San Diego Sabers

The San Diego Sabers are a junior ice hockey team and are a member of United States Premier Hockey League. The team is based in Escondido, California and plays at the Iceoplex-Escondido. The team was the fourth team to be known as the San Diego Gulls from 2008 to 2015 until it gave up the nickname to the American Hockey League San Diego Gulls before the 2015–16 season.

San Diego Sabers
CityEscondido, California
LeagueUnited States Premier Hockey League
Founded2001
Home arenaIceplex Escondido
ColorsGold, black, white
              
Owner(s)Tomas Kapusta
General managerTomas Kapusta
Head coachDavid Vychodil[1]
Franchise history
2001–2008San Diego Surf
2008–2015San Diego Gulls
2015–presentSan Diego Sabers

History
Team logo when the franchise played as the San Diego Gulls 2008–15.
Team logo when the franchise played as the San Diego Surf 2001–08.

The franchise was founded in 2001 as the San Diego Surf. At the time, the Western States Hockey League (WSHL) was a Tier III Junior B league before later transitioning to a Junior A in 2007.[2] It played as the Surf from 2001 until 2008 when the team took the name San Diego Gulls, the name of three former hockey franchises in San Diego.[3][4][5]

Prior to the 2011–12 season, the WSHL and all its team members, including the Gulls, became Amateur Athletic Union sanctioned instead of USA Hockey, the first Junior A hockey league to make that transition.

In February 2015, it was announced that the team has changed its name to San Diego Sabers for the 2015–16 season as the San Diego Gulls name would be used by the new San Diego AHL team.[6]

In 2017, the Sabers were sold to former Czech national team and Olympian Tomas Kapusta.[7]

In 2020, the Sabers left the WSHL and joined another independent junior hockey league, the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL), in the Premier Division.[8]

Season-by-season records
SeasonGPWLOTWOTLPtsGFGAPIMFinishPlayoffs
2010–11462322—147141151—4th of 8, Western
7th of 13, WSHL		Lost Div. Semifinals, 0–2 vs. Idaho Jr. Steelheads
2011–12462417—5531811328512nd of 6, Western
7th of 16, WSHL		Lost Div. Semifinals, 0–2 vs. Valencia Flyers
2012–13462418—4521731316204th of 6, Western
10th of 22, WSHL		Lost Div. Semifinals, 0–2 vs. Valencia Flyers
2013–1446835—3191422268376th of 6, Western
21st of 24, WSHL		Did not qualify
2014–15461529—2321462089986th of 8, Western
22nd of 28, WSHL		Won Div. Quarterfinals, 2–1 vs. Long Beach Bombers
Lost Div. Semifinals, 0–2 vs. Fresno Monsters
2015–1652940—32111027510158th of 8, Western
27th of 29, WSHL		Did not qualify
2016–17522425—3511892138326th of 8, Western
17th of 27, WSHL		Lost Div. Quarterfinals, 0–2 vs. Ontario Avalanche
2017–1851542—4141123125586th of 6, Western
21st of 23, WSHL		Lost Div. Quarterfinals, 0–2 vs. Fresno Monsters
2018–195117274362[lower-alpha 1]1872289653rd of 5, Western
13th of 23, WSHL		Lost Div. Semifinals, 0–2 vs. Fresno Monsters
2019–2051311811961801457772nd of 5, Western
8th of 20, WSHL		Playoffs cancelled
  1. Beginning with the 2018–19 season, the WSHL began awarding 3pts for a win, 2pts for an overtime win, and 1pt for an overtime loss.

Alumni

The Gulls have had a number of alumni move on to college ice hockey, higher levels of junior ice hockey, and professional ice hockey.[9][10]

References
  1. "2019-2020 WSHL DIVISIONAL NOTES". WSHL. August 12, 2019.
  2. http://www.thefreelibrary.com/JUNIOR+LEAGUE+HELPS+LOCALS+BECOME+HIGH+FLYERS+VALENCIA-BASED+TEAM...-a079169818
  3. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/display_standings.php?tmi=7858
  4. http://www.calirubber.com/story.cfm?id=1689
  5. http://www.sdnn.com/sandiego/2009-05-19/sports/hacksaw-hamilton-no-more-hockey-night-in-san-diego
  6. "San Diego Gulls Officially Change Name to San Diego Sabers Hockey". Archived from the original on March 12, 2015.
  7. "WSHL PRESS RELEASE - April 26, 2017". WSHL. April 26, 2017.
  8. "United States Premier Hockey League Adds Eight New West Coast Member Organizations". USPHL. April 17, 2020.
  9. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-08-11. Retrieved 2014-01-08.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. http://www.sdahc.org/


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