The final week of regular season play among the CIF-Metro Conference’s roller hockey teams featured some very interesting twists. Actually, make that some very dramatic twists.
Westview defeated Rancho Bernardo, 5-1, in a key North County League game on Wednesday at the Escondido Sports Center to pull even with the Broncos for first place in the league standings. However, the Wolverines won the tiebreaker for the league title after posting their second win in three meetings with Rancho Bernardo this season.
The Broncos had led the NCL standings from the opening whistle before finally being stopped in the final regular season game.
Both teams finished 7-2 in league play.
Westview takes a 13-5 overall record into Friday’s regular season finale against Southwest at Castle Park High School. Face-off is 6:30 p.m.
The opening round of the Kiwanis Cup playoffs face off the following Monday.
Previously, the Broncos defeated Westview, 3-1, and lost to the Wolverines 9-2. The Broncos head into the playoffs with a record of 15-3 — tops among non-Sweetwater district teams.
Westview outshot Rancho Bernardo 30-28 on the evening and broke a 1-1 tie with four unanswered goal in the third period. RB netminder Jakob Ogan stopped 25 of 30 Wolverine shots in defeat and Bailey Ridout scored the lone Broncos’ goal, an unassisted tally, that put Rancho Bernardo up 1-0 in the first period.
Josh Morrison had four goals to propel the Wolverines to the North County League title. Dallas Oleson scored the final goal. RB was without Ryan Wilson, who had an ice hockey commitment.
The opening period was a defensive battle, with the teams trading scoring chances.
Bonita Vista continues strong finish to 2015-16 roller hockey season
CASTLE PARK HIGH SCHOOL, Feb. 16, 2016 – The Bonita Vista Barons skated to their third victory in their last four games by defeating the Mar Vista Mariners, 6-2, in a non-league contest Tuesday. Alex Tran and Nick Stark each recorded hat tricks while Dylan Riley add a pair of assists.
The first period ended in a 1-1 deadlock. Eloy Rodriguez got the game’s jump goal to stake Mar Vista (5-16 overall) to a 1-0 lead. But Tran scored an unassisted goal to get the Barons (7-15 overall) back in the flow.
From there, Bonita Vista reeled off four unanswered goals over the next period and a half to take a 5-1 lead. Jake Dilliott finally broke the Baron scoring rampage to make the score 5-2 but Stark, a freshman, completed his hat trick with the game’s final goal.
In another non-league game on Tuesday:
Saints pull away to capture key 5-1 victory over Titans
CASTLE PARK HIGH SCHOOL, Feb. 16, 2016 – The St. Augustine Saints and Eastlake Titans met in a key match-up to likely determine seeding for the upcoming Kiwanis Cup playoffs. Both teams battled hard and the game ended even-up in a scoreless tie after the opening period.
The teams were tied 1-1 after the second period.
But the Saints ramped up their game just enough to come in the third period to skate off the floor away with hard-earned 5-1 non-league victory.
Eastlake got the game’s first goal 2:10 into the second period as sophomore Jake Powell continued a fabulous rookie campaign by combining with freshman standout Luke Killeen, with Powell getting the goal and Killeen getting the assist.
The score stayed 1-0 in the Titans’ favor until the Saints scored with 2:10 left in the period. Tanner Battikha received credit for the goal.
The Saints scored the next two goals to open the third period to deflate Eastlake’s comeback bid. Nick Heid made the score 2-1, with an assist going to Fernando Huerta. Spencer Mishky then made the score 3-1 on an unassisted tally with just over five minutes to play in the game. The Titans kept the pressure on St. Augustine netminder Jason Rains, however, but the Saints came through with two late goals to seal the victory.
St. Augustine, which improved to 7-10-1 overall — finished with wins against the Mesa League’s top two teams this season – Otay Ranch and Eastlake.
The Titans saw their overall record dip to 15-6-1.
In a pair of South Bay League games on Wednesday:
Trojans end season on strong note with 11-5 win over Red Devils
CASTLE PARK HIGH SCHOOL, Feb. 17, 2016 – The Castle Park Trojans did not repeat as South Bay League champions but certainly finished the 2015-16 season on a whirlwind note. The Trojans built on their recent victory against newly crowned league champion Chula Vista by hammering the Sweetwater Red Devils 11-5 in Wednesday’s season finale for both teams.
Marvin Cirginano put on a showcase performance with seven goals and two assists to lead Castle Park, which finished 8-4 in league play, 9-10 overall. Eleazar Cruz contributed two goals and three assists while Isaac Montero collected two goals and one assist.
Phillip Brandon led Sweetwater (4-8 in league play) with three goals and one assist while Armando Rivera picked up a goal and assist and Adrian Kercher scored once.
Mariners shake off Raiders, secure third place in South Bay League standings
CASTLE PARK HIGH SCHOOL, Feb. 17, 2016 – Team scoring leader Eloy Rodriguez racked up five goals and one assist to catapult Mar Vista past Southwest, 7-2, in the final South Bay League game of the 2015-16 season for both teams. Anthony Rodriguez was credited with a goal and assist for the victorious Mariners while Bryan Suarez also was credited with one goal.
Mar Vista finished the season 5-7 in league play – good enough to secure sole possession of third place in the league standings. Southwest finished league play 2-10.
Final South Bay League Standings
Chhula Vista Spartans 11-1
Castle Park Trojans 8-4
Mar Vista Mariners 5-7
Sweetwater Red Devils 4-8
Southwest Raiders 2-10
In a pair of Mesa League games Friday:
Hilltop turns back Barons by 3-0 score in Mesa League finale
CASTLE PARK HIGH SCHOOL, Feb. 19, 2016 – The Hilltop Lancers skated past longtime rival Bonita Vista, 3-0, to close out Mesa League play. The Lancers’ scoring was spread between four players. Eduardo Arguello led Hilltop in scoring with a goal and assist while Danny Godinez and Jenna Bischler each scored one goal. Andrew Tesner added one assist.
Arguello netted the game-winning goal.
Hilltop finished regular season play 14-8-1, 5-4 in league play. Bonita Vista finished 7-16 overall, 0-9 in league play.
Titans slip past Mustangs, 4-3, in rugged Mesa League finale
CASTLE PARK HIGH SCHOOL, Feb. 19, 2016 – The Eastlake Titans denied the Otay Ranch’s bid for a perfect finish in Mesa League play by pulling out a rugged 4-3 come-from-behind victory. Eastlake scored the opening goal of the game, courtesy of impact newcomers Luke Killeen (goal) and Jake Powell (assist), but fell behind 3-1 as the Mustangs broke out their corral for three second-period goals.
Aaron Marientes, Ricky Portilla and Sean Devaney each scored goals for Otay Ranch. But the Mustangs experienced some penalty problems later in the physical contest, and the Titans used two third-period goals to score the rivalry game victory.
Eastlake received two goals in the final period from Powell (assisted by Killeen and Seiya Hagiya.
Powell, a sophomore, and Killeen, a freshman, each finished the game with two goals and one assist
The Titans, last year’s league champions, became the lone Mesa League team to defeat the Mustangs this season.
Otay Ranch finished league play 8-1; Eastlake finished league play 5-4.
The Mustangs take a 17-6 overall record into the Kiwanis Cup playoffs while the Titans are 16-6-1.
Final Mesa League Standings
Otay Ranch Mustangs 8-1
Eastlake Titans 5-4
Hilltop Lancers 5-4
Bonita Vista Barons 0-9
Wolverines top Raiders to close out 2015-16 regular season play
CASTLE PARK HIGH SCHOOL, Feb. 19, 2016 – The Westview Wolverines, fresh off capturing the rights to this year’s North County League title with a 5-1 victory Wednesday night against the top-ranked Rancho Bernardo Broncos, concluded 2015-16 regular season play with a 9-2 non-league victory against the Southwest Raiders.
The Wolverines finished regular season play 14-5 after finishing 7-2 in North County League play. Westview received goals from seven players in the game against Southwest. Field player Josh Groll played between the pipes.
The Raiders, whose lone goal in the game was scored by Alejandro Flores, finished regular season play 2-20.
End of Regular season Video:
NORTH COUNTY REPORT:
Top-ranked Broncos stampede past Saints, improve to 15-2
ESCONDIDO SPORTS CENTER, Feb. 15, 2016 — Bailey Ridout netted four goals and Chris White chipped in with three more as the top-ranked Rancho Bernardo Broncos defeated the St. Augustine Saints, 8-3, in a non-league tilt at Kit Carson Park in Escondido. Miles Cook also hit the net for the Broncos who improved to 15-2 overall on the season. Brendan O’Rourke and Matt Holmes each assisted on two Broncos goals and Cook and Alex Pang had single assists on the evening.
RB goaltender Jakob Ogan stopped eight of 11 shots to earn the victory. The Saints’ goals were scored by Jake Stewart, Nick Heid and Fernando Huerta, with an assist going to Stewart. St. Augustine goaltender Jonathan Bartel made 34 saves in defeat for the Saints.
Rancho Bernardo scoring statistics (17 games):
Points: Ryan Wilson 58 (48 goals, 10 assists); Bailey Ridout 55 (35 goals, 20 assists); Brendan O’Rourke 44 (23 goals, 21 assists); Miles Cook 28 (15 goals, 13 assists); Alex Pang (7 goals, 8 assists); Isaiah Frankel 11 (6 goals, 5 assists); Christopher White 10 (9 goals, 1 assist); Brad Larson (6 goals, 4 assists); Matt Holmes 10 (4 goals, 6 assists); Keigo Hachisuka 8 (4 goals, 4 assists)
Goaltending: Jakob Ogan 2.53 GAA, 0.849 save percentage, 4 shutouts
Record: 15-2 (7-1 North County League)
In a Central League game played Monday:
Scripps Ranch 4, West Hills 1
A depleted Scripps Ranch team due to ice hockey commitments defeated a depleted West Hills squad due to academic ineligibilities. Matt Gauthier scored three goals and Wesley Rim scored the other for the victorious Falcons, who also received two assists from Leo Gaffrey. Wes Konold scored the lone West Hills goal.
CIF-Metro Conference
Week 11 Scoreboard
Monday, Feb. 15
Central League
Scripps Ranch 4, West Hills 1
North County League
Escondido Charter 3, Poway 0 (forfeit)
Non-League
Rancho Bernardo 8, St. Augustine 3
Tuesday, Feb. 16
Non-League
Bonita Vista 6, Mar Vista 2
St. Augustine 5, Eastlake 1
Cathedral Catholic 14, Escondido Charter 5
Wednesday, Feb. 17
North County League
Westview 5, Rancho Bernardo 1
Centrtal League
Cathedral Catholic 16, St. Augustine 0
South Bay League
Castle Park 11, Sweetwater 5
Mar Vista 7, Southwest 2
Non-League
Scripps Ranch 7, Escondido Charter 3
Friday, Feb. 19
Mesa League
Hilltop 3, Bonita Vista 0
Eastlake 4, Otay Ranch 3
Non-League
Westview 9, Southwest 2
CIF-Metro Conference Standings
(Through Feb. 19)
Mesa League
x-Otay Ranch Mustangs 8-1, 17-6
Eastlake Titans 5-4, 16-6-1
Hilltop Lancers 5-4, 14-8-1
Bonita Vista 0-9, 7-16
South Bay League
x-Chula Vista Spartans 11-1, 16-7
Castle Park Trojans 8-4, 9-10
Mar Vista Mariners 5-7, 6-16
Sweetwater Red Devils 4-8, 8-15
Southwest Raiders 2-10, 2-20
Central League
x-Cathedral Catholic Dons 8-1, 12-5
Scripps Ranch Falcons 5-4, 12-7
St. Augustine Saints 3-5-1, 7-11-1
West Hills Wolf Pack 1-7-1, 2-15-1
North County League
x-Westview Wolverines 7-2, 14-5
Rancho Bernardo Broncos 7-2, 15-3
Escondido Charter White Tigers 3-6, 10-9
Poway Titans 1-8, 5-12
x-league champion
CIF-Metro Conference Rankings
(Through Feb. 19)
| 1 | Westview |
| 2 | Cathedral Catholic |
| 3 | Rancho Bernardo |
| 4 | Scripps Ranch |
| 5 | Escondido Charter |
| 6 | St. Augustine |
| 7 | Poway |
| 8 | West Hills |
| 9 | Otay Ranch |
| 10 | Hilltop |
| 11 | Eastlake |
| 12 | Chula Vista |
| 13 | Castle Park |
| 14 | Bonita Vista |
| 15 | Sweetwater |
| 16 | Mar Vista |
| 17 | Southwest |
Kiwanis Cup Playoffs
First Round
Monday, Feb. 22
(9) Hilltop vs. (8) Otay Ranch at Castle Park HS, 5:30 p.m.
(12) Chula Vista vs. (5) Escondido Charter at Castle Park HS, 6:30 p.m.
(11) Eastlake vs. (6) St. Augustine at Escondido Sports Center, 6 p.m.
(10) West Hills vs. (7) Poway at Escondido Sports Center, 7 p.m.
Byes: (1) Westview; (2) Rancho Bernardo; (3) Cathedral Catholic; (4) Scripps Ranch
Quarterfinals: Wednesday, Feb. 24
(1) Westview vs. Hilltop-Otay Ranch winner, TBA
(4) Scripps Ranch vs. Escondido Charter-Chula Vista winner, TBA
(3) Cathedral Catholic vs. St. Augustine-Eastlake winner, TBA
(2) Rancho Bernardo vs. West Hills-Poway winner, TBA
Semifinals: Feb. 29
Teams TBA
Championship game: March 2
Teams TBA
CIF-Metro Conference Statistical Leaders
Final Regular Season
Otay Ranch Mustangs
Record: 8-1 Mesa League, 17-6 overall
Team Leaders
Ricky Portilla 22 goals, 15 assists – 37 points
David Mendez 21 goals, 15 assists – 36 points
Sean Devaney 30 goals, 5 assists – 35 points
Paul Chavez 15 goals, 16 assists – 31 points
Aaron Marientes 20 goals, 9 assists – 29 points
Hector Sanchez 9 goals, 6 assists – 15 points
James Thomas 3 goals, 2 assists – 5 points
Ana Toledo 1 goal, 4 assists – 5 points
Casey Prenatt 2 goals, 2 assists – 4 points
Nikko Trottier 2 goals, 1 assist – 3 points
John Gentile 0 goals, 2 assists – 2 points
George Swarez – 1 goal, 0 assists – 1 point
Donovan Lazo 0 goals, 1 assist – 1 point
Castle Park Trojans
Record: 8-4 South Bay League, 9-10 overall
Team Leaders
Marvin Cirignano 47 goals, 14 assists – 61 points
Eleazar Cruz 15 goals, 22 assists – 37 points
Isaac Montero 20 goals, 10 assists – 30 points
Adolfo Medina 4 goals, 3 assists – 7 points
Martin Mari 1 goal, 2 assists – 3 points
Ariel Briones 0 goals, 1 assist – 1 point
Hilltop Lancers
Record: 5-4 Mesa League, 14-8-1 overall
Team Leaders
Danny Godinez 27 goals, 18 assists – 45 points
Andrew Tesner 21 goals, 15 assists – 36 points
Eduardo Arguello 10 goals, 3 assists – 13 points
Esteban Martinez 8 goals, 4 assists – 12 points
Josh Fischer 5 goals, 5 assists – 10 points
Gerardo Barragan 6 goals, 3 assists – 9 points
Kristen Lambertson 2 goals, 2 assists – 4 points
Ivan Corona 1 goal, 0 assists – 1 point
Andres Uribe 1 goal, 0 assists – 1 point
Jenna Bischler 1 goal, 0 assists – 1 point
Bonita Vista Barons
Record: 0-9 Mesa League, 7-16 overall
Team Leaders
Matt Custodio 13 goals, 14 assists – 27 points
Nick Stark 13 goals, 4 assists – 17 points
Dylan Riley 10 goals, 3 assists – 13 points
Alex Tran 9 goals, 1 assist – 10 points
Bo Santos 1 goal, 1 assist – 2 points
Marcy Farmer 0 goals, 2 assists – 2 points
Rebecca Garcia 1 goal, 0 assists – 1 point
Ysabella Perez 0 goals, 1 assist – 1 point
Juan Garcia 0 goals, 1 assist – 1 point
Chula Vista Spartans
Record: 11-1 South Bay League, 16-7 overall
Team Leaders (Includes Pam Wiser Classic)
Hector Garcia 42 goals, 19 assists – 61 points
Jesse Amador 24 goals, 14 assists – 38 points
Allison Smith 3 goals, 3 assists – 6 points
Team Leaders (does not include Pam Wiser Classic)
G. Cimmino 2 goals, 7 assists – 9 points
B. Frias 3 goals, 3 assists – 6 points
A. Valadez 2 goals, 2 assists – 4 points
M. Diaz-Santana Reyes 1 goal, 1 assist – 2 points
A. Curtis 0 goals, 1 assist – 1 point
Bonita Optimist Pam Wiser Classic
Tournament Scoring Leaders
Danny Godinez (Hilltop) 6 goals, 4 assists – 10 points
Eloy Rodriguez (Mar Vista) 8 goals, 1 assist – 9 points
Andrew Tesner (Hilltop) 5 goals, 4 assists – 9 points
Josh Fischer (Hilltop) 4 goals, 4 assists – 8 points
David Mendez (Otay Ranch) 2 goals, 6 assists – 8 points
Phillip Brandon (Sweetwater) 5 goals, 1 assist – 6 points
Sean Layton (Eastlake) 4 goals, 2 assists – 6 points
Esteban Martinez (Hilltop) 3 goals, 3 assists – 6 points
Matt Custodio (Bonita Vista) 2 goals, 4 assists – 6 points
Hector Garcia (Chula Vista) 5 goals, 0 assists – 5 points
Dylan Riley (Bonita Vista) 5 goals, 0 assists – 5 points
Aaron Marientes (Otay Ranch) 5 goals, 0 assists – 5 points
Seiya Hagiya (Eastlake) 3 goals, 2 assists – 5 points
Jake Powell (Eastlake) 4 goals, 0 assists – 4 points
Jesse Amador (Chula Vista) 2 goals, 2 assists – 4 points
Marco Salazar (Sweetwater) 2 goals, 2 assists – 4 points
Armando Rivers (Sweetwater) 2 goals, 2 assists – 4 points
Angel Bonilla (Southwest) 2 goals, 2 assists – 4 points
Luke Killeen (Eastlake) 1 goal, 3 assists – 4 points
MaxPreps Statistics
North County League/Central League Leaders
Drew Jones (Cathedral Catholic) 35 goals, 41 assists – 76 points
Jesse Lycan (Scripps Ranch) 40 goals, 22 assists – 62 points
Ryan Wilson (Rancho Bernardo) 45 goals, 14 assists – 59 points
Joey Mendoza (Escondido Charter) 30 goals, 27 assists – 57 points
Josh Morrison (Westview) 43 goals, 13 assists – 56 points
Matt Gauthier (Scripps Ranch) 24 goals, 32 assists – 56 points
Rory Herrman (Poway) 42 goals, 14 assists – 56 points
Jono Pecoraro (Escondido Charter) 32 goals, 23 assists – 55 points
Sam Angeles (Cathedral Catholic) 38 goals, 16 assists – 54 points
John Leone (Cathedral Catholic) 23 goals, 27 assists – 50 points
Cody Sherman (Scripps Ranch) 26 goals, 21 assists – 47 points
Bailey Ridout (Rancho Bernardo) 29 goals, 17 assists – 46 points
Stewart Pond (Scripps Ranch) 27 goals, 13 assists – 40 points
Nick Heid (St. Augustine) 31 goals, 8 assists – 39 points
Evan Medieros (Escondido Charter) 19 goals, 20 assists – 39 points
Dallas Oleson (Westview) 24 goals, 10 assists – 34 points
Miles Cook (Rancho Bernardo) 16 goals, 16 assists – 32 points
Josh Groll (Rancho Bernardo) 15 goals, 17 assists – 32 points
Keisi Tayaka (Westview) 17 goals, 14 assists – 31 points
Blake Woods (Escondido Charter) 20 goals, 9 assists – 29 points
Brendan O’Rourke (Rancho Bernardo) 14 goals, 15 assists – 29 points
Kyle Riddlespurger (Cathedral Catholic) 14 goals, 14 assists – 28 points
Jake Belland (Cathedral Catholic) 16 goals, 11 assists – 27 points
Laurent Lee (Westview) 13 goals, 14 assists – 27 points
Sam Lathus (Cathedral Catholic) 20 goals, 6 assists – 26 points
Brett Kaufman (Poway) 13 goals, 10 assists – 23 points
Jacob Groll (Westview) 9 goals, 13 assists – 22 points
Wes Konold (West Hills) 13 goals, 8 assists – 21 points
Will Devaney (Cathedral Catholic) 10 goals, 10 assists – 20 points
Adam Stocker (Cathedral Catholic) 13 goals, 6 assists – 19 points
Liam Garry (Poway) 10 goals, 9 assists – 19 points
Dom Cianflone (St. Augustine) 9 goals, 9 assists – 18 points
Colton Grover (West Hills) 9 goals, 8 assists – 17 points
Lyussyen Lushak (Westview) 12 goals, 4 assists – 16 points
Wesley Rim (Scripps Ranch) 11 goals, 5 assists – 16 points
Ice Chips
Gulls report: Pacific Division playoff chase promises to melt the ice
What had been a five-game Bakersfield Condors winning streak has since turned into a two-game Condors losing streak to put the San Diego Gulls back into solid contention for the Calder Cup playoff berth.
The Gulls entered a pivotal three-game stretch against teams ahead of them in the American Hockey League’s Pacific Division. On Wednesday, Feb. 17, they hosted the red-hot Texas Stars (second place in the division standings and leading the league in goals scored), then turned around for a trip to Bakersfield (third place in the division standings) before returning to host the Ontario Reign (first place in the division standings).
The Stars, riding a five-game winning streak, handed the Gulls a 6-3 loss but did the San Diego team a favor by holding off the Condors 4-2 in a game played Saturday night in Bakersfield. The Gulls did themselves a huge favor by defeating the Condors, 3-2, on Friday and then topping the Reign, 4-2, on Saturday.
San Diego picked up four precious standings points (as well as even more precious winning percentage points) in the three games while Bakersfield went pointless in its two weekend games.
After the three-game set, the Gulls found themselves in sole possession of third place in the division standings. San Diego improved to 25-20-1-1 with a 0.553 winning percentage – one-thousandth of a percentage point ahead of the fourth place San Jose Barracuda (22-17-6-3, 0.552 winning percentage) and 0.021 percentage points ahead of the now fifth place Condors (23-20-2-2, 0.532 percentage points).
Ontario continues to lead the division with a 30-14-3-1 record and 0.667 winning percentage while Texas continues to sit in second place with a 32-19-3-3 record and 0.614 winning percentage.
At this point of the season, there appears to be a race for first place in the division standings between the Reign and Stars and a three-way race for third place between the Gulls, Barracuda and Condors.
Not far behind, and potentially, making it a five-team race for the third and fourth place positions are the San Antonio Rampage (23-23-8-0) and Stockton Heat (21-21-1-2), both with 0.500 winning percentages.
None of the Pacific Division teams can hold their breath for long as they continue to watch the Charlotte Checkers, the fifth place team in the Central Division standings.
In a twist this season, only the top three Pacific Division place-finishers are guaranteed playoff berths. If the fifth place team in the Central Division has a better winning percentage than the fourth place team in the Pacific Division, the Central Division team will take the Pacific Division team’s spot in the playoffs.
The Checkers, who are 1-7-1-1 in their last 10 games, have a record of 26-21-3-3 and a 0.547 winning percentage.
Thus, at present, the top four Pacific Division teams would qualify for the Calder Cup playoffs. But the key words remain “at present.”
It’s been proven that teams can now exchange positions at the drop of a hat-(trick).
The Gulls have three games next week: Wednesday in Stockton and home Friday against San Antonio and Saturday against San Jose.
Bakersfield continues its home stand with three games next week.
Top shelf
Texas is 8-2-0-0 in its last 10 games while the Gulls, Condors and Ontario are all 6-4-0-0. San Antonio is 5-4-1 while Stockton is 5-5-0 and San Jose is 4-5-1.
Ontario goaltender Peter Budaj continues to lead the AHL with a stingy 1.58 goals-against average and 0.935 save percentage. He is 28-10-3 on the season.
Texas’ Travis Morin (15 goals, 47 points) and Brendan Ranford (15 goals, 46 points) rank fourth and fifth among AHL point-scoring leaders.
Rookie defenseman Brandon Montour continues to lead the Gulls with 39 points on nine goals and 30 assists. He’s followed in the team scoring column by Chris Mueller (10 goals, 34 points) and Mike Sgarbossa (11 goals, 29 points).
The Gulls are still dealing with call-ups of left wing Nick Ritchie (15 goals, 28 points).
Goaltender Anton Khudobin (9-6-0-0, 2.60 GAA, 0.911 save percentage) appeared in both Gulls wins over the weekend after returning from assignment with the NHL Anaheim Ducks. He sports a 9-6-0-0 record, 2.60 GAA and 0.911 save percentage in 16 games with San Diego this season – the most of any netminder.
Hackett has appeared in 15 games with a 7-6-0-1 record, 2.87 GAA and 0.901 save percentage.
Gulls lose Old West shootout — 6-3 to surging Texas Stars
SAN DIEGO, Feb. 17, 2016 — The San Diego Gulls have a pair of remarkable records going this season. They appear almost invincible when scoring the first goal of a game (10-1-0-1) and when leading at the end of the second period (19-0-0). They are also 14-1-1-1 in one-goal games.
But they have been less than spectacular when allowing the first goal (3-15-0) and trailing after two periods (1-15-0).
Moreover, the first goal of the game has determined the winner in the last 14 Gulls’ games and 19 of their last 20.
Those statistical indicators held true in Wednesday’s Pacific Division encounter against the sizzling Texas Stars at the Valley View Casino Center. The Stars, currently lodged in second place behind the Ontario Reign in the division standings, shot out to a 2-0 first period lead and held off a late San Diego rally to post a runaway 6-3 victory.
The Gulls, temporarily holding down fourth place in the division standings, halved the Texas lead to 2-1 in the early moments of the second period. The Gulls crept back to within a goal at 4-3 at the 8:48 mark of the third period. But San Diego’s one-goal deficit lasted just 1:35 when Texas took its first three-goal lead of the game at 5-2.
The teams each scored once in the third period.
Texas entered the game as the highest-scoring team in the AHL with 202 goals, and the game turned into an Old West shootout with the teams combining for 80 shots – 45 by the Stars and 35 by the Gulls.
The Gulls out-shot the Stars 15-11 in the first period but fell victim to a pair of point-blank goals – the first on a rebound of several shots in a congestion of players in front of San Diego goaltender Matt Hackett and the second that required a video replay to confirm.
Remi Elie received credit for the first Texas goal, scored at the 9:30 mark, with assists going to Cole Ully and Matej Stransky. Stransky received credit for the second Stars goal at 14:43, with assists going to Brendan Ranford and Derek Hulak.
Chris Mueller scored off a pass from teammates Michael Sgarbossa and Ondrej Kase just 1:15 into the second period to start an apparent Gulls comeback. But the hosts fell behind 3-1 on a goal by Jason Dickinson (assists to Brett Ritchie and Curtis McKenzie with 6:47 gone in the middle period.
The Gulls once again climbed back into the game when Kase beat Texas netminder Maxime Legace with 9:08 to play in the period. But the Stars regained their two-goal lead at 4-2 when Ully beat Hackett at the 17:46 mark of the period.
The Gulls continued to play hard, however, and made the score 4-3 when Andrew O’Brien scored at the 8:58 mark of the third period. But the Texas visitors continued to put their foot on the accelerator when McKenzie made it 5-2 at 10:33.
The Gulls had a chance to get back in the game when they were awarded a power play with 6:46 to play. They were the benefactors of a two-man advantage for 36 seconds when the Stars were called for another penalty.
Texas killed the first penalty and got a shot on Hackett during the second penalty.
Ritchie added salt to the wound by scoring an empty net goal with 2:24 to play.
Ritchie, the older brother of the Gulls’ Nick Ritchie, earned first star honors with one goal and three assists while McKenzie was named the game’s second star with a goal and two assists. Kase earned the No. 3 star award with a goal and assist.
A native of the Czech Republic, Kase made his return to the Gulls lineup following a 42-game absence due to injury. He has only played only four games this year due to injury.
San Diego saw its record drop to 23-20-1-1 while Texas improved to 31-18-3-3.
Tail feathers
Wednesday’s game was sort of a homecoming affair for Texas center Cory Kane, an Irvine native. Kane is playing in his first season with the Stars after playing two previous seasons with the Providence Bruins. He played two seasons with the Boston Jr. Bruins (2006-08) in the EJHL, then followed that with two seasons with the Vernon Vipers of the British Colombia Hockey League (2008-10). He then spent four years attending Ferris State University before joining Providence in 2013-14.
He helped Vernon win the Royal Bank Cup in 2009-10 as National Champions of Canadian Junior-A Hockey.
— Phillip Brents
Gulls press releases follow:
STARS RACE PAST GULLS, 6-3
San Diego drops five of six to Texas in the season series
SAN DIEGO, Feb. 17, 2016 – Brett Ritchie netted a goal with three assists and Curtis McKenzie added a goal with two helpers as the Texas Stars outscored the San Diego Gulls by a final score of 6-3 on Wednesday night at Valley View Casino Center in San Diego.
Chris Mueller, Ondrej Kase and Andrew O’Brien scored for the Gulls (23-20-1-1), who saw their two-game winning streak come to an end. The Stars (31-18-3-3) won their sixth straight contest overall, finishing the season series against San Diego with a 5-1-0 record.
The Gulls got into an up-and-down game with one of the more skilled teams in the American Hockey League, and the result was a free-for-all with 80 combined shots. After a defensive giveaway at San Diego’s blue line midway through the first period, Remi Elie banged home a scramble goal in front of Gulls’ netminder Matt Hackett at the 9:30 mark to give Texas a 1-0 lead.
San Diego found themselves down 2-0 at the 14:43 mark of the first on a Matej Stransky power play goal, coming after the Gulls had killed a two-man advantage for 37 seconds. San Diego found themselves down 2-0 after twenty minutes.
The Gulls would find the back of the net quickly in the second period, as Mike Sgarbossa’s backhand pass from behind the end line connected with Chris Mueller on the short side, who sticked the puck past Texas goalie Maxime Legace for his tenth goal of the year, narrowing the deficit to 2-1 just 1:15 into the frame.
Texas regained a two-goal lead on Jason Dickinson’s score at 6:47 of the second, but San Diego answered back at 10:52 when Ondrej Kase, playing his first game after missing 42 straight with an upper-body injury, parked the rebound of a Joe Piskula shot for his second goal of the year, cutting the lead to 3-2.
The Stars had an answer to every goal on this night and Cole Ully’s score at 17:46 regained a two-goal lead after forty minutes. Andrew O’Brien and Curtis McKenzie exchanged goals in the third before Ritchie’s empty netter at 17:36 concluded the scoring.
The Gulls will head back on the road on Friday night to take on the Bakersfield Condors from Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield before returning to Valley View Casino Center on Saturday to host the first place Ontario Reign.
NOTES: First goal has determined the winner in fifteen straight Gulls games and 20 of the last 21…Kase added an assist with his goal for a two point night … Mike Sgarbossa had a pair of helpers in the loss…the Stars outscored the Gulls 29-15 in the season series … Korbinian Holzer, assigned to the Gulls on a conditioning assignment from the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks, was scoreless with three shots and an even rating … Brandon Montour’s four-game points streak came to an end, as he was scoreless on four shots.
THREE STARS
1st Star: TEX Brett Ritchie (1-3=4); 2nd Star: TEX Curtis McKenzie (1-2=3); 3rd Star: SD Ondrej Kase (1-1=2)
GULLS HOLD OFF CONDORS, 3-2
San Diego withstands a third period comeback to win at Rabobank Arena
BAKERSFIELD, Calif., Feb. 19, 2016 – The San Diego Gulls jumped out to a 3-0 lead, hanging on from there for a 3-2 victory Friday night at Rabobank Arena. The Gulls (24-20-1-1) won for the first time in five tries in Bakersfield, snapping the Condors’ five-game winning streak.
Andrew O’Brien, Matt Bailey and Joseph Cramarossa found the back of the net for San Diego, with Cramarossa’s goal 9:13 into the second period proving to be the game-winner. Bakersfield (23-19-2-2) controlled the puck for much of the third period, but goalie Anton Khudobin made nine of his 26 saves in the final frame to preserve the Gulls victory.
The Condors entered the night having scored the first goal in 30 of their first 45 games; the Gulls had scored first in just 19 of 45 contests, but owned an 18-0-0-1 record when doing so. In this game, a wild scramble midway through the first period saw Khudobin lose his stick, pick up winger Stefan Noesen’s, and then watch as Brad Hunt’s shot from outside rang the left post but stayed out to preserve the scoreless tie.
Late in the first, Brian McGrattan rolled a puck out of the San Diego zone and through neutral ice, between two Condors and all the way through to Andrew O’Brien. Skating in on left wing, O’Brien was ahead of the defense and lifted a shot over Condors goalie Laurent Brossoit and into the net for his fourth goal of the year and a 1-0 San Diego lead at 16:13.
With the critical first goal in their hip pocket, the Gulls charged out of the locker room after first intermission and seized control of the game. Matt Bailey’s short-handed score, perfectly working a 2-on-1 with Antoine Laganiere, doubled the San Diego advantage 2:55 into the second frame.
Cramarossa turned on a Korbinian Holzer poke-check in the Condors zone and weaved below the right circle before beating Brossoit over the right shoulder to make it 3-0 Gulls at the 9:13 mark, stunning the crowd of 5,041 at Rabobank Arena.
The Condors began their comeback with a bit of good fortune, as a missed chance by San Diego right at the end of a Gulls power play turned into a stretch pass the other direction. Joshua Winquist jumped out of the penalty box on a breakaway, deking Khudobin left-to-right to finish his eighth goal of the year and put Bakersfield on the board at 17:15 of the second. The Gulls held a 3-1 lead after forty minutes.
The Condors took nine of the third period’s first ten shots, pressuring San Diego relentlessly in their zone. Winquist’s steal on an extended forecheck led to Andrew Miller’s goal from the left circle at 8:39 to make it a one-goal game. Preserving one-goal leads has proven to be the Gulls’ specialty this year, and San Diego held off the rest of the furious rally, improving to 15-1-1-1 in one-goal games and 20-0-0 when leading after two periods.
With the win, San Diego moves into a three-way tie with Bakersfield and San Jose for the third position in the AHL Pacific Division. All three teams hold 50 points and a .543 point percentage. The “Taco Cup” rivalry series between the Gulls and Condors remains in play, with Bakersfield holding an 11-to-6 point advantage and four games left in the season series.
The Gulls return home on Saturday night to play host to the division-leading Ontario Reign at 7:05 p.m.
NOTES: First goal has determined the winner in sixteen straight Gulls games and 21 of the last 22 … Kyle Bonis added an assist on the O’Brien first period goal … McGrattan’s assist was his first point since scoring the game-winning goal Jan. 3 in San Antonio; he was in his second game back after missing eight straight with an upper-body injury … San Diego beat AHL All-Star goalie Laurent Brossoit for the first time in regulation; Brossoit had been 3-0-1 against the Gulls with two shutouts in his first four starts.
THREE STARS
1st Star: SD Joseph Cramarossa (1-0=1, GWG); 2nd Star: BAK Joshua Winquist (1-1=2); 3rd Star: BAK Andrew Miller (1-0=1)
GULLS TRIP UP REIGN, 4-2
San Diego beats AHL All-Star Peter Budaj of the Reign for the fifth time
SAN DIEGO, Feb. 20, 2016 – Matt Berry’s go-ahead goal with 4:18 remaining in the third period snapped a 2-2 tie, and Anton Khudobin made 30 saves on 32 shots faced to preserve the edge as the San Diego Gulls beat the Ontario Reign 4-2 on Saturday night at Valley View Casino Center. A crowd of 10,897 saw San Diego (25-20-1-1) beat the Reign for the fifth time this season, moving alone into third place in the AHL Pacific Division.
Berry’s wrist shot over Budaj’s glove-side shoulder and into the upper-right corner was his third goal of the season and first game-winner with the Gulls in the American Hockey League (AHL). Zac Larraza assisted on the eventual game-winner.
Brandon Montour, Joseph Cramarossa and Mike Sgarbossa also netted goals against the Reign (30-14-3-1), who lost for the fifth of eight times against the Gulls in the season series.
A spirited crowd on Hockey Weekend Across America saw a tense and technical first period, as the two best teams in the AHL at preserving the game’s first goal for victory grappled for the initial advantage. San Diego (19-0-0-1 when scoring first entering play) and Ontario (23-0-1-0) are the only two teams in the league without a regulation loss when turning the first red lamp.
With both teams failing to convert on a pair of power plays, the game remained scoreless through twenty minutes. San Diego had a third man advantage to start the second period but could not best netminder Peter Budaj, who entered the night leading the AHL in wins, save percentage, shutouts and goals-against average.
The Gulls’ top line would generate the night’s first goal late in the second period. Passes from Sgarbossa and Ondrej Kase triggered rookie defenseman Brandon Montour, who charged Budaj from the right wing. His shot ripped the upper left corner for his ninth goal of the season and the critical 1-0 San Diego lead.
Before the crowd could settle back into their seats, the Reign found the equalizer, winning an offensive-zone draw before Kevin Raine’s rebound goal off a post shot made it a 1-1 tie just seventeen seconds later.
A goal, and a quick answer, would be the story early in the third period as well. Nick Ebert finished a spirited shift with a left circle snap shot and his first goal of the season just 1:40 into the frame for Ontario’s first and only lead of the game at 2-1.
Just 22 seconds later, Joseph Cramarossa lifted home a rebound to put the Gulls back even at two, with assists from Matt Bailey and Shea Theodore. With Khudobin conjuring up 10 of his 30 saves in the closing minutes, including a key glove grab with just under a minute to play and an extra skater on ice, San Diego was able to withstand Ontario’s late pressure and earn their fifth win in the series. The Gulls are the only team in the league to beat Budaj five times (3-4-1).
San Diego embarks upon a third straight three-game week when they travel to Stockton for a Wednesday night contest, returning home for weekend games against San Antonio and San Jose.
NOTES: With the Gulls and Reign holding to their “score first, win first” form, first goal has now determined the winner in seventeen straight Gulls games and 22 of the last 23 … both teams were 0-for-4 on the power play … Sgarbossa’s empty-netter was his 11th goal of the season, snapping what was a four-way tie at ten goals for active San Diego goals leader (Mueller, Laganiere, Cramarossa) … Nick Ritchie, currently on recall with the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks, leads the Gulls on the season with 15 goals.
THREE STARS
1st Star: SD Matt Bailey (0-1=1); 2nd Star: SD Joseph Cramarossa (1-0=1); 3rd Star: SD Anton Khudobin (30 saves on 32 shots faced)
