San Diego Gulls Weekly Report
By Greg Johnson
Since the Anaheim Ducks got healthy, the San Diego Gulls are back to playing great hockey. They’re winning. They’re in playoff position. And their fans are psyched.
Record
The Gulls, the top minor league affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks, went 2-1 last week to improve to 28-18-1. They shut out an over-matched Bakersfield Condors (Edmonton Oilers) squad 6-0 on Valentine’s Day. Then they split a home-and-home with the Ontario Reign (Los Angeles Kings).
Gulls Streak
The loss Sunday to the Reign snapped an eight-game win streak, which tied a franchise record. That streak dated back to January 20.
Playoffs
The streak also put the Gulls firmly in playoff position with a 0.606 win percentage. Playoff position in the AHL is earned by the best winning percentage, because of an unbalanced schedule. San Diego is now in second place in the eight-team Pacific Division and third place in the fifteen-team Western Conference. Eight teams from the Western Conference make the playoffs.
Standouts
The standout forward last week was Sam Carrick. He amassed 3 goals and 3 assists in three games. The Gulls did a great job getting him from Chicago last year. He has really blossomed playing with Kevin Roy. If you thought Roy was good in the NHL, you should see him dominate in the AHL. Roy also had three assists last week.
The Ducks are still stocked with defensive prospects. This week, Andy Welinski led the way with a goal and three assists. Although he still needs work in the defensive zone, there is no doubt Welinski has good hands and can skate well. He’ll be making his home in Orange County soon.
Stopper
When you think of the Ducks’ minor league goalies, you probably think of Reto Berra. Only Berra has spent time in Anaheim this season. But it was Kevin Boyle who took his game to a new level last week. He went 2-0 in two starts, and he stopped 90 of 92 shots. Boyle looked like a completely different goalie than he has in the past.
PIMs
Do you remember when hockey had fighting? There’s still plenty of it in the AHL, especially with the Gulls. Mike Liambas led the team with 17 penalty minutes last week. He didn’t even get in a scrap. Anyone familiar with him will not be surprised Liambas received a five-minute major and a game misconduct for charging during the Gulls’ Valentine’s Day tilt.
Is Anyone at the Gulls Game?
The Gulls sold out the San Diego Sports Arena Saturday night. It didn’t hurt that the Stanley Cup was in the building. But to be honest, most of the fans there were more interested in $2 beer night. The Gulls usually put on a great show. And the team is earning dividends. This league has teams from traditional hockey markets like Hershey, Cleveland, and Providence. But San Diego leads the league in attendance this season, averaging 9,262 fans per night.
Weekend in San Diego
Overall, the Gulls had a really good week. If you’re looking for a quick getaway, consider heading down the coast for a weekend. It doesn’t get much better than hanging out in San Diego during the day, catching a hockey game, then hitting the Gaslamp Quarter at night. Home games on March 16 and 17 would make a great weekend for a hockey getaway. Tickets are cheap. $2 beer night is Friday. And you even get St. Patrick’s Day socks on Saturday. What could be better?