San Diego Gulls Sign Matt Basgall To Amateur Tryout

Apr 2, 2026

The San Diego Gulls announced today that the American Hockey League (AHL) club has signed defenseman Matt Basgall to an amateur tryout (ATO).

 

Basgall, 23 (8/16/02), was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year for the 2025-26 season with Michigan State University (NCAA), posting 4-16=20 points with four penalty minutes (PIM) and a +16 rating in 37 games. Serving as captain for the Spartans, Basgall helped lead Michigan State to the best regular season record in the Big Ten this season (16-6-2), was named to the Big Ten First All-Star Team and earned a Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.

 

The 5-10, 185-pound defenseman recorded 15-64=79 points with 28 PIM and a +20 rating in 150 career NCAA games with Michigan State from 2022-26. In 2024-25, Basgall was named an American Hockey Coaches Association Second Team All-American, a Big Ten First Team All-American, was named to the Big Ten All-Tournament Team and was a finalist for Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year after posting 6-20=26 points with a +9 rating in 37 games. He helped the Spartans earn back-to-back Big Ten Championships in 2024 and 2025.

 

A Lake Forest, Ill. native, Basgall appeared in 146 career United States Hockey League (USHL) games with Omaha and Tri-City from 2018-22, tallying 12-55=67 points with 26 PIM and a +31 rating.