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Re-tooling begins for next season

April 11, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release


SAN DIEGO –– Well, it's over... The San Diego Gulls' season may have unexpectedly come to an early end, missing the playoffs for the first time in club history. But the good news is that gives head coach Martin St. Amour and company a lot more time to re-build and re-organize for next season, a process that has immediately started.

The Gulls ended the 2004-05 season with three home games last week. They started with a shootout loss to the Idaho Steelheads Wednesday, before beating the last-place Victoria Salmon Kings on Friday. There were more than 10,000 fans in attendance for Fan Appreciation Night on Saturday, but San Diego fell in overtime to Victoria.

WEEK IN REVIEW:

April 6 vs. Idaho: The Gulls carried a 2-1 lead into the third period, but the Steelheads tied it in regulation, then won it in a shootout, picking up a 3-2 victory. Warren Peters tied the game eight minutes into the third stanza, while he and two others beat San Diego netminder Eddy Ferhi in the shootout. Idaho goaltender Matt Yeats turned aside all three Gulls shooters in the extra frame.

April 8 vs. Victoria: Max Birbraer notched a goal and an assist and goaltender Simon Lajeunesse stopped 28 of 30 shots, leading the Gulls to a tight 3-2 win over Victoria. San Diego opened a 2-0 lead halfway through the game before the Salmon Kings cut the deficit to one late in the second period. The Gulls quickly responded, however, and made it 3-1 heading into the third. Victoria scored midway through the final stanza, but that was as close at it would come, as Lajeunesse and company made the one-goal lead stand up.

April 9 vs. Victoria: Chris Lynch notched three goals and one assist, while Grady Moore picked up a career-high three helpers, but it wasn't enough as the Salmon Kings notched a 6-5 overtime win. San Diego once trailed 5-1 in the contest, but came back with four unanswered goals, three of which came in the third period. Victoria, led by Jan Sochor's hat trick and Ryan Wade's two tallies, still skated away with the two points however. Kuris Dulle netted the game-winner 3:46 into the overtime session and that was that.

PLAYER NOTES: Brett Draney ended up as San Diego's leading scorer with 50 points (18g, 38a)... Birbraer, who was with the Gulls all season, was second with 49 points (19g, 30a)... Lynch's hat trick Saturday was the third of his career... Sean O'Connor and Nick Ganga, both out with knee injuries, ended the season on the injured list... David Karpa was recalled to the American Hockey League's Syracuse Crunch...

TEAM NOTES: San Diego was 23-8-5 at home and 12-21-3 on the road... The Gulls were 29-4-3 this season when scoring three-plus goals in a game, but just 6-25-5 when scoring two or less... They finished tied for seventh in the ECHL for the most home wins... Since the all-star break, the Blue and Orange were 9-4-3 at home and 5-13-1 on the road (14-17-4 overall)...

San Diego returns to action in October for its third season in the ECHL. Season ticket packages for 2005-06 are currently available. For pricing and benefits, contact 619-224-4625 ext. 7. To view pictures from this season, visit www.sdgullsphotos.com and www.zerodogentertainment.com.



ECHL Stories from April 11, 2005


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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