Gameday: Barracuda at Gulls
BARRACUDA (0-0-0-0) at GULLS (0-0-0-0)
6 p.m. PT; (NO BROADCAST COVERAGE)
The Barracuda kick off their seven-game exhibition schedule tonight in Irvine as they take on the San Diego Gulls at Great Park Ice & Fivepoint Arena. Tonight’s contest marks the first game for the Barracuda since March 10, 2020, 315 days ago.
In 11 meetings last season against the Ducks affiliate, the Barracuda posted a 4-5-2-0 record and a 2-3 mark at San Diego. Jeff Viel led all Barracuda skaters with nine points (three goals, six assists) in 10 contests while Jayden Halbgewachs netted a team-best five goals in 11 games versus SD.
Sam Carrick was San Diego’s head-to-head point leader for the second-straight year, notching 11 points (six goals, five assists) in 10 games against San Jose.
The Barracuda finished the Covid-19 shortened 2019-20 campaign, 7th in the Pacific Division with a record of 21-27-5-2 (49 points), but finished on a strong note, going 6-2-2-0 over their final 10 games.
Ryan Merkley and Ozzy Wiesblatt highlight the Barracuda's opening preseason roster. The Sharks selected Merkley 21st overall in 2018 and Wiesblatt 31st overall in 2020.
A full Barracuda training camp roster can be found here.
A full Gulls training camp roster can be found here.
A projected Barracuda lineup can be found below:
89 Halbgewachs – 14 Suomela – 27 Wiesblatt
45 Bergmann – 70 True – 93 Coe
58 Hamaliuk – 91 Robins – 86 Blichfeld
80 S. Pasichnuk – 74 Topping – 42 Kotkov
32 Korenar
34 Harvey
Scratched: Kurtis Gabriel, Zach Gallant, Jake McGrew, Evan Weinger, Joe Garreffa, Fredrick Claesson, Trevor Carrick, Nick DeSimone, Zachary Sawchenko.
