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San Diego Gulls (1995–2006)

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For other uses, see San Diego Gulls (disambiguation).
San Diego Gulls
CitySan Diego, California
Founded1995
Operated1995–2006
Home arenaSan Diego Sports Arena
ColorsOrange, white, black
Franchise history
1995–2003San Diego Gulls (WCHL)
2003–2006San Diego Gulls (ECHL)
Championships
Regular season titles6 (1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2000–01, 2003–04)
Division titles6 (1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2003–04)
Taylor Cups5 (1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 2000–01, 2002–03)

The San Diego Gulls were a professional ice hockey team based in San Diego, California, that competed in the West Coast Hockey League (WCHL) and later in the ECHL. The team, the third to use the Gulls nickname, was founded in 1995 immediately upon the departure of the IHL team of the same name. The team played its home games at the San Diego Sports Arena.

History

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The Gulls were the dominant team throughout the WCHL's eight-year existence, winning the regular season championship five times. The Gulls never finished worse than second overall in WCHL league play, attaining the 100-point mark five times. The Gulls also won five of the league's Taylor Cup championships. No other WCHL team won the Taylor Cup more than once.

In 2003, the WCHL was absorbed by the ECHL, formerly known as the East Coast Hockey League. In 2004, the Gulls became the ECHL affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche. The Gulls won the ECHL regular season title in 2003–04 but missed the playoffs for the first and only time in their history the following year. In stark contrast to their WCHL playoff success, the Gulls failed to win a postseason series in three ECHL seasons.[1]

Throughout their WCHL stint and through their first year of ECHL play, the Gulls were coached by St. Cloud State University (Minnesota) alumnus Steve Martinson. Martinson left the Gulls and went on to coach the Rockford IceHogs of the UHL. Martin St. Amour, who was a star for the Gulls in their WCHL years replaced Martinson as head coach prior to the 2004–05 season. St. Amour stepped down in the middle of the 2005–06 season and was replaced by former Gulls players Jamie Black and B.J. MacPherson as co-coaches. The final starting goalie was Kevin Lentz. He went 20-1-1 in the final stretch of the regular season but retired due to a knee injury.

2006 folding

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On June 30, 2006, the Gulls folded and released their players as free agents following years of unprofitable seasons.[2]

GULLS TO FORMALLY CEASE OPERATIONS FRIDAY – [ 06-29-2006] SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Gulls announced Thursday that they will formally cease operations as of Friday (June 30). Ongoing negotiations to sell the club did not materialize in a timeframe sufficient to operate for the 2006–07 season.[3]

Championships

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Season League Championship(s)
1995–96 WCHL Taylor Cup – Playoff Champion, Founders Cup – Regular Season Champion
1996–97 WCHL Taylor Cup – Playoff Champion, Founders Cup – Regular Season Champion
1997–98 WCHL Taylor Cup – Playoff Champion, Founders Cup – Regular Season Champion
2000–01 WCHL Taylor Cup – Playoff Champion, Founders Cup – Regular Season Champion
2002–03 WCHL Taylor Cup – Playoff Champion
2003–04 ECHL Brabham Cup – Regular Season Champion

Season-by-season record

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Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, OTL = Overtime losses, SOL = Shootout losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes

Final records.[4][5]

Season League GP W L OTL SOL Pts GF GA PIM Finish Coach Playoffs
1995–96 WCHL 58 49 7 - 2 100 350 232 1790 1st, WCHL Steve Martinson Won Taylor Cup, 3-1 (Fresno)
1996–97 WCHL 64 50 12 - 2 102 400 210 2571 1st, WCHL Steve Martinson Won Taylor Cup, 4-0 (Anchorage)
1997–98 WCHL 64 53 10 - 1 107 347 198 2680 1st, South Steve Martinson Won Taylor Cup, 4-1 (Tacoma)
1998–99 WCHL 71 45 19 - 7 97 342 242 2746 1st, South Steve Martinson Lost in finals, 2-4 (Tacoma)
1999–00 WCHL 70 46 16 - 8 100 297 221 2234 1st, South Steve Martinson Lost in round 2, 1-3 (Phoenix)
2000–01 WCHL 72 50 17 - 5 105 263 192 2043 1st, South Steve Martinson Won Taylor Cup, 4-3 (Idaho)
2001–02 WCHL 72 47 22 - 3 97 255 209 2677 1st, South Steve Martinson Lost in round 2, 1-3 (Fresno)
2002–03 WCHL 72 45 22 - 5 95 245 182 1930 2nd, WCHL Steve Martinson Won Taylor Cup, 4-3 (Fresno)
2003–04 ECHL 72 49 13 - 10 108 240 177 1594 1st, Pacific Steve Martinson Lost in round 1, 0-3 (Alaska)
2004–05 ECHL 72 35 29 4 4 78 206 222 1519 6th, West Martin St. Amour Missed playoffs
2005–06 ECHL 72 34 30 4 4 76 213 214 1811 4th, Pacific Martin St. Amour Lost in round 2, 0-4 (Fresno)

Former San Diego Gulls players (WCHL)

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References

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  1. ^ San Diego reached the second round of the ECHL playoffs in 2005–06 on a first-round bye.
  2. ^ Schrotenboer, Brent (June 29, 2006). "The puck stops here: Gulls fold, leaving San Diego without pro hockey". San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on May 6, 2007. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  3. ^ "GULLS TO FORMALLY CEASE OPERATIONS FRIDAY". San Diego Gulls. June 29, 2006. Archived from the original on October 19, 2006. Retrieved October 19, 2006.
  4. ^ "San Diego Gulls Statistics and History [WCHL]". HockeyDB.
  5. ^ "San Diego Gulls Statistics and History [ECHL]". HockeyDB.
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