San Diego Gulls' Calle Clang selected for 2026 AHL All-Star Classic

Calle Clang has been added to the Pacific Division roster for the 2026 AHL All‑Star Classic presented by BMO, a recognition that rewards his hot start in San Diego and underlines the AHL’s role as a pathway to the NHL. The 23-year-old goaltender entered selection with an 11-3-2 record in 19 appearances, a 2.39 goals-against average, a .906 save percentage and two shutouts, numbers that helped earn him a trip to Rockford, Illinois for the Feb. 10-11 festivities at the BMO Center.

Clang’s selection amplifies a season of steady development. The Olofstrom, Sweden native was a third-round pick, 77th overall, by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2020 NHL Draft and brings a resume of international junior success to the AHL stage. He was named HockeyAllsvenskan Best Junior in 2020-21, logged 32 games at that level with a 2.46 GAA and .919 save percentage, and represented Sweden at back-to-back World Junior Championships in 2021 and 2022, earning a bronze medal. He also helped Sweden to medals at the 2019 World U-18 Championship, the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and the 2019 World U17 Hockey Challenge.

Clang joins forward Tim Washe as San Diego’s All‑Star representatives, marking the fourth time in franchise history the Gulls have had two All‑Stars and the first time since 2020, when Chris Wideman and Anthony Stolarz represented the club. Clang becomes the fourth Gulls netminder ever named an All‑Star after Kevin Boyle (2019, Springfield), Anthony Stolarz (2020, Ontario) and Lukas Dostal (2023, Laval), a sign of the organization’s ability to develop goaltending talent.

The AHL announced Clang’s addition alongside Abbotsford Canucks forward Ben Berard and noted Abbotsford defenseman Kirill Kudryavtsev will be unable to participate. The All‑Star Classic format includes a Skills Competition on Feb. 10 at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT and a 3-on-3 All‑Star Challenge on Feb. 11 at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT. The Challenge will feature four teams in a round-robin of six eight-minute games with the top two teams advancing to an eight-minute championship. Event week also features an AHL Hall of Fame induction and awards ceremony on Feb. 11 at noon ET, with the Class of 2026 including Chris Bourque, Alexandre Giroux, Jim Wiemer and Wendell Young. Fans will be able to buy limited authentic and replica jerseys beginning at the Skills Competition, with division designs mapped to Atlantic white, Central red, North gray and Pacific black.

Beyond the honor, Clang’s selection carries business and development implications. The league notes that since 1995 more than 94 percent of All‑Star participants have gone on to compete in the NHL, and past AHL All‑Stars include players such as Connor Hellebuyck, William Nylander, Mikko Rantanen and Linus Ullmark. For Clang, the All‑Star stage offers increased visibility to NHL decision makers, merchandising lift for the Gulls as fans chase game-worn and replica jerseys, and another marker that San Diego’s pipeline is producing professionally ready talent. For Gulls fans, the immediate payoff is pride and attention as Clang and Washe represent the club in Rockford; for Clang, the next step will be translating All‑Star recognition into sustained performance when he returns to the Gulls’ crease.