Less Work Still Fulfulling to Gulls’ Floyd

If you ask him about it today, Larry Floyd might chuckle or shrug his shoulders. But he likely would be happier now--certainly better understood--had he not played so well in his first game as a Gull.

If Floyd, a veteran forward in his second year with the IHL team, had missed a shot or two, had been out of position once or twice, he could be recognized as the player he is today.

Floyd, instead, put on a spectacular offensive display, scoring three goals and assisting another in the first period of the first game in Gulls’ history. The 9,735 who were at the San Diego Sports Arena Oct. 5, 1990, saw the Gulls beat the Salt Lake Golden Eagles, 4-3, and saw Floyd for the first time.

San Diego fans thought they had a point-scoring legend. What they had was a 5-foot-8 journeyman who, for 20 minutes, looked like Superman.

Floyd was asked to carry the scoring load last year. But 1991-92 would be different.

The Gulls were transformed overnight into the IHL’s premier scoring team. Floyd, the 10-year pro, say his playing time reduced. He didn’t even have a line.

“It’s a little different this year,” said Floyd. “I guess you could say I’m kind of the forgotten man.”

A love affair started between Floyd and the home crowd last year. They gave him a hero’s welcome each time he was introduced. He continued to produce, scoring 24 goals with 54 assists for a team-leading 78 points.

Floyd was named most valuable player. But the reality was the Gulls were an expansion team that didn’t score much and didn’t make the playoffs. Changes needed to be made.

This year Floyd, 30, found himself surrounded by more talented players. He suffered through a slow start and had to adjust to a new role. In the back of his mind was his father, Don, who was seriously ill.

When the regular season came ended last week, there were no awards for Larry Floyd. But there he was, playing in spot situations, finishing with 63 points in 71 games.

He had with 18 goals (nine on the power play) and 45 assists.

Floyd so far has only one point in the Western Division playoffs against the Peoria Rivermen, assisting on Dmitri Kvartalnov’s goal in Saturday’s 5-3 loss at the Sports Arena. That’s not disappointing, considering the fact Kvartalnov and wing Steve Martinson lead the team with two points each. Eight other players, most of them playing more than Floyd, have only one point in this series, which the Gulls trail 3-0.

The two teams play here again tonight at 7:05 p.m., with Floyd and the Gulls facing elimination.

Floyd’s quiet contribution has been so valuable this year, Coach Don Waddell has him playing in this series despite a painful big toe that is broken in two places.

“I know Larry Floyd. He’s a tough kid; he’ll play in pain,” Waddell said. “He carried our team last year. This year he hasn’t had to do that. He’s been our extra forward.

“But he does all the little things. I can throw him into any position--left wing, right wing, center. He can play on the power play. He can kill penalties. You need a faceoff late in the game, you put him out there. You need somebody to play a defensive role, he can do it.

“He does a lot of things very well that people don’t notice.”

Still, Floyd has enjoyed his share of the spotlight. And he always seems to score points. He finished with 79 while playing for Phoenix in 1989-90, and had 86, 81 and 87 in three seasons with Maine of the American Hockey League from 1983-86. He played just 12 games with the NHL New Jersey Devils (from 1982-84), but he scored five points, including two goals.

Floyd might never have played hockey had professional lacrosse been more lucrative. He twice won junior national championships in Canada, receiving MVP honors both years. At 17, Floyd was playing center for a club in the Mann Cup, the 21-and-older Canadian senior championships.

“That was my sport,” said Floyd. “I was a natural. Too bad you can make money in it like you can in hockey. But I want to play this game as long as I can keep producing.”

Floyd will never forget his first 20 minutes as a Gull, and neither will his loyal fans. And that’s OK, said Floyd, just as long as everybody understands that his hat-trick days, at least for now, are over.

“The change really didn’t bother me,” he said. “I know the job I’ve been doing, and my teammates and Donnie know as well. And that’s all that matters.”