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Jan. 25, 2003

Trevor Koenig was perfect in the shootout period and lifted the San Diego Gulls to a 3-2 victory over the Bakersfield Condors Saturday night, before 7,324 at Centennial Garden.

San Diego regains sole possession of second place in the West Coast Hockey League and remains 12 points behind the front-running Idaho Steelheads. Bakersfield, which now trails the Gulls by one point, had its six-game winning streak snapped.

After last night's loss, the Gulls (25-13-1) came out energized and out-played Bakersfield in the opening period, but had nothing to show for it. The Condors (22-12-6) had three power plays in the first, but couldn't get much of an offensive attack going.

San Diego continued where it left off in the first period, and was rewarded with a 1-0 lead 5:12 into the middle frame. Sylvain Deschatelets, reigning Player of the Week, took a pass from Cory Cyrenne and beat Kevin St. Pierre for his first of the night. R.J Enga started the play, digging the puck out from behind the net and fed Cyrenne.

Bakersfield came right back with two quick goals minutes later, stealing the Gulls' momentum. The first came on Jamie Cooke's 16th of the year at 8:23. With the man advantage, Shawn Byram found an open Cooke, whose one-timer eluded Koenig. Jeff Goldie notched his 13th 1:28 later, giving the Condors a 2-1 advantage. Byram took the puck and whirled a shot that Koenig saved, but Goldie was all alone in front of the net and easily tapped in the rebound.

The Gulls had their troubles with the power play this weekend, but capitalized on a two-man advantage midway through the third to tie it, 2-2. Enga worked the puck over to Mike Garrow at the blue line, whose shot was deflected in by Deschatelets for his second goal of the game. It was Deschatelets' 13th tally of the season and 13th point in his last five games.

After some crucial penalty killing by the Blue and Orange, the game headed to a shootout. In the extra frame Koenig stopped all five shots, out-dueling St. Pierre, who turned aside four of five San Diego shooters. The only one to fool St. Pierre was the man who beat him twice earlier: Deschatelets.

Notepad
The Gulls are 11-11-1 against teams over .500 (Idaho, Bakersfield and Fresno). They're 14-2 against teams with losing records (Long Beach and Anchorage)… The Blue and Orange are 1-10 when trailing after two periods this season… San Diego has won 17 of its last 20 games… Koenig needs two more wins for 100 in his WCHL career. He needs nine more for 100 in his Gulls tenure… San Diego again played without the services of David Neale, who's nursing a sore hip… Kevin Grant remains on injured reserve, but is expected back next weekend… Marc Busenburg and Rob Voltera remain with the American Hockey League's Hershey Bears…

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WCHL Training Camp Notepad
WCHL honors its own with organizational awards

AROUND THE WCHL
November 2002 Edition
October 2002 Edition
May 2002 Edition

GAME RECAPS
02/07/03: Condors 4, Gulls 3 (SO)
02/05/03: Gulls 2, Falcons 1
02/04/03: Falcons 8, Gulls 3
02/01/03: Steelheads 6, Gulls 5 (SO)
01/31/03: Gulls 3, Steelheads 2 (SO)

PROFILES IN HOCKEY
Enga is Gulls’ new ironman
Danielle Dube — pioneer, no; goaltender, yes
Greg Spenrath: Falcons lose a legend
Grandfather, grandson keep Gulls "all in the family"

PRESS RELEASES
Ice Dogs name Kaminski as head coach