By Michael Caples –
The defending Calder Cup champions have released their 2013-14 schedule.
The Grand Rapids Griffins – the Red Wings’ AHL affiliate – will start their AHL season on Friday, Oct. 4 in Rochester, N.Y., as part of a three-game road trip.
They will host their home opener – and a banner-raising ceremony – on Friday, Oct. 18 at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids.
Highlights from their 76-game schedule include:
- The Griffins’ 17th annual New Year’s Eve celebration against Toronto (puck drops at 6 p.m.)
- Seven straight home games from Nov. 29 to Dec. 4
- A matinee game – the Griffins’ 13th annual – on Wednesday, Nov. 6
- A road contest against Rochester on Saturday, Feb. 8 that will be played at the First Niagara Center, home of the Buffalo Sabres
- A 5 p.m. puck drop for their outdoor game against the Toronto Marlies as part of the Hockeytown Winter Festival
The Griffins’ full schedule:
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Grand Rapids Griffins 2013-14 Schedule |
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| Date | Opponent | Time |
| Fri., Oct. 4 | @ Rochester Americans | 7:05 p.m. |
| Sat., Oct. 5 | @ Toronto Marlies | 3 p.m. |
| Sat., Oct. 12 | @ Hamilton Bulldogs | 7 p.m. |
| Fri., Oct. 18 | MILWAUKEE ADMIRALS | 7 p.m. |
| Sat., Oct. 19 | @ Rockford IceHogs | 8 p.m. |
| Fri., Oct. 25 | CHARLOTTE CHECKERS | 7 p.m. |
| Sat., Oct. 26 | @ Chicago Wolves | 8 p.m. |
| Sun., Oct. 27 | @ Iowa Wild | 6:05 p.m. |
| Wed., Oct. 30 | CHARLOTTE CHECKERS | 7 p.m. |
| Fri., Nov. 1 | @ Lake Erie Monsters | 7:30 p.m. |
| Sun., Nov. 3 | @ Rockford IceHogs | 5 p.m. |
| Wed., Nov. 6 | ROCKFORD ICEHOGS | 11 a.m. |
| Fri., Nov. 8 | @ Hamilton Bulldogs | 7:30 p.m. |
| Wed., Nov. 13 | @ Milwaukee Admirals | 8 p.m. |
| Fri., Nov. 15 | ROCKFORD ICEHOGS | 7 p.m. |
| Sat., Nov. 16 | @ Chicago Wolves | 8 p.m. |
| Wed., Nov. 20 | MILWAUKEE ADMIRALS | 7 p.m. |
| Fri., Nov. 22 | @ Iowa Wild | 8:05 p.m. |
| Sat., Nov. 23 | @ Chicago Wolves | 8 p.m. |
| Fri., Nov. 29 | TEXAS STARS | 7 p.m. |
| Sat., Nov. 30 | TEXAS STARS | 7 p.m. |
| Fri., Dec. 6 | ROCHESTER AMERICANS | 7 p.m. |
| Sat., Dec. 7 | ROCHESTER AMERICANS | 8 p.m. |
| Wed., Dec. 11 | CHICAGO WOLVES | 7 p.m. |
| Fri., Dec. 13 | MILWAUKEE ADMIRALS | 7 p.m. |
| Sat., Dec. 14 | MILWAUKEE ADMIRALS | 7 p.m. |
| Wed., Dec. 18 | @ Iowa Wild | 8:05 p.m. |
| Fri., Dec. 20 | ROCKFORD ICEHOGS | 7 p.m. |
| Sat., Dec. 21 | @ Chicago Wolves | 8 p.m. |
| Thu., Dec. 26 | @ Milwaukee Admirals | 8 p.m. |
| Fri., Dec. 27 | @ Rockford IceHogs | 8 p.m. |
| Mon., Dec. 30 | TORONTO MARLIES * | 5 p.m. |
| Tue., Dec. 31 | TORONTO MARLIES | 6 p.m. |
| Fri., Jan. 3 | CHICAGO WOLVES | 7 p.m. |
| Sat., Jan. 4 | @ Rockford IceHogs | 8 p.m. |
| Wed., Jan. 8 | ROCKFORD ICEHOGS | 7 p.m. |
| Fri., Jan. 10 | IOWA WILD | 7 p.m. |
| Sat., Jan. 11 | IOWA WILD | 7 p.m. |
| Wed., Jan. 15 | CHICAGO WOLVES | 7 p.m. |
| Fri., Jan. 17 | ABBOTSFORD HEAT | 7 p.m. |
| Sat., Jan. 18 | ABBOTSFORD HEAT | 7 p.m. |
| Fri., Jan. 24 | @ Texas Stars | 8:30 p.m. |
| Sat., Jan. 25 | @ Texas Stars | 8 p.m. |
| Sun., Jan. 26 | @ San Antonio Rampage | 5 p.m. |
| Fri., Jan. 31 | CHICAGO WOLVES | 7 p.m. |
| Sat., Feb. 1 | @ Milwaukee Admirals | 8 p.m. |
| Wed., Feb. 5 | LAKE ERIE MONSTERS | 7 p.m. |
| Fri., Feb. 7 | @ Toronto Marlies | 7 p.m. |
| Sat., Feb. 8 | @ Rochester Americans # | 7:05 p.m. |
| Fri., Feb. 14 | SAN ANTONIO RAMPAGE | 7 p.m. |
| Sat., Feb. 15 | SAN ANTONIO RAMPAGE | 7 p.m. |
| Fri., Feb. 21 | OKLAHOMA CITY BARONS | 7 p.m. |
| Sat., Feb. 22 | OKLAHOMA CITY BARONS | 7 p.m. |
| Sun., Feb. 23 | MILWAUKEE ADMIRALS | 5 p.m. |
| Wed., Feb. 26 | @ Milwaukee Admirals | 8 p.m. |
| Fri., Feb. 28 | @ Abbotsford Heat | 10 p.m. |
| Sat., March 1 | @ Abbotsford Heat | 10 p.m. |
| Wed., March 5 | CHICAGO WOLVES | 7 p.m. |
| Fri., March 7 | IOWA WILD | 7 p.m. |
| Sat., March 8 | IOWA WILD | 7 p.m. |
| Thu., March 13 | @ San Antonio Rampage | 8 p.m. |
| Fri., March 14 | @ Oklahoma City Barons | 8 p.m. |
| Sat., March 15 | @ Oklahoma City Barons | 8 p.m. |
| Fri., March 21 | @ Iowa Wild | 8:05 p.m. |
| Sat., March 22 | @ Iowa Wild | 2:05 p.m. |
| Sun., March 23 | @ Chicago Wolves | 4 p.m. |
| Fri., March 28 | @ Rockford IceHogs | 8 p.m. |
| Sat., March 29 | ROCKFORD ICEHOGS | 7 p.m. |
| Sun., March 30 | @ Milwaukee Admirals | 6 p.m. |
| Wed., April 2 | IOWA WILD | 7 p.m. |
| Fri., April 4 | HAMILTON BULLDOGS | 7 p.m. |
| Sat., April 5 | HAMILTON BULLDOGS | 7 p.m. |
| Thu., April 10 | @ Charlotte Checkers | 7 p.m. |
| Sun., April 13 | @ Charlotte Checkers | 1:30 p.m. |
| Fri., April 18 | LAKE ERIE MONSTERS | 7 p.m. |
| Sat., April 19 | @ Lake Erie Monsters | 7 p.m. |