Grand Rapids Flying Toasters by Novella DeGraaf
The Grand Rapids AHL hockey team named the Griffins have had ownership of the name for over 29 years. But what would happen to the great Griffin Nation if another name was chosen for this team? In 1995, the team name Griffins was picked to represent the Grand Rapids hockey group. However, this pick had also left numerous names that had not been used. One of these names was the Flying Toasters.
The Flying Toasters were one of many names that were not chosen to become the official name for the team. Grand Rapids hosted a “name the team” contest where local members from all over Grand Rapids could submit names to possibly be chosen the official hockey team name. Instead of being called the “Griffins” they could have been called something very different. Without the team name Griffins, Griffins Nation could have looked a little more like Toaster Nation. Instead of people rooting for the black, red, and white for the Griffins, fans would have been cheering for blue, navy, and red for the Flying Toasters.
This game was hosted this past Saturday on January 27, 2024 at the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids. That day the community and team looked back on what could have been the Flying Toasters. This being the first time that they have ever done such an event, the whole team had new jerseys created to wear the night of the game. Consisting of the colors of light blue, navy blue, and red, along with a giant toaster with wings on the front, they saw their identity as not just a Griffin, but a Toaster that night.
The game that night was thrilling. Playing against the Belleville Senators, the Toasters had one heck of a game. With the final score of the game being 6-4, the Toasters winning, everyone was ecstatic. The atmosphere in the arena was described to be “electric” because this was the first ever win in the Toaster history of them getting a win with that name. The first 1000 people that had arrived in the area received a free jersey of the Flying Toasters. To finish off the night, at the end of the game, they had a jersey giveaway and raffle for people attending who wanted to receive a signed Flying Toaster jersey.
Would you show up for the next game where the Griffins identity becomes the Flying Toasters?
Who knows, maybe they will even do this again with more different names that were not chosen in the future.
The Flying Toasters were one of many names that were not chosen to become the official name for the team. Grand Rapids hosted a “name the team” contest where local members from all over Grand Rapids could submit names to possibly be chosen the official hockey team name. Instead of being called the “Griffins” they could have been called something very different. Without the team name Griffins, Griffins Nation could have looked a little more like Toaster Nation. Instead of people rooting for the black, red, and white for the Griffins, fans would have been cheering for blue, navy, and red for the Flying Toasters.
This game was hosted this past Saturday on January 27, 2024 at the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids. That day the community and team looked back on what could have been the Flying Toasters. This being the first time that they have ever done such an event, the whole team had new jerseys created to wear the night of the game. Consisting of the colors of light blue, navy blue, and red, along with a giant toaster with wings on the front, they saw their identity as not just a Griffin, but a Toaster that night.
The game that night was thrilling. Playing against the Belleville Senators, the Toasters had one heck of a game. With the final score of the game being 6-4, the Toasters winning, everyone was ecstatic. The atmosphere in the arena was described to be “electric” because this was the first ever win in the Toaster history of them getting a win with that name. The first 1000 people that had arrived in the area received a free jersey of the Flying Toasters. To finish off the night, at the end of the game, they had a jersey giveaway and raffle for people attending who wanted to receive a signed Flying Toaster jersey.
Would you show up for the next game where the Griffins identity becomes the Flying Toasters?
Who knows, maybe they will even do this again with more different names that were not chosen in the future.