| 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 |
TheSan Diego Sabers are ajuniorice hockey team based inCarlsbad, California, that competes in theUnited States Premier Hockey League (USPHL). The team plays its home games at IceTown Carlsbad. The team was the fourth to be known as theSan Diego Gulls, using the name from 2008 to 2015, when it was given to theAmerican Hockey League (AHL)San Diego Gulls before the 2015–16 season.
The franchise was founded in 2001 as theSan Diego Surf. At the time, theWestern States Hockey League (WSHL) was aTier 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 nameSan Diego Gulls, the name of three formerhockey franchises in San Diego.[3][4][5]
Prior to the 2011–12 season, the WSHL and all its team members, including the Gulls, becameAmateur Athletic Union sanctioned instead ofUSA Hockey, the first Junior A hockey league to make that transition.
In February 2015, it was announced that the team has changed its name toSan Diego Sabers for the 2015–16 season as the San Diego Gulls name would be used by the newSan Diego AHL team.[6]
In 2017, the Sabers were sold to former Czech national team and OlympianTomas Kapusta.[7]
In 2020, the Sabers left the WSHL and joined another independent junior hockey league, theUnited States Premier Hockey League (USPHL), in the Premier Division.[8] The team also relocated from Iceplex Escondido inEscondido, California, to Carlsbad Icetown inCarlsbad, California.[9]
| 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, 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, Premier | Did not qualify |
| 2022-23 | 46 | 33 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 68 | 212 | 124 | 948 | 4th of 7, Pacific 17th of 69, Premier | Lost div. Semifinal, 0-1-1 vs.Fresno Monsters |
| 2023-24 | 46 | 15 | 31 | 1 | 0 | 31 | 212 | 248 | 943 | 6th of 7, Pacific 17th of 69, Premier | Did not qualify |
| 2024-25 | 46 | 23 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 47 | 188 | 184 | 800 | 5th of 8, Pacific 45th of 71, Premier | Did not qualify |
The Sabers have had a number of alumni move on tocollege ice hockey, higher levels ofjunior ice hockey, andprofessional ice hockey.[10][11]
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