COMING INTO FOCUS

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – With the conclusion of Thursday’s practice at Joe Louis Arena, the Grand Rapids Griffins have officially concluded their joint training camp with the Detroit Red Wings. After skating alongside the Red Wings since the start of the rookie tournament in Traverse City on Sept. 7, the Griffins will commence regular practices in Grand Rapids beginning this Saturday, Sept. 29.

The Griffins will practice at Griff’s IceHouse at Belknap Park each day as they prepare for their season opener on Saturday, Oct. 6 in Cleveland versus the Lake Erie Monsters. The current schedule calls for Grand Rapids to skate at 10:30 a.m. this Saturday, at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, and at 10 a.m. on Monday through Thursday of next week. All practice sessions are open to the public.

Head coach Mike Stothers and assistant coach Jim Paek are expected to have at least 16 players on hand for Saturday’s practice, including nine Red Wings prospects: goaltender Adam Berkhoel, defensemen Brad Ference, Jakub Kindl and Garrett Stafford, and forwards Carl Corazzini, Mark Cullen, Brett Engelhardt, Randall Gelech and Ryan Oulahen. In addition, seven Griffins-contracted players will be present, including defensemen Tom Galvin, Jon Insana and Cleve Kinley, and forwards Neil Clark, Adam Keefe, Jamie Tardif and Mike Walsh.

After opening the 2007-08 regular season with three straight road games, the Griffins will make their Van Andel Arena debut on Saturday, Oct. 20 against the Rockford IceHogs at 7 p.m. Group tickets for all home games, along with full season, 20-game, 10-game and five-game ticket packages, are currently available by calling the Griffins at (616) 774-4585. Single-game tickets can be purchased online at griffinshockey.com, in person at any Star Tickets Plus outlet, including The Zone and Meijer stores, or by phone at (616) 222-4000.