2012-13 Regular Season: Griffins vs. Hamilton Bulldogs Despite being one of the largest cities in Michigan, Grand Rapids had trouble making professional hockey work in town. The last pro franchise in town was the IHL's Owls, who arrived midway through the 1977-78 season from Dayton, Ohio. Despite a successful 1978-79 season, the team ended up folding in 1980 after being evicted from Stadium Arena due to unpaid rent bills. Stadium Arena was considered obsolete for the IHL even then, so pro hockey went dark in Kent County. That changed in 1996, with the opening of Van Andel Arena in downtown Grand Rapids and the arrival of the IHL's Grand Rapids Griffins. The Griffins were a huge hit in town, and were one of the highest-drawing teams in the IHL's later years. When that league folded in 2001, the Griffins joined the American Hockey League. By 2011-12, the Griffins were the top farm club of the Detroit Red Wings for the past...