San Diego Gulls Schedule 2026
San Diego returns to the Calder Cup picture after posting its best record since 2018-19, a 33-27-8-4 mark that ended a playoff absence dating back to 2022. Head coach Matt McIlvane enters his fourth season after guiding the turnaround, with forward Sasha Pastujov and goaltender Calle Clang among the names who shaped that 2025-26 push. The Gulls fell to the Colorado Eagles in the opening round of the 2026 Calder Cup Playoffs. Fans chasing San Diego Gulls tickets can follow a roster looking to build on that step forward. Find tickets for the San Diego Gulls at Event Tickets Center.
Player development for the Anaheim Ducks runs through San Diego, which has served as the organization's top AHL affiliate since relocating from Norfolk in 2015. Prospects log AHL minutes at Pechanga Arena before graduating to Anaheim, a pipeline that has produced a steady stream of NHL regulars over the past decade. Fans who track the Anaheim Ducks schedule often watch San Diego just as closely, since call-ups and conditioning stints connect the two rosters throughout the year.
Pechanga Arena has hosted Gulls hockey since the franchise's first AHL season in 2015, giving the club a Midway District home with easy freeway access from across the city. The building has held a loyal following, a byproduct of a fan base that turned out even during the club's leaner years. Concourse food, team merchandise, and a game presentation built around the franchise's coastal identity round out the night. Fans planning a visit can check the Pechanga Arena upcoming events listings before picking a date.
A 72-game slate makes up San Diego's 2026-27 schedule, and the rivalry with the Ontario Reign remains the season's centerpiece. Branded as Rivalry Night on both sides, the series traces back to the Freeway Faceoff between the Ducks and the Los Angeles Kings at the NHL level and carries divisional stakes every time the two clubs meet. Fans building out their San Diego Gulls hockey schedule should circle those Ontario dates first, since they consistently draw the season's largest and loudest crowds.
No Calder Cup has come to San Diego yet, though a trip to the Western Conference Finals in 2019 stands as the deepest run in franchise history. The Gulls returned to the postseason in 2026 for the first time since 2022, then fell to the Colorado Eagles in the opening round. The Toronto Marlies' win in the 2026 Calder Cup Finals reset the bar for every team in the league, and a program with a strong developmental track record hopes to push further than recent seasons have allowed.
Between the Anaheim pipeline, the Ontario rivalry, and a fanbase that has stuck with this club through its ups and downs, San Diego offers plenty to follow heading into 2026-27. A roster with real playoff experience gives the season an extra edge from opening night on. Get tickets to see the San Diego Gulls at Event Tickets Center.