The San Diego Gulls began their 2026-27 AHL campaign with a commanding 5-1 win against the San Jose Barracuda on October 3 at Tech CU Arena. This victory was head coach Dave Manson’s first with the team in his inaugural season leading the men’s ice hockey squad.
Eight different players recorded their first points of the season. Matthew Phillips, James Hamblin, Nico Myatovic, and Stian Solberg each posted multi-point performances. Phillips, Hamblin, and Myatovic each had a goal and an assist while Solberg contributed with one goal and two assists, marking his first career three-point game. Roger McQueen also scored a power-play goal for his first point of the season.
The Gulls capitalized on two of four power-play opportunities and successfully killed one penalty. Coach Manson noted the persistence of the team during special teams play despite strong penalty killing by San Jose.
Players highlighted the team’s chemistry and enthusiasm under Manson’s leadership. Matthew Phillips pointed to focused five-on-five drills in practice as key to their cohesion, while James Hamblin expressed excitement about playing for Manson and the team’s motivation to earn more wins.
CSB Take
The San Diego Gulls’ strong 5-1 win in their season opener highlights an effective start for head coach Dave Manson and his squad. Multiple players contributing offensively and a solid special teams showing demonstrate early-season readiness and team unity. This foundation will be important as San Diego faces upcoming challenges, including their home opener. Manson’s leadership and the players’ commitment could be vital in establishing the Gulls as a competitive force in the AHL this season.
Source: Original report
