Gulls Beat San Jose 4-1 After Hamblin Scores Twice

The San Diego Gulls defeated the San Jose Barracuda 4-1 last weekend, ending a period where the ball had not been finding the back of the net. James Hamblin scored both goals for San Diego in the victory, breaking a personal slump that had lingered for weeks. The win improved the Gulls record to 4-4-1-0 ahead of their next home game.

The team faces the Henderson Silver Knights on Saturday at Pechanga Arena. The puck drops at 6 p.m. Henderson enters the contest with a 5-3-0-0 record. Hamblin, a 27-year-old forward from Edmonton, has recorded three goals and two assists in his sixth professional season. He is currently the top minor-league affiliate for the Anaheim Ducks.

Hamblin described the two-goal performance as a release of emotion after a dry spell. He stated that playing the right way and having fun leads to good results. The forward has two NHL goals from two call-ups with the Edmonton Oilers. He pointed to the sky after his first NHL goal in 2023 to honor his mother, who died from cancer in 2017. He has 204 professional goals across the WHL, AHL, and NHL.

The Gulls struggle on the power play, ranking 24th in the 32-team AHL with a 5-for-35 record. However, the unit succeeded against San Jose through crisp puck movement. Anton Wahlberg drove hard to the net, pulling defenders in before passing to Hamblin. Assistant coach Kelly Buchberger noted that the team held the blue line with hard checking and converted that defense into offense.

Goaltending also played a decisive role in the win. Laurent Brossoit made 28 saves on 29 shots against San Jose. Buchberger said the team set the pace in the first few shifts and maintained that energy throughout the game. She called Hamblin’s two-goal performance a major boost for the squad, noting that his hard work finally paid off.

In related local sports news, the G League’s San Diego Clippers opened training camp this week in Oceanside. The team prepares for its November 6 season opener against the Valley Suns at Frontwave Arena. Nathan Mensah, a former San Diego State player, is in camp with the Clippers. Mensah, a member of the Aztecs’ 2023 Final Four team, previously played for the Charlotte Hornets and San Antonio Spurs organizations. He spent the last winter playing for Buyukcekmece in the Turkish league.