Gulls Reach Deal With Hachborn : Hockey: It keeps team’s top line intact. Hachborn had been exploring options in Europe.

The Gulls on Friday signed center Len Hachborn for the remainder of the 1991-92 International Hockey League season, striking a deal that will keep their No. 1 scoring line intact. The move also ended more than two weeks of speculation that Hachborn, who ranks among the IHL scoring leaders, might jump to a European league.

Vice President/General Manager Don Waddell said the 5 p.m. signing not only represented the richest deal he has negotiated with a player in his four years as an IHL executive, but it signified a commitment by the owners to make the Gulls successful.

“It’s a big relief off my shoulders just to know we’re going to have him the rest of the year,” Waddell said. “I have to give credit to the owners (Harry Cooper and Ron Hahn). It would have been easy for them to say, ‘Not at this time.’ But this showed the ownership is making a commitment.”

Waddell said Hachborn’s contract, extended from 25 games, will pay “less than $100,000” and provide bonuses if the Gulls get to the playoffs and Hachborn remains one of the league’s top scorers.

Hachborn, 30, will enter tonight’s game against the Kansas City Blades (7:05 at the San Diego Sports Arena) ranked second in the IHL in assists (20) and third in scoring (27 points). He had a club-record 16-game scoring streak snapped in a 5-2 loss Thursday to the Blades. Hachborn also has assisted on 12 of Dmitri Kvartalnov’s IHL-leading 16 goals.

“He has the offensive capabilities, the knowledge and the experience,” Waddell said. “He’s one of the big reasons why we’ve won nine games.”