Home Sweet Home: Gulls Rise To The Occasion

Local AHL Affiliate Skates In to Weekend Tied for 1st Place

At this rate, the San Diego Gulls may never lose a home game.

Okay maybe that's getting a little bit ahead of ourselves but the current formula is working really well.

The Gulls scored three power play goals in their dominating 6-1 win on Veterans Day and staved off Eight penalty kills against the Bakersfield Condors.

It all adds up to a 6-and-0 home record and a very happy head coach.

“Well, I don't think you know what you're going to have when you come into a new organization,” explained Gulls head coach Dallas Eakins. “This team last year (playing in Virginia) suffered greatly in the bottom 5 of the league. But we've made some great acquisitions and we've got a group of high character and they're very hard-working."

One of the new faces San Diego hockey fans are rooting for is Brandon Montour. The talented defenseman loves switching into attack mode and jumping into the offensive zone whenever he can.

“I’m an offensive defenseman, and my main objective is to work on my (defensive) side. That’s where I’m focused and when the time comes I’m going to make my jump (up the ice) and make my play,” explained Montour.

After 11 contests, Montour leads the Gulls in total points with 12 (3 goals and 9 assists). He turned in a 2 goal, 2 assist outing in Wednesday’s victory to the delight of about 6,700 home fans.

“It’s been pretty incredible actually,” added Montour. “Wednesday night we had a pretty good crowd so everybody’s happy with that and everyone wants to keep playing at home.”

Nick Ritchie is also a strong NHL prospect who projects to have a long career with the Anaheim Ducks.

He enters Friday as the Gulls’ leading scorer with 8 tallies.

“I think we have a good system,” said Ritchie. “Coach has done a good job with our breakouts and our setups and all that and I guess at the end of the day it’s the guys executing and our power play’s been good too. Both of our special teams has been good so you’re going to win a lot of games if those two are good.”

About one month into their maiden voyage, the Gulls are tied for first place with 18 points alongside the Ontario Reign (LA Kings affiliate).

The Gulls sport a 9-2 record heading into their back-to-back home games with the Sharks’ affiliate – the San Jose Barracuda – Friday and Saturday evening.

The Gulls will wear their black road jerseys Friday and camouflage sweaters for a second time this week on Saturday evening.

There will be an auction during Saturday's contest for fans to bid on those game-worn camo jerseys which will be signed and awarded to the auction winners afterwards.

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