Left wing Giovanni Fiore scored early in the second period in his debut with the San Diego Gulls Monday evening as they concluded preseason play with a 2-1 loss to the Ontario Reign at Honda Center in Anaheim.
Fiore scored off an assist by center Kalle Kossila three minutes, 52 seconds into the second period, tying the score, 1-1.
T.J. Hensick scored what proved to be the winning goal 8:29 into the second period.
Ontario, the Los Angeles Kings American Hockey League affiliate, opened the scoring 3:08 into the second period on a goal by Matt Schmalz.
Kevin Boyle stopped 33 of 35 shots for the Gulls (0-2-0-1).
The Reign (3-0-0-0) outshot the Gulls, 35-27.
“We didn’t play a bad game,” Fiore said. “Our feet were moving, we were passing the puck well. We just have to find the net more often. We’re not satisfied.”
Fiore, a 21-year-old from Quebec, and Kossila, who had 14 goals and a team-high 34 assists in 65 games with the Gulls last season, were among four players assigned to the Gulls Monday by their NHL parent team, the Anaheim Ducks.
The Gulls will open the regular season Saturday against the Tucson Roadrunners, the Arizona Coyotes AHL affiliate, in Tucson, Arizona.
The Gulls home opener will be on Oct. 13 against the Texas Stars, the Dallas Stars’ AHL affiliate, at the Valley View Casino Center.
— City News Service
