GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Griffins on Wednesday announced their schedule for the 2023-24 American Hockey League season. It will mark the franchise’s 28th campaign overall, its 23rd as a member of the AHL, and the 22nd as the primary affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings.

Under first-year head coach Dan Watson, the Griffins will begin a 72-game schedule when they host the Colorado Eagles at Van Andel Arena on Friday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. for Opening Night presented by Huntington Bank. This will mark the first-ever meeting between the Griffins and the Eagles. For the second straight season, all AHL teams will play the same number of games, with standings order determined by total points.

This year’s schedule features 19 back-to-backs and two three-in-threes. The slate is comprised of 52 contests against Central Division rivals, 16 games against the North Division, and four outings against the Pacific Division. The Griffins will finish their set of games against the Pacific Division on Oct. 21, as each of their first four games of the year is against the Colorado Eagles. Grand Rapids will conclude the campaign at home for the first time since the 2020-21 season. The schedule includes a season-high six-game homestand from Feb. 21-March 2 and a season-high five-game road trip from Dec. 2-10.

“We are very excited to see what this new season has to offer with head coach Dan Watson leading the charge,” Griffins president Tim Gortsema said. “We firmly believe that the winning ways he established in Toledo will continue here in Grand Rapids, and this should be a special season with plenty of high-level prospects eager to pave their way to Detroit.”

Highlights of the 2023-24 schedule include:

• Twenty-three prime home dates (15 Fridays and eight Saturdays) out of 36 games;
• The first-ever meetings against the Colorado Eagles;
• The return of the Belleville Senators to the schedule for the first time since the 2019-20 campaign;
• Finishing the season at home for the first time since the 2020-21 season;
• Four Sunday home games, the most since the 2012-13 season;
• Two home games starting at 8 p.m. (Nov. 11 vs. Toronto, March 16 vs. Iowa);
• The Griffins’ 26th annual New Year’s Eve celebration versus the Cleveland Monsters on Sunday, Dec. 31 (6 p.m. start), in addition to playing the day after Thanksgiving (Nov. 24 vs. Manitoba);
• Grand Rapids’ 22nd annual School Day Game against the Chicago Wolves on Wednesday, Nov. 15 at 11 a.m.;
• The Great Skate Winterfest game on Saturday, Jan. 27 versus the Belleville Senators;
• The 23rd annual Teddy Bear Toss game against the Manitoba Moose on Friday, Nov. 24.

Fans can secure their full-season, select-season or group ticket packages by calling (616) 774-4585 ext. 2 or visit griffinshockey.com for more information. Single-game tickets for the Griffins’ 2023-24 season will go on sale to the public later this summer through griffinshockey.com/tickets. Be sure to sign up to receive the Griffins Nation newsletters to be the first to know when tickets go on sale.

Season/Home Opener: Fri., Oct. 13 vs. Colorado Eagles
Season/Home Finale: Sun., April 21 vs. Milwaukee Admirals

By Conference
Western – 56 (28 home, 28 road), Eastern – 16 (8 home, 8 road)

By Division
Central – 52 (26 home, 26 road), North – 16 (8 home, 8 road), Pacific – 4 (2 home, 2 road)

By Opponent
Rockford – 12 (6 home, 6 road)
Chicago, Cleveland, Iowa, Manitoba, Milwaukee, Texas – 8 (4 home, 4 road)
Belleville, Colorado, Toronto – 4 (2 home, 2 road)

By Day (Home)
Friday – 15, Wednesday – 9, Saturday – 8, Sunday – 4

By Day (Road)
Saturday – 14, Friday – 9, Wednesday – 6, Tuesday – 4, Sunday – 2, Monday – 1

By Month (Home)
February – 7, November, January and March – 6, December and April – 4, October – 3

By Month (Road)
December – 9, March – 8, April – 5, November and January – 4, October and February – 3

Longest Homestand
6 games: Feb. 21-March 2

Longest Road Trip
5 games: Dec. 2-10

Three Games in Three Nights
Twice: Dec. 8-10, April 12-14

Photo by Macy Mineni/Griffins