Since the Griffins' inception in 1996, 131 different players - 20 goalies and 111 skaters - have gone on to play at least one game in the National Hockey League.

Some of the more accomplished members of the Griffins' alumni class include 14 Stanley Cup champions, a Calder Trophy finalist (Jimmy Howard) and a Lady Byng winner (Pavol Demitra).

A few facts of note:

• A Griffins alumnus has had his name engraved on the Stanley Cup in four of the last five years (2008-2011) and six times in the last eight seasons.
   
• Fifteen former Griffins were on the playoff roster of the 2008 Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings, nine of whom now have their names engraved on the Cup: Niklas Kronwall, Jiri Hudler, Valtteri Filppula, Brett Lebda, Derek Meech, Darren Helm, Tomas Kopecky, Darren McCarty and Chris Osgood.
   
• Forty-two Griffins alumni logged ice time with 18 different NHL teams during the 2010-11 regular season, combining to play 1,457 games while accumulating 157 goals, 299 assists, 456 points, 47 wins and three shutouts. Boston's Chris Kelly became the 14th player to have his name engraved on the Stanley Cup after playing for the Griffins.
   
• All 30 NHL teams have had a former Griffin play for them at some point.
   
• Sixty-five players have made their NHL debuts after first playing for the Griffins, including 42 who made their debut during the same season they played in Grand Rapids.
   
• In addition, two Griffins head coaches - Guy Charron and Bruce Cassidy - moved on to the NHL the season after winning Coach of the Year honors in Grand Rapids, while three assistant coaches eventually advanced to assistant positions in the NHL (Curtis Hunt, Kelly Miller and Todd Nelson).