10/03/2011 6:32 AM - GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Detroit Red Wings on Sunday night assigned eight players to the Grand Rapids Griffins: goaltender Jordan Pearce; defensemen Travis Ehrhardt and Brian Lashoff; and forwards Joakim Andersson, Landon Ferraro, Gustav Nyquist, Brent Raedeke and Tomas Tatar.

All eight players suited up for Grand Rapids during the 2010-11 season with the exception of Ferraro, who last skated with the Griffins on a two-game tryout at the end of the 2009-10 season.

The group joins 15 other players who began practicing with the Griffins last week in preparation for the season opener this Saturday at Rockford at 8:05 p.m. EDT. After a three-day weekend, practice resumes today at 1 p.m. at Van Andel Arena.

The Griffins will kick off the home portion of their schedule on Friday, Oct. 14 against the Toronto Marlies at 7 p.m. The team is aiming for a 16th consecutive opening night sellout. Tickets are still available by visiting griffinshockey.com or any Star Tickets outlets, including the Zone and Meijer stores.