The Grand Rapids Griffins are a professional ice hockey team based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. They compete in the American Hockey League (AHL), playing their home games at Van Andel Arena. They are the AHL affiliate to the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League, and are the 2013 and 2017 Calder Cup champions.
Van Andel Arena is a multi-purpose arena situated in the Heartside district of Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States. The arena attracted over five million patrons in its first 5 years, 1996–2001. It serves as the home of the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League and the Grand Rapids Gold of the NBA G League. It will also be the home of the Grand Rapids Rise of the Pro Volleyball Federation starting in January 2024. Seating 10,834 for ice hockey and up to 13,184 for concerts, Van Andel Arena is the fourth-largest arena in Michigan, as well as West Michigan's largest; only Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, the Jack Breslin Student Events Center in East Lansing, and Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan, are larger.
The Huntington Hornets were a professional ice hockey team that played in Huntington, West Virginia as a member of the International Hockey League during the 1956–57 season. The team was relocated to Huntington from Grand Rapids, Michigan where they played as the Grand Rapids Rockets. The Huntington Hornets played their home games at the 4,100 seat Veterans Memorial Fieldhouse. They finished third overall in the International Hockey League's 1956–57 season. The team suffered from low attendance, prompting owner Ernie Berg to begin seeking for a new home as early as December, 1956. Local promoter Dick Deutsch attempted to keep the team in Huntington twice by seeking local investments. Ultimately, the attempts fell short, and the team was slated for suspension of operations or relocation. The IHL eventually approved relocation of the franchise to Louisville, Kentucky, where the team was rebranded as the Rebels.
Stefan Daniel Patryk Liv was a Polish-born Swedish professional ice hockey player who played as a goaltender. Liv played professionally in Sweden, North America and Russia. Liv played nine seasons for HV71 in the top-tier league in Sweden. He was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in 2000 and played one season in the Red Wings organization, but never made his debut in the NHL. He then returned to Europe and HV71. Upon his return, he played three seasons in Sweden, then moved to Russia in 2010.
The Iron Range Yellow Jackets were a Junior "B" ice hockey team from Coleraine, Minnesota, United States. This defunct hockey team was a part of the Minnesota Junior Hockey League and an interleague member of the Junior "A" Superior International Junior Hockey League.
Jeffrey Allan Hoggan is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward who played in the National Hockey League (NHL).
The 2007 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament involved 16 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college ice hockey as the culmination of the 2006–07 season. The tournament began on March 23, 2007, and ended with the championship game on April 7.
The Grand Rapids Owls are a defunct professional ice hockey team, who were members of the International Hockey League from the 1977–1978 season to 1979–1980 season. The Owls were based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and played their home games in Stadium Arena. The team started the 1977–1978 season as the Columbus Owls, but relocated to Grand Rapids on December 15, 1977. Their team colors were red, white, and black.
The Grand Rapids Rockets are a defunct International Hockey League team. They were members of the IHL from the 1950–1951 season to 1955–1956 season. They were based in Grand Rapids, Michigan and played their home games in Stadium Arena. The team had previously been a member of the Eastern Amateur Hockey League for the 1949–1950 season, before moving to the IHL. Their team colors were blue and gold.
The Dayton Owls was a minor league ice hockey team in the International Hockey League (IHL) during the 1977–78 season. The team was based in Dayton, Ohio, and played home games at the Hara Arena. The Columbus Owls had relocated to Dayton for the 1977–78 season, filling the void left by the Dayton Gems. Midway during their first season, on December 15, 1977 the Dayton Owls relocated to Grand Rapids, Michigan and became the Grand Rapids Owls.
The 2001–02 AHL season was the 66th season of the American Hockey League. It was the season of the biggest growth in the AHL's history, as it accepted eight new teams. The demise of the International Hockey League brought six teams transferring from the defunct league, in addition to two expansion teams.
Patrick White is an American former professional ice hockey center. He last played with Ducs de Dijon in the Ligue Magnus. White previously played in North America for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA). Prior to joining the Golden Gophers, he played four seasons of high school hockey in the Minnesota State High School League with the Grand Rapids High School Thunderhawks. Although he was drafted twice by junior ice hockey teams—the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League (WHL) in 2004 and the Tri-City Storm of the United States Hockey League (USHL) in 2005—he chose to play for his high school instead. Described as a skilled forward with a good wrist shot, White was drafted in the first round, 25th overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, before being traded to the Sharks in 2009.
The Grand Rapids Owls was a USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier III Junior A ice hockey team in the Central States Hockey League. The team played their home games at the Southside Community Ice Center in Byron Center, Michigan. The players, ages 16–20, carried amateur status under Junior A guidelines and hoped to earn a spot on higher levels of junior ice hockey in the United States and Canada, Canadian Major Junior, Collegiate, and eventually professional teams. The team suspended operations prior to the 2010-2011 season.
Brian Lashoff is an |American former ice hockey defenseman and current assistant coach for the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League (AHL). Lashoff played for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL), and most notably for the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL.
Jeff Blashill is an American professional ice hockey coach who is currently serving as an assistant coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was formerly the head coach for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL).
The 1952–53 IHL season was the eighth season of the International Hockey League (IHL), a North American minor professional ice hockey league. Six teams participated in the regular season, and the Cincinnati Mohawks won the Turner Cup.
The Grand Rapids Gold are an American professional basketball team in the NBA G League based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and are affiliated with the Denver Nuggets. The Gold play their home games at Van Andel Arena. They began play as the Anaheim Arsenal in 2006, before relocating to Springfield, Massachusetts, in 2009, becoming the Springfield Armor. After five seasons in Springfield, the franchise moved to Grand Rapids in 2014 and were subsequently renamed the Grand Rapids Drive, before changing their name again to the Gold in 2021.
The Grand Falls Rapids are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Grand Falls, New Brunswick. They are in the Maritime Junior Hockey League's Eastlink North Division along with five other Maritime clubs. The Rapids play their home games at the Centre E. & P. Senechal.