GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The Grand Rapids Griffins hit the ice Friday night to kickstart their season at home, and hockey fans flocked to Van Andel Arena for the game.

The Griffins defeated the Milwaukee Admirals 3-0.

Last season, the Griffins lost to the Admirals during playoffs. Ahead of Friday’s game, Josiah Didier said they wanted to come out hard for the game and get a bit of revenge.

“We play them a lot, losing to them in the playoffs, it doesn’t sit well with us,” Didier said. “We are going to come out hard. It’s going to be a good rivalry this year with them.”

There are some new players on the team this year after three got moved up to the National Hockey League (NHL). Simon Edvinsson, Albert Johansson and Jonatan Berggren were all sent to the Detroit Red Wings. Griffins head coach Dan Watson said this season, he believes the team has a good mix of rookies and veterans.

“We’re going to generate offense the hard way which means getting to the net, digging pucks out of the corner, having a good responsible forecheck and then being good defensively,” Watson said. “We want to be a complete team. A 200-foot team that works extremely hard.”

This is Watson’s second season as head coach. He said he wants to continue developing skill on the team and foster an environment that leads the Griffins to the playoffs.

“What we’re trying to do again is make our players better but also have a winning product, winning environment inside our locker room,” Watson said.

Besides new faces on the team, Van Andel Arena also has a new upgrade. Fans were able to experience a new Jumbotron above the ice Friday night.

‘IT’S FINALLY HERE’

“We are just hockey girls. We like hockey,” fan Stephanie Earl told News 8.  “There’s no brakes. It’s go, go, go all the time. It doesn’t get boring ever.”

Earl and her friend Stephanie Doolittle have been watching Griffins games for years. They said the home opener is one of the best games to attend.

“It’s been too long. We have waited until October and it’s finally here,” Earl said.

“I love that it’s so family focused. It’s fun for everybody. You see everyone here, just having a good time,” Doolittle said.

Griffins announcers Bob Kaser and Larry Figurski also celebrated their 25-year anniversary Friday night.

“It’s 25 of the best years of hockey I have ever experienced, and I have been around for a long time, so that’s saying something,” Kaser said. “Spoiled, no doubt, to have him by my side and working in the best city, the best organization to be a part of, the Red Wings organization. The list goes on and on of great things. But it’s all about working in the environment that our fans create here, and that’s what makes it so much fun.”

“We are really just season ticket holders who get to talk while we are doing it, I kid you not,” Figurski said.