Gulls Shutout Anchorage, 5-0

December 21, 2002 - ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release


ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Just another day at the office for the sizzling San Diego Gulls. Kevin Grant and Cory Cyrenne earned three points apiece and the Gulls notched three power-play goals en route to an easy 5-0 whitewashing over the Anchorage Aces Friday night, before 2,656 at Sullivan Arena. Trevor Koenig also earned his West Coast Hockey League all-time leading 12th shutout.

The Gulls have now won a season-high six games in row, out-scoring their opponents 26-9. They remain four points behind the second-place Bakersfield Condors and now have a six-point cushion over the fourth-place Long Beach Ice Dogs.

The Gulls (14-10-1) struck first midway through the first period on the power play. Cyrenne fed the point to an open Grant, who blistered in his first of the game past a screened Christian Soucy at 10:41. Mike Garrow earned the second assist. Anchorage (9-18-1), which allows the most shots in the league, were out-shot 14-6 in the first.

San Diego took a commanding 3-0 lead with two more tallies in the second period. Dean Tiltgen notched his 13th of season, redirecting a centering pass from Clayton Read at 4:27. Mark Pederson also assisted, giving him nine points in the last four games. The Gulls' red-hot power play came through again at 11:56. Being pressured at the blue line, Garrow whipped a pass across to Grant, who blasted home his second of the game - third of the season. R.J. Enga notched the second helper.

Enga iced it with his 11th goal 6:39 into the final frame on yet another power-play goal - San Diego's third of the game. Grant started the play with another rocket from the point. This time Soucy made the save, but left a fat rebound right on the tape of Enga who easily flipped it in. Cyrenne also got credit with an assist, his second of the game. It was San Diego's 11th power-play tally in the last four games.

The Blue and Orange weren't finished, however, as Cyrenne made it 5-0 at 13:38 adding insult injury. Sylvain Deschatelets stole the puck and fed Cyrenne, who potted his third goal of the season. Cyrenne, with his three-point night, has 13 points in eight games since joining the Gulls.

Koenig finished the game with 24 saves and is 5-0 with a 1.20 goals against average over his last five games.

Notes: San Diego is 11 of its last 22 with the man advantage... With his assist, Read now has a five-game point streak... Pederson was named WCHL Player of the Week on Tuesday... Koenig grabbed Goaltender of the Week honors for the second time this season... Dennis Purdie returned to the lineup after missing four games with a separated shoulder... Cris Classen didn't make the trip. Jeff Barney will back-up Koenig this weekend... Jamie Black remains on injured reserve with a hairline ankle fracture... Dennis Mullen missed his sixth straight game with a hip injury... Sandro Sbrocca was called up to the American Hockey League's Hershey Bears on Monday. Marc Busenburg and Rob Voltera also remain in Hershey...

San Diego's weekend series in Anchorage resumes Saturday at 8 p.m. (PST). The Gulls play in Long Beach Friday, Dec. 27 before opening a season-long seven-game homestand Saturday, Dec. 28 against Bakersfield. 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.



ECHL Stories from December 21, 2002


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