San Diego Gulls Open Training Camp

SAN DIEGO, CA — The San Diego Gulls opened training camp Monday with an nearly hourlong practice at Great Park Ice in Irvine where they will play their home games during the 2020-21 season.

"Today was a good day," Gulls coach Kevin Dineen said. "We had a bucket-load of pace. I think our execution probably needs another day to get crisped up but overall we're happy with what we accomplished."

Instead of having about a weeklong training camp as is customary for American Hockey League teams, the Gulls will have more than 20 days of training camp before the coronavirus-delayed and shortened season begins Feb. 5.

"We know that we've got a long time," Dineen said. "What we talked about with the players is every day you don't stay even, either you get better or you get a little worse. Obviously, our goal is to keep improving."

The Gulls announced the signings of four players Monday, including goaltender Kevin Glass, who played 19 games with the Gulls during the 2018-19 season.

"It was just so much fun today and I think I speak for everyone when I say that I'm just happy hockey is back," Glass said. "That's why we're doing everything we can right now to keep it around for good."

The Gulls are "trying to look out for each other," in an attempt to avoid contracting the coronavirus, Glass said.

"As a team and a group here, it's important that we keep each other healthy and safe," said Glass, who played for ECH Linz of the Austrian ICE Hockey League in the 2019-20 season.

"I think that's priority No. 1 number right now. Everything is new right now, it's new to me and it's new to the guys, but we're getting told what to do, where to go and where not to go.

"It all kind of falls back on the group. If we can stay responsible and look out for each other then that gives us the best chance to play hockey and that's really what we want to be doing."

— City News Service