SYRACUSE, N.Y. — After a disappointing string of losses at Van Andel Arena, the Grand Rapids Griffins clinched the Calder Cup in game six after a return to Syracuse’s War Memorial Oncenter Tuesday night, beating the Crunch 5-2.
The Crunch fired first, ending an almost scoreless first period with two minutes, 45 seconds left on the clock. The Griffins answered back in the second, scoring two goals and taking the lead going into the final period.
Both teams scored in the third period, first the Crunch and then the Griffins with 10:06 left in the game. The Griffins scored their fourth goal with 48.5 seconds left in the game, and their fifth in the final five seconds.
Winning the Calder Cup marks the Griffins’ first-ever national championship title. They plan to arrive back in Grand Rapids at Gerald R. Ford International Airport with the trophy at around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday morning.
