SAN DIEGO — After 19 AHL seasons, 1,480 regular season games and a league-record 691 career wins, Barracuda head coach Roy Sommer is headed into uncharted territory.
By knocking off the San Diego Gulls 2-0 in Game 5 of the Pacific Division Final at the Valley View Casino Center on Saturday, the Barracuda clinched Sommer and the Sharks’ AHL franchise’s first-ever trip to the conference finals of the Calder Cup playoffs, another notch in a remarkable season for the minor league squad.
The Barracuda advanced to the AHL’s final four by responding to their coach’s message. After his team’s Game 4 win Friday, Sommer said it would be imperative for his team to get off to a strong start in Game 5, knowing the Gulls would come out of the gates with tremendous desperation.