Gulls Back in the Thick of Things

Published on December 16, 2002 under ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release


SAN DIEGO - What a difference a week makes. A week ago the San Diego Gulls sat in fifth place and out of a playoff spot. But after running the table with five straight wins last week, the Blue and Orange have moved to third place in the West Coast Hockey League.

The Gulls (13-10-1) began the week shutting out the first-place Idaho Steelheads. After a win in Long Beach, San Diego swept three weekend home games against the Anchorage Aces, Fresno Falcons and Bakersfield Condors respectively... Mark Pederson led the way for San Diego posting 10 points (5g, 5a) last week. He notched a season-high four points Friday and came back Saturday with a hat trick... Newcomer Cory Cyrenne registered eight points (1g, 7a), including a five-point outburst Saturday... Steve Martinson picked up his 400th career win Friday, which includes postseason...

TRANSACTIONS:

Jamie Black is still on injured reserve with a hairline ankle fracture ... Sandro Sbrocca was called up to the American Hockey League's Hershey Bears Monday... Marc Busenburg and Rob Voltera still remain with Hershey...

COMMUNITY UPDATE: Monday: Players and staff will participate in the second annual "Pucks and Pasta" dinner, held at the Hard Rock Café in downtown. Fans will have their opportunity to wine and dine with the players and get their hands on autographed memorabilia. There will be an auction and raffle for these items, which will go to benefit the Ronald McDonald House. Tickets are still available!

Dec. 23: Come out and join the fun as all Gulls players will be participating in a skate session at the Horton Plaza ice rink. The players will be on hand for autographs, questions and skating from 4:30-7:30 p.m.

LAST WEEK:

GULLS 2, Steelheads 0; at San Diego, Monday, Dec. 9: The game was scoreless through the first two periods before R.J. Enga broke the deadlock 6:15 into the third. That would prove to be the game-winner as San Diego's stingy defense thwarted Idaho's attack the entire game. And when called upon, Trevor Koenig answered the bell. Koenig fished the game with 22 saves en route to his 11th career WCHL shutout, tying Blair Allison for the all-time high.

GULLS 4, Ice Dogs 1; at Long Beach, Wednesday, Dec. 11: Long Beach started Danielle Dubé, the third female goaltender to ever to start a professional hockey game, but she and the rest of the Ice Dogs couldn't stop the Gulls, who cruised to the three-goal victory. San Diego jumped out to a 4-0 lead on goals by Sylvain Deschatelets, Clayton Read, Sandro Sbrocca and Trevor Sherban. Koenig was about six minutes away from his second straight shutout, before Long Beach's Tyler Johnston broke through.

GULLS 6, Aces 3, at San Diego, Friday, Dec. 13: After trailing 3-1, San Diego came back with five straight goals to capture their third consecutive win. The Gulls drew first blood, but Anchorage came right back with three of its own. The Blue and Orange tied it in the second and then erupted for three straight in the final stanza.

GULLS 7, Falcons 4, at San Diego, Saturday, Dec. 14: It was a seesaw battle through the first two periods before San Diego iced it with another strong third period. Fresno went ahead 2-0. The Gulls tied it. The Falcons took a 3-2 lead, but San Diego answered back again to grab a 4-3 advantage. The offensive flurry continued in the third as the Gulls punched in three more.

GULLS 2, Bakersfield 1, at San Diego, Sunday, Dec. 15: The offensive outbursts subsided in this bout, but San Diego was still able to hang on to the one-goal victory. Rookie Trent Clark got things started for the Gulls, finishing off a two-on-one rush with fellow rookie David Neale midway through the first. The Condors came back to tie on league points leader Paul Willet's tally seven minutes into the second. Clayton Read tipped in the game-winner, however, late in the middle frame to give San Diego its fifth straight triumph.

THIS WEEK:

The Gulls hit the road for a two-game weekend series in Anchorage. Both Friday's and Saturday's game begin at 8 p.m. (PST). All games can be heard live on 1130AM-KSDO and at www.ksdo.com with Chris Ello calling the play-by-play. The Gulls' Internet radio show broadcasts live every Tuesday from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. on wsradio.com with Tera Black and Jeremy Zager hosting.

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ECHL Stories from December 16, 2002


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