Preview: Gulls Ready To Wrap Up 2023 Against Roadrunners

Dec 30, 2023

By Nick Aguilera/SanDiegoGulls.com 

The San Diego Gulls are ready to close out 2023 against the Tucson Roadrunners tonight at Tucson Convention Center Arena (6 p.m. PST; TV: AHL TV; RADIO: Gulls Audio Network). 

The Gulls are coming off a rollercoaster overtime win over the Ontario Reign on Thursday, fueled by a three-point performance by Josh Lopina (2-1=3) and an overtime winner from Glenn Gawdin. The night marked a couple firsts for the two, as Lopina recorded his first career multi-goal game and Gawdin collected his first career OT goal. 

"It was a really fun game tonight," Lopina said after the game. "Nice to have individual success, but I think we played amazing as a team."

"When we play our game, we find ways to win and we’re consistent through sixty minutes and that’s our identity and I think we showed that tonight, that it’s on us to do that every night," Gawdin added. 

San Diego last saw Tucson last weekend in a 4-3 loss to the Roadrunners at home. The Gulls clawed their way back in the third period but couldn’t find the equalizer in the dying seconds. 

"We know what our divisional opponents are about," Lopina said. "We'll watch some video and correct what we did last game against them. But I think it's just the same mindset as [Thursday]. Come in here hard. Come have fun. Do it for each other. I think we'll get a similar result on Saturday."

The game marks the final game of the calendar year for San Diego. In December, the Gulls found their footing and clinched a winning month with a 6-4-1 record through the first 11 games. They’ll look to close the year on a high note and earn their first win over a divisional opponent other than Ontario. 

"The division games are huge," Gawdin said. "We know that every game, for us, means a lot. We’re trying to climb through the standings, so it’s going to be another good test on Saturday."

San Diego will get a three-day break before heading to Henderson to face the Silver Knights to kick off 2024 on Wednesday, Jan. 3 (7 p.m. PST).