Gulls Need Two Points for Division Title
April 1, 2002 - ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release
San Diego Drops Two of Three, But Still in Driver's Seat
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego Gulls (44-21-3) struggled last week losing two of three games, but moved even closer to clinching their seventh consecutive division title. Any combination of one Gulls win or a Long Beach loss (including a shootout loss) and San Diego will win the Southern Division. The Blue and Orange, however, all but lost a chance to catch the front-running Idaho Steelheads for the best record in the West Coast Hockey League. Even if the Gulls win their remaining four games, the best they can do is tie Idaho.
John Spoltore comes into this week riding a 13-game point-scoring streak, a league high for the season. He has 32 points during that span. Spoltore now leads the league with 109 points and 80 assists. The Gulls haven't had a player eclipse the 100-point plateau since the 1996-97 season. His 80 helpers is a franchise record for one season. The league record is 90. The Gulls will fail to reach the 100-point mark for only the second time in franchise history. Mark Woolf has two more games to serve on a five-game suspension but continues to lead the league with 49 goals. Trevor Koenig has now played in 61 games this season, a new WCHL record for goaltender appearances.
TRANSACTIONS:
Cory Laylin, Rusty Fitzgerald and Tony Iob each made his Gulls debut over the weekend. Dennis Purdie was placed on the 14-day injured list with a separated shoulder.
COMMUNITY UPDATE:
Tuesday: Jamie Black will be holding a "Q" and "A" and autograph session at the Army and Navy Academy. Friday: To benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Harley Davidson will be raffling off a new motorcycle. Sunday: A four-year-old City of Hope cancer patient will drop the ceremonial first puck. The City of Hope is selling tickets to this game and half of its proceeds will benefit its cancer research and treatment programs.
LAST WEEK: Gulls 3, TACOMA 6; at Tacoma, Sun., March 31: Marty Flichel continued his hot streak against the Gulls with a hat trick as the Cats scored three unanswered goals in the third period to overtake San Diego. After a scoreless first period, teams traded three goals apiece in the second. But Newcomer K.J. Voorhees potted two in the third while Flichel added an empty-netter to seal the win.
GULLS 6, Tacoma 1; at Tacoma, Sat., March 30: Newcomers Laylin, Fitzgerald and Iob combined for five goals, while Spoltore contributed with three assists to lift the Blue and Orange to its sixth straight victory over Tacoma. The Cats jumped out to a 1-0 lead, but it was all Gulls from there. The win pulled San Diego to within two points of clinching another division crown.
Gulls 3, BAKERSFIELD 5; at Bakersfield, Fri., March 29: Paul Rosebush netted a hat trick to lead the Condors to its first home win over the Gulls this season. The game was tied heading into the second period, but the Condors erupted for three goals in the second and never looked back. The loss snapped the Gulls' five-game winning streak and also marked the debuts of Laylin, Fitzgerald and Iob.
THIS WEEK:
San Diego's road trip concludes Wednesday in Long Beach, with game time set for 7 p.m. The Gulls return home Friday to face the Ice Dogs for the final time in the regular season. Steve Martinson bobblehead dolls, presented by San Diego County Toyota Dealers, will be given to first 5,000 fans. The Gulls play in Fresno Saturday before closing out the regular season at the Sports Arena on Sunday against Tacoma. Surfer Beanie Gulls, courtesy of Alvarado Hospital Medical Center, will also be presented to the first 5,000 fans. All games can be heard live on 1130AM-KSDO and at www.ksdo.com with Chris Ello calling the play-by-play.
ECHL Stories from April 1, 2002
- Two Ice Dogs Named to All-WCHL Teams - Long Beach Ice Dogs
- Kelly Cup Playoffs Open Tuesday - ECHL
- Bandits to Play New Orleans in Wild Card Game - Jackson Bandits
- Condors in the Community - Bakersfield Condors
- Condors Undefeated in Three Games This Week - Bakersfield Condors
- IceGators announce playoff schedule - Louisiana IceGators
- Greenville Grrrowl Weekly - Greenville Grrrowl
- Bill McCauley Named to All-ECHL First Team - Dayton Bombers
- Ingraham Announces Retirement - Idaho Steelheads
- Sea Wolves begin playoffs at home against Pensacola on Wednesday and Friday - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- This Week in Aces Hockey - Alaska Aces
- Bombers Announce Playoff Roster - Dayton Bombers
- Grrrowl Announce Playoff Roster - Greenville Grrrowl
- Bandits to Battle Brass in Playoffs at Home - Jackson Bandits
- Gulls Need Two Points for Division Title - San Diego Gulls
- Chiefs Announce Playoff Roster - Johnstown Chiefs
- Brass Forced to Play in Jackson - New Orleans Brass
- Chiefs Weekly - Johnstown Chiefs
- Cincinnati's Huppe Named InGlasCo ECHL Player of the Week - ECHL
- Wheeling's MacKay Named ECHL Goalie of the Week - ECHL
- Columbia Inferno to Play Pee Dee - Columbia Inferno
- Bomber Face Cyclones in "Ice-75" Playoff Series - Dayton Bombers
- Titans Close Out Regular Season On A Roll - Trenton Devils
- Falcons Take Two on the Chin - Fresno Falcons
- Steelheads Weekly Recap and Look Ahead - Idaho Steelheads
- Greensboro Generals Intelligence Report - Greensboro Generals
- Everblades to Play South Carolina in Southeast Division Wild Card Game - Florida Everblades
- Ice-75 Series Playoff Schedule - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Mysticks Close Out Season - Mobile Mysticks
- Whoopee Weekly - Macon Whoopee
- Pride Announce Playoff Schedule - Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz
- Pride Weekly - Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz
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