AN DIEGO - The Grand Rapids Griffins concluded their season-opening trip to California with a 4-2 defeat to the San Diego Gulls in front of a sold-out crowd of 12,920 on Saturday at Valley View Casino Center.
Nick Ritchie scored two goals, including the game-winner in his professional debut, while John Gibson stopped 32 of 34 shots to earn the win for San Diego (1-0-0-0).
Ritchie, the tenth overall pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, opened the scoring on the power play with 4:59 remaining in the opening period.