Parade, rally Friday to celebrate Griffins’ Calder Cup win

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The Grand Rapids Griffins are hosting a party to celebrate their second Calder Cup, and you can watch it all unfold from the comfort of your home.

WOOD TV8 is the only TV station that’s part of the parade; we will be airing the procession and celebration live on WXSP and woodtv.com starting at 4 p.m. Friday, when the team’s parade starts.

The parade will begin on Ottawa Street on the west side of the arena, head west on Weston Street, right on Market/Monroe Avenue, then turn right onto Monroe Center, right onto Ottawa, and right again onto Louis Street before ending at Rosa Parks Circle.

A rally will then be held at the plaza. The Griffins will show highlights of the their big win and give away 2,500 championship T-shirts.

The Griffins came from behind Tuesday night to beat the Syracuse Crunch 4-3 and win the cup. The match was played before a sold-out, spirited crowd of some 11,000 at Van Andel Arena.

A CELEBRATION 67 YEARS IN THE MAKING

Professional hockey started in Grand Rapids with the Rockets in 1950. But it wasn’t until the 2017 Griffins that a Grand Rapids pro hockey team hoisted a cup on home ice.

“It was awesome,” defenseman Joe Hicketts said. “We knew coming home we’d have a good crowd, and to be able do it in front of these people that were here (Tuesday night) and made all that noise, it was really exciting.”

The celebration that began on the ice poured into the locker room and eventually out on the town.

“So many emotions,” said defenseman Dylan McIlrath said. “Best feeling ever.”

Teammate Mitch Callahan agreed.

“I love playing here,” the forward said of Van Andel Arena. “It’s a great atmosphere. The city, the fans, everyone’s been so great to me over the past six years. I consider this my second home.”

“I couldn’t breathe,” forward Martin Frk, who scored the game-winning goal, said. “I was just happy to celebrate with the guys.”

The Griffins were 15-4 in the playoffs this year and a perfect 10-0 at home.

“It’s tough not play your hardest in front of this crowd,” defenseman Brian Lashoff said. “They’ve been amazing for us.”

“So honored to be able to put that trophy up in front of all these people,” forward Eric Tangradi said. “The greatest group of guys in that room. I mean, I’ve got brothers for life in there.”

Team captain Nathan Paetsch is one of three current Griffins to have also played on the 2013 Calder Cup team. In that case, the Griffins locked up the championship on the road.

“Incredible to do it at home this time in front of the fans,” Paetsch said. “How loud it was. It was a special moment.”

One that no one who was there will forget.

“I’m so proud of the players,” head coach Todd Nelson said. “They’re unreal. It’s a great feeling.”