Grand Rapids Griffins come to Yost, win 4-2

By Michael Caples –

ANN ARBOR – It was a bit unusual to look up from the Yost Ice Arena press box and see a team dressed in red and white on the home bench. The unfamiliarity didn’t seem to bother the players on the ice, however.

The Grand Rapids Griffins concluded their preseason with a 4-2 win against the Lake Erie Monsters at Yost Ice Arena on Sunday. The Griffins/Monsters game was the concluding event of a jam-packed Sunday at Yost, which also featured the Wolverines’ Blue/White Alumni Game, and a ‘Skate with the Wolverines’ autograph session afterwards.

Marysville native Chad Billins opened the scoring for the Griffins (he was named our Michi-gamer of the night for the goal) halfway through the second period. Trevor Parkes, Willie Coetzee, and Brendan Smith (empty-netter) all scored in the final frame for Grand Rapids, and Jordan Pearce finished with 27 saves.

The win came a night after the Griffins fell to the Monsters 3-1 in Toledo.

The Griffins now head back to Grand Rapids to prepare for their season-opener, which will be played on Friday against the Milwaukee Admirals at Van Andel Arena.

Here is our photo gallery from the game: