GRAND RAPIDS - Success won't change Eric Tangradi's routine. Well, failure won't either, but the Grand Rapids Griffins' star is sticking with a pregame ritual that has worked for years.
And the way he's playing, the Griffins don't want him to change anything as they prepare to open the Calder Cup Finals at home on Friday against Syracuse.
About 10 minutes before warmups and 45 minutes before game time, the eight-year veteran steps in his skates to a quiet place near the locker room and, with a ball and his stick, launches a frantic stick-handling drill. He moves the ball around on the ground at lightning speed, does it with eyes closed, bounces it off the wall and paddles it in the air.