Calle Clang is making noise in the AHL-and it’s not just the sound of pucks hitting his pads.
The 23-year-old Swedish netminder has been a steady force between the pipes for the San Diego Gulls this season, and now he’s earned a well-deserved nod to the 2026 AHL All-Star Classic. It’s a milestone moment in Clang’s third full AHL season, and it’s coming on the heels of a breakout campaign that’s seen him elevate nearly every part of his game.
Clang will represent both the Gulls and the Pacific Division at the All-Star festivities in Rockford, Illinois, alongside teammate Tim Washe. He becomes just the fourth goaltender in Gulls history to earn an All-Star selection-an accomplishment backed up by the numbers.
Heading into the break, Clang has matched his career high in wins with an 11-3-4-2 record, posted a 2.39 goals-against average (fifth-best in the AHL), and logged a .906 save percentage across 19 games. He’s also recorded the first two shutouts of his AHL career.
Simply put, he’s been one of the most dependable goalies in the Pacific Division-and one of the biggest reasons San Diego is in playoff position.
“First of all, just very proud of myself and very, very thankful for the opportunity,” Clang said. “I couldn’t have done this without my teammates and the coaches and the whole support from the organization. I see this as a team effort, and I’m so glad to be selected.”
There’s a noticeable calm in Clang’s game this season, and it’s something he attributes to trust-both from the coaches and in himself. “I just feel more comfortable.
I feel more confident each and every game. I wouldn’t say I’ve done anything differently, just… I feel more confident.”
That confidence didn’t come overnight. Clang has been building toward this moment for years.
Before his AHL stint, he was named HockeyAllsvenskan’s Best Junior in 2020-21 and represented Sweden at back-to-back World Junior Championships, earning a bronze in 2022. He also helped Sweden capture gold at the 2019 World U-18 Championship and added bronze medals from the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and World U17 Hockey Challenge that same year.
The pedigree was always there-but this season, it’s translating into pro-level results.
And it hasn’t been without adversity. Clang took a personal leave from Nov. 8 to Dec. 6, playing just three games before stepping away.
But since his return, he’s been locked in. In his first game back, he stopped 18 of 19 shots against the Texas Stars to earn his first win of the season.
Then he went on a heater-allowing just one goal across his next three starts and posting a .955 save percentage from Dec. 7 to Dec. 16.
Only two other goalies in Gulls history have allowed one goal or fewer in four straight starts.
“I’ve gone through some tough moments earlier in the year, so this is like a big reward for me,” Clang said. “I don’t take this for granted, and I’m super excited and pumped up.”
The work behind the scenes hasn’t gone unnoticed. Gulls goaltending coach Jeff Glass has seen Clang’s evolution firsthand.
“Clangers put the work in, and it’s all starting to pay off,” Glass said. “It’s been a couple years getting accustomed to the league, to North America, to everything.
He’s been grinding, and now he’s reaping the rewards. I don’t think his process has changed too much-but everything he’s been practicing is starting to show up in games.
He’s understanding the game as a whole now, and I’m really happy for him.”
Clang’s two shutouts this season both came against the Abbotsford Canucks-first on Dec. 28, then again on Jan. 16. But when asked about the milestone, Clang was quick to redirect the spotlight.
“Honestly, I don’t think about it very much-just mostly the wins,” he said. “As long as I can contribute to the team winning, I’m super happy. Shutouts are fun, but the wins are the most important.”
That team-first mentality has been a key part of San Diego’s recent surge. The Gulls entered the All-Star break with a 21-14-6-3 record and 51 points, putting them in sixth place in the Pacific Division and within striking distance of a playoff berth-their first since 2022. And Clang’s presence in net has been a major stabilizing force.
“This year, Clangers has proven more than just being able to stop pucks,” Glass said. “He’s given the team confidence.
The guys enjoy playing in front of him. As coaches, we trust him in games knowing we can get a win.
He’s taken on a leadership role too-guys can rely on him to be consistent and be a force back there.”
That chemistry between Clang and the rest of the roster-especially the defensemen-has been crucial. It’s a two-way street, and Clang knows it.
“It feels like we have a good relationship between us, goalies and the defensemen and even the forwards,” he said. “We’re kind of playing off each other right now.
We’re helping each other out-sometimes they bail me out, sometimes I bail them out. We have a really good connection right now.”
With 28 games left on the regular-season slate, the Gulls are in a position to make a real push. For Clang, the goals are clear-keep playing, keep improving, and keep winning.
“As a team, we want to make the playoffs first of all, and then once we’re there, we want to go deep,” Clang said. “But for me personally, I just want to keep playing a lot, keep playing good, and get some more wins.”
The second half of the season will be a test of consistency, but Clang is trending in the right direction. He’s not just stopping pucks-he’s anchoring a playoff-caliber team with poise, confidence, and a steadily rising ceiling.
“This is the next part of Clanger’s game,” Glass said. “He’s going to continue to work on taking that next step and really asserting himself as one of the elite goalies in the American Hockey League. I think he’s establishing himself now as one of the top guys, but the next step is consistency-and finishing the season just as strong as he started it.”
If the first half was any indication, Clang’s just getting warmed up.