Gulls Announce Radio, Television Deals

Promising to bring their International Hockey League team and the San Diego fans closer via the airwaves, the Gulls announced Tuesday that 15 home games will be televised live and 30 road games will be carried on a 10,000-watt radio station during the 1991-92 season.

They also confirmed a Sept. 27 NHL exhibition game between the expansion San Jose Sharks and the New Jersey Devils at the San Diego Sports Arena, and the signing of defenseman Alan Hepple. The NHL game, which will have a 7:35 p.m. face-off, will be the first here since the Kings played the Winnipeg Jets in 1988. Tickets will go on sale Aug. 31.

The TV games will be broadcast free on the San Diego Cable Network. The package will include games against eight different IHL opponents, beginning with the season opener Oct. 3 against the Salt Lake Golden Eagles.

“People are asking us why we’re doing live (home) games,” said Don Waddell, Gull vice president and general manager. “The new ownership that’s taken (over) this summer wants to test the market. I think it’ll hurt us a little bit in the box office, but it gives us the exposure that we need.”

Gull officials said fans complained about not being able to pick up radio broadcasts last year. The team has responded by signing with the 10,000-watt XEK (AM 950), a station that plans to boost its wattage to 20,000 by the Gulls’ opener. XEK, which will air all but 11 road games tape delayed at 8 p.m., replaces KCEO (AM 1000), a station that operated at only 500 watts at night.

Hepple, 26, is the fourth player the Gulls have signed. A 5-foot-9, 200-pound defender, Hepple is a former ninth-round pick of New Jersey who spent the past three seasons with the American Hockey League’s Newmarket Saints. He scored no goals but had 18 assists in 76 games last season.

Waddell said he is close to naming a head coach to replace Mike O’Connell. He has talked to three candidates--former Kings Garry Unger and Charlie Simmer, a player/coach in the Gulls’ 1990-91 inaugural season, and an unnamed NHL assistant. Waddell also said the Gulls will use farm players from the New York Rangers and Minnesota Stars this season.