Gulls Bi-Weekly Report 5

By Thomas Harrington

The Gulls played five games over the past two weeks and had a 1-4-0 record. They won their most recent game, ending their 12 game losing streak. With 43 games left this season, the Gulls are in a deep hole, but hopefully this win is the start of their climb out of it.

Abbotsford Edges San Diego

San Diego started off by hosting Abbotsford. The Canucks scored just over a minute into the game, but Rocco Grimaldi tied it just over 20 seconds later. The Canucks then scored three straight goals, but one of the newest Gulls, David Cotton, scored late in the period to make it 4-2. It was his first goal with San Diego. In the second, Evan Weinger scored his first goal with the Gulls to make it a 4-3 game. Late in the third, Abbotsford scored to take back the two-goal lead. Justin Kirkland made it 5-4 with 59 seconds left in the game, but that was it.

With both Lukas Dostal and Olle Eriksson Ek in Anaheim, San Diego’s goaltenders were Daniel Mannella and former Anaheim draft pick Garrett Metcalf. Manella got the start but was pulled after allowing three goals on seven shots. Metcalf played much better the rest of the way, but it wasn’t enough in this one.

Gulls Lose Two High Scoring Contests

Coachella Valley was the next team to visit, and Kirkland opened the scoring just nine seconds into the contest. Unfortunately, the Firebirds took over from there, as they scored twice in the first period, four times in the second, and twice in the third to win 8-1. Tucson then came to San Diego, and it was another high scoring affair. Tucson scored six times in the first, while Cotton scored the Gulls’ lone goal. In the second period, Danny O’Regan, Kirkland, and Hunter Drew all scored to make it a 6-4 game. In the third, Tucson scored three times and won 9-4. That was O’Regan’s last game with San Diego, as he was traded away and Michael Del Zotto was brought in.

Gulls End Losing Streak Against Roadrunners

The Gulls then traveled to Tucson to take on the Roadrunners again. They scored the only goal of the first and then two in the second before Nikolas Brouillard got the Gulls on the board. Tucson scored one more time in the middle frame to make it 4-1. In the third, Brayden Tracey scored, but Tucson then scored two more goals and won 6-2.

The next night, the Gulls were still in Tucson and were finally able to end their losing streak. Grimaldi scored first, and Colton White scored his first with San Diego to double the lead, but Tucson did score once before the period was over. In the second, the Roadrunners tied the game, but Pavol Regenda scored to put the Gulls back on top. In the third, Regenda scored again to put the Gulls back in the lead by two, and Frank Hora made it 5-2. Cotton scored into the empty net and the Gulls won 6-2.

Final Thoughts

San Diego will play five games over the next two weeks. They’ll start out by hosting the Silver Knights before heading on the road to Henderson to face the Silver Knights two times in a row, making it three games in a row against Henderson. The Gulls will then travel to Milwaukee for a pair of games.

With Dostal in Anaheim, San Diego’s porous defense has looked even worse. Hopefully the addition of Del Zotto will help to plug those holes. As we turn to 2023, the Gulls can only hope that the new year treats them better than 2022 did.

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December 27th, 2022