GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The first-ever meetings with the Charlotte Checkers will highlight the Grand Rapids Griffins’ 2011-12 American Hockey League schedule, which will be announced in August.

The schedule format released by the Griffins on Monday features 14 of the AHL’s 29 other teams, including second-year AHL member Charlotte, the top affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Griffins’ 2011-12 schedule will consist of 76 games, all against the Western Conference, including 30 within the North Division, 26 against the West Division and 20 versus the Midwest Division. Grand Rapids’ frequency of games against each opponent is as follows: 10 games (five home, five road) versus Hamilton (North); eight games (four home, four road) versus Oklahoma City (West) and Toronto (North); six games (three home, three road) versus Houston (West), Lake Erie (North) and Rochester (North); and four games (two home, two road) versus Abbotsford, San Antonio and Texas from the West Division, as well as each team in the Midwest Division: Charlotte, Chicago, Milwaukee, Peoria and Rockford.

Griffins full-season, mini-plan and group ticket packages for the 2011-12 season are now on sale. For more information, visit griffinshockey.com or call the Griffins office at (616) 774-4585.