Gulls - Wildcatters Game Preview

Published on January 5, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release


SAN DIEGO – "San Diego penalty... To No. 27 Ashlee Langdone... Five minutes for fighting." How many times have San Diego Gulls fans heard that over the years? Well Tuesday he'll be back... only donning the black and gold of the Texas Wildcatters.

Langdone played parts of three seasons with the Gulls and only one other player in franchise history has spent more time in the penalty box... He may not be with the team anymore but one thing is for sure... The Sports Arena is going to be rumbling with the big Bonnyville, Albertan back on the ice.

In his three-year stint with the Blue and Orange, Langdone amassed 1,048 penalty minutes, second only to Chad Wagner in the franchise record books. 514 of those penalty minutes came in 2001-02, by far the most in the West Coast Hockey League. Keep in mind that Langdone played in 142 games with the Gulls. That's more than seven penalty minutes a game.

He was traded to the Wildcatters in the offseason... Rest assured he'll be ready to go Tuesday night. He's already racked up 149 penalty minutes in 28 games this season. Will he add to that Tuesday? Is the Pope Catholic?

San Diego's penalty minute leader this season is Josh Gratton, who also leads the entire ECHL with 214 penalty minutes. Gratton has more than proved himself as the best "tough guy" in the Pacific Division. No one knows if Langdone will want to "go" with Gratton (yeah right), but if he does "Scrappin Gratton" will be ready for him.

It'll be great for Gulls fans to see Langdone back on the ice, but there's something bigger at stake: two points. San Diego has won 10 of its last 11 games, but remains fourth in the Pacific Division. The Gulls are four points behind the first-place Idaho Steelheads and three points back of the Las Vegas Wranglers and Alaska Aces.

Keep in mind that the Blue and Orange have still played fewer games than all three teams: five less than Idaho, four less than Las Vegas and three less than Alaska. The Gulls have the best winning percentage in the division and fifth best in the entire ECHL (.690).

San Diego has struggled against non-Pacific Division teams however. In four games outside of their own division, the Gulls are 1-3-0. The Blue and Orange split a weekend series against the Florida Everblades in early November and then were swept in a two-game series by the Charlotte Checkers in early December.

Texas comes in last in the Central Division with 21 points, 20 points out of a playoff spot. The Wildcatters are .500 at home, but have the worst road record in the ECHL (2-14-2).

They've already allowed 135 goals this season, most in the ECHL and have the worst penalty-killing unit in the league. Texas also has a rough time in the third period, having been outscored 22-45. While allowing the most goals per game, the Wildcatters score the second fewest. They are 3-5-1 against teams outside of the Central Division.

This is the first of four meetings this season between the Gulls and Wildcatters. It will be the only game played at the Sports Arena. The teams will meet three times at the Southeast Texas Entertainment Complex later this season.

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ECHL Stories from January 5, 2004


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