in the NHL from 1969–1981. He previously served as the head coach of the WHL's Kamloops Blazers. Guy is currently the Commissioner ...
was introduced as the Griffins' new head coach; his previous seventeen years of coaching experience included five years as an assistant coach with the
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary. The Flames compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference, and ...
of the NHL.
His new team endured a flurry of roster moves following the departure of Mark Greig, Patrick Lalime and
Shane Hnidy
Shane Hnidy ( ; born November 8, 1975) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. Between 2000 and 2011, he played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Ottawa Senators, Nashville Predators, Atlanta Thrashers, Anaheim Ducks, B ...
, all of whom signed NHL contracts.
Kip Miller
Kip Charles Miller (born June 11, 1969) is an American former ice hockey forward. He last played for the American Hockey League Grand Rapids Griffins in 2006–07. He was drafted by the Quebec Nordiques as their 4th-round pick in the 1987 NHL Ent ...
signed with the Griffins in August but left the team before playing in a regular season game, instead earning an NHL roster spot after his rights were traded to the
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference, and have playe ...
.
Key additions who stuck with the team included forward
Robert Petrovicky
The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of ''Hrōþ, Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory ...
and
Darren Rumble
Darren William Rumble (born January 23, 1969) is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former professional ice hockey player. Rumble played for the Philadelphia Flyers, Ottawa Senators, St. Louis Blues and Tampa Bay Lightning of the Nati ...
. Early-season signees Joe Frederick and
Andrei Vasilyev provided an offensive boost,
but injuries on the defensive side preceded a franchise-record seven-game losing streak in November, leaving the Griffins with the worst record in the IHL at that point.
Among the few bright spots for the team was the play of linemates Metropolit, who scored the franchise's first ever natural
hat trick
A hat is a head covering which is worn for various reasons, including protection against weather conditions, ceremonial reasons such as university graduation, religious reasons, safety, or as a fashion accessory. Hats which incorporate mecha ...
that season,
and Petrovicky, who was named the IHL's Player of the Month for November after scoring five goals and 12 assists in 12 games.
Petrovicky signed an NHL contract with the
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning (colloquially known as the Bolts) are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. They play th ...
in February, and the Griffins made numerous roster moves in the following weeks in an effort to qualify for the playoffs.
The team finished with the second worst record in the 1998–99 IHL season, and failed to earn a playoff spot. (The IHL, down to 16 teams that year, had adopted a 12-team playoff format.)
Metropolit's 81 points led the team and placed him ninth in league scoring;
he went on to play in eight NHL seasons.
Ottawa Senators affiliation and joining the AHL (1999–2002)
Late in the 1998–99 season, general manager Bob McNamara on numerous occasions discussed an affiliation agreement with
Rick Dudley, the first-year general manager of the Ottawa Senators. Dudley considered other franchises,
and left the Senators before a deal was in place, but his replacement,
Marshall Johnston
Lawrence Marshall Johnston (born June 6, 1941) is a Canadians, Canadian former professional ice hockey player, coach and executive. He played as a Winger (ice hockey), right winger for the Minnesota North Stars and California Golden Seals of th ...
, ultimately chose Grand Rapids. The two-year agreement called for the assignment of twelve Senators prospects to the Griffins each year. "
e most significant reason we've pursued this is because we want to win a championship", said McNamara.
Griffins co-owner Dan DeVos echoed that sentiment: "This decision was not based on a financial analysis. Our intent was to improve our record."
In June 2001, the IHL ceased operations. The Griffins were among six IHL teams admitted to the American Hockey League (AHL) at that time. Because the AHL did not allow owners to control multiple teams (unlike the IHL), the DeVos family's other IHL teams (the
Orlando Solar Bears
The Orlando Solar Bears are a professional ice hockey team that plays their home games at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. They play in the South Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference and are affiliated with the Tampa Bay Lightning of t ...
and
Kansas City Blades) were forced to fold.
Detroit Red Wings affiliation (2002–present)
On January 24, 2002, the Griffins and Detroit Red Wings held a joint press conference at The B.O.B. in downtown Grand Rapids to announce a five-year affiliation agreement (2002–03 to 2006–07). Red Wings general manager
Ken Holland
Kenneth Mark Holland (born November 10, 1955) is a Canadian-American ice hockey executive and former goaltender. Holland is currently the president of hockey operations and general manager of the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League. H ...
and assistant GM
Jim Nill
James Edward Nill (born April 11, 1958) is a Canadian former ice hockey player and the current general manager of the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL). Nill played in the NHL throughout the 1980s with the St. Louis Blues, Vancouver ...
were present for the announcement, which was made before an overflow crowd of media and sponsors. Terms of the affiliation called for the Red Wings to supply a minimum of thirteen players to the Griffins each season. The majority of the Griffins' roster is Detroit prospects and draft picks.
Located in-state only two hours from Detroit, the Grand Rapids Griffins have given the Detroit Red Wings what they had sought after for years – a local AHL affiliate. The previous affiliate, the
Adirondack Red Wings, despite its relatively successful run in the AHL, was considered too far away for the preferences of Red Wings management, and back-and-forth player assignments. For this reason, the NHL Red Wings suspended the AHL Red Wings franchise with the intent of moving it to
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Lucas County, Ohio, United States. A major Midwestern United States port city, Toledo is the fourth-most populous city in the state of Ohio, after Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati, and according ...
, just a short distance from Detroit. These plans never materialized, so that AHL franchise stayed dormant for years until being sold and reactivated as the
San Antonio Rampage
The San Antonio Rampage were a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League based in San Antonio, Texas. The Rampage was primarily owned by Spurs Sports & Entertainment throughout the team's existence. In 2020, the franchise was sold ...
.
On April 5, 2002, with a 3–2 victory at Chicago, the Griffins won the AHL's inaugural
Bud Poile Trophy as the
2001–02 West Division champions. On March 9, 2003, thanks to losses by Rochester and Cincinnati, the Griffins won the
John Chick Trophy as the
2002–03 Central Division champions. The title marked their second straight as AHL members. On April 14, 2007, the Griffins and Detroit Red Wings announced an agreement in principle to extend their affiliation through the 2011–12 season. On June 4, 2008, nine former Griffins won the Stanley Cup as part of the
2007–08 Detroit Red Wings.
After the 2010–11 season, general manager Bob McNamara, the only hockey operations chief in franchise history, retired. Initially, the Griffins opted to forgo having a general manager, instead relying on the Red Wings for hockey operations support. However, in early 2012, Red Wings assistant general manager Ryan Martin was named general manager of the Griffins as well.
On March 7, 2012, the Griffins and Detroit Red Wings announced a five-year affiliation agreement extension through the
2016–17 season. On June 13, 2013, the Griffins won the
Calder Cup
The Calder Cup is the trophy awarded annually to the playoff champions of the American Hockey League. It was first presented in 1937 to the Syracuse Stars.
The cup is made of sterling silver mounted on a base of Brazilian mahogany. In its curr ...
for the first time in franchise history, defeating the
Syracuse Crunch
The Syracuse Crunch are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League (AHL). They play in Syracuse, New York, at the Upstate Medical University Arena. They are the primary development affiliate of the National Hockey League's Tampa ...
in six games. On June 16, 2015,
Todd Nelson was named head coach of the Griffins. On June 13, 2017, the Griffins won the
2017 Calder Cup, defeating the Syracuse Crunch in six games in a repeat of the 2013 finals. This time they won it on home ice in front of a sell out crowd at Van Andel Arena — the first time that a Grand Rapids-based team had won a title on home ice.
Tyler Bertuzzi
Tyler Bertuzzi (born February 24, 1995) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL). Bertuzzi was drafted 58th overall by the Red Wings in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.
Playing caree ...
was named MVP and received the
Jack A. Butterfield Trophy
The Calder Cup is the trophy awarded annually to the playoff champion of the American Hockey League (AHL). First awarded in the 1937–38 season, it is named after Frank Calder, first president of the National Hockey League. The Calder Cup is dis ...
. On July 6, 2017, the Griffins and Detroit Red Wings announced a five-year affiliation agreement extension through the 2021–22 season. After three seasons and one Calder Cup, head coach
Todd Nelson was hired as an assistant with the
Dallas Stars in the NHL and was replaced by assistant
Ben Simon
Benjamin Clarke Simon (born June 14, 1978) is an American former professional ice hockey center who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Atlanta Thrashers and Columbus Blue Jackets between 2001 and 2006. He was the head coach of th ...
for the
2018–19 season. On July 25, 2022, the Griffins and Detroit Red Wings announced another five-year extension of their affiliation agreement through the 2026-2027 season.
Season-by-season results
''This is a partial list of the last five seasons completed by the Griffins. For the full season-by-season history, see
List of Grand Rapids Griffins seasons''
Players
Current roster
Updated March 13, 2023.
Team captains
*
Don McSween
Donald Kennedy McSween (born June 9, 1964) is an American former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for two clubs in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Playing career
A defenseman known for his adept puck ...
, 1996–97
*
Kerry Huffman
Kerry Huffman (born January 3, 1968) is a Canadians, Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played for the Philadelphia Flyers, Quebec Nordiques and Ottawa Senators in the National Hockey League (NHL) and is currently a profession ...
, 1997–98
*
Danton Cole
Danton Edward Cole (born January 10, 1967) is an American former professional hockey player and the former head coach of the Michigan State Spartans men's ice hockey, Michigan State Spartans men's hockey team. He had guided the USA Hockey Nationa ...
, 1998–99
*Ed Patterson, 1999–2001
*
Travis Richards
Travis John Richards (born March 22, 1970) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman. He played briefly in the National Hockey League with the Dallas Stars.
Richards played ten seasons for the minor-league Grand Rapids Griffins. He ...
, 2001–04
*
Blake Sloan, 2004–05
*
Matt Ellis, 2005–07
*
Garrett Stafford
Garrett Stafford (born January 28, 1980) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Detroit Red Wings, Dallas Stars and Phoenix Coyotes.
Playing career
As a youth, Stafford pl ...
,
Mark Cullen,
Ryan Oulahen
Ryan Oulahen (born March 26, 1985) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and current head coach for the North Bay Battalion of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Oulahen was drafted in the fifth round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the ...
, 2007–08
*
Darren Haydar
Darren J. Haydar (born October 22, 1979) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger. Haydar was selected by the Nashville Predators in the ninth round (248th overall) of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. He is one of the top AHL players of all ...
, 2008–09
*
Jamie Tardif
Jamie Marc Tardif (born January 23, 1985) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward. Tardif played briefly in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Boston Bruins appearing in two games.
Playing career
Tardif was drafted 112th overal ...
, 2009–11
*
Garnet Exelby
John Garnet Exelby (born August 16, 1981) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Atlanta Thrashers and Toronto Maple Leafs. He was particularly known for his aggressive styl ...
, 2011–12
*
Jeff Hoggan
Jeffrey Allan Hoggan (born February 1, 1978) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward who played in the National Hockey League (NHL).
Playing career
Although born in Hope, Hoggan spent much of his minor hockey career in the Chilliwac ...
, 2012–16
*
Nathan Paetsch
Nathan Paetsch (born March 30, 1983) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Buffalo Sabres and Columbus Blue Jackets.
Playing career
Paetsch was originally drafted in the 2 ...
, 2016–17
*
Matthew Ford, 2017–2020
*
Brian Lashoff
Brian Lashoff (born July 16, 1990) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman currently playing as captain for the Grand Rapids Griffins in the American Hockey League (AHL). He has previously played with the Detroit Red Wings of the Nat ...
, 2020–present
Retired numbers
Club records
;Single season
* Most
goals:
Donald MacLean, 56, 2005–06
* Most
assists:
Jiri Hudler
Jiri ( ne, जिरी) is a municipality in Dolakha District in the Bagmati Province of central Nepal. At the time of the 2011 Nepal census it had a population of 13,638 people..
Jiri, which lies about 190 kilometers from Kathmandu, is the m ...
, 60, 2005–06
* Most
points
Point or points may refer to:
Places
* Point, Lewis, a peninsula in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland
* Point, Texas, a city in Rains County, Texas, United States
* Point, the NE tip and a ferry terminal of Lismore, Inner Hebrides, Scotland
* Point ...
:
Michel Picard, 101, 1996–97
* Most
penalty minutes
A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for an infringement of the rules. Most penalties are enforced by sending the offending player to a penalty box for a set number of minutes. During the penalty the player may not participate in play. Penaltie ...
:
Darryl Bootland
Darryl Bootland (born November 2, 1981) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey right wing who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Detroit Red Wings and New York Islanders.
Playing career
Bootland was drafted 252nd overall ...
, 390, 2005–06
* Most wins:
Mike Fountain
Michael Fountain (born January 26, 1972) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Vancouver Canucks, Carolina Hurricanes, and Ottawa Senators. He also played several seasons ...
, 2000–01, and
Joey MacDonald
Joseph Leonard MacDonald (born February 7, 1980) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. He previously played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins, New York Islanders, Toronto Maple Leafs, ...
, 2004–05, 34
* Best
goals against average
Goals against average (GAA) also known as "average goals against" or "AGA" is a statistic used in field hockey, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, and water polo that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender or goalkeeper (depending on s ...
:
Martin Prusek, 1.83, 2001–02
* Best
save percentage
Save percentage (often known by such symbols as SV%, SVS%, SVP, PCT) is a statistic in various goal-scoring sports that track saves as a statistic.
In ice hockey and lacrosse, it is a statistic that represents the percentage of shots on goal ...
: Joey MacDonald, .936, 2003–04
;Career
* Most goals: Michel Picard, 158
* Most assists: Michel Picard, 222
* Most points: Michel Picard, 380
* Most penalty minutes: Darryl Bootland, 1,164
* Most wins:
Tom McCollum
Thomas McCollum (born December 7, 1989) is an American professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for HC TWK Innsbruck of the ICE Hockey League (ICEHL). McCollum was drafted 30th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2008 NHL Entry Dr ...
, 123
* Most
shutout
In team sports, a shutout ( US) or clean sheet ( UK) is a game in which one team prevents the other from scoring any points. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball.
Shutouts are usuall ...
s: Joey MacDonald, 20
* Most games:
Travis Richards
Travis John Richards (born March 22, 1970) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman. He played briefly in the National Hockey League with the Dallas Stars.
Richards played ten seasons for the minor-league Grand Rapids Griffins. He ...
, 655
References
External links
*
Griffinscentral.comThe Internet Hockey Database - Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL)The Internet Hockey Database - Grand Rapids Griffins (IHL)
{{Grand Rapids, Michigan
1
Ice hockey clubs established in 1996
Sports in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Professional ice hockey teams in Michigan
Ottawa Senators minor league affiliates
1996 establishments in Michigan