Fan Favorite Billy Tibbetts Re-Signed
October 5, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release
SAN DIEGO â The San Diego Gulls have re-signed Billy Tibbetts for the 2004-05 season, head coach Martin St. Amour announced on Tuesday. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Tibbetts, who will turn 30 on Oct. 14, re-joins the Gulls for his second season. Last season he notched 53 points (18g, 35a) and a team-leading 266 penalty minutes in 40 games for the Blue and Orange. He also led San Diego with the highest points-per-game average, hitting the score sheet 1.325 times per game.
The 6-foot-1-inch, 210-pound native of Boston also played 14 games in the American Hockey League last season, splitting time with the Springfield Falcons and Houston Aeros. In those 14 games, he racked up 10 assists and 47 penalty minutes.
"I'm excited and expect that we'll be very competitive and once again challenge for the league title," Tibbetts said. "The Gulls are a first-class organization, from the trainers to the coaches to the owners."
Last season, his first with the organization, Tibbetts quickly became a fan favorite both on and off the ice.
"Last year I received a lot of support from the fans," Tibbetts said. "They're definitely one of the main reasons why I'm so excited to re-sign."
Before joining the Gulls Tibbetts spent the previous three seasons splitting time in the NHL and AHL. He has 82 career NHL games under his belt, recording 10 points (2g, 8a) and 269 penalty minutes. He scored his first NHL goal with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Feb. 16, 2001 against New Jersey Devils all-star goaltender Martin Brodeur. His other NHL marker came in 2001-02, also as a member of the Penguins.
Tibbetts began his professional career in the East Coast Hockey League with the Birmingham Bulls (now the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies) in 1994-95. He played in only two games that season, but put up career numbers the following year with the Johnstown Chiefs. In 58 games for Johnstown in 1995-96, Tibbetts posted 68 points (37g, 31a) and 300 penalty minutes.
The Gulls open training camp on Friday. They have two preseason games scheduled against the Long Beach Ice Dogs: Friday Oct. 15 at Glacial Gardens and Sunday Oct. 17 at the San Diego Ice Arena.
The regular season is slated to begin Friday, Oct. 22 in Long Beach with the home opener scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 23 against Fresno. For information about individual tickets or season packages contact 619-224-GOAL, ext. 7. or log onto www.sandiegogulls.com.
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