San Diego Sabers 2025-26 Regular Season Recap

San Diego Sabers

Although the San Diego Sabers have missed the 2026 USPHL Playoffs, this does not dismiss their performance during the 2025-26 USPHL Regular Season. The San Diego Sabers ended their season in sixth place of the USPHL Pacific Division standings with 28 points and a season record of 13-31-1-1. Out of their 13 wins, the Sabers were able to secure two shutouts and one overtime win. The longest winning streak that the Sabers maintained during the regular season was a three-game winning streak which occurred during the week of December 6-8, 2025 with a 3-0 series sweep against the Lake Tahoe Lakers and ended on December 12, 2025 with a loss to the Ontario Jr. Reign. 

PP & PK Success Rate and Top Scorers

The San Diego Sabers struggled on the power play as they ended the regular season with a 15.4% success rate and a 75.0% penalty killing success rate. The team’s points leader was #24 Sammy Albano (15G, 24A) who had 39 points recorded by the end of the regular season. #7 Harris Shular (16G) led the team with the most goals scored and #23 Payton Hauge (25A) ended this season with the most assists recorded.

Goaltending 

In regards to goaltending, the San Diego Sabers had three active goaltenders that played during this season. The following players and stats included:

• #1 Stephan Vedernikov ended this season with a record of 9-6-0-0 and a 0.923 SV% in 17 games played. An impressive stat to highlight included the following accomplishment:

  • 1 shutout win 

    • 3-0 against against Iron County Yeti on 12/16/25  

• #32 Santiago Cucuraqui Gascon ended this season with a record of 2-7-0-0 and a 0.859 SV% in 14 games played. An impressive stat to highlight included the following accomplishment:

  • 1 shutout win 

    • 5-0 shutout against Long Beach Bombers on 11/19/25

• #33 Jovin Manhas ended this season with a record of 1-2-1-0 and a 0.912 SV% in 6 games played 

Las Vegas Showcase (December 16-19, 2025)

• San Diego Sabers vs. Iron County Yeti (3-0)

• San Diego Sabers vs. Rogue Valley Royals (6-2)

• San Diego Sabers vs. Vernal Oilers (3-6)

• San Diego Sabers vs. Lake Tahoe Lakers (2-3)

When looking at the stats, the San Diego Sabers put up a total of 14 goals, 133 shots on goal, and 63 penalty minutes during the four games that were played during this series. They also ended with a 14.3% power play success rate and an 84.2% penalty kill success rate. The San Diego Sabers’ points leaders were #27 Matthew Matsuda (2G, 3A) and #94 Sam Bailey (2G, 3A) who both ended this series with 5 points recorded. A goaltending highlight from this series included #71 Stephan Vedernikov’s shutout win in Game 1 against the Iron County Yeti. The San Diego Sabers split this series, 2-2, with a strong two-game winning streak followed by a tough two-game losing streak.

Against the rest of the Pacific Division:  

• San Diego Sabers (SDS) vs. Ventura Vikings (VNV)

  • SDS won one out of nine games played against VNV during the 2025-26 regular season  (1-8) which included a shootout loss on December 13, 2025. During these nine matchups, VNV significantly outshot (334 SOG vs 194), outscored (45 G vs. 22 G), and found more success with their special teams (32.0 PP% vs. 6.38 PP% and 90.5 PK% vs. 68.0 PK%) when they played against SDS.

• San Diego Sabers (SDS) vs. Long Beach Bombers (LBB)

  • SDS won five out of seven games played against LBB during the 2025-26 regular season (5-2) which included a 5-0 shutout on November 9, 2025 and an overtime win on January 10, 2026. During the seven total games that these teams played against one another, SDS outscored (28G, vs 22G), outshot LBB (282 SOG vs. 244 SOG), and found more success with their special teams (25.6 PP% vs. 17.9 PP% and 82.1 PK% vs. 74.4 PK%).

• San Diego Sabers (SDS) vs. Fresno Monsters (FRM)

  • SDS lost all six games played against FRM during the 2025-26 regular season (0-6). During their previous games, FRM outscored (39G vs. 11G), outshot (318 SOG vs. 149 SOG), and found more success with their special teams (20.7 PP% vs. 7.40 PP% and 92.6 PK% vs. 79.3 PK%) compared to SDS. 

• San Diego Sabers (SDS) vs. Lake Tahoe Lakers (LTL)

  • SDS won three out of four games played against LTL during the 2025-26 regular season (3-1). During their previous matchups, SDS outscored LTL (19G vs. 8G) despite LTL outshooting SDS (116 SOG vs. 110 SOG). SDS did have the advantage when it came to their special teams (36.6 PP% vs. 15.8 PP% and 84.2 PK% vs. 63.2 PK%). 

• San Diego Sabers (SDS) vs. Ontario Jr. Reign (OJR)

  • SDS won two out of eleven games against OJR (2-9) during the 2025-26 regular season. OJR’s success came from outscoring (54G vs. 21G), outshooting (437 SOG vs. 312 SOG), and having an advantage when it came to their special teams (28.6 PP% vs. 13.0 PP% and 87.0 PK% vs. 78.4 PK%) in comparison to SDS. 

• San Diego Sabers (SDS) vs. Henderson Force (HNF)

  • SDS lost all six games that they played against HNF during the 2025-26 regular season (0-6). During these losses, HNF had the advantage over puck possession (299 SOG vs. 151 SOG), overall goals scored (32G vs. 11G), and with their special teams (21.7 PP% vs. 10.5 PP% and 89.5 PK% vs. 78.3 PK%).

The San Diego Sabers’ absence during the 2026 Premier Playoffs does not take away from their commendable efforts during the regular season. Despite all of their struggles during the regular season, the team did have a couple memorable moments and accomplishments which they should be proud of. With their upset from the 2025-26 regular season, they will certainly come back next season with vengeance and determination to place higher in the standings and possibly get a chance at the playoffs.