IHL Approves Realignment; Gulls, KSDO Set Radio Deal

The Gulls announced a new radio package, and the International Hockey League realigned into two conferences Thursday. The Gulls signed a one-year deal with KSDO (AM 1130), a station that began airing games during the final month of the 1991-92 season after XEK (AM 950) was forced to cancel Gulls broadcasts by the Federal Communications Commission.

The IHL, in executive meetings in Montreal, has switched from two five-team divisions to a two-conference, four-division format next season. The move was made possible by the addition of two new franchises: Atlanta and Cincinnati. Each conference--the Western and Eastern--will have two divisions, each with three teams.

The Gulls will be members of the Pacific Division, along with Phoenix and Salt Lake. Former West Division teams Kansas City and Peoria have moved to the Midwest Division, along with Milwaukee. The Eastern Conference’s new Central Division consists of Ft. Wayne, Indianapolis and Kalamazoo. The Atlantic Division will feature Cleveland (formerly Muskegon) and the two expansion clubs, Cincinnati and Atlanta.

The KSDO package will include a half-hour pregame show and a one-hour postgame show for all 82 games.

“They have shown that they are committed to making professional hockey a major success in San Diego,” said Mike Shields, KSDO President/General Manager about the Gulls, “and this relationship is highly important to us.”

GOLF

San Diegan Michael Ruiz made a big charge on winner Ryan Heitala by shooting a one-under 71 at the 7,069-yard Aspen Municipal Golf Course but finished six strokes back in the Golfsmith Aspen Junior Open in Aspen, Colo.

Ruiz’s 71, the best score of the final round, moved him from a tie at 20th to a seventh-place tie.

TRACK AND FIELD

The board of directors of the San Diego/Imperial Athletics Congress voted to provide $100 cash awards to San Diego-area athletes who compete in the U.S. Olympic Trials in events sanctioned by The Athletics Congress this year. Among them are: Matt Clayton, Steve McCormick, Thom Hunt, Suzie Morris, Paul Greer, Jeanne Lasse-Johnson, Debbie Marshall, Harold Kuphalt, Steve Scott and Ramona Pagel.