Tough Week for Gulls, but Ends Nicely

Published on January 13, 2003 under ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release


SAN DIEGO - It had to end sometime. The San Diego Gulls danced around the West Coast Hockey League for 12 straight games, but then those pesky Idaho Steelheads came to town and took two of three. Thus ending the streak and sending the Gulls back down to Earth.

The Steelheads took two straight, beating San Diego Tuesday and Friday, and were 2:53 away from sweeping the series. The Gulls were also 2:53 away from getting shutout on back-to-back nights for the first time in history. But that's when the heroics of Mark Pederson came to the forefront.

Pederson netted two goals - the last one coming with just 21.5 tics left - to give the Blue and Orange a win, arguably its biggest of the season. With the victory, San Diego remains four points ahead of the third place Bakersfield Condors. The Gulls lost ground to Idaho during the week, but instead of being 16 points out, they're 12 out (with three games in hand).

NOTES: Trevor Koenig needs three more wins for 100 in his WCHL career. He needs 10 more for 100 in his Gulls tenure... Steve Martinson is 28-25-6 head-to-head against John Olver in the regular season. He's 333-90-23 all-time against everyone else... The Blue and Orange are 8-12-2 against Idaho since 2000-01... The Gulls played 254 regular season home games before getting shutout for the first time Friday night. (They've been blanked one time at home in the playoffs)... R.J. Enga played in his 500th straight professional game Friday. He hasn't missed a game since 1996... Pederson takes over the team lead with 35 points (16g, 19a)...

TRANSACTIONS:

Dennis Purdie remains on injured reserve, but will be activated this week... Marc Busenburg and Rob Voltera still remain with the American Hockey League's Hershey Bears...

COMMUNITY UPDATE:

Last Week:

Wednesday: The Gulls' night at Dave and Buster's was a huge success! Fans were given the opportunity to eat, mingle and play games with all the Gulls players. Stay tuned for more great events in the coming months!

Thursday: Thank you to all the fans who came out to Horton Square and skated with the Gulls! The entire team was on hand to support the Children's Hospital fundraising effort. Thursday: Gulls players Clint Cabana and Joe Bianchi attended an assembly at Mar Vista Middle School to congratulate students for their good attendance and stellar academic performance. For their accomplishments, 300 students were rewarded with tickets to the Jan. 11 Gulls game.

Sunday: Mike Garrow attended the Mira Mesa Ice Hockey Clinic Tournament. He was an official to 5- and 6-year-old hockey players, in an on going effort to support youth hockey in our community.

This Week:

Tuesday: Tune in to the Gulls' Internet Radio show to learn more about this week's in-studio guest, rookie David Neale. The show airs live every Tuesday from 5-6 p.m. All shows are archived and can be accessed 24 hours a day at wsradio.com.

RECAP:

Gulls 2, IDAHO 3; at San Diego, Tuesday, Jan. 7: The Steelheads jumped out to a 3-0 lead and survived a ferocious San Diego comeback. Marty Flichel put Idaho up 1-0 with short-handed goal midway through the first. Idaho tacked on two more in the second period to take a seemingly commanding three-goal lead. Clayton Read made a game of it with two goals in the third, but that was as close as the Gulls could get.

Gulls 0, IDAHO 3; at San Diego, Friday, Jan.10: Idaho again got out to a 3-0 lead, but this time cruised to the victory. The game remained scoreless until the Steelheads erupted for three goals in the second period. Derek Paget lit the lamp first, followed by Ben Keup and Joe Rybar. That was more than enough for Jason Cugnet, who finished the game with 32 saves. It was the first time in franchise history the Gulls have been shutout at home in the regular season.

GULLS 2, Idaho 1; at San Diego, Saturday, Jan. 11: It was another offensive struggle for both teams. No one could find the back of net until Cory Morgan beat Koenig 11:57 into the third period. San Diego was on its way to another loss until Pederson won it with his two late goals.

THIS WEEK:

San Diego hits the road for a Wednesday night affair with the Long Beach Ice Dogs. The Gulls return home this weekend for a two-game set against the Anchorage Aces. All games start at 7 p.m. this week. Friday night the first 5,000 fans will receive an "Enforcer" beanie Gull, courtesy of American Airlines. The first 5,000 fans at Saturday's game will get a Gulls floppy hat, presented by the Woodfin Suite Hotels. All games can be heard live on 1130AM-KSDO and at www.ksdo.com with Chris Ello calling the play-by-play. 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.

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