AHL Hockey Returns As San Diego, San Jose Kick Off Preseason

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Over 10 months later, and the American Hockey League (AHL) was back on the ice Tuesday night in California -  the first game played since the league canceled the remainder of last season due to the coronavirus pandemic and play was halted in March.

At FivePoint Arena at Great Park Ice in Irvine, California, where the San Diego Gulls will temporarily call home for the 2020-21 season, the Gulls hosted the San Jose Barracuda in the first of several AHL preseason games scheduled around the league.

The Gulls, with four Anaheim Ducks 1st round draft picks from the last two drafts, overpowered the Barracuda Tuesday night in route to a convincing 5-1 win.

Trevor Zegras (Anaheim's ninth overall selection in the 2019-draft), fresh off his gold-medal performance for Team USA in the World Junior Championships (WJC), made his AHL debut and was largely noticeable throughout the contest - finishing the game with two assists to go along with a bevy of dangerous scoring chances.

Veterans Sam Carrick (two goals, assist) and Andrew Agozzino (goal, assist) also helped lead the way for San Diego, who also got goals from Jack Kopacka and Benoit-Olivier Groulx to go along with a strong performance in net from Lukas Dostol (28 saves on 29 shots).

Joachim Blichfield tallied the lone goal for San Jose in the loss.

The two teams rematch in Irvine, CA on Thursday night.

San Diego Gulls Lineup:

Chase De Leo - Sam Carrick - Trevor Zegras Max Jones - Andrew Agozzino - Jacob Perreault Brayden Tracey - Bo Groulx - Andrew Poturalski Jack Kopacka - Antoine Morand - Alex Dostie

Keegan Lowe - Jamie Drysdale Josh Mahura - Hunter Drew Simon Benoit - Nikolas Brouillard

Lukas Dostal

San Jose Barracuda Lineup

Jayden Halbgewachs - Antti Suomela - Ozzy Wiesblatt Lean Bergmann - Alexander True - Coe Dillon Hamaliuk - Tristen Robins - Joachim Blichfeld Steenn Pasichnuk - Kyle Topping - Vlad Kotkov

Jaycob Megna - Ryan Merkley Karlis Čukste - Robbie Russo (PTO) Chaz Reddekopp (PTO) - Thomas Gregoire

Josef Korenář

Below is a look at all currently scheduled AHL preseason games around the league, according to the league's official website.

Thu., Jan. 21

San Jose vs. San Diego, 6:00 PT at Irvine, CA

Fri., Jan. 22

San Jose vs. Ontario, 3:00 PT at El Segundo, CA

Sun., Jan. 24

Tucson vs. Ontario, 1:00 PT at El Segundo, CA

Mon., Jan. 25

Tucson vs. Ontario, 1:00 PT at El Segundo, CA

Wed., Jan. 27

Rockford vs. Chicago, 2:00 CT at Hoffman Estates, Ill.San Jose at Tucson, 5:00 MT

Fri., Jan. 29

Hershey vs. Binghamton, 7:00 ET at Newark, N.J. W-B/Scranton at Lehigh Valley, 7:00 ET Stockton at Bakersfield, 6:00 PT San Jose at Henderson, 7:00 PT

Sat., Jan. 30

Syracuse at Utica, 1:00 ET San Jose at Henderson, 5:00 PT Bakersfield vs. Ontario, 5:00 PT at El Segundo, CA.

Sun., Jan. 31

Providence at Hartford, 1:00 ET Lehigh Valley at Hershey, 1:00 ET

Mon., Feb. 1

Hartford vs. Providence, 1:00 ET at Marlborough, Mass. W-B/Scranton vs. Binghamton, 4:00 ET at Newark, N.J. San Jose at Tucson, 5:00 MT