San Diego and Idaho Begin Three-Game Set

March 26, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release


BOISE, Idaho -- The San Diego Gulls look to move three points ahead in the race for second place and home-ice advantage in the first round of the Taylor Cup Playoffs. But to do it, they're going to have to beat the Idaho Steelheads in their building, not an easy task.

The Gulls come into tonight only one point ahead of the Bakersfield Condors for the second seed. San Diego, however, will still have one game in hand on Bakersfield after tonight. But taking a look at both team's schedules coming down the stretch, that game in hand may not be as important.

Right now, San Diego has seven games left: three of which are in Boise. Bakersfield has five games left, but four of those are at home. The two will not meet again in regular season. The Gulls, however, have three more wins than the Condors, the tiebreaker if both teams finish with the same amount of points.

The Steelheads already have first place and the Founders Cup racked up for the second straight year. Now Idaho is on the cusp of breaking a few West Coast Hockey League records, thought to be pretty unattainable. If the Steelheads can win five of their final six games, they will break the record for most wins in one season. Currently it's 53, set by the Gulls in 1997-98.

Idaho needs only 10 more points for 112, which would break the 111 mark the Tacoma Sabercats notched in 1999-00. The Steelheads have already broken the record for most home wins (30). San Diego and Idaho had the old mark of 29.

Whenever these two WCHL combatants get together, it's usually a battle between the goaltenders. Trevor Koenig (26-14-4) is tied with Bakersfield's Kevin St. Pierre for first with a 2.16 goals against average. Koenig is second with a .918 save percentage and first with six shutouts (a league record). Jason Cugnet (30-10-1) has seen the most time between the pipes for the Steelheads. He's second in wins, second in shutouts (3) and fourth in goals against average (2.61). In case they're needed, back-ups Cris Classen and Blair Allison have also put up stellar numbers.

The Gulls and Steelheads have met 11 times this season with Idaho holding a 6-4-1 series edge. The two will meet again at the Bank of America Centre on Friday and Saturday.

Friday night's game will broadcast live on 1360AM-KPOP, rather than its usual station (KSDO-AM 1130). Wednesday and Saturday's games can be heard live on KSDO-AM 1130. 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 March 26, 2003


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