Big Crowd Can't Help Gulls Win Home Opener

San Diego packs Pechanga Arena but the Gulls lose to the Heat

San Diego does not have hockey weather. But San Diego is absolutely a hockey town.

11,523 fans showed up for the Gulls 2019-20 home opener at Pechanga Arena, a gigantic number for a minor league hockey team. But that's the reputation the Gulls fans have earned.

San Diego has led the American Hockey League in attendance the last two seasons. You have to figure at some point we're going to see a Gulls win this year.

The Gulls fell to 0-and-4 after a 5-1 loss to the visiting Stockton Heat on Friday night. Stockton scored once in the 1st period then twice in the 2nd and twice more in the 3rd to take a 5-0 lead. Daniel Sprong finally gave the big home crowd something to cheer about with a breakaway goal late in the 3rd.

It was Sprong's first Gulls goal and might be the kickstart he needs. Last year as a 21-year-old with the Ducks he scored 14 goals in 47 games. He didn't have a great training camp so he ended up in San Diego, where Anaheim hopes he can rediscover his scoring touch. If he gets going the Gulls have a serious threat on their hands.

The Gulls get a week off to try and figure things out. They host Ontario on Friday the 25th.

Contact Us