The San Diego Sabers are a junior ice hockey team based in Carlsbad, California, that competes in the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL). The team plays its home games at IceTown Carlsbad. The team was the fourth to be known as the San Diego Gulls, using the name from 2008 to 2015, when it was given to the American Hockey League (AHL) San Diego Gulls before the 2015–16 season.
| San Diego Sabers | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Carlsbad, California |
| League | United States Premier Hockey League |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Home arena | Carlsbad Icetown |
| Colors | Gold, black, white |
| Owner(s) | Tomas Kapusta |
| General manager | Tomas Kapusta |
| Head coach | Domenic DiCicco[1] |
| Franchise history | |
| 2001–2008 | San Diego Surf |
| 2008–2015 | San Diego Gulls |
| 2015–present | San Diego Sabers |
History
editThe franchise was founded in 2001 as the San Diego Surf. At the time, the Western States Hockey League (WSHL) was a Tier III Junior B league before later transitioning to a Junior A in 2007.[2] It played as the Surf from 2001 until 2008 when the team took the name San Diego Gulls, the name of three former hockey franchises in San Diego.[3][4][5]
Prior to the 2011–12 season, the WSHL and all its team members, including the Gulls, became Amateur Athletic Union sanctioned instead of USA Hockey, the first Junior A hockey league to make that transition.
In February 2015, it was announced that the team has changed its name to San Diego Sabers for the 2015–16 season as the San Diego Gulls name would be used by the new San Diego AHL team.[6]
In 2017, the Sabers were sold to former Czech national team and Olympian Tomas Kapusta.[7]
In 2020, the Sabers left the WSHL and joined another independent junior hockey league, the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL), in the Premier Division.[8] The team also relocated from Iceplex Escondido in Escondido, California, to Carlsbad Icetown in Carlsbad, California.[9]
Season-by-season records
edit| Season | GP | W | L | OTW | OTL | Pts | GF | GA | PIM | Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010–11 | 46 | 23 | 22 | — | 1 | 47 | 141 | 151 | — | 4th of 8, Western 7th of 13, WSHL |
Lost div. semifinals, 0–2 vs. Idaho Jr. Steelheads |
| 2011–12 | 46 | 24 | 17 | — | 5 | 53 | 181 | 132 | 851 | 2nd of 6, Western 7th of 16, WSHL |
Lost div. semifinals, 0–2 vs. Valencia Flyers |
| 2012–13 | 46 | 24 | 18 | — | 4 | 52 | 173 | 131 | 620 | 4th of 6, Western 10th of 22, WSHL |
Lost div. semifinals, 0–2 vs. Valencia Flyers |
| 2013–14 | 46 | 8 | 35 | — | 3 | 19 | 142 | 226 | 837 | 6th of 6, Western 21st of 24, WSHL |
Did not qualify |
| 2014–15 | 46 | 15 | 29 | — | 2 | 32 | 146 | 208 | 998 | 6th of 8, Western 22nd of 28, WSHL |
Won div. quarterfinals, 2–1 vs. Long Beach Bombers Lost div. semifinals, 0–2 vs. Fresno Monsters |
| 2015–16 | 52 | 9 | 40 | — | 3 | 21 | 110 | 275 | 1015 | 8th of 8, Western 27th of 29, WSHL |
Did not qualify |
| 2016–17 | 52 | 24 | 25 | — | 3 | 51 | 189 | 213 | 832 | 6th of 8, Western 17th of 27, WSHL |
Lost div. quarterfinals, 0–2 vs. Ontario Avalanche |
| 2017–18 | 51 | 5 | 42 | — | 4 | 14 | 112 | 312 | 558 | 6th of 6, Western 21st of 23, WSHL |
Lost div. quarterfinals, 0–2 vs. Fresno Monsters |
| 2018–19 | 51 | 17 | 27 | 4 | 3 | 62[a] | 187 | 228 | 965 | 3rd of 5, Western 13th of 23, WSHL |
Lost div. semifinals, 0–2 vs. Fresno Monsters |
| 2019–20 | 51 | 31 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 96[a] | 180 | 145 | 777 | 2nd of 5, Western 8th of 20, WSHL |
Playoffs cancelled |
| 2020–21 | 43 | 3 | 39 | — | 1 | 7 | 81 | 269 | 1096 | 4th of 5, Pacific 60th of 62, USPHL-Premier |
Lost div. semifinal game, 2–6 vs. Fresno Monsters |
| 2021–22 | 44 | 17 | 23 | — | 4 | 38 | 154 | 187 | 712 | 4th of 6, Pacific 46th of 65, USPHL-Premier |
Did not qualify for post season play |
| 2022-23 | 46 | 33 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 68 | 212 | 124 | 948 | 4th of 7, Pacific 17th of 69, USPHL-Premier |
Lost div. Semifinal, 0-1-1 vs. Fresno Monsters |
| 2023-24 | 46 | 15 | 31 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 212 | 248 | 943 | 6th of 7, Pacific 17th of 69, USPHL-Premier |
Did not qualify for post season play |
Previous Logos
edit
Alumni
editThe Sabers have had a number of alumni move on to college ice hockey, higher levels of junior ice hockey, and professional ice hockey.[10][11]
- David Brito — San Diego Gulls (ECHL), US National Inline Hockey Team
- Ted Lauer (2014–15) — Lake Forest College Lake Forest, Illinois, NCAA Division III
- Cameron Todd (2014–15) — NACKA HK Team A, Sweden
References
edit- ^ "SABERS SIGN NEW HEAD COACH!". San Diego Sabers. June 24, 2020.
- ^ "JUNIOR LEAGUE HELPS LOCALS BECOME HIGH FLYERS VALENCIA-BASED TEAM GIVES PAIR a CHANCE AT BIG-TIME HOCKEY. - Free Online Library". Archived from the original on 2012-10-20. Retrieved 2010-06-11.
- ^ "San Diego Gulls Statistics and History [WCHL]". hockeydb.com.
- ^ Brents, Phillip (September 27, 2009). "San Diego Sports Arena plays host to hockey again". California Rubber. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011.
- ^ Hamilton, Lee (May 19, 2009). "Hacksaw Hamilton: No more hockey night in San Diego". SDNN. Archived from the original on June 7, 2009.
- ^ "San Diego Gulls Officially Change Name to San Diego Sabers Hockey". Archived from the original on March 12, 2015.
- ^ "WSHL PRESS RELEASE - April 26, 2017". WSHL. April 26, 2017.
- ^ "United States Premier Hockey League Adds Eight New West Coast Member Organizations". USPHL. April 17, 2020.
- ^ "Ice Rink Facility". San Diego Sabers. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
- ^ "Western States Hockey League". Archived from the original on 2010-08-11. Retrieved 2014-01-08.
- ^ "San Diego Amateur Hockey Club". www.sdahc.org. Archived from the original on 2002-11-16.