GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — After a summer filled with parties, the Grand Rapids Griffins officially began their preparations in defense of the Calder Cup championship.
Head coach Jeff Blashill, along with assistant coaches Jim Paek and Spiros Anastas and Red Wings liaisons Chris Chelios, oversaw 22 skaters and two goaltenders through drills at Griff’s IceHouse Monday morning. During the Griffins first practice, the Detroit Red Wings announced that eight more players including forwards Luke Glendening, Riley Sheahan, and Landon Ferraro would be joining the Griffins on Tuesday.
Forward Teemu Pulkkinen was on the ice in Grand Rapids today with the Griffins, but will have to return to Detroit on Wednesday to fulfill the final game requirement of his four-game NHL preseason suspension.
The Griffins will be holding a week-long training camp at Griff’s IceHouse in Grand Rapids and every session is open to the public. The Griffins camp schedule for the rest of the week is:
- Tuesday, Sept. 24 – Practices from 10:30-11:20 a.m and 11:35 a.m.-12-15 p.m.
- Wednesday, Sept. 25 – Practices from 10:15-11:05 a.m. and 11:20 a.m.-Noon
- Thursday, Sept. 26 – Practices from 10:15-11:05 a.m. and 11:20 a.m.-Noon
- Friday, Sept. 27 – Practice from 10:15-11:05 a.m. and a Scrimmage from 11:20-Noon
The Griffins will take on the Lake Erie Monsters in a pair of preseason games. The first game is on Saturday, Sept. 28 at 7:00 p.m. at Compuware Arena in Plymouth, Mich., with the second game set for the following night at the WFCU Centre in Windsor, Ontario.
The Griffins AHL season opener is Friday, Oct. 4 in Rochester and the home opener (Championship Banner Night) is Friday, Oct. 18 against the Milwaukee Admirals.
