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. For the 2020–21 season, the Gulls play out of the Ducks' practice rink, Great Park Ice & FivePoint Arena, in Irvine, California.[1]

For other uses, see San Diego Gulls (disambiguation).
San Diego Gulls
2020–21 AHL season
CitySan Diego, California
Irvine, California[lower-alpha 1]
LeagueAmerican Hockey League
DivisionPacific
Founded2000
Home arenaPechanga Arena
Great Park Ice & FivePoint Arena[lower-alpha 1]
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)
Tulsa Oilers (ECHL)
Websitesandiegogulls.com
Franchise history
2000–2015Norfolk Admirals
2015–presentSan Diego Gulls

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.

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).[2]

The Gulls' name, logo and colors were revealed on February 22, 2015 at HockeyFest.[3][4] HockeyFest was deemed a success, drawing over 8,500 enthusiastic hockey fans.[5]

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.[6]

After four seasons and three playoff appearances, the Anaheim Ducks promoted Gulls' head coach Dallas Eakins to the same position with the Ducks.[7] Former Florida Panthers' head coach Kevin Dineen was hired as the next head coach.[8]

Approaching the delayed 2020–21 season, due to COVID-19 pandemic considerations, the Gulls announced they would temporarily relocate and play out of the Ducks' practice rink, Great Park Ice & FivePoint Arena, in Irvine, California.[9]

Rivalries

The Gulls consider the Ontario Reign, the Los Angeles Kings AHL affiliate, to be their main rivals and advertise games as "Rivalry Night."[10][11] The teams faced each other in the 2016 division finals, where the Reign defeated the Gulls 4–1 in a best-of-seven series.[12] 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 the COVID-19 pandemic

Players

Current roster

Updated February 8, 2021.[13]

# Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace Contract
38 Jack Badini C L 23 2021 Greenwich, Connecticut Ducks
5 Simon Benoit D L 22 2018 Laval, Quebec Ducks
39 Nikolas Brouillard D L 26 2021 Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec Gulls
25 Sam Carrick (C) C R 29 2017 Stouffville, Ontario Ducks
44 Trevor Carrick D L 26 2021 Stouffville, Ontario Ducks
7 Chase De Leo (A) C L 25 2018 La Mirada, California Ducks
1 Lukas Dostal G L 20 2021 Brno, Czech Republic Ducks
10 Alex Dostie C L 23 2017 Drummondville, Quebec Gulls
36 Hunter Drew D R 22 2019 Kingston, Ontario Ducks
17 Jamie Drysdale D R 18 2021 Toronto, Ontario Ducks
31 Olle Eriksson Ek G L 21 2019 Karlstad, Sweden Ducks
30 Jeff Glass (A) G L 35 2021 Calgary, Alberta Gulls
28 Maxim Golod LW L 20 2021 Toronto, Ontario Ducks
24 Benoit-Olivier Groulx C L 21 2021 Rouen, France Ducks
40 Keegan Kanzig D L 25 2020 Athabasca, Alberta Gulls
16 Bryce Kindopp RW R 21 2021 Lloydminster, Alberta Ducks
18 Matt Lorito RW L 30 2021 Oakville, Ontario Gulls
4 Keegan Lowe D L 27 2021 Greenwich, Connecticut Gulls
6 Josh Mahura D L 22 2018 St. Albert, Alberta Ducks
14 Antoine Morand C L 21 2019 Chateauguay, Quebec Ducks
11 Jacob Perreault RW R 18 2021 Montreal, Quebec Ducks
22 Andrew Poturalski C R 27 2019 Williamsville, New York Ducks
21 Jeremy Roy D R 23 2021 Richelieu, Quebec Gulls
12 Brayden Tracey LW L 19 2021 Calgary, Alberta Ducks
13 Trevor Zegras C L 19 2021 Bedford, New York Ducks

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.[14]

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. Temporary location during the 2020–21 season.
  1. "San Diego Gulls to temporarily relocate to Irvine". San Diego Union Tribune. January 4, 2021.
  2. "Ducks Launch American Hockey League Franchise in San Diego". Anaheim Ducks. January 29, 2015. Retrieved January 29, 2015.
  3. "Ducks to Hold 'San Diego Hockeyfest' on Sunday, February 22". Anaheim Ducks. January 29, 2015. Retrieved January 29, 2015.
  4. "The Gulls Are Back In Town". February 22, 2015. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  5. "Hockey Fest a Hit". February 22, 2015. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  6. AHL teams establish all-time attendance record
  7. "Ducks hire Dallas Eakins as new head coach". Sporting News. June 17, 2019.
  8. "DUCKS NAME KEVIN DINEEN GULLS HEAD COACH". San Diego Gulls. July 15, 2019.
  9. "28 teams to participate in 2020-21 season". American Hockey League. January 4, 2021. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  10. "RIVALRY NIGHT IN SAN DIEGO". San Diego Gulls. October 15, 2016.
  11. "FAMILIARITY BREEDS CONTEMPT AS REIGN, GULLS TAKE RIVALRY TO PLAYOFFS". Ontario Reign. May 4, 2016.
  12. "2016 Playoffs". Retrieved February 16, 2017.
  13. "San Diego Gulls playing roster". American Hockey League. 2021-01-27. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
  14. "San Diego Gulls - All Time AHL leaders". hockeydb.com. June 10, 2019. Retrieved June 10, 2019.
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