Gulls Sweep Weekend with Idaho

December 15, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release


SAN DIEGO –– I think it's safe to say that Steve Martinson is smiling. It was a long week for the San Diego Gulls head honcho, signing and trading for players left and right. But he should happy after his troops swept a weekend series with the Idaho Steelheads.

First of all, let's get you caught up on all the latest signings, releases and trades: Stephane St. Amour and Taj Melson were released, while Andy Reierson was recalled by the American Hockey League's Cincinnati Mighty Ducks. Miguel Delisle was then traded to the Steelheads for Chris Gobert. Martinson then added Dean Tiltgen and Justin Hellegards. On Saturday, he acquired Nathan Horne from the Charlotte Checkers, only to trade him to the Fresno Falcons today. Oh, and by the way, Billy Tibbetts (as if you didn't know already) was activated from injured reserve.

Ok, now lets get to last weekend...

WEEK IN REVIEW:

The Gulls clipped the Steelheads 2-1 on Friday night, then came from behind to knock them off 6-3 Saturday. With its 2-0 record last week, San Diego moves within six points of the first-place Alaska Aces, four points behind the Las Vegas Wranglers, and two points behind Idaho.

Dec. 12 vs. Idaho

Mike Garrow and Clayton Read scored 13 seconds apart in the second period, lifting the Gulls to a 2-1 victory over the Steelheads. After a scoreless first period, Garrow got San Diego on the board 3:11 into the second with a power-play goal. Read answered on the next shift to give the Blue and Orange a two-goal cushion. Lance Galbraith cut the lead in half at 16:20 of the middle frame, but Trevor Koenig and a stingy Gulls defense shut the door from there. Koenig finished with 30 saves, while Dan Ellis turned aside 15 shots...

Dec. 13 vs. Idaho

San Diego trailed 3-0, but scored six unanswered goals – three with a two-man advantage – to rally past Idaho, 6-3. The Steelheads opened up a three-goal lead 12 minutes into the first period, but it was all Gulls from there. Garrow (2g, 2a) and Kevin Grant (0g, 4a) led the way with four points apiece, while Mark Pederson chipped in with two goals. Tibbetts, playing his first game since fracturing his wrist on Nov. 8, added an empty-netter.

THIS WEEK:

San Diego begins a four-game road trip Tuesday against the Fresno Falcons, with game time set for 7 p.m. It will be the Gulls' first visit to the brand-new Save Mart Center and first time they've played in Fresno since Game 5 of last season's Taylor Cup Finals. The Blue and Orange then play a pair of games in Long Beach next weekend before finishing the trip Dec. 27 in Las Vegas.

TEAM NOTES:

The Gulls are 9-1-1 in their last 11 games against Pacific Division teams... They are 8-0-0 against Pacific Division teams at home... San Diego is unbeaten in 10 of its last 14 games overall (9-3-1)... Steve Martinson is three wins shy of 400 all-time in the regular season... The Gulls have killed 31 of their last 32 penalties... San Diego finished its six-game homestand 4-2-0

PLAYER NOTES:

Garrow (3g, 2a) and Grant (0g, 5a) had five points last week... Clayton Read has 16 points in 11 home games, but has yet to score a point on the road... Samy Nasreddine and Dan Cousineau are still nursing groin injuries.

All games can be heard on KPOP 1360AM with Chris Ello calling the play-by-play. The Gulls' Internet radio show, hosted by Tera Black and Jeremy Zager on wsradio.com, will begin airing biweekly soon. Stay tuned for more details. Saturday's game against Idaho will be re-broadcast on Channel 4 San Diego Monday at 7 p.m.



ECHL Stories from December 15, 2003


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