The Grand Rapids Griffins‘ tribute to a bygone era of another Michigan pro sports team this past weekend was a slam dunk for nostalgic fans who fondly remember 1990s design trends.
The American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings hosted their Hat Tricks and Hoops Night on Sunday, December 21. To mark the occasion, the Griffins sported special sweaters inspired by the jerseys the NBA’s Detroit Pistons wore in the late 1990s.
Like the Pistons’ road jerseys of the era, the Griffins’ jerseys had a teal base and black, red and gold striping — the latter being colours in the Griffins’ usual palette. On the front, a screaming black griffin with flames shooting off its head sat behind a white “GRIFFINS” wordmark, all in the style of the Pistons’ primary logo from 1996 to 2001.
The Griffins’ jerseys had broad red and black stripes separated by a narrow gold stripe on the sleeves and waist. The collar was solid red and the Griffins’ 30th anniversary logo sat on the left chest.
The numbers on the back and sleeves were set in the same style as the ’90s Pistons — white numbers with black outlines and drop shadows and gold inner highlights. The names on the back were set in a narrow white font. Each shoulder had a “GR” logo with flaming exhaust pipes coming off the letters, a tip of the cap to the Pistons’ secondary “DP” logo from the era.
The jerseys worked out well for the Griffins, as they shut out the Cleveland Monsters 5-0, with Carter Gylander getting his first AHL shutout. Game-worn jerseys were auctioned off online after the game.
This isn’t the first time the Griffins have paid homage to another Michigan pro sports team with their jerseys. In December 2024, they donned Honolulu blue, silver and black jerseys with numbers on the front in a tip of the cap to the NFL’s Detroit Lions (though they never mentioned the Lions by name in any promotional materials).
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