San Diego Gulls (1995-2006)
| San Diego Gulls | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| City | San Diego, California |
| Founded | 1995 |
| Operated | 1995–2006 |
| Home arena | San Diego Sports Arena |
| Colors | Orange, white, black |
| Franchise history | |
| 1995–2003 | San Diego Gulls (WCHL) |
| 2003–2006 | San Diego Gulls (ECHL) |
| Championships | |
| Regular season titles | 6 (1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2000–01, 2003–04) |
| Division Championships | 6 (1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2003–04) |
| Taylor Cups | 5 (1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 2000–01, 2002–03) |
The San Diego Gulls were a professional ice hockey team 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 Gulls played at the San Diego Sports Arena.
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.
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.
On of June 30, 2006, the Gulls folded and released their players as free agents in 2006 following years of unprofitable seasons.
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