Gulls Release Sapergia Again

Citing what he called a bad attitude, Gull executive Don Waddell released right wing Brent Sapergia, the team’s second leading goal scorer, Tuesday. The release coincided with the expiration of his 25-game contract. It is the second consecutive season that Waddell, vice president/general manager and coach of the Gulls, has cut Sapergia after an apparently productive start.

“I told him I wasn’t even going to consider re-signing him,” said Waddell, who described Sapergia, 28, as veteran who had a negative influence. “I didn’t like the way things were going lately. He’s a guy you’ve got to keep your eye on.”

Sapergia had 14 goals and six assists in 23 games. His 20 points were third-highest on the team to IHL points leader Dmitri Kvartalnov (41) and Len Hachborn (39), but he had the club’s worst plus-minus rating--a minus nine. He had 15 goals and 27 points through 26 games last season, when he was released and later signed by a team in England. Now, Waddell said, Sapergia is headed for Switzerland.

“There’s no doubt I gave him a second chance; he kept asking me to let him come back,” Waddell said. “But I’m a guy who will give someone a second chance.”