The Grand Rapids Griffins are a professional hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Grand Rapids, Michigan at the Van Andel Arena. They are also the AHL affiliate to the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League. The franchise began in the now-defunct International Hockey League in 1996, and merged into the AHL in 2001. Notable players in the team's history include Jiri Hudler, Niklas Kronwall, Sean Avery and Darren McCarty. The only player to have his number retired in team history is Travis Richards.