Gulls Win Taylor Cup
Published on May 11, 2003 under ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release
SAN DIEGO -- What better way to close out the West Coast Hockey League than a Game 7 to determine the last Taylor Cup Champion? It may have taken one more game than the San Diego Gulls expected, but they got the job done Sunday evening and captured their fifth championship.
The Fresno Falcons forced today's Mother's Day affair with a big 6-3 victory last night, really putting the pressure on the Gulls. After all, San Diego led the series 2-0 before losing three of the next of four. But instead of folding under the pressure, the Blue and Orange thrived on it, beating Fresno 3-1 in Game 7.
Playoff MVP Mark Pederson led the way for San Diego with a goal and an assist, while Trevor Koenig was... well... Trevor Koenig. The all-star netminder wasn't tested much, but he more than answered the bell when called upon.
The Gulls opened up an early 1-0 lead on a power-play goal from Dennis Purdie 8:18 into the first period. Pederson grabbed the puck from Sylvain Deschatelets and flung a pass across the goal mouth to Purdie, who one-timed it past Terry Friesen for his fifth playoff goal.
Pederson gave the Gulls a 2-0 cushion with another power-play tally 4:52 into the second period. Purdie took the puck off a faceoff win and shoved it back to Trevor Sherban at the left point. The San Diego defenseman unloaded a low slap shot that Friesen couldn't control and Pederson was right there to put home the rebound for his sixth goal of the postseason.
The Falcons offense remained silent until midway through the second period when they had few grade-A chances while skating with the man advantage. Koenig along with some stingy plays from his defense, however, kept Fresno at bay.
San Diego had a golden opportunity to put the game away late in the second when they were awarded a five-minute major power play. Fresno winger Tyler Prosofsky got kicked out of the game for spearing Gulls rookie Miguel Delisle at 14:56, but the Blue and Orange couldn't take advantage.
Scott Borders appeared to cut the lead in half early in the third period, but referee Terry Koharski ruled that he kicked the puck into the net. Moments later however, Jason Weaver officially made it a one-goal game with his seventh postseason goal. Weaver grabbed a pass from Glen Gulutzan at the right circle and wristed it past Koenig at 2:57 for his fourth goal in the last two games.
Cory Cyrenne put the game away with his third goal at 15:42 of the final frame, shoving in a rebound off Dan Cousineau's slap shot from the point. From there, it was just a matter of time before the Gulls skated the Taylor Cup around the Sports Arena Ice.
Notes: Only one other time in WCHL history has the Taylor Cup been clinched in a seventh and deciding game. The Gulls beat the Idaho Steelheads four games to three in the 2001 finals for their fourth championship... San Diego finished its WCHL tenure with a 442-152-33 record (which includes all regular season and playoff games)... The Gulls and every other current WCHL team are joining the East Coast Hockey League next season... Pederson finished as the league's leading scorer with 16 playoff points... Dean Tiltgen and Rob Bonneau each had their eight-game point streaks snapped tonight.
San Diego begins its first season in the ECHL in October. Season ticket packages will go on sale starting in June. Contact a Gulls ticket representative at 619-224-4625 ext. 7 for more information. You can listen to the Gulls Internet Radio Show's archives anytime on wsradio.com with Tera Black and Jeremy Zager hosting.
ECHL Stories from May 11, 2003
- Falcons Dethroned - Fresno Falcons
- Gulls Win Taylor Cup - San Diego Gulls
- All Along The Coast - ECHL
- Falcons Force Game Seven - Fresno Falcons
- Falcons Take Game 6, Series Tied 3-3 With Game 7 Tomorrow - San Diego Gulls
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