Kvartalnov Sparks Gulls Past Milwaukee

Coach Don Waddell has a certain player agent in New York to thank for the Gulls’ 3-2 International Hockey League victory Wednesday over the Milwaukee Admirals.

It was just before the season when that agent convinced the Gulls to take a chance on Dmitri Kvartalnov, a 20-year-old left wing from the Soviet Union. “If you sign this guy,” the agent told Waddell, “he’ll be the best player in the league.”

Because Kvartalnov doesn’t speak English, Waddell was afraid to use him the first two games. But Waddell has since learned to send Kvartalnov onto the ice.

Kvartalnov scored two goals Wednesday, igniting the Gulls’ come-from-behind victory in front of 3,100 at the San Diego Sports Arena. In nine games, he has nine goals, second highest in the IHL. It was his fourth two-goal game, and the Gulls (5-6) snapped a two-game losing streak, overcoming a 2-0 deficit to score all their goals in the second period.

“He’s our fastest skater and he creates opportunities with his speed,” Waddell said of Kvartalnov. “And he handles his stick so well--he gets rid of the puck so fast--he surprises goalies.”

“There’s more passing in Russia; here there’s more skating,” Kvartalnov told teammate Sergei Starikov, who speaks a little English. “It’s quicker, there’s more hitting. I like both games.”

Greg Millen, the veteran NHL goalie on loan from the New York Rangers, shut out Milwaukee the final two periods after a wobbly start. Millen stopped 20 of 22 shots to lift his IHL record to 1-1. Milwaukee goalie Corrie D’Alessio stopped 25 of 28 and fell to 1-3.

The Gulls came out sluggish in the first period and were all but booed off the ice as they headed to the locker room down 2-0. Shawn Antoski, who was ejected for fighting in the second period, scored 38 seconds after the opening faceoff. With 8:10 to go, Paul Guay put in a loose puck in front of the net.

Kvartalnov, passed over by the NHL because of a knee injury, and the Gulls came back.

Center Len Hachborn scored from 15 feet out 57 seconds into the period, making it 2-1. Then Kvartalnov was twice left alone in the right circle and both times he whistled the puck past D’Alessio. The second came with 4:37 left and the Gulls with a two-man advantage.

The Gulls outshot Milwaukee, 16-8, in the period.

Waddell said the first period was “our worst ever. We were fortunate that Millen made some big saves for us.”

Gulls Notes

The Gulls and Milwaukee will play again at 7:05 p.m. Friday, wrapping up a four-game home stand and the Admirals’ only trip to San Diego this season. . . . Coach Don Waddell, who doubles as the team’s vice president/general manager, is near agreement with goaltender Rick Knickle on a contract for the remainder of the season. “We’re very, very close (to signing),” Waddell said. “We’ve just got to work out some bonuses.” Knickle has been the team’s most effective goalie at 4-2 with a 3.01 goals-against average.

With the acquisition of Greg Millen and the success of Knickle, Bruce Hoffort has become the Gulls’ forgotten man. Sent here from the Philadelphia Flyers, Hoffort, 25, figured to be the team’s No. 1 man in goal. But after yielding 10 goals in five periods, he has not appeared in the past seven games covering two weeks. Said Hoffort, “I wasn’t in top shape when I got here. I wish I could have come a little more prepared. I’m anxious to play, but I just have to wait for my chance. I don’t feel Don Waddell owes me anything.”

Waddell is spending most of his time away from the rink negotiating contract extensions with Gulls players who are currently under 25- and 40-game agreements. He said current Gulls scoring leader Len Hachborn (16 points) could be the only player lured away by bigger money in Europe. Hachborn, who is signed for 25 games, has scored in each of the Gulls’ 11 games and is threatening Derek Mayer’s 14-game scoring streak. “It’s a risk he took at the start in hopes of gaining some bargaining power,” Waddell said. “He’s the key guy (to sign) because of how dominant he’s been on our roster.”

Gulls center Keith Gretzky told Waddell that the condition of his father, Walter, has improved and, for the first time, there is indication that he will recover from the aneurysm that he suffered on Oct. 16. Waddell received the news in a telephone conversation with Gretzky from the family’s home near Hamilton, Ontario. “He’s actually said a word or two and he’s making fists,” Waddell said of the elder Gretzky, 53. “He’s made a lot of progress, where people didn’t think he’d ever make it out of it.”