The Grand Rapids Griffins have the fight of their lives Sunday night.
It’s been a long, bumpy, and exciting road. Littered with injuries, call-ups, and challenges, the Grand Rapids Griffins have surprised even themselves at times.
From a hat trick from a non-goalscorer to a goaltender sticking up for his brothers, players finding who they are as players and who their teammates are, and foreshadowing who they are destined to become.
This rendition of the Grand Rapids Griffins has had me on the edge of my seat. For both the good and the bad, I’ve laughed, cheered, and even cried.
Last game, you would’ve thought there was dust particles in the air with my teary eyes. Seems silly, it’s just a hockey game.
After seeing the season so far, I couldn’t be more proud to be a Grand Rapids Griffins fan or hopeful for the future of the Detroit Red Wings.
As we get set for the final game of the series, I look forward to watching our boys come out of the gate on fire with a new-found level and drive.
The coaches have prepared them well for this game, their experiences on the ice were the stepping stones. Now, it’s the time to watch the Grand Rapids Griffins players shine as bright as they ever have.
Every player has taken steps this season growing as individuals and as a team overall.
A playoff drought for the city of Grand Rapids, Michigan, left questions, concerns, and uneasiness that were overcome. Now, we have a coach who invests in every player; he’s someone who is as interested in the person away from the ice as he is the player on it.
This dedication has reflected in the results both in the standings and the process on the ice.
While it’s the most challenging game for the Grand Rapids Griffins (so far), I have nothing but confidence in the team to get the job done.
It reminds me of the song by the band Walk the Moon. They, in fact, have more catchy songs than “Shut Up and Dance,” believe it or not.
"“One mission, young and ambitiousWalk the Moon - “Win Anyways”
Well equipped to crush the competition
Knows fame and money not always a given, but he
He won't quit 'til the dreams where he's living
He stays up through the night time
Searching for the right rhymes, been through the dark
But he's still on the bright side, big plans
He knows a chance like this comes once in a lifetime
They don't want us to win, but
We're gonna do it anyway
We're gonna do it anyway
They don't want us to win, but
We're gonna do it anyway
We're gonna do it anyway”"
The Grand Rapids Griffins have always seemed to get the short end of the stick when it comes to referee calls. For example, I’m not sure how Carter Mazur’s goal didn’t stand when the puck was never under the opposing goaltender’s glove.
Regardless, the Grand Rapids Griffins players and staff have focused on the things they can control. No matter what anyone else wants or believes, the Grand Rapids Griffins are going to give their opponents hell and will win anyway.