2012-13 SCHEDULE RELEASED
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Griffins on Friday released their schedule for the 2012-13 season, their 17th overall and 12th as members of the American Hockey League.
The primary affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings will begin its 76-game slate with back-to-back home games at Van Andel Arena for the first time since the 2002-03 season. The team will host the Milwaukee Admirals on Friday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. before facing off against the Hamilton Bulldogs on Saturday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m.
In addition, the Griffins announced today that after having ESPN 96.1 FM serve as their flagship station the past two seasons, their radio broadcasts are returning to WOOD 106.9 FM & 1300 AM. WOOD, which acquired its wide-reaching FM signal in early 2011, was the Griffins’ original radio home from 1996-2010.
Highlights of the 2012-13 schedule include:
• Twenty-five prime home dates (15 Fridays and 10 Saturdays) out of 38 games. All Friday games this season will once again feature the popular Dollar Dogs, Dollar Beers promotion;
• The Griffins’ first-ever outdoor game on Sunday, Dec. 30 versus the Toronto Marlies at 7 p.m. The AHL clubs will battle at Comerica Park as part of the Hockeytown Winter Festival, a series of college, junior and NHL alumni games leading up to the 2013 NHL Winter Classic between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs at Michigan Stadium on Jan. 1. Information on tickets for these games can be found here;
• Renewed rivalries, thanks to the AHL’s summer division realignment. The Griffins have shifted from the North to the Midwest Division, placing them with Chicago, Milwaukee, Peoria and Rockford. Dating back to when they joined the IHL in 1996, the Griffins have played the Admirals (116 times) and Wolves (96 times) more than any other team in their history. Additionally, the Griffins have met the Wolves on four different occasions in the playoffs, including the 2000 IHL Turner Cup Finals;
• The Griffins’ 16th annual New Year’s Eve celebration versus the Rockford IceHogs, part of a season-high seven-game homestand to lead into the new year (Dec. 19-Jan. 4). Additionally, the game will mark the team’s first Monday home game since Dec. 31, 2007 and be part of the longest homestand since an eight-game run from Oct. 14-Nov. 4, 2006;
• An extended holiday season at home, starting with a contest the day after Thanksgiving (Nov. 23 vs. Chicago). From that night until the first game of 2013 (Jan. 4 vs. Oklahoma City), the Griffins will play over one-third of their home games during the holiday season, with 13 of 17 games at Van Andel Arena (plus one at Comerica Park);
• Grand Rapids’ 12th annual Matinee Game on Nov. 7 versus Milwaukee, which has been moved up to 11 a.m. from its traditional noon start. It will be the first home game in franchise history to feature a morning puck drop;
• A seven-game road trip from March 23-April 6, which will mark the longest stretch of games away from home the Griffins have had since a franchise-record eight-game swing from March 22-April 5, 2009. The game is also part of a stretch of 10 of 11 games on the road from March 16-April 6. The club will begin the run with a game in Milwaukee, two against Peoria and a home-and-home set with Lake Erie before four straight games in Texas (two against Houston and one each at San Antonio and Texas) and back-to-back games in Abbotsford;
• An extra week of regular-season hockey. This season will mark the latest that the Griffins have held both their regular-season home finale (April 19 vs. Peoria) and season finale (April 21 at Chicago) in their 17-year history.
Nearly all Griffins home games will begin at 7 p.m., with the exception of the 11 a.m. start on Nov. 7 and the 6 p.m. start on New Year’s Eve, and four Sunday games at Van Andel Arena that will start at 4 p.m.
Griffins full-season, partial-season and group ticket packages for the 2012-13 season are now on sale. For more information, visit griffinshockey.com or call the Griffins office at (616) 774-4585. Single-game tickets will go on sale to the public on Saturday, Sept. 15.
Griffins 2012-13 schedule options: PDF Graphic Outlook (CSV)
All Times Eastern
Dates, Opponents and Times Subject to Change
Games Broadcast on WOOD 106.9 FM/1300 AM
*Game played at Comerica Park in Detroit
Season/Home Opener: Fri., Oct. 12 vs. Milwaukee Admirals
2013 AHL All-Star Classic: Sun., Jan. 27 and Mon., Jan. 28 in Providence, R.I.
Home Finale: Fri., April 19 vs. Peoria Rivermen
Season Finale: Sun., April 21 at Chicago Wolves
By Conference
Western – 76 (38 home, 38 road), Eastern – 0
By Division
Midwest – 34 (16 home, 16 road), South – 22 (11 home, 11 road), North – 20 (10 home, 10 road), Atlantic – 0, East – 0, Northeast – 0
By Opponent
Peoria – 10 games (5 home, 5 road)
Chicago, Milwaukee and Rockford – 8 games each (4 home, 4 road)
Houston and Lake Erie – 6 games each (3 home, 3 road)
Abbotsford, Charlotte, Hamilton, Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Texas and Toronto – 4 games each (2 home, 2 road)
Rochester – 2 games (1 home, 1 road)
By Day (Home)
Friday – 15, Saturday – 10, Wednesday – 7, Sunday – 5, Monday – 1
By Day (Road)
Saturday – 12, Friday – 11, Sunday – 9, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday – 2
By Month (Home)
December – 10, February – 6, November and January – 5, October, March and April – 4
By Month (Road)
March – 11, January – 7, November – 6, April – 5, February – 4, October – 3, December – 2
Longest Homestand
7 games: Dec. 19-Jan. 4
Longest Road Trip
7 games: March 23-April 6
Three Games in Three Nights
9 times: Oct. 26-28, Nov. 2-4, Nov. 23-25, Jan. 4-6, Feb. 22-24, March 1-3, March 8-10, March 28-30, April 19-21
The primary affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings will begin its 76-game slate with back-to-back home games at Van Andel Arena for the first time since the 2002-03 season. The team will host the Milwaukee Admirals on Friday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. before facing off against the Hamilton Bulldogs on Saturday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m.
In addition, the Griffins announced today that after having ESPN 96.1 FM serve as their flagship station the past two seasons, their radio broadcasts are returning to WOOD 106.9 FM & 1300 AM. WOOD, which acquired its wide-reaching FM signal in early 2011, was the Griffins’ original radio home from 1996-2010.
Highlights of the 2012-13 schedule include:
• Twenty-five prime home dates (15 Fridays and 10 Saturdays) out of 38 games. All Friday games this season will once again feature the popular Dollar Dogs, Dollar Beers promotion;
• The Griffins’ first-ever outdoor game on Sunday, Dec. 30 versus the Toronto Marlies at 7 p.m. The AHL clubs will battle at Comerica Park as part of the Hockeytown Winter Festival, a series of college, junior and NHL alumni games leading up to the 2013 NHL Winter Classic between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs at Michigan Stadium on Jan. 1. Information on tickets for these games can be found here;
• Renewed rivalries, thanks to the AHL’s summer division realignment. The Griffins have shifted from the North to the Midwest Division, placing them with Chicago, Milwaukee, Peoria and Rockford. Dating back to when they joined the IHL in 1996, the Griffins have played the Admirals (116 times) and Wolves (96 times) more than any other team in their history. Additionally, the Griffins have met the Wolves on four different occasions in the playoffs, including the 2000 IHL Turner Cup Finals;
• The Griffins’ 16th annual New Year’s Eve celebration versus the Rockford IceHogs, part of a season-high seven-game homestand to lead into the new year (Dec. 19-Jan. 4). Additionally, the game will mark the team’s first Monday home game since Dec. 31, 2007 and be part of the longest homestand since an eight-game run from Oct. 14-Nov. 4, 2006;
• An extended holiday season at home, starting with a contest the day after Thanksgiving (Nov. 23 vs. Chicago). From that night until the first game of 2013 (Jan. 4 vs. Oklahoma City), the Griffins will play over one-third of their home games during the holiday season, with 13 of 17 games at Van Andel Arena (plus one at Comerica Park);
• Grand Rapids’ 12th annual Matinee Game on Nov. 7 versus Milwaukee, which has been moved up to 11 a.m. from its traditional noon start. It will be the first home game in franchise history to feature a morning puck drop;
• A seven-game road trip from March 23-April 6, which will mark the longest stretch of games away from home the Griffins have had since a franchise-record eight-game swing from March 22-April 5, 2009. The game is also part of a stretch of 10 of 11 games on the road from March 16-April 6. The club will begin the run with a game in Milwaukee, two against Peoria and a home-and-home set with Lake Erie before four straight games in Texas (two against Houston and one each at San Antonio and Texas) and back-to-back games in Abbotsford;
• An extra week of regular-season hockey. This season will mark the latest that the Griffins have held both their regular-season home finale (April 19 vs. Peoria) and season finale (April 21 at Chicago) in their 17-year history.
Nearly all Griffins home games will begin at 7 p.m., with the exception of the 11 a.m. start on Nov. 7 and the 6 p.m. start on New Year’s Eve, and four Sunday games at Van Andel Arena that will start at 4 p.m.
Griffins full-season, partial-season and group ticket packages for the 2012-13 season are now on sale. For more information, visit griffinshockey.com or call the Griffins office at (616) 774-4585. Single-game tickets will go on sale to the public on Saturday, Sept. 15.
Griffins 2012-13 schedule options: PDF Graphic Outlook (CSV)
Grand Rapids Griffins 2012-13 Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Time |
| Fri., Oct. 12 | MILWAUKEE ADMIRALS | 7:00 |
| Sat., Oct. 13 | HAMILTON BULLDOGS | 7:00 |
| Fri., Oct. 19 | @ Rochester Americans | 7:05 |
| Sun., Oct. 21 | @ Toronto Marlies | 3:00 |
| Fri., Oct. 26 | CHARLOTTE CHECKERS | 7:00 |
| Sat., Oct. 27 | ROCKFORD ICEHOGS | 7:00 |
| Sun., Oct. 28 | @ Chicago Wolves | 5:00 |
| Fri., Nov. 2 | @ San Antonio Rampage | 8:30 |
| Sat., Nov. 3 | @ Texas Stars | 8:00 |
| Sun., Nov. 4 | @ Houston Aeros | 6:05 |
| Wed., Nov. 7 | MILWAUKEE ADMIRALS | 11:00 a.m. |
| Fri., Nov. 9 | ROCKFORD ICEHOGS | 7:00 |
| Sat., Nov. 10 | @ Peoria Rivermen | 8:05 |
| Fri., Nov. 16 | @ Lake Erie Monsters | 7:30 |
| Fri., Nov. 23 | CHICAGO WOLVES | 7:00 |
| Sat., Nov. 24 | @ Peoria Rivermen | 8:35 |
| Sun., Nov. 25 | MILWAUKEE ADMIRALS | 4:00 |
| Fri., Nov. 30 | TEXAS STARS | 7:00 |
| Sat., Dec. 1 | TEXAS STARS | 7:00 |
| Wed., Dec. 5 | PEORIA RIVERMEN | 7:00 |
| Fri., Dec. 7 | @ Chicago Wolves | 8:30 |
| Sun., Dec. 9 | ROCKFORD ICEHOGS | 4:00 |
| Fri., Dec. 14 | PEORIA RIVERMEN | 7:00 |
| Sun., Dec. 16 | @ Toronto Marlies | 3:00 |
| Wed., Dec. 19 | ROCHESTER AMERICANS | 7:00 |
| Fri., Dec. 21 | ABBOTSFORD HEAT | 7:00 |
| Sat., Dec. 22 | CHICAGO WOLVES | 7:00 |
| Fri., Dec. 28 | TORONTO MARLIES | 7:00 |
| Sun., Dec. 30 | TORONTO MARLIES* | 7:00 |
| Mon., Dec. 31 | ROCKFORD ICEHOGS | 6:00 |
| Fri., Jan. 4 | OKLAHOMA CITY BARONS | 7:00 |
| Sat., Jan. 5 | @ Chicago Wolves | 8:00 |
| Sun., Jan. 6 | @ Milwaukee Admirals | 4:00 |
| Wed., Jan. 9 | @ Rockford IceHogs | 8:05 |
| Fri., Jan. 11 | @ Rockford IceHogs | 8:05 |
| Sat., Jan. 12 | PEORIA RIVERMEN | 7:00 |
| Wed., Jan. 16 | @ Charlotte Checkers | 7:00 |
| Thu., Jan. 17 | @ Charlotte Checkers | 7:00 |
| Sat., Jan. 19 | @ Rockford IceHogs | 8:05 |
| Wed., Jan. 23 | OKLAHOMA CITY BARONS | 7:00 |
| Fri., Jan. 25 | HOUSTON AEROS | 7:00 |
| Sat., Jan. 26 | HOUSTON AEROS | 7:00 |
| Fri., Feb. 1 | @ Hamilton Bulldogs | 7:30 |
| Sat., Feb. 2 | ABBOTSFORD HEAT | 7:00 |
| Wed., Feb. 6 | HOUSTON AEROS | 7:00 |
| Fri., Feb. 8 | @ Oklahoma City Barons | 8:00 |
| Sat., Feb. 9 | @ Oklahoma City Barons | 8:00 |
| Fri., Feb. 15 | LAKE ERIE MONSTERS | 7:00 |
| Sun., Feb. 17 | CHARLOTTE CHECKERS | 4:00 |
| Fri., Feb. 22 | @ Rockford IceHogs | 8:05 |
| Sat., Feb. 23 | SAN ANTONIO RAMPAGE | 7:00 |
| Sun., Feb. 24 | SAN ANTONIO RAMPAGE | 4:00 |
| Fri., March 1 | @ Milwaukee Admirals | 8:00 |
| Sat., March 2 | @ Peoria Rivermen | 8:05 |
| Sun., March 3 | @ Milwaukee Admirals | 4:00 |
| Fri., March 8 | HAMILTON BULLDOGS | 7:00 |
| Sat., March 9 | LAKE ERIE MONSTERS | 7:00 |
| Sun., March 10 | @ Hamilton Bulldogs | 5:00 |
| Wed., March 13 | CHICAGO WOLVES | 7:00 |
| Sat., March 16 | @ Milwaukee Admirals | 8:00 |
| Sun., March 17 | @ Peoria Rivermen | 6:05 |
| Tue., March 19 | @ Peoria Rivermen | 8:05 |
| Fri., March 22 | LAKE ERIE MONSTERS | 7:00 |
| Sat., March 23 | @ Lake Erie Monsters | 7:30 |
| Thu., March 28 | @ San Antonio Rampage | 8:00 |
| Fri., March 29 | @ Houston Aeros | 8:05 |
| Sat., March 30 | @ Texas Stars | 8:00 |
| Tue., April 2 | @ Houston Aeros | 8:05 |
| Fri., April 5 | @ Abbotsford Heat | 10:00 |
| Sat., April 6 | @ Abbotsford Heat | 10:00 |
| Wed., April 10 | CHICAGO WOLVES | 7:00 |
| Fri., April 12 | MILWAUKEE ADMIRALS | 7:00 |
| Sat., April 13 | PEORIA RIVERMEN | 7:00 |
| Fri., April 19 | PEORIA RIVERMEN | 7:00 |
| Sat., April 20 | @ Lake Erie Monsters | 7:30 |
| Sun., April 21 | @ Chicago Wolves | 5:00 |
All Times Eastern
Dates, Opponents and Times Subject to Change
Games Broadcast on WOOD 106.9 FM/1300 AM
*Game played at Comerica Park in Detroit
Grand Rapids Griffins
2012-13 Schedule Breakdown
2012-13 Schedule Breakdown
Season/Home Opener: Fri., Oct. 12 vs. Milwaukee Admirals
2013 AHL All-Star Classic: Sun., Jan. 27 and Mon., Jan. 28 in Providence, R.I.
Home Finale: Fri., April 19 vs. Peoria Rivermen
Season Finale: Sun., April 21 at Chicago Wolves
By Conference
Western – 76 (38 home, 38 road), Eastern – 0
By Division
Midwest – 34 (16 home, 16 road), South – 22 (11 home, 11 road), North – 20 (10 home, 10 road), Atlantic – 0, East – 0, Northeast – 0
By Opponent
Peoria – 10 games (5 home, 5 road)
Chicago, Milwaukee and Rockford – 8 games each (4 home, 4 road)
Houston and Lake Erie – 6 games each (3 home, 3 road)
Abbotsford, Charlotte, Hamilton, Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Texas and Toronto – 4 games each (2 home, 2 road)
Rochester – 2 games (1 home, 1 road)
By Day (Home)
Friday – 15, Saturday – 10, Wednesday – 7, Sunday – 5, Monday – 1
By Day (Road)
Saturday – 12, Friday – 11, Sunday – 9, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday – 2
By Month (Home)
December – 10, February – 6, November and January – 5, October, March and April – 4
By Month (Road)
March – 11, January – 7, November – 6, April – 5, February – 4, October – 3, December – 2
Longest Homestand
7 games: Dec. 19-Jan. 4
Longest Road Trip
7 games: March 23-April 6
Three Games in Three Nights
9 times: Oct. 26-28, Nov. 2-4, Nov. 23-25, Jan. 4-6, Feb. 22-24, March 1-3, March 8-10, March 28-30, April 19-21