The Specialty Griffins

It's been a long time since the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins wore the logo to the left, but the IHL logo they wore always appealed to me. The new logo they wear now in the AHL is fiercer and more aggressive, but there was something regal about the IHL logo. I say this because the Griffins are going to wear a handful of different logos this season thanks to the specialty jersey schedule. We made mention of this last night on The Hockey Show, but I feel there needs to be a more complete look at the six jerseys the Griffins will wear this season. Let's dig into those jerseys to determine good, bad, and apathetic grades.

November 14: Military Appreciation

There's nothing overly exciting about these jerseys, but a few people on social mentioned that the "USA" logo redesigned to feature the "GRG" looks a little like the word "gag". I can't say I'm a fan of these based on celebrating the military complex, but they work as a red-white-and-blue jersey to honour the men and women of the military.

Opponent: Toronto Marlies
Grade: Meh

December 13: Red Kettle Game

For a "red kettle" game in support of the Salvation Army while collecting funds to support those in need in Kent County, I expected the jersey to be a tad more red. The overwhelming amount of black feels like an easy out for jersey design, so this one loses points there. Why couldn't they go red and green in terms of the holiday colours?

Opponent: Rockford IceHogs
Grade: Bad Design, but Good Cause

December 21: Hat Tricks And Hoops Night

This might be one of the best crossover jerseys I've seen, and I'm not a fan of sports crossovers at all. I think I like this because it's fairly simple, but it captures the 1995-2001 Detroit Pistons' logo and colours so well. Having a little fun with jerseys is something I can endorse! Full marks to the Griffins for making this jersey awesome!

Opponent: Cleveland Monsters
Grade: Good (and Fun)

January 17: Old Time Hockey

Being that the Griffins were established in Grand Rapids, Michigan back in 1996, there really isn't a lot of "old time hockey" from which they can draw. That being said, this fauxback is pretty solid with its cream-coloured accents and the faux retro logo. I would love to see the IHL jerseys make a return, but I can live with these jerseys.

Opponent: Milwaukee Admirals
Grade: Good

February 15: City Connect

While I don't understand why the Griffins are adopting an NBA theme, it's even more confusing when you find out February 15 is already "Sensory & Support Night" that has a wall flag giveaway planned. These City Connect jerseys aren't even advertised on the schedule, so I'm wondering why the Griffins are putting all of this together that day. In any case, there's not much to be excited about here.

Opponent: Texas Stars
Grade: Meh

March 13: Purple Community Game

This is one of those jerseys that needs some explanation. The Purple Community is a group dedicated to connecting individuals who are passionate about fighting cancer and other neurodegenerative diseases. The purple game is all about cancer awareness and raising funds to to benefit the Van Andel Institute which does all sorts of biomedical research. That's obviously a very good thing, and the Griffins go a few steps further as fans can enjoy purple concessions and graphics all night as well. The jersey's not that impressive in its overall aesthetic, but the cause is definitely worth the effort.

Opponent: Milwaukee Admirals
Grade: Meh, but Good Cause

In the end, the Griffins will wear two good jerseys, three meh jerseys, and one bad jersey by my standards. Again, I think the jerseys that support good causes need to be emphasized because they'll be auctioned off to help those causes, but a few of these jerseys feel like they were unnecessary. In any case, all of these jerseys will be auctioned off in post-game auctions by the Griffins, so I'm hopeful that the Salvation Army and the Van Andel Institute come away with a pile of money! If they have an online auction, I may take a run at one of those Pistons or faux retro jerseys for myself!

What are your thoughts on these six jerseys - good, bad, or meh? Let me know in the comments and we can discuss each of them!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!