GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League will begin their 11th annual training camp on Monday, Sept. 25 at Griff’s IceHouse at Belknap Park (30 Coldbrook NE). Approximately 30 players will begin preparations for the Griffins’ fifth season as the primary affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings, under the guidance of head coach Greg Ireland and assistant coach Jim Paek.

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday will feature identical schedules, with a 9-10:30 a.m. practice followed by a 2:30 p.m. scrimmage. All training camp sessions at Griff’s IceHouse are open to the public.

Most of the players expected to comprise Grand Rapids’ 2006-07 roster will still be with the Red Wings as camp opens. Seventeen players who skated for the Griffins’ 2005-06 AHL regular season championship squad are currently in Detroit’s camp, including several who may play a part in defending that title this season: goaltenders Jimmy Howard, Logan Koopmans and Joey MacDonald; defensemen Derek Meech and Kyle Quincey; and forwards Darryl Bootland, Matt Ellis, Valtteri Filppula, Eric Himelfarb, Ryan Keller and Ryan Oulahen.

Headlining the players expected to be in Griffins camp on Monday is center Kip Miller, whose 1.09 scoring average ranks first in franchise history. He enters his fourth Grand Rapids campaign after playing for the Chicago Wolves last season.

After three days of camp, Grand Rapids will commence its two-game road preseason slate. On Thursday, Sept. 28, the Griffins will visit the Wolves for an 8 p.m. EDT faceoff at the West Meadows Ice Arena in Rolling Meadows, Ill. They’ll head north the following night to take on the Milwaukee Admirals in an 8 p.m. EDT start at the Kern Center in Milwaukee. Tickets for both games will be available at the door on game night ($6 in Chicago, $10 in Milwaukee).

Grand Rapids will open the 2006-07 regular season on Friday, Oct. 6 at San Antonio, before hosting the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights in the home opener on Saturday, Oct. 14. Game time at Van Andel Arena is set for 7 p.m.

Beginning Saturday, Sept. 23, tickets for all 40 Griffins regular season home games can be purchased in person at The Zone at Van Andel Arena and all Star Tickets Plus locations (including Meijer stores), by phone through Star Tickets Plus at 800-585-3737, or via the web at griffinshockey.com. Full season tickets, five-, 10- and 20-game value plans, and group ticket packages are available through the Griffins office at (800) 2-HOCKEY.


Monday, Sept. 25 - GRIFF’S ICEHOUSE AT BELKNAP PARK
Practice: 9-10:30 a.m.
Scrimmage: 2:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 26 - GRIFF’S ICEHOUSE AT BELKNAP PARK
Practice: 9-10:30 a.m.
Scrimmage: 2:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 27 - GRIFF’S ICEHOUSE AT BELKNAP PARK
Practice: 9-10:30 a.m.
Scrimmage: 2:30 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 28 - GRIFF’S ICEHOUSE AT BELKNAP PARK
Practice: 10-11 a.m.
Bus to Chicago: 2 p.m.
Preseason Game #1 at Chicago Wolves (West Meadows Ice Arena): 8 p.m.
Bus to Milwaukee: 11 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 29 - KERN CENTER (MILWAUKEE)
Practice: 12:15-1 p.m.
Preseason Game #2 at Milwaukee Admirals (Kern Center): 8 p.m.
Bus to Grand Rapids: 11 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 30 - GRIFF’S ICEHOUSE AT BELKNAP PARK
Practice: 2-3:30 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 1 - GRIFF’S ICEHOUSE AT BELKNAP PARK
Practice: 9:30-11 a.m.

All times are Eastern. Times and locations subject to change.