2025-2026 Game 48: San Diego Gulls at Rockford Ice Hogs

Rockford, Illinois. Desperately needing to rebound after back to back losses the San Diego Gulls headed East for a rare out of division match-up with the Central Division’s Rockford Ice Hogs.

With Jan Mysak leaving the game midway through their most recent loss I had speculated that Cal Burke as a natural center with speed would likely take his spot and I was correct. The coaching staff however elected to change up the winger combinations on the top two lines – placing Myatovic, Carpenter and Bailey together while moving Colangelo down to join the new look second line.

Yegor Sidorov slotted back in and took a spot on the fourth line with a trio he has had some success with in the recent past.

Niklas Brouillard as a veteran was sat to make room for Burke under the maximum allowed veteran rule and give the Gulls the more preferable 12-6 format.

Calle Clang was given the start with Tomas Suchanek backing up.

Nik Brouillard and Travis Howe were the healthy scratches.

Jan Mysak likely did not make the trip after the injury he suffered in the last game.

First Period:

The time-difference may have had something to do with it but the Gulls were caught napping to start as just thirty seconds into the action the Ice Hogs effortlessly entered their zone with speed and beat Calle Clang five-hole from the high slot. 1-0 Rockford.

San Diego slowly began to wake up after the early deficit and as the fourth line made a foray into the Rockford zone, Judd Caulfield drew a call as he had the stick slashed out his hands. The first unit had some very good looks early on with Ryan Carpenter and the second unit followed up the good work as the Gulls had the most time and space I have ever seen them have on a man advantage this season. Sasha Pastujov making good on all of the swiftly built momentum to tie things up as his one-time blast trickled through Rockford goaltender Drew Commesso. 1-1 tie game.

It was all Gulls after that as San Diego appeared to overwhelm the Ice Hogs with their speed and transition game.

Rockford swung momentum back their way as Calle Clang had to be sharp and the Gulls defense desperate after a face-off loss ended in a goal mouth scramble and eventual clear. Matthew Phillips was called for hooking on the very next shift as the IceHogs continued to press. The Gulls were able to kill the minor but Rockford kept up the pressure – retaking the lead after San Diego failed to get a clear in their zone and an Ice Hogs point shot ricocheted off multiple bodies and through Clang. 2-1 IceHogs.

Things went from bad to worse as the Gulls defense was exposed once again – an IceHogs rush into the Gulls zone was finished on the right side as Tyson Hinds could not stay with his man. 3-1 IceHogs.

With less than a minute left in the opening frame the Gulls were awarded another Power Play as Justin Bailey was hit without the puck behind the IceHogs net. On the resulting man advantage the first unit made quick work of the brief amount of time allowed as a swift passing play saw the puck sent to Ryan Carpenter in the bumper with time and space allowed to one-time it into the Rockford net. 3-2 IceHogs.

The Gulls down 3-2 heading into the first intermission but looking very much in it if they could just keep possession and tighten up their man to man defense. Shots were 13-11 Gulls with the shot map showing San Diego having the better opportunities in front but the IceHogs capitalizing on bounces and poor back-checking from the Gulls.

Second Period: Rockford IceHogs 3 – San Diego Gulls 2

The Gulls looked a lot better to start the second but still showed some examples of bad defensive lapses as Rem Pitlick was able to skate to the backdoor unchecked to get a touch on a cross-crease pass that he deflected off the left post.

Some of the bad bounces that saw them fall behind miraculously went the Gulls way as a three on two rush led by Stian Solberg saw the Ducks highly touted defensive prospect send a puck out in front from the below the goal line that bounced off the IceHogs goaltender and in. 3-3 tie game.

A very very very clear and obvious interference call on Matthew Phillips as he was leveled without the puck at the Gulls blue line saw the veteran winger retaliate against the nearest IceHog he could find. Eventually the Gulls found themselves down a man as both Phillips and Nesterenko were given roughing minors and the IceHogs Toninato also sent to the box after the scuffle. Of course the glaringly obvious interference penalty went uncalled.

San Diego killed the minor but as play returned to five on five – emotions threatened to boil over and potentially dictate the style of the game as players started to go out of their way to finish a check.

Despite the Officials having no idea what an interference call was – they did find Justin Bailey guilty of tripping with just under seven minutes left of the middle frame. San Diego managed to kill the minor but did have some anxious moments particularly when Stian Solberg lost his stick and stood around helplessly when really he should have skated off as soon as he had an opportunity to.

Gulls all tied up at three heading into the final period. Shots were 7-6 Gulls on the period and 20-17 San Diego overall. The shot map showing both teams tidying up the defense but the Gulls getting the lucky bounce on the Solberg goal

Third Period: San Diego Gulls 3 – Rockford IceHogs 3

Despite starting the period well, horrible defense cost the Gulls once again as IceHogs danger-man Gavin Hayes was left alone in front and able to one-time a pass from behind the net by Clang. 4-3 IceHogs.

It was all San Diego after the goal and after three lines cycled the Rockford zone they were extremely unlucky not to tie things up right away after numerous point blank opportunities and goal mouth scrambles. Eventually the Officials deemed it worthy of awarding the Gulls a Power Play after several other calls were left un-whistled.

Once again the first unit looked nigh unstoppable as they won the offensive zone face-off, opened up the IceHogs zone and created shooting lanes the size of four line highways. Sasha Pastujov wasting no time to take advantage of one to make it 4-4 with a laser from the right circle. 4-4 tie game.

Rockford tried to respond but San Diego was locked in and continued to cycle line after line in the IceHogs zone. The Pastujov line giving the Gulls the lead as some great work from the man himself down low allowed Cal Burke to get a shot on net from the slot and the rebound fell to Stian Solberg – allowing the young defender time and space to measure and wire a shot that went top corner. 5-4 Gulls.

There was some concern as Ian Moore went down hard below the Gulls red line – looking as though he caught a skate on the end boards before being spun around. He limped off the ice under his own power during play.

Rockford pulled their goaltender with under two minutes remaining and it was a nail biter finish as the IceHogs controlled the Gulls zone with the extra attacker searching for the equalizer. With one final ten second cross-crease pass to one-timer shot appearing to initially hit the post but after review it was shown to have been kept out by a miraculous scorpion style pad stop from Clang.

San Diego skating away with the close 5-4 win in Rockford on the first of the back to back.

Post Game Notes:

Concern For Mysak Moore

Not a great time for injuries to be hitting the Gulls as they approach the final stretch drive. Moore – given he wasn’t really a San Diego regular anyway – won’t be such a loss but could affect the Ducks blue-line depth and prompt a call-up which would likely be Tristan Luneau; the LAST player the Gulls want to lose. So here is hoping Moore is OK and it was not a major injury that caused him to leave action midway through the third.

Putting The POW in the Power Play

Holy shit where has this Power Play been? Clicking at 100%? Going three for three? Essentially being the deciding factor in the game? I don’t know if it is an improvement by the Gulls or the IceHogs are just really bad on the penalty kill or a combination of both. Looking at the numbers the IceHogs penalty kill sits at 20th in the league at 80.8%. Not the worst but not the best. The Gulls – for interest sake – are 6th with an 84.2% kill rate. But like I said in the recap – there were literally four lane highway sized shooting lanes and lots of them for the Gulls to get set up in. I would expect that to change for the next game as the IceHogs review the tape to correct their mistakes.

Super Stian

His first multi goal game and a game winner to boot. What a night for Solberg. Scoring his seventh and eigth goals of the year officially put him in the top ten in scoring by rookie defenders. He has 14 points through 47 games. His eight goals now has him second overall in goals by rookie defenders, just one behind Utica’s Ethan Edwards.

Standings Update

Not much of an update – the win gives San Diego a 23-15-6-4 record and 56 points on the year. Currently four clear of Tucson who as of writing this are down 3-2 to the Reign and three behind the Firebirds for the 5th spot in the division.

Just On The Veteran Rule

One final thought. I know it has been raised numerous times already. However today’s game made me consider it again. Given Brouillard had to be scratched to make room for Burke to come in. Also because Patrick Williams made this food-for-thought tweet last week. The rule (yes I know I need to update this page) as it currently stands is kind of cruel. It does not really consider those stringer players that have been unable to nail down an NHL roster spot with their development time allowed and essentially forces them to find work overseas. Not ideally how the NHL and AHL would prefer their “best of the best in the world” brand appeal to play out. My only idea for how to correct would be to allow just one more veteran under the rule. I get that you don’t want teams to be able to absolutely stack their teams in the pursuit of forming long standing dynasties and if you did – you would have the Chicago Wolves of the league doing just that; with no care for prospect development. However I feel both leagues are changing now. High draft picks are skipping the AHL and going straight to the NHL which leaves room for the more skilled and experienced veterans to take center stage in their pursuit to get noticed. The NHL and AHL should be allowing this. Anyway – just my thoughts.