DETROIT, Mich. — The Grand Rapids Griffins fell to the Toronto Marlies in a shootout in the franchise’s first ever outdoor hockey game at Comerica Park.
Toronto scored twice in the skills competition portion of the game to come out on top 4-3, earning two points to the Griffins’ one. None of the four Griffins shootout participants were able to score.
Toronto opened up the scoring in the first period on their first shot. Kevin Marshall threw the puck at the net from near the point and it slipped past Griffins netminder Tom McCollum.
Grand Rapids evened the scoring a little over six minutes later when Xavier Ouellet buried home a rebound off a Riley Sheahan shot. It was Ouellet’s second goal of the season. Nathan Paetsch also tallied an assist on the play.
Toronto would retake the lead before the first stanza ended. Carter Ashton corralled a long rebound given up by McCollum and beat the Griffins goalie shortside between his arm and body for a 2-1 Marlies lead.
Former East Grand Rapids standout Luke Glendening would take over the second period, scoring twice to give the Griffins a 3-2 lead after twenty minutes of play. Toronto’s Kenny Ryan scored 2:22 into the third period to even the scoring up at 3-3.
McCollum made 21 saves off of 24 shots in the game. Former Griffins netminder Drew McIntyre made 23 stops on 26 shots for the Marlies.
The two teams will meet again tomorrow night in the Griffin’s annual New Year’s Eve game at Van Andel Arena. The game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start.
