Preview: Gulls Ready for Home Opener Presented by California Coast Credit Union
Oct 20, 2023By Morgan Korovec/San Diego Gulls
The San Diego Gulls are finally home following a few hockey-less months at Pechanga Arena San Diego.
The Gulls will host the rival Ontario Reign in tonight’s Home Opener presented by California Coast Credit Union in front of a roaring crowd that will be both on their feet, and comfortably seated against Gulls towels placed on every fan’s seat in Pechanga Arena.
Tonight's game summons intense excitement not only for the fans, but for the Gulls themselves. Many of this year’s young players, full of energy and talent, are new to the magic that a packed house of Gulls fans brings.
Judd Caulfield, who played only a handful of games in America’s finest city last season, is ready for a full season of playing in front of America’s finest fans.
"The atmosphere the San Diego fans brought to every game at Pechanga was awesome," Caulfield said. "Even when we weren’t playing the best at the end of last season, the fans still showed up and supported us."
Caulfield scored his first career AHL goal during Sunday’s game against Ontario, a moment he described as an "unbelievable feeling."
Caulfield said he is eager to showcase to San Diego fans what the team has been up to and he radiates confidence surrounding the structure implemented on the team by his coaches. The Gulls have started the season on the right foot, heading into tonight’s game with bold energy, renewed systems, and two wins.
"After preseason, we knew we had to go to work that week, so we went to work," Caulfield said. "We definitely got to learn from the games. We weren’t perfect, but we came out with two wins and our goaltenders played amazing for us. We can’t rely on them to carry that load every single weekend, but we know they’re there for us when we need it."
Gulls goaltenders have been on their game, with Alex Stalock tallying the most saves by a Gull in a season opener (40 saves on 41 shots) and Calle Clang setting a new AHL career-high in saves at Sunday’s game at Ontario (stopping 35 of 39 shots) garnering his first win of the season.
Another young talent shares this excitement tonight, marking only the second time in Pechanga Arena – and first time for a Gulls game – for Olen Zellweger. He’s earned three helpers in two games to open the 2023-2024 season.
"I think it's great to have a really good forward core here and such mobile defense guys," Zellweger said. "All around we have a lot of guys who can handle the puck with their head up and make plays offensively which is really important in having both aspects of the game dialed in to really be a complete team."
Running it back against the rival Reign tonight for the third straight game, the Gulls can count on their teammates, the fans, and the adage that third time’s a charm.