Howe Sweet It Is: Travis Howe Back in San Diego for 2025-26
Feb 27, 2025
By Nick Aguilera/SanDiegoGulls.com
Travis Howe is here to stay.
The San Diego Gulls announced today that the team has picked up Travis Howe’s option for the 2025-26 American Hockey League season, keeping the fan-favorite forward in blue & orange for another year.
A high-energy, classic grinder on the ice, it’s no mistake that Howe has found a home in San Diego thanks to his work ethic. Not only is he a leader in the Gulls locker room and big reason for the team’s recent success, but he’s also long been a favorite among America’s Finest Fans.
Now officially in San Diego for another year, Howe made sure to note that he wouldn’t be here without the Gulls faithful.
"Being here is such a treat," Howe said. "This is like a vacation for most people, even just to come here, and we're lucky enough to play a kid’s game in this city and just any time you can say thank you to the fans and give back because they spent hours and hours and a lot of money on tickets and traveling. We had a group of fans come to Toronto in the beginning of the year, and even just seeing our fans on the road, seeing our jerseys, our hats on the road, it gives us a little extra kind of motivation, or a little kick in the butt to be like, ‘Hey, like these people are driving all over the country to come see us and support us.’ It’s just pretty cool to see."
For Howe, who debuted for the Gulls during the 2022-23 season, it’s a sign of trust in the organization that finally gave him a shot in the AHL.
"It’s kind of hard to put into words, really, because this place is awesome," Howe said. "Everybody here has been beyond great with me and my family."
Last season, Howe was named the team’s AHL Man of the Year award winner, given to the player that best represents the Gulls both on and off the ice. It’s been more of the same this season, as Howe has often been the first to step up for any community event.
Howe is now approaching 100 games played in his AHL career, with all but one coming in a Gulls sweater. Going through the ups and downs of the past two and a half seasons with San Diego, the team is finally starting to turn a corner, and Howe is ready for the next step.
"Being here these last few years has changed my life for the absolute better and positive," Howe said. "I'm just truly grateful and blessed to be here, be part of this, and we're finally starting to get some things clicking and getting our team in the right way. I just really want to be a part of that too."
With a little over 20 games left in the 2024-25 season and the playoff push, Howe knows what he brings to the table and will do everything he can to get Pechanga Arena rocking in the quest for postseason hockey.
"Definitely a lot more of the same," Howe said. "High energy, fights when I need to, and just try to be a good teammate, be a good person, and be a good guy in the community."
