Gulls Barely Make It to Indy on Time, Rally to Defeat Ice

The Gulls, preparing for their second game of a five-game trip, pulled into town 2 1/2 hours before their scheduled 7:30 p.m. faceoff and quickly spotted the Ice a two-goal lead before they scored a 6-2 victory in front of 5,627 at the State Fairgrounds Coliseum.

Indianapolis’ 2-0 lead served as a wake-up call for the second-place Gulls, who then turned the Hot Line loose in improving their record to 31-18-5 (67 points) and moving six points ahead of Peoria in the West Division.

IHL goals leader Dmitri Kvartalnov scored his 42nd and 43rd, Robbie Nichols scored his 21st and Len Hachborn added two assists. The Gulls’ No. 2 line also contributed with three goals and an assist.

Ray Whitney scored his 23rd, Steve Martinson his 13th and Andrei Kvartalnov (Dmitri’s older brother) scored his first in his debut as a Gull--matching the feat of Whitney and defenseman Derek Mayer, two other midseason acquisitions. Mayer had two assists.

“When we got down, 2-0, I told the guys to put away the lunch boxes on the shelf and go to work,” Gull Coach Don Waddell said.

Goalie Bruce Hoffort improved his record to 10-6-2.