San Diego Gulls

The San Diego Gulls are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League (AHL) which began playing in the 2015–16 season. Based in San Diego, California and affiliated with the National Hockey League's Anaheim Ducks, the Gulls play their home games at the Pechanga Arena. The team is the fifth hockey team in San Diego to use the Gulls name. The Gulls are a relocation of the former Norfolk Admirals franchise, joining six other AHL franchises to form a new AHL Pacific Division.

For other uses, see San Diego Gulls (disambiguation).
San Diego Gulls
2019–20 AHL season
CitySan Diego, California
LeagueAmerican Hockey League
ConferenceWestern
DivisionPacific
Founded2000
Home arenaPechanga Arena
ColorsBlack, orange, blue, white
                   
Owner(s)Henry Samueli & Susan Samueli
General managerBob Ferguson
Head coachKevin Dineen
MediaSan Diego Union-Tribune
Fox Sports San Diego
ESPN 1700
105.7 Max FM
AHL.TV (Internet)
AffiliatesAnaheim Ducks (NHL)
Websitesandiegogulls.com
Franchise history
2000–2015Norfolk Admirals
2015–presentSan Diego Gulls

History

On January 29, 2015, the Anaheim Ducks announced that they would purchase their AHL affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals, and would be moving the team to San Diego as one of five charter members of the AHL's new Pacific Division. The team plays at the Pechanga Arena San Diego, the sixth professional hockey team to play there, following the original San Diego Gulls of the WHL (1966–74), the San Diego Mariners of the WHA (1974–77), the San Diego Hawks/Mariners of the Pacific Hockey League (1977–79), the second San Diego Gulls of the IHL (1990–1995), and the third San Diego Gulls of the West Coast Hockey League (1995–2003) and later the ECHL (2003–06).[1]

The Gulls' name, logo and colors were revealed on February 22, 2015 at HockeyFest.[2][3] HockeyFest was deemed a success, drawing over 8,500 enthusiastic hockey fans.[4]

The San Diego Gulls played their first home game on October 10, 2015, against the Grand Rapids Griffins. The team finished its inaugural season with an average attendance of 8,675, second in the league after the Hershey Bears.[5]

After four seasons and three playoff appearances, the Anaheim Ducks promoted Gulls' head coach Dallas Eakins to the same position with the Ducks.[6] Former Florida Panthers' head coach Kevin Dineen was hired as the next head coach.[7]

Rivalries

The Gulls consider the Ontario Reign, the Los Angeles Kings AHL affiliate, to be their main rivals and advertise games as "Rivalry Night."[8][9] The teams faced each other in the 2016 division finals, where the Reign defeated the Gulls 4–1 in a best-of-seven series.[10] San Diego returned the favor in the 2017 Calder Cup playoffs as they defeated their SoCal rivals 3-games-to-2 in the division semifinals.

Season-by-season records
Regular Season Playoffs
SeasonGPWLOTLSOLPtsPCTGFGAStandingAvg. AttendanceYear1st round2nd round3rd roundFinals
2015–166839234284.6182082002nd, Pacific8,6752016W, 3–1, TEXL, 1–4, ONT——
2016–176843203291.6692211782nd, Pacific8,8762017W, 3–2, ONTL, 1–4, SJ——
2017–186836283176.5592021975th, Pacific9,3052018Did not qualify
2018–196836245380.5882392213rd, Pacific9,0212019W, 3–1, SJW, 4–2, BAKL, 2–4, CHI—
2019–205730196268.5961851644th, Pacific7,5822020Season Cancelled due to COVID-19

Players

Current roster

Updated June 4, 2020.[11]

# Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace Contract
5 Simon Benoit D L 21 2018 Laval, Quebec Ducks
33 Kevin Boyle G L 28 2016 Manalapan, New Jersey Ducks
17 Alex Broadhurst (A) C L 27 2019 Orland Park, Illinois Gulls
25 Sam Carrick (C) C R 28 2017 Stouffville, Ontario Ducks
29 Max Comtois LW L 21 2018 Longueuil, Quebec Ducks
11 Kyle Criscuolo C R 28 2020 Southampton Township, New Jersey Ducks
7 Chase De Leo C L 24 2018 La Mirada, California Ducks
10 Alex Dostie C L 23 2017 Drummondville, Quebec Ducks
36 Hunter Drew D R 21 2019 Kingston, Ontario Ducks
31 Olle Eriksson Ek G L 21 2019 Karlstad, Sweden Ducks
21 Brent Gates Jr. C L 22 2019 Grand Rapids, Michigan Gulls
26 Luke Gazdic LW L 30 2018 Toronto, Ontario Gulls
4 Brendan Guhle D L 22 2019 Edmonton, Alberta Ducks
2 Jani Hakanpaa D R 28 2019 Kirkkonummi, Finland Ducks
24 Ryan Johnston D R 28 2019 Sudbury, Ontario Gulls
40 Keegan Kanzig D L 25 2020 Athabasca, Alberta Gulls
32 Jack Kopacka LW L 22 2017 Metamora, Michigan Ducks
20 Isac Lundestrom C L 20 2018 Gällivare, Sweden Ducks
6 Josh Mahura D L 22 2018 St. Albert, Alberta Ducks
15 Scott Moldenhauer D R 26 2018 Oak Ridge, North Carolina Gulls
14 Antoine Morand C L 21 2019 Chateauguay, Quebec Ducks
23 Chris Mueller C R 34 2019 West Seneca, New York Ducks
19 Blake Pietila LW L 27 2019 Milford, Michigan Ducks
22 Andrew Poturalski (A) C R 26 2019 Williamsville, New York Ducks
44 Kiefer Sherwood RW R 25 2018 New Albany, Ohio Ducks
41 Anthony Stolarz G L 26 2019 Edison, New Jersey Ducks
13 Troy Terry RW R 22 2018 Denver, Colorado Ducks
12 Corey Tropp RW R 30 2016 Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan Gulls

Team captains

Franchise records and leaders

Scoring leaders

These are the top-ten point-scorers for the San Diego Gulls in the AHL. Figures are updated after each completed season.[12]

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games Played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; P/G = Points per game;      = current Gulls player

Points
PlayerPosGPGAPtsP/G
Corey TroppRW2056493157.76
Sam CarrickC1897185156.82
Kalle KossilaLW1705190141.83
Brandon MontourD104256489.85
Kevin RoyLW125315788.70
Andy WelinskiD146245983.57
Chase De LeoC117305080.68
Nicolas KerdilesLW121373976.63
Chris MuellerRW92284472.78
Antoine LaganiereC121373269.57

References
  1. "Ducks Launch American Hockey League Franchise in San Diego". Anaheim Ducks. January 29, 2015. Retrieved January 29, 2015.
  2. "Ducks to Hold 'San Diego Hockeyfest' on Sunday, February 22". Anaheim Ducks. January 29, 2015. Retrieved January 29, 2015.
  3. "The Gulls Are Back In Town". February 22, 2015. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  4. "Hockey Fest a Hit". February 22, 2015. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  5. AHL teams establish all-time attendance record
  6. "Ducks hire Dallas Eakins as new head coach". Sporting News. June 17, 2019.
  7. "DUCKS NAME KEVIN DINEEN GULLS HEAD COACH". San Diego Gulls. July 15, 2019.
  8. "RIVALRY NIGHT IN SAN DIEGO". San Diego Gulls. October 15, 2016.
  9. "FAMILIARITY BREEDS CONTEMPT AS REIGN, GULLS TAKE RIVALRY TO PLAYOFFS". Ontario Reign. May 4, 2016.
  10. "2016 Playoffs". Retrieved February 16, 2017.
  11. "San Diego Gulls playing roster". American Hockey League. 2015-10-11. Retrieved 2015-10-11.
  12. "San Diego Gulls - All Time AHL leaders". hockeydb.com. June 10, 2019. Retrieved June 10, 2019.
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