Rookie Tyler Morley and defenseman Stu Bickel both scored their first goals of the season and Kenny Ryan had two goals, helping the depleted San Diego Gulls to defeat the Stockton Heat, 6-2, Saturday in Stockton.
Morley scored on his first professional shot, opening the scoring four minutes, 11 seconds into the first period off assists by Chris Mueller and Joe Piskula. The 24-year-old center was making his professional debut. The Gulls announced on March 23 he signed an amateur tryout agreement with the team after completing his college eligibility with the University of Alaska-Fairbanks.
Bickel, who leads the Gulls with 176 penalty minutes in 56 games, put in a rebound of defenseman Brian Cooper’s shot 9:02 into the first period. Cooper was playing in his second game with the Gulls on an amateur tryout agreement after completing his college eligibility with the University of Nebraska-Omaha.
Joseph Cramarossa scored an unassisted shorthanded goal for the Gulls 13:59 into the first period before a crowd at Stockton Arena announced at 5,907.
The Gulls increased their lead to 4-0 4:32 into the second period on Ryan’s fifth goal of the season.
The Heat cut the deficit to 4-2 on Kenny Agostino’s power-play goal at 8:27 of the second period and Garnet Hathaway’s shorthanded goal at 15:07 of the second period.
The Gulls regained a four-goal lead on Matt Bailey’s goal at 16:06 of the second period.
Ryan had the lone goal of the third period, scoring on the power play off assists by Chris Mueller, his third of the game, and Morley 4:10 into the period.
Goaltender Matt Hackett made 30 saves for the Gulls (38-22-3-2). Nick Schneider made 21 saves for Stockton (30-30-2-2), the Calgary Flames American Hockey League affiliate.
The Gulls killed seven of the Heat’s eight power-play opportunities and scored on one of their three power-play opportunities.
The Gulls are 31-0-0 when leading after two periods and 28-0-2-1 when scoring first.
Earlier today, the Anaheim Ducks, the Gulls NHL parent team, announced they had recalled five players from the Gulls, including three of their five leading scorers, center Mike Sgarbossa, defenseman Shea Theodore and right wing Stefan Noesen.
The Ducks also recalled left wing Nick Ritchie, whose 16 goals in 37 games are tied for second on the team, and right wing Corey Tropp, who scored four goals in 14 games since debuting with the Gulls on March 4 after being acquired by the Ducks in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Gulls and Heat will play again Sunday in Stockton. The Gulls will next play at Valley View Casino Center Friday night against the Ontario Reign, the Los Angeles Kings AHL affiliate, who are assured of winning the Pacific Division championship.
— City News Service
