Gulls Sign Defenseman, Three Others

Don Waddell, Gull coach and general manager, had until noon Tuesday--the deadline to submit a final roster to the IHL--to put the final pieces in place as the Gulls close out the regular season and prepare for the playoffs.

After obtaining defenseman Randy Hillier, everything could be in place for the second-place Gulls.

“This is a huge addition for us,” said Waddell, who obtained Hillier one week after the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres excluded him from their final roster.

Hillier, 32, was one of four players added to the Gulls’ roster, while center Pat Cavanagh and player-coach Charlie Simmer were cut. Waddell said the team still needs a big center. He tabbed Kent Howley, 6 feet 4 and 215 pounds, now playing for the St. Thomas (Canada) Wildcats of the Colonial League.

Howley is one of three minor-leaguers named to the 26-man roster who likely will remain with their current clubs but will be eligible to join the Gulls at any time, including the playoffs. The others are forward Chistian Lalonde of the CHL Michigan Falcons and John Gladitor, a 5-11, 190-pound defenseman with the Erie (Pa.) Panthers of the East Coast Hockey League.

The Gulls also announced that KSDO-AM will broadcast the final nine games of regular season plus all Gull playoff games. No Gull games have been broadcast since Feb. 4, when XEK-AM was cited for an FCC violation. All games will be aired at 7:05 p.m., whether live or tape delayed.