San Diego Signs Billy Tibbetts
October 17, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release
SAN DIEGO â The San Diego Gulls have signed center Billy Tibbetts General Manager and head coach Steve Martinson announced today. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Tibbetts, 28, comes to San Diego after spending the last three seasons splitting time in the NHL and American Hockey League. Last season, the 6-foot-1-inch, 210-pound native of Boston played 11 games for the NHL's New York Rangers tallying no points and 12 penalty minutes. He also played 35 games for the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack, notching 17 points (7g, 10a) and 172 penalty minutes.
In 2001-02, Tibbetts spent time with the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers and the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. In 46 NHL games that season, Tibbetts netted seven points (1g, 6a) while amassing 178 penalty minutes. In 24 AHL games, he registered 30 points (13g, 17a) and 193 penalty minutes.
Tibbetts scored his first NHL goal on Feb. 16, 2001 against New Jersey Devils all-star goaltender Martin Brodeur. In 29 games total in 2000-01 for Pittsburgh, he recorded three points (1g, 2a) and 79 penalty minutes. Tibbetts also played 38 games for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, scoring 8 points (14g, 24a) and racking up 185 penalty minutes.
"This was obviously a gigantic signing for us and the organization," Martinson said. "Anytime you can add an NHL caliber player to your lineup, it exponentially increases your team's chances and overall level of play. And it's not like Billy just had a cup of coffee in the NHL â he's played more than 80 games.
"Now we have two former NHL players on our roster â Billy and Mark Pederson. Having those two guys along with the supporting cast, I really like our chances."
Tibbetts began his professional career in the East Coast Hockey League with the Birmingham Bulls (now the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies) in 1994-95. He played in only two games that season, but put up career numbers the following year with the Johnstown Chiefs. In 58 games for Johnstown in 1995-96, Tibbetts posted 68 points (37g, 31a) and 300 penalty minutes.
The Gulls begin their first season in the ECHL tomorrow against their Pacific Division rival Bakersfield Condors at Centennial Garden, with game time scheduled for 7 p.m. San Diego returns to Bakersfield Friday, Oct. 24 before finishing the opening three-game road trip Tuesday, Oct. 28 in Las Vegas.
San Diego's home opener is Saturday, Nov. 1 against the Idaho Steelheads. The first 10,000 fans will get their very own pair of Gulls Thunder Sticks, courtesy of 4-Lawyer.com. And in honor of Halloween, it's going to be a blackout...so all fans are encouraged to dress in ALL BLACK to show their Halloween spirit! Kids 14 and under can wear their costumes and "Trick-or-Treat" on the outer concourse during the game! And, your favorites from KGB 101.5 FM will be there to keep everyone entertained all game long!
Season and individual tickets as well as group packages are currently on sale. For pricing and benefits, call 619-224-4625 ext. 7 or log onto www.sandiegogulls.com. All games can be heard on KPOP 1360AM with Chris Ello calling the play-by-play.
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