Suchanek Steals The Show As Gulls Grab First Win On Home Ice
Nov 25, 2023By Nick Aguilera & Morgan Korovec/SanDiegoGulls.com
The San Diego Gulls came back for more tonight and finally found their first win on home ice.
In another raging wrangle with the Chicago Wolves, San Diego took down the opponent in a 3-1 victory Saturday night at Pechanga Arena San Diego.
Tomas Suchanek showed no nerves in the first start of AHL career, as he stopped 23-of-24 shots to help the Gulls snap a 13-game skid.
"Yeah, it's a good feeling," Suchanek said. "It’s really great that I could win this game for them, and it's a great game and a great feeling."
"All Tomas has done since he came into our organization is perform," head coach Matt McIlvane added. "And he’s got such a high compete level and an unbelievable attitude. You know, it’s easy to root for a kid like that. We’re really fortunate to have such great depth in our goaltending."
The Gulls got off on the right foot, putting themselves up on the scoreboard at 11:39 in the first with a goal netted by Judd Caulfield.
Olen Zellweger recorded an assist on the goal to extend his point and assist streak to three games (1-4=5).
Rocco Grimaldi pulled the Wolves even in the second, scoring on a breakaway at 8:28.
San Diego took back the lead near the end of the second as Robert Hagg found the back of the net for his first goal as a Gull. Chase De Leo recorded the secondary assist, the first point of the season for San Diego’s captain in his first game.
"It was so much fun," De Leo said. "So grateful to get back with this group. It's been a tough stretch for them, so they deserve this win, and the fans definitely deserve this win. Just want to give them something to get excited for and cheer about."
Josh Lopina continued that magic into the third as he locked in the lead with an unassisted insurance goal into the empty net at 17:45.
Andrew Agozzino also tallied an assist on the night, his fourth point in his past three games (1-3=4).
The Gulls will return to home ice on Wednesday, Nov. 29 for a mid-week matchup with the Texas Stars at Pechanga Arena San Diego (7 p.m. PT; TV: AHLTV; RADIO: Gulls Audio Network).
"We’ll be excited for some rest and then from there, we got a couple great practice days and a strong Texas team coming in that we’ll have to be real ready for," McIlvane said.
The Gulls will spend the first weekend of December on the road in Chicago to battle with the Wolves yet again for another back-to-back series that will conclude their four-game set of this season.