Detroit — Ken Holland couldn’t have been more pleased last weekend.
The Red Wings’ general manager was watching the organization’s minor league affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins, put the finishing touches on defeating San Jose and advancing to the Calder Cup Finals.
“You look around and there’s 9,000 fans cheering, a tremendous atmosphere, a championship atmosphere,” said Holland of last Saturday’s 4-2 victory at Van Andel Arena. “This is a great experience, a great opportunity, for our young players to go through something like this, a championship series, and go through the moment.”
For the second time in five years the Griffins and Syracuse Crunch will battle for the Calder Cup, with Games 1 and 2 tonight and Saturday (7 p.