2002-2003 Team Taking Shape

August 20, 2002 - ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release


SAN DIEGO - San Diego Gulls' head coach and General Manager Steve Martinson has been the busiest person in the front office lately, signing players left and right. The biggest move he made over the last couple of weeks was signing West Coast Hockey League All-Star R.J. Enga. Besides filling up the roster, the Gulls have continually been busy away from the San Diego Sports Arena:

Aug. 1: The month of August began with the signing of defenseman Dan Cousineau, who comes over from the Central Hockey League. Last season, Cousineau notched 22 points (4g, 18a) and 135 penalty minutes for the CHL's Indianapolis Ice. He spent the last three seasons with Indianapolis, leading the team in games played over that span. Cousineau played college hockey at Ohio State.

Aug. 2: Jamie Black re-signed and will join the club for his fourth season. Black recorded 26 points (7g, 19a) last season and was one of only two Gulls to play in all 72 games. He's now played in 173 straight games, dating back to 1999-00. In his three-year stint with the Gulls, Black has 115 points (37g, 78a), ranking him 19th all-time in franchise scoring.

Aug. 6: San Diego inked both Marc Busenburg and Rob Voltera. Busenburg split last season with the United Hockey League's Adirondack IceHawks and the American Hockey League's Rochester Americans. In 54 games with Adirondack, Busenburg netted 26 points (9g, 17a). Voltera spent last season with the UHL's B.C. Icemen where he scored 35 points (12g, 23a), while racking up 214 penalty minutes. Voltera played three seasons with the Icemen, averaging 32 points and 202 penalty minutes.

Aug. 8: The Gulls maintained their physical toughness with the re-signings of defenseman Serge Crochetiere and forward Sandro Sbrocca. In 60 games last season, Crochetiere amassed 298 penalty minutes, fifth in the WCHL. Sbrocca registered 85 penalty minutes in 26 games.

Aug. 12: Perennial 30-goal scorer, Dean Tiltgen inked a contract with the Blue and Orange. Tiltgen netted a career-high 78 points (40g, 38a) last season with the East Coast Hockey League's Pensacola Ice Pilots. The veteran has four straight 30-goal seasons and has averaged almost one point per game in his five-year career.

Aug. 12: Later that day, San Diego formally announced it has entered into a development agreement with the AHL's Hershey Bears. The agreement will allow the Gulls to loan young players to Hershey during the season.

Aug. 13: Martinson, Black and Gulls staff attended a meeting with the Santee Chamber of Commerce. Discussions centered on planning the Santee Community Night, taking place Sunday, Oct. 27 when the Gulls host the Bakersfield Condors.

Aug. 14: In what was arguably the biggest signing in the off-season, Enga was acquired. Last season, Enga ranked second in the WCHL with 48 goals and third with 95 points while playing for the now-defunct Colorado Gold Kings. Enga ranks eighth all-time in the WCHL with 387 points and ninth with 165 goals and 222 assists. He's also played in every game since joining the WCHL (287 games) and hasn't missed a pro game since 1996 (467 games).

Aug. 16: Sylvain Deschatelets, who began his career with the Gulls in the 2000 Taylor Cup Playoffs, re-signed with the club for 2002-03. Last season he notched 61 points (19g, 42a) for the Adirondack IceHawks. In his rookie season with the ECHL's New Orleans Brass in 2000-01, Deschatelets scored 58 points (25g, 33a).

Aug. 17: Baby Gull and Gulls staff attended Marine Corps Community Service (MCCS) Bayfest. The event included music, entertainment and food and catered to the San Diego Marine population and their families.

Aug. 19: Associate Coach Martin St. Amour and Black participated in the "Friends of Youth Golf Classic." The event was held at the Country Club of Rancho Bernardo. All proceeds benefited the Rancho Bernardo Chamber of Commerce Education Programs.

UPCOMNG EVENTS:

Aug. 25 Baby Gull will leave her nest here at the Sports Arena for a day, while she attends the San Diego Padres Mascot Day at Qualcomm Stadium. During the Padres game, a group of local mascots will take part in races, games and fan interaction.

NOTE: Due to scheduling conflicts with several celebrities, the Gulls for Goals Celebrity Hockey Game (scheduled for Aug. 25) has been cancelled. Both the Gulls and Disney Goals hope to re-organize the event next summer.

The Gulls begin their eighth season in the WCHL Oct. 12 versus Long Beach. Season ticket packages are currently on sale. Contact a Gulls ticket representative at 619-224-4625 ext. 7 for more information.



ECHL Stories from August 20, 2002


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