October 5, 2004 == MEDIA ADVISORY
The storied Calvin-Hope men's basketball rivalry has played the Van Andel
Arena. Now the growing Calvin-Hope ice hockey rivalry will get a chance to do
the same.
On November 13 the two rivals will meet on ice at the Van in a 3 pm Michigan
Collegiate Hockey Conference game.
The game will be part of a hockey doubleheader, preceding a 7:30 pm American
Hockey League contest between the host Grand Rapids Griffins and the visiting
San Antonio Rampage.
Tickets are priced at just $13, meaning fans can see two games for the price
of one (the value of the Griffins ticket alone is $13).
Public tickets to the doubleheader can only be purchased at the Calvin Box
Office: 526-6282 or http://www.calvin.edu/boxoffice
Calvin and Hope both had terrific seasons in 2003-2004. Calvin went 29-1 and
captured the national championship at the American Collegiate Hockey
Association Division III club tournament, while Hope finished fifth at that
tournament.
Last year Calvin and Hope met four times with Calvin prevailing in three of
the four meetings.
Overflow crowds were the order of the day for the games. In October, a crowd
of 1,100 fans were treated to a 4-3 Calvin overtime win at the Jolly Roger Ice
Arena in Grand Rapids. In January, the two rivals met in Holland in front of
1,800 fans at the Edge Ice Arena with the Knights prevailing 2-0.
The upcoming November game at the Van Andel Arena will serve as Calvin's home
game which has Calvin hockey coach Mike Petrusma excited.
"First of all, we're very grateful that the Griffins organization and everyone
at the Van Andel Arena has made this opportunity possible for both teams," says
Petrusma. "The price of each ticket is the same for a regular season Griffins
games so in essence, hockey fans will get a chance to see two high quality
games for the price of one ticket. That's a combination that's difficult to
beat."
With the Van Andel Arena seating more than 10,000 fans for hockey, more fans
will have the opportunity to witness the Calvin-Hope rivalry in person.
"Because of the success of both teams, the crowd sizes at our games has been
overwhelming," says Petrusma. "It's exciting to see that kind of enthusiasm,
but it also makes it difficult for people who don't want to stand for an entire
game or stand in a long line for a ticket. With the game at the Van Andel
Arena, anyone who wants to come out and see us play should have the opportunity
and they won't have to stand to watch the game."
The Calvin men's hockey team returns several key members of its 2004 ACHA
Division III National Championship team including junior forward Max Sieplinga
of Grand Rapids Christian High School, the 2003 and 2004 MCHC MVP.
~written by Calvin sports information director Jeff Febus
-end-
Received on Tue Oct 5 16:32:07 2004
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