Gulls Kick Off 2026 Against Firebirds

Jan 2, 2026

By Nick Aguilera/SanDiegoGulls.com

Get ready to ring in the new year with the San Diego Gulls, as they kick off 2026 with a matchup against the Coachella Valley Firebirds tonight at Pechanga Arena (7 p.m. PST; TV: AHLTV on FloHockey; Radio: Gulls Audio Network).

San Diego set off some New Year’s fireworks early on Wednesday night with a comeback overtime victory over the Tucson Roadrunners. After being down three goals heading into the final frame, the Gulls kicked it into high gear and netted four unanswered goals, including two on the power play and Tim Washe’s overtime goal.

"We knew we were going to get a good bounce, just in the sense that we're going to earn our bounces in the third period, whether that was five-on-five or on power player or on the kill," assistant coach Michael Babcock said. "We were fortunate enough it was on the power play, and they got another one too. Just earned the right to get the one point and then found a way to get the second one as well."

Tonight’s showdown will be the fifth between San Diego and Coachella Valley this season. San Diego took the opening contest of the season, but Coachella Valley earned the last three wins to give them the advantage in the eight-game season series.

The Gulls enjoyed a nice end to 2025, going 7-2-1-1 in December, which is tied for the best winning percentage in the month of December at .727. They’ll look to carry over their success in 2025, a year in which the Gulls went 34-26-10-2, into 2026 off the heels of a great closeout contest.

"Obviously, we'd like to replicate the third period for a full 60 and that's our plan," Babcock said. "We've played them hard. I think we played them four times already and the last one left a sour taste in our mouths, so it should be a good, fun rocking night at Pechanga Arena."

The Gulls will get the weekend off before hitting the ice again on Wednesday to face the San Jose Barracuda on home ice (7 p.m. PST).