The San Diego Gulls opened their 2026-27 American Hockey League season with a decisive 5-1 victory against the San Jose Barracuda at Tech CU Arena on October 3.
Laurent Brossoit made his debut as the Gulls’ goaltender, stopping 29 of 30 shots to secure the win. James Hamblin scored the first goal of the game and his first with the Gulls after joining from the Bakersfield Condors, with assists from Stian Solberg and Nico Myatovic.
Matthew Phillips extended the lead on the power play, assisted by Anton Wahlberg and Solberg. Roger McQueen followed with his first American Hockey League power-play goal and second career AHL goal, assisted by Ryan Carpenter and Sean Farrell. Myatovic added another goal, assisted by Phillips and Hamblin.
Stian Solberg completed the scoring with an empty-net goal, marking his first career AHL three-point game, finishing with one goal, two assists, five shots on goal, and a +3 rating.
Hamblin commented on the team’s mindset, emphasizing speed and pressure on opponents. Phillips noted the team’s depth and hockey intelligence, acknowledging the increased challenge as they prepare to face the Barracuda again the following day.
The Gulls will host the second game of their back-to-back series against the San Jose Barracuda at Tech CU Arena tomorrow at 3 p.m. PST.
CSB Take
The San Diego Gulls demonstrated strong offensive balance and dependable goaltending in their opening game, establishing early momentum for the season. Laurent Brossoit’s effective debut and Stian Solberg’s multi-point performance highlight the team’s depth and readiness. How the Gulls maintain this level of play, particularly against a familiar adversary in the back-to-back series, will be pivotal for their continued success during the 2026-27 campaign.
Source: Original report
