San Diego Gulls

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Gulls prove it's not very good to be a Chief

By Michael Clarke

December 5, 2005

San Diego--The Gulls gave out much more than water bottles Saturday night as they delivered physical hits and abject humiliation to the Johnstown Chiefs en route to a decisive 7-1 victory before 6,011 at the iPay One Center.

The physical play that has allowed the Gulls to stay unbeaten in ten of its last twelve games continued to be a trademark. Defenseman Nikita Korovkin put a wicked hit on Steven Cygan that made the Chiefs forward so mad he threw a tantrum right near the Jerome’s sign--I wonder if he forgot to take his Ritalin.

Why on earth did the woman in section 24 have to bring her cowbell? It’s not that it’s so loud, which it is, but she rings it at the most inappropriate times, like during the “Recycle” public service announcement and the “Who Wants a Pizza?” promotion. I wonder if she rings the bell at home during commercials.

Whatever Chiefs coach Frank Anzalone said to his players at intermission seemed to work…for about 48 seconds. The Chiefs upped their intensity and played as if they were possessed during a power play to open the second period. But then they remembered that they were the Johnstown Chiefs and whatever momentum they had quickly dissipated.

Two minutes into the second period, Richard Keyes made a great pass to Guillaume Fournier, who was set up perfectly near the Vision Institute logo on the ice. His first shot was blocked but then put the second shot into the top corner of the Chiefs net to make it 2-0.

That’s when it got really bad.

Hildenbrand put in a shot about 20 feet out to make it 3-0, with an assist going to defenseman Cody McCleod. Then Darren Clark made a chip shot—helped by some lazy goalkeeping—under the glove of Chiefs goalie Jonathan Boutin. Chants of “One, two, three, four—YOU SUCK!” began to ring through the crowd as loud as a T-shirt giveaway.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, Brandon Eliott of the Chiefs acquired a penalty as he unsuccessfully tried to start a fight with,…well,…almost anybody. The gulls were baited, but not hooked; although Jonathon Shockey got a 10 minute misconduct for, lacking any noticeable physical contact, what can only be assumed to be an ill-timed remark about the ref’s mother.

Perhaps the prettiest goal of the night came late in the second period. Made possible by Richard Keyes’ great stickwork, Hildenbrand came on during a line change and fed the puck quickly to McLeod who scored to make it a 5-0 contest.

The only suspense at this point was when the cheap shots would come out. It didn’t take long. Chiefs enforcer Eliott finally got the fight he was looking for after hitting Keyes in the head with his stick. Jason Reimers came to Keyes defense with a few punches that even Russell Crowe could appreciate.

The Gulls added two more goals and let in one more, but at this point the game was as over as the Jessica Simpson-Nick Lachey marriage. The Gulls wrap up their longest home stand of the season on Sunday night and then head into the teeth of the schedule to play some crucial conference games that could ultimately decide their standing in the ECHL this year—and determine how many cowbells are brought to the arena.

San Diego Gulls official site: www.sandiegogulls.com