Gulls Lose Assistant Coach, Game : Hockey: Lacroix fired before team drops 7-3 decision to Peoria.

SAN DIEGO —  The Gulls barely had enough time to unpack their bags from a long but successful six-game, 13-day road trip before they had to be at the San Diego Sports Arena Friday for another game.

It was there that the Gulls discovered their assistant coach Andre Lacroix had been fired. Waiting in the visitors’ locker room were the Peoria Rivermen, waiting to take advantage of the distraction.

Peoria ambushed the Gulls, 7-3, in front of 6,871 to improve to 6-1 and remain in second place in the International Hockey League’s West Division. The Gulls (4-5) are in third place.

Lacroix’s firing came one week after Howard Baldwin and Ballard Smith withdrew as owners, and Bill Cox was removed as team president.

“Due to the ownership reverting back to the building, the position that Andre was in we could not justify,” Waddell said. “It was a management decision, a decision made by a combination of the old ownership (Harry Cooper and Richard Esquinas) and the potential new ownership.”

Lacroix, 46, who sat in the stands and watched the game, said he was disappointed with the decision. But he plans to meet next week in Los Angeles with Baldwin, who has become part owner of the Pittsburgh Penguins, to discuss a possible job with the Penguins.

“I knew I could offer something,” Lacroix said. “I felt we had a chemistry going. I felt we had it going in the right direction.”

Lacroix, while playing for the old San Diego Mariners from 1974 to 1977, became the defunct World Hockey Assn.’s all-time leading scorer with 798 points. He had 251 goals, 547 assists and was a fan favorite.

But apparently his return did not carry the same appeal. He was introduced as the Gulls’ executive vice president on July 31. But after the club named Cox president and appointed Waddell coach, Lacroix was demoted to assistant coach.

He left behind glass and commercial drywall companies in Avon, Conn., to join the Gulls this summer. Lacroix, who played five seasons in the NHL, also ended an eight-year career as a radio color commentator for Hartford Whaler games to join the Gulls.

The Gulls, who led, 1-0, on Brent Sapergia’s team-leading sixth goal in the first period, entered the third period trailing, 4-2, and were out-scored, 3-1.

Dave Mackey had two goals and Michel Mongeau one goal and two assists to lead the defending Turner Cup champions. The Gulls’ three-game winning streak and goalie Rick Knickle’s personal three-game streak were snapped.

“It was a clinic for me,” Knickle said. “At the other end, (Peoria goalie Guy Hebert) was standing on his head.”

Gulls Notes

Walter Gretzky, 53, father of Wayne and Keith Gretzky, is expected to undergo brain surgery today in Hamilton, Ontario. The elder Gretzky suffered an aneurysm Wednesday and fell unconscious. Keith Gretzky, a Gulls center, informed Waddell of the surgery plans before Friday’s game, noting that Walter’s condition had improved slightly. Keith and Wayne had planned to return to hockey today but will now stay at their father’s side indefinitely. . . . The Gulls received defenseman Kord Cernich on loan from the New York Rangers, and they released a player, goalie Rod Houk. But further changes are forthcoming for the Gulls, who received three players in three days from the Rangers. There are currently 26 on the roster, and Waddell wants to trim to 22.