2024-2025 Game 17: San Diego Gulls vs Ontario Reign

San Diego California. With a disheartening overtime loss to their newest desert rivals the night before the San Diego Gulls headed home to welcome in their oldest and fiercest foes – the Ontario Reign – for the first match up of the season.

With Pavol Regenda out due to illness – Jaxen Wiebe was called up and slotted right in while Judd Caulfield also came back into the line-up. Coulson Pitre was elevated to the top line to take Regendas spot while Nico Myatovic found himself on the second line with Josh Lopina and Yegor Sidorov. Sasha Pastujovs strong performance earned him a third line spot with Nathan Gauche and Judd Caulfield while Wiebe made his debut centering the fourth line.

Rodwin Dionicio was replaced by Andrew Lucas in another strange shake up of the defensive pairings.

Oscar Dansk was given the start with Calle Clang backing him up.

Dillon Heatherington was still listed as out with an injury, Pavol Regenda illness, Carson Meyer an injury and Rodwin Dionicio was the lone healthy scratch.

First Period:

With a frenetic pace that we have come to know as common place for Gulls and Reign tangles it took until the 6:50 mark until we got our first stoppage – each team showing good cohesion within the offensive zone and finding no issues traversing through the neutral zone with speed.

The intensity and high tempo pace continued as teams exchanged Power Plays with time passing by the mid point of the period.

With constant flow and relentless pressure – a scoreless yet still entertaining period flew by until eventually the Reign struck first at the 15:56 mark as Gull-killer Sam Fagemo skated into an open lane and perfect pass to beat Oscar Dansk clean. 1-0 Reign.

An exchange of Power Plays saw a brief four on four sequence that lead to yet another Reign score as Jack Studnika finished a perfect pass after the Gulls defence was cut in two by an Ontario rush. 2-0 Reign.

The Gulls tried to respond but could not mount much in less than a minute as the Reign skated into the first intermission with a two goal lead. Shots were 11-10 in favor of Ontario.

Second Period: Ontario Reign 2 – San Diego Gulls 0

Ontario began the second looking like the team in the lead as they carried possession and the attack for the first two minutes of play. As would be expected – this lead to a Power Play in their favour as Roman Kinal was given a hooking minor on a play that saw Aatu Jansen drive to the net and run over Oscar Dansk in the process (no call on that though because AHL officiating).

It turned out to be a blessing in disguise as as time expired on the penalty a head-man pass to Roman Kinal escaping the box saw the ECHL journeyman score his first AHL goal as he bowled down the right side and wired a shot top shelf over the shoulder of Eric Portillo. 2-1 Reign.

The goal gave the Gulls new life and they dominated play for the next few minutes with one heart stopping chance for the Reign against the grain that saw Oscar Dansk making a desperation save with the paddle of his stick on a last minute puck redirection.

The Reign pushed back and had the Gulls out of sorts for the next few minutes as the battle for control continued well into the final few minutes of the middle frame.

A San Diego Power Play saw them almost tie the score but an expert rush and passing play by Sasha Pastujov ended once again in frustration as it was again one pass too many and his swooping drag pass through the crease to Tristan Luneau saw a chance go begging as the puck did not connect despite an out of position goaltender and chaos in front.

Ontario evened things up by goading the Gulls into taking a penalty and saw them finish the period with the man advantage and ahead by a goal. Shots were 10-9 for the Gulls on the period for an even 20-20 split over forty minutes of play.

Third Period: Ontario Reign 2 – San Diego Gulls 1

Starting the period on the Power Play on fresh ice was all the Reign need as they instantly gained the Gulls zone, created chaos and added to their lead to make it 3-1. Again Sam Fagemo proving the danger man. Reign 3-1.

A determined response and uptake in physical play from the Gulls was lead in most part by the fourth and third lines respectively – Nico Myatovic and Yegor Sidorov continuing to display good chemistry with their cycling and energy.

It was all Gulls for much of the remainder of the period and it felt like this might be another of those frustrating nights where they did everything possible but score.

The Officials did not help as on one such near-goal play in which both Yegor Sidorov and Josh Lopina were leveled in front of the net in what could be easily called roughing and/or interference penalties – Lopina himself was called for high sticking; a confusing call because on replay you could not see him lift his stick above the penalty line at all.

San Diego killed the minor and went right back on the attack but their desperation move of pulling Dansk for the extra attacker with over three minutes left back-fired as a neutral zone bouncing clearance from the Reign settled into their empty net. 4-1 Reign.

The Gulls losing once again despite all of their best efforts to the contrary.

Post Game Notes:

Well At Least Things Can Only Get Better

It is easy to forget that the Gulls are missing several key pieces of their line up right now. Veterans Dillon Heatherington and Carson Meyer are out injured. Star forward Sam Colangelo is up with the Ducks as well as the services of veteran center-man Jansen Harkins, oh and Drew Helleson – of course. Once the pieces start coming back – with how well the Gulls have been playing despite the piling losses, the dam will surely break.

Somehow We Aren’t Last

San Diego now sits second to last in the Pacific with a 4-12-0 record and a 0.294 points percentage. The Henderson Silver Knights are a loss behind with a 0.250 points percentage. The daunting task of clawing back to 0.500 seems a very tall ask but all this team needs to do is get hot and stay hot for a month and if they start getting bodies back I firmly believe they can do that.

Other Positives

One thing I noticed in this game was how much more elevated the Gulls play has been this season as compared to seasons past. The skill level and talent is evident among even their “depth” players. Coulson Pitre and Nico Myatovic are both really starting to come into their own – a much quicker adjustment than most fresh-from-Junior players from previous years have made. That is not to mention Rodwin Dionicio who already hit the ground running but can’t seem to catch a break with the coaching staff. Tristan Lunea is as expected – NHL material just waiting for a spot to open up which likely happens around or after the All Star break as much hunch is Cam Fowler will be traded then.