GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The first-ever meetings with the Texas Stars and Abbotsford Heat will highlight the Grand Rapids Griffins’ 2009-10 American Hockey League schedule, which will be announced later this summer.

The schedule format, announced by the Griffins on Tuesday, features 13 of the AHL’s 28 other teams, including new members Abbotsford of the North Division and Texas of the West Division. The British Columbia-based Heat are the top affiliate of the Calgary Flames, while the Stars will make their home in Austin, only three hours from their parent club in Dallas.

The Griffins’ 2009-10 schedule will consist of 80 games, all against the Western Conference, including 34 within the North Division and 46 against the West Division. Grand Rapids’ frequency of games against each opponent is as follows: eight games (four home, four road) versus Lake Erie, Peoria and Rockford; six games (three home, three road) versus Chicago, Hamilton, Houston, Milwaukee, Rochester, San Antonio, Texas and Toronto; and four games (two home, two road) versus Abbotsford and Manitoba.

Griffins full-season, mini-plan and group ticket packages for the 2009-10 season are now on sale. For more information, visit griffinshockey.com or call the Griffins office at (616) 774-4585.