CUP CHAMPS WERE "RAISED IN GRAND RAPIDS!"

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Former Grand Rapids Griffins players joyfully hoisting the Stanley Cup are the focal points of the team’s new promotional campaign, “Stanley Cup Champions: Raised in Grand Rapids!”

The 2008 Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings featured 15 former Griffins on their playoff roster, including eight players whose names have been engraved on the most famous trophy in sports. Now, four of them are being individually honored on billboards that display a photo of them raising the Stanley Cup alongside an action shot taken during their Griffins tenure.

The boards, which began going up throughout Grand Rapids this week and will remain in place through late July, depict former AHL All-Stars Valtteri Filppula, Jiri Hudler and Niklas Kronwall, and 2007-08 rookie sensation Darren Helm.

“As Detroit’s primary affiliate since 2002, our organization has had the pleasure of helping 31 Griffins develop into Red Wings players, many of whom started their careers in Grand Rapids and spent substantial time with us before earning permanent spots in the NHL,” said Tim Gortsema, Griffins senior vice president of business operations. “Our alumni played key roles in bringing the Cup back to Michigan, and it’s something for our franchise and all of the fans in Hockeytown West to celebrate and take pride in.”

The “Raised in Grand Rapids!” theme, which was introduced on the Griffins’ Web site (griffinshockey.com) in the days following the Red Wings’ Game 6 triumph over Pittsburgh, will be utilized throughout the team’s upcoming 2008-09 American Hockey League season.

The Griffins and Red Wings have comprised hockey’s most successful affiliation over the last six seasons, combining for more standings points (1,129) than any other AHL/NHL partnership.

Griffins full-season, mini-plan and group ticket packages for the 2008-09 season are now on sale. For more information, click here or call (616) 774-4585.