Photo: SD Gulls
By Thomas Harrington
The San Diego Gulls played in six games over the past two weeks and had a record of 1-5-0. With the playoffs out of the picture, the focus has shifted to next season and beyond. With junior, European, and NCAA teams starting to end their seasons, the Gulls will likely be getting a few new players to bolster their roster. That’s already started as the Seattle Thunderbirds failed to qualify for the WHL Playoffs. As a result, Anaheim prospect Nico Myatovic has joined San Diego on an ATO.
San Jose Pulls Away From San Diego In The Third
The Gulls started things out with a visit to San Jose. Josh Lopina opened the scoring in the first period, but the Barracuda responded with two goals of their own. In the second, Trevor Carrick and Nikita Nesterenko scored to give the Gulls the lead, but San Jose then tied the game at 3-3. Nathan Gaucher gave San Diego the lead back before the Barracuda tied it again. In the third, San Jose scored the only two goals and skated off with a 6-4 win.
Gulls Drop Three Straight At Home
The Gulls then returned home for three straight games, starting with Texas. The Stars opened the scoring in the first, but Andrew Agozzino tied the game soon after. Gaucher scored to give San Diego the lead, but Texas tied it again. They then scored the only two goals of the third period and won 4-2.
San Diego then hosted the Calgary Wranglers in a high scoring affair. Glenn Gawdin put the Gulls up early, but Calgary responded with two goals of their own. Gawdin scored his second of the period to tie the game. In the second, the Wranglers scored three straight goals to make it a 5-2 game. In the third, Gawdin completed the hat trick just 38 seconds into the period, but Calgary scored again less than a minute later, and then made it 7-3 soon after. Gaucher scored for the Gulls, but Calgary scored into the empty net and won 8-4.
The Gulls then hosted Bakersfield. Robert Hagg opened the scoring early in the first, but the Condors scored two goals to take the lead. In the second, Sasha Pastujov tied the game, but Bakersfield retook the lead soon after. Neither scored in the third, and Bakersfield won 3-2.
Gulls Earn Split With Roadrunners
The Gulls then traveled to Tucson for a pair of games. These were Myatovic’s first career AHL games. In the first game, Pastujov and Agozzino made it 2-0 in the first, and Ben King scored in the second. Gawdin scored the only goal in the third, and the Gulls won 4-0. Recently signed Tomas Suchanek stopped all 26 shots he faced. This was his 3rd shutout of the season, a record for San Diego rookies.
Tucson was looking for revenge in the next game, and they got it. Agozzino scored the first goal of the game, but the Roadrunners tied the game soon after. Pastujov put the Gulls back on top before the first was over. In the second, Tucson scored a pair of goals to take the lead, but Judd Caulfield scored a shorthanded goal to make it 3-3. Tucson scored two more goals before the second was over, and two more in the third to win 7-3. Chase De Leo recorded an assist in this game and became San Diego’s all-time leader in points with 182.
Final Thoughts
San Diego will play in six games over the next two weeks. They’ll stay home for the first three games, hosting San Jose once and then Tucson for a pair of games. The Gulls will then hit the road and travel to Bakersfield, Ontario, and Coachella Valley.
Gawdin has been playing well lately and could get called up to Anaheim if a forward is needed. Pastujov and Gaucher have both been playing well lately too. While long shots, it wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world to give either a taste of what NHL action is like. Now that he’s signed his entry-level contract with the Ducks, if Anaheim needs help in net, Suchanek is an option too. Given how he’s been San Diego’s best goaltender this season, I think he’s earned a chance if a goalie is needed.
As other Anaheim prospects head to San Diego, it will be interesting to see how they do playing against professional competition. It’s been a rough year for the Gulls, but hopefully some of these young players can have a strong finish to the season and give hope for next year.
New Signings
Yesterday the Gulls signed Sam Colangelo to a professional tryout (PTO). There is a chance he could make an appearance with the Ducks before the season is over according to Brian Hayward. The Gulls also signed defenseman Andrew Lucas to an amateur tryout (ATO).
Today the Ducks signed Yegor Sidorov and Coulson Pitre to three-year entry-level contracts (ELCs). Sidorov was selected in the third round (85th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft. He scored 50 goals and earned 38 assists in 66 games this season with the Saskatoon Blades. He led the Western Hockey League (WHL) with 12 game-winning goals and was tired for third in power play goals with 16.
Pitre was selected in the third round (65th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft. He posted 55 total points (27 G + 28 A) in 55 games with the Flint Firebirds this season. He was second on the team in shorthanded goals (3), third in goals and fifth in assists.
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April 3rd, 2024
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