SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Gulls etched their name into franchise history this spring with a thrilling run to the American Hockey League's Western Conference Finals, the deepest playoff push since the team's modern incarnation joined the AHL as the Anaheim Ducks' top affiliate. Along the way, the Gulls captured the imagination of local hockey fans and led the AHL in playoff attendance.
The journey began with a convincing first-round series win over the San Jose Barracuda, which the Gulls dispatched three games to one. That set up a Pacific Division Finals matchup against the top-seeded Bakersfield Condors, where few outside the locker room gave San Diego much of a chance.
A Historic Overtime Marathon
Game 1 against Bakersfield produced one of the most memorable contests in AHL history. The Gulls and Condors battled through regulation and three full overtime periods before Maxime Comtois finally found the back of the net at 4:20 of the fourth overtime, giving San Diego a 3-2 victory. The game lasted a staggering 124 minutes and 20 seconds of playing time, making it the fifth-longest game in AHL history. The win set the tone for the series, which San Diego took four games to two.
The Gulls' Cinderella run came to an end in the Western Conference Finals against the Chicago Wolves, who eliminated San Diego after Game 6. Still, the team's nine playoff victories represented the most in a single postseason in franchise history, and the run galvanized a growing hockey fanbase in a city better known for its surf breaks than its ice rinks.
The playoff success also served as a springboard for Head Coach Dallas Eakins, who was subsequently promoted to head coach of the parent club Anaheim Ducks in the NHL — a testament to the quality of hockey the Gulls played during their historic spring run.