GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. A hockey stick autographed by 2005-06 NHL Calder Trophy winner Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals is the first item available for bid through the Grand Rapids Griffins new auction site, griffinshockey.com/auctions.

A variety of merchandise, from game-worn equipment and autographed memorabilia to tickets and unique experiences, will be auctioned to the public throughout the 2006-07 season. The majority of auctions will benefit the Grand Rapids Griffins Youth Foundation, now in its 12th year of providing ice skating and related programming to underserved and at-risk youth in West Michigan.

The Ovechkin stick, which was donated by former Griffin and current Florida Panthers defenseman Joel Kwiatkowski, will subsequently be available in a live auction at the 2006 Griffins Youth Foundation Golf Classic, set for Aug. 30 at Railside Golf Club in Byron Center. The highest online bid as of Aug. 29 at noon will serve as the starting bid for the item during the golf classics live auction. If nobody at the live auction is willing to submit a higher bid, the stick will be awarded to the top online bidder.

The next item scheduled for the bidding block will be a 16-inch-by-20-inch autographed photo of Manny Legace, taken during his one-game conditioning stint with the Griffins on Dec. 30, 2005. Bidding for the photo will begin Aug. 28.

For more information about the online auctions or to acquire tickets to the golf classics live auction on Aug. 30, please call 616-774-4585.