April 23, 2026
By Sam Weiger
Carolina Flyers at San Diego Growlers | Friday Night Frisbee
Friday, April 24 - 10:00 PM/ET - Watch free on YouTube
What sets the 2026 "Friday Night Frisbee" season opener apart? Beyond the fact that it’s streaming for free on YouTube, it’s the sheer unpredictability of the matchup. While other Week 1 marquee matchups feature clear favorites, the battle between Carolina and San Diego feels like an absolute toss-up.
Last season, these two squads were virtually indistinguishable, ending the regular season with identical records and a head-to-head meeting that was decided by a single goal in a 26-25 overtime thriller won by San Diego. Their statistical profiles mirrored each other across nearly every major category: Carolina ranked sixth in scoring and turnovers committed, while San Diego followed closely in eighth for both. Defensively, they were back-to-back on the leaderboard, finishing 11th and 12th in goals allowed, and occupied the sixth and seventh spots in blocks per game.
So it’s not surprising that entering the preseason, Carolina (eighth) and San Diego (ninth) are neck-and-neck in the power rankings. Both teams’ positions are bolstered by the upside from their high-profile offseason additions—Tobias Brooks for Carolina and Jonathan Lyle for San Diego.
With both Brooks and Lyle expected to miss the opener, this matchup feels like it could be a continuation of what we saw last year: two balanced squads locked in a photo finish, defined by high-octane offenses and heavy usage for Allan Laviolette and Travis Dunn.
Brooks and Lyle were expected to relieve some of the burden on these two primary facilitators. In 2025, Laviolette was in a league of his own with 67 assists, while no other Flyer eclipsed the 24-assist mark. Though Dunn benefited from the support of Matt Miller and Khalif El-Salaam last season, the consensus remains that he and Laviolette will be the central playmakers to watch. This duo combined for 16 assists and over 1,000 yards in their meeting last year.
While these rosters shared many similarities last year, a few distinct contrasts could decide the outcome. San Diego proved significantly more disciplined in the red zone than Carolina, a defensive edge that may haunt a shorthanded Flyers offense that could look just as one-dimensional as it did a season ago.
That red zone defense will receive a significant boost from two offseason acquisitions: Max Combs and Steven Milardovich. Combs burst onto the scene with 16 blocks as a rookie in Los Angeles and offers immense upside at just 23. Meanwhile, the franchise’s all-time block leader, Milardovich, makes a celebrated return. Though he is now 35, his career stats are elite, featuring 147 blocks over eight seasons—including a streak of four consecutive 20-block campaigns. In a league where stars like Laviolette continue to dominate in their mid-30s, Milardovich could surprise us on Friday.
Laviolette was the primary engine behind Carolina’s elite efficiency last year, and his precision remains their biggest advantage heading into this matchup. If he maintains his clinical deep game, having posted a remarkable 86.49 percent huck completion rate on 37 attempts in 2025, the Flyers will likely sustain a high completion percentage. This puts immense pressure on a Growlers squad that had a noticeably lower completion rate throughout last season.
One Big Number:
94.77 - Carolina’s completion rate last year was 94.77 percent, the fourth-highest mark in the UFA.
72.73 - Last season, San Diego held opponents to a 72.73 percent conversion rate in the red zone, marking the second-stoutest goal-line defense in the league.
DC Breeze at Boston Glory | Game of the Week
Saturday, April 25 - 7:00 PM/ET - Watch link
The first 2026 “Game of the Week” has been highly anticipated since the schedule release, but Rowan McDonnell’s shock move to the Glory days before the season has sent the hype into the stratosphere.
It’s incredibly rare to see a revenge game quite like this. A veteran who spent his entire career with one team suggests he’s hanging it up, only to sign with a division rival on the eve of the season. To have the schedule pit him against his former team in Week 1? That’s beyond unheard of.
Obviously, McDonnell will always be remembered spearheading DC’s ascent to the top of the league. He leads the franchise in goals, assists, hockey assists, completions, blocks, and plus/minus—a clean sweep of dominance that is currently unmatched across the UFA. It’s a feat we might not see replicated anytime soon.
But how will his legacy hold up now? After choosing a Boston jersey over retirement, we’re left wondering: will his first game against DC be a respectful reunion, or is the stage set for bad blood?
From a tactical standpoint, McDonnell’s debut role with the Glory is a wildcard. With Orion Cable ruled out and Simon Carapella struggling with a foot injury, Boston might have no choice but to lean heavily on McDonnell right away. Conversely, given how late he joined the roster, the coaching staff might prefer to limit his usage until he’s fully integrated into their system.
Regardless of how Boston chooses to utilize him, you can bet he’ll be fully locked in, whether he’s helping orchestrate the offense on the field or providing intel from the sideline. But one thing is certain: in a revenge game like this, Glory Head Coach Sam Rosenthal could definitely look for ways to put McDonnell and fellow former Breeze standout Thomas Edmonds in positions to punish their old team in the red zone.
How will the DC offense counter two hungry former teammates alongside reigning superstars Tobe Decraene and Jeff Babbitt?
Last year, the Breeze struggled significantly against Boston, averaging just 14.25 goals per game across four meetings. Their path to redemption in the opener is even steeper with O-line pillars Cole Jurek and Aidan Downey sidelined. Jurek has been the team’s most prolific finisher with 59 goals over the last two seasons, while Downey is a rising star coming off a career-best campaign.
To keep pace with Boston’s high-octane O-line, DC may call upon international rookie Wiebe van den Brink. Known as the "Flying Dutchman," he offers a blend of throwing range, elite speed, and defensive versatility. Given DC’s history of finding game-changers in international stars like Elliot Bonnet and Ben Oort, all eyes will be on whether van den Brink is their next big hit in this high-stakes debut.
One Big Number:
152 - With 152 games of Breeze experience between them, McDonnell and Edmonds offer a massive tactical advantage. Expect them to use that deep insider knowledge to fuel their pursuit of a revenge win.
44.25 - Last year, the Breeze managed an O-line conversion rate of only 44.25 percent against Boston, a notable dip from their season average of 51.91 percent.
Atlanta Hustle at Austin Sol
Saturday, April 25 - 8:00 PM/ET - Watch link
The Sol have a prime opportunity to shatter expectations right out of the gate.
Facing an Atlanta team that enters the season with much more hype, Austin holds a hidden edge: stability. Most of the Sol's roster has played together for seasons, whereas the Hustle are integrating several new high-profile names. If Atlanta’s new pieces haven't fully clicked by Week 1, Austin’s cohesive unit could send a loud message to the rest of the league with a signature upset.
Could the synergy of returning icons, skyrocketing breakout stars, and high-profile signings make the 2026 Sol the franchise’s most talented roster in recent years?
The squad receives a massive boost with the return of Evan Swiatek and Duncan Fitzgerald, both of whom were away from the team in 2025. Swiatek’s resume is legendary—ranking second in franchise history for total scores, goals, and plus/minus—while Fitzgerald served as the team’s leader in completions between 2023 and 2024.
This veteran duo joins Mark Henke and Jackson Potts, who are both fresh off some of the most explosive breakout campaigns in the league. Their statistical leaps have been staggering. Henke surged to a +62 plus/minus, more than doubling his previous season’s +28. Potts, who finished at +31 in 2024, was trending toward a +61.75 plus/minus last year before his season-ending injury.
To round out the roster, Austin strengthened their D-line by signing Ryan Drost, the league’s all-time leader in blocks. Drost was a major piece of the New York Empire dynasty, providing essential veteran leadership on a D-line that secured three championships in. His presence is a direct answer to Austin’s recent defensive woes against Atlanta; over the last two seasons, the Sol have struggled to contain the Hustle’s attack, surrendering 23 goals per game in their two full matchups and 14 goals in their most recent meeting, which was cut short right at halftime.
All three of Atlanta’s top offseason acquisitions have never been on a South Division team, and they all arrive from different divisions: Will Selfridge (West), Max Sheppard (East), and Pat Earles (most recently played in the Central in 2017). While Sheppard and Earles previously shared the field in Pittsburgh, nearly a decade has passed since they last suited up together.
Several key contributors will be missing from this heavyweight clash, most notably Selfridge, Henke, and Potts. While Selfridge’s presence would have been a luxury for the Hustle, the loss of Henke and Potts is a much more massive blow for the Sol. It’s difficult to imagine Austin overcoming the absence of one of their most efficient offensive players in Potts (57.80 offensive efficiency rating last year) alongside one of their most versatile players in Henke—one of only two Sol players to record double digits in assists, goals, and blocks last season.
One Big Number:
3 - Atlanta has dropped their last three season openers when playing on the road.
5.33 - Since their 2023 South Division Championship upset over the Hustle, Austin has struggled against Atlanta. In the three matchups following that victory, the Sol have fallen to the Hustle by an average margin of 5.33 goals per game.
