“Really excited. I can’t wait. The warm up, the first few steps on the ice are going to be big and I’m ready for it.”

It’s what everybody on this roster has echoed all preseason, although this quote came specifically from defenseman Tyson Hinds, one of a league-leading 14 players on the Gulls’ opening roster under the age of 23.

Coming off whatever you want to call last season is always going to be a challenge, but a new coaching staff run by head coach Matt McIlvane and a “youth movement,” as goaltender Alex Stalock put it Thursday following the team’s practice, that brings energy and hope to the San Diego Gulls and the Anaheim Ducks’ organization.

These young players are hungry to learn and to develop as they look to reach the next level in the NHL. But with the number of young players like this roster has, it’ll be up to the veterans to help them learn and adapt quickly to the AHL.

​​Hinds is one of four defensemen that belongs in the remarkable group of players under the age of 23.

“Just be ready, physically. A little stretch, a little warm up, and it’s a huge step,” Hinds said of what the veterans have told him.

“The guys are bigger or faster so I think preseason and everything was a good step up for us but for me, obviously, this season’s going to step off real good and he’s coming fast so just need to be ready mentally and be focused before games and everything.”

The opening roster is set after training camp concluded on Tuesday. They’ll have 14 forwards, nine defensemen, and two goaltenders. Since Wednesday, the team has practiced and prepared for the season opener on Friday.

“Piece by piece, feel like we’re making some good steps this week, good progress,” McIlvane said. “Our guys have had excellent focus and practice and we’re ready for Ontario.”

• The team went to a rope climbing course during the week for a team building day, trying to build the team chemistry as quickly as possible, where teammates got to know each other on a new level and the players enjoyed it as they told the media on Thursday.

“It will just set us up for success down the road,” McIlvane explained. “We want to get connected as quickly as we can and start to build those uncommon bonds that really matter for us.”

• The Gulls-Reign rivalry got off to a hot start already and the season hasn’t even started yet, but two fights in the lone preseason game last week reminded everybody that this, despite all the new players on both teams, is still a heated rivalry in the AHL.

And it’ll only grow with the first three games of the season coming against the Reign.

• The team had its final home practice on Thursday at Poway ICE before they made the trip up north to Ontario Friday morning for a morning skate prior to the season opener at 7 p.m. at Toyota Arena.