Gulls’ Brower Shuts Down Roadrunners

Like an boulder that picks up speed when rolling down mountainside, the Gulls are barreling down on International Hockey League opponents.

Wednesday, goaltender Scott Brower and the Gulls (9-7-2) knocked Phoenix (7-9-1) out of their way, 3-0, in a Western Division game in front of 4,453 at the San Diego Sports Arena.

It was the Gulls’ first shutout of the season and the fourth victory in a row, a first for the first-year franchise.

“The guys really played well for me,” said Brower, who recorded his first professional shutout--his last was in 1988 for the University of North Dakota--and his first victory (1-2-1) with the Gulls. “I’ll tell you what, when we got out third goal, early in the third period, I started to look at the clock. I don’t like to do that usually--it jinxes you.”

But by that time, the defense had become so tough that the Gulls didn’t allow Phoenix a shot on goal until just 1:25 remained. It was the Roadrunners’ only shot in the third period.

After two periods, the Gulls had taken a rare 2-0 lead. It was only the fourth time this season they have scored first.

The Gulls enjoyed the luxury of not having to play catch-up, but their lead did not lead to complacence. So riled up were both sides that five players were led off the ice in the waning minutes for fighting.

Clark Donatelli poured it on thicker in the third, when he took a pass from Larry Floyd at the right point, skated in and slammed it in, beating goalie David Goverde on the right at 3:41. It was Floyd’s eight consecutive assist in as many games.

Brent Sapergia had given the Gulls a 2-0 lead on his team-leading 15th goal of the season on a power play at 16:19 in the second.

Mike Gober scored from 12-feet out, at 17:22 in the first for the 1-0 lead, when Dennis Holland fed Gober from the board behind the net.

“It was our best effort so far this year,” Coach Mike O’Connell said. “It was very rewarding for me and the players.”

The Gulls have vascillated between playing the puck and staying with their man, much to the anguish of O’Connell, but it wasn’t much of a problem on this night.

Instead, it was Phoenix who struggled to stay with their designated Gull.

Gull Notes

Voice of the Gulls: Fans who tune into Channel 8’s late afternoon and evening newscasts today can see defenseman Al Tuer, the featured player on a hockey segment with sportscaster Hank Bauer. The catch? Tuer, the team’s leader in penalty minutes, had a microphone attached to his uniform before and throughout Wednesday’s game. . . . Tuer has been tagged with 86 minutes of penalties in 16 games, but Steve Martinson, who has played only nine, has 62. . . . Wednesday was a big day for Gulls goalie Scott Brower, who received a new jersey number--35--and his first start since Nov. 3--a 3-2 overtime loss to Peoria. . . . Marathon man: Brent Sapergia and Darin Banister were only players to have played in 17 games, but Banister didn’t suit up Wednesday, making Sapergia the lone player to go 18-for-18. . . . Phoenix defenseman Mickey Volcan was slapped with a 10-game suspension for abusing an official in a game Nov. 9 against Salt Lake. Wednesday he served the fourth game of the suspension, given after an altercation with a referee. . . . Hotshot: Against Kansas City Friday, the Gulls fired a season-high 55 shots on goal, second in the IHL to Salt Lake, who had 57 the same night against Phoenix.