San Diego Can’t Solve Toronto

Jan 31, 2025

By Samantha Mason/SanDiegoGulls.com

The San Diego Gulls and the Toronto Marlies faced off for the second time this week tonight, but the Gulls ultimately came up short 3-1. 

On Wednesday, the Marlies were victorious 5-3, playing at Pechanga for the first time ever. 

After one period of play, the score was tied 0-0. 

Toronto opened the scoring halfway through the second period, netting two goals. Jan Mysak scored the first goal for San Diego, assisted by Sasha Pastujov. This marks Mysak’s eleventh goal and twenty-fourth point this season. 

"It's always never give up," says Mysak. "[It] doesn't matter what's happening. We know we can still push no matter what. So, we knew that if there's like opportunity like that, I [can find] a puck, get it back, and we scored from that."

The third period saw one more goal for the Marlies, who took the win 3-1.  

As the team heads into the break for All-Star weekend, head coach Matt McIlvane hopes the team will use this period to their advantage. 

"I think the only thing I want them to do right now is get their minds off hockey," McIlvane said. "There'll be plenty of time for a push down the stretch. This is not the purpose of these next six days...It's going to be a sprint to the finish, and it's going to take everyone's best all of our energy to have an opportunity to push for the playoffs."

The Gulls will return to Pechanga on February 7 to face off against the Coachella Valley Firebirds for Women in Sports Night (7pm PST).