General | 4/12/2025 9:45:38 PM

The United States Hockey League (USHL) has announced dates, times and matchups for the first round of the 2025 Clark Cup Playoffs. 
 
The playoff format features 12 teams, six from each of the Eastern and Western Conferences, and four rounds, starting with a best-of-three first round series between the #3 and #6 seeds and #4 and #5 seeds from each conference. All three first-round games will be played at the higher seed’s home location on three consecutive nights.
 
Eastern Conference
 
Game 1: #5 Cedar Rapids RoughRiders at #4 Muskegon Lumberjacks - Monday, April 14, 7:10 p.m. ET
Game 2: #5 Cedar Rapids RoughRiders at #4 Muskegon Lumberjacks - Tuesday, April 15, 7:10 p.m. ET
Game 3: #5 Cedar Rapids RoughRiders at #4 Muskegon Lumberjacks - Wednesday, April 16, 7:10 p.m. ET
 
Game 1: #6 Green Bay Gamblers at #3 Madison Capitols - Monday, April 14, 7:05 p.m. CT
Game 2: #6 Green Bay Gamblers at #3 Madison Capitols - Tuesday, April 15, 7:05 p.m. CT
Game 3: #6 Green Bay Gamblers at #3 Madison Capitols - Wednesday, April 16, 7:05 p.m. CT
 
Western Conference
 
Game 1: #6 Tri-City Storm at #3 Waterloo Black Hawks - Monday, April 14, 6:35 p.m. CT
Game 2: #6 Tri-City Storm at #3 Waterloo Black Hawks - Tuesday, April 15, 6:35 p.m. CT
Game 3: #6 Tri-City Storm at #3 Waterloo Black Hawks - Wednesday, April 16, 6:35 p.m. CT
 
Game 1: #5 Fargo Force at #4 Sioux City Musketeers - Tuesday, April 15, 7:05 p.m. CT
Game 2: #5 Fargo Force at #4 Sioux City Musketeers - Wednesday, April 16, 7:05 p.m. CT
Game 3: #5 Fargo Force at #4 Sioux City Musketeers - Thursday, April 17, 7:05 p.m. CT
 
The winner of the #3 vs. #6 series will automatically play the #2 seed from their respective conference. The winner of the #4 vs. #5 series will automatically play the #1 seeds in the conference semifinals. 

The winners of the conference semifinals matchups advance to a best-of-five conference final series. The format of conference final will be 2-2-1 with games 1, 2 and 5 at the higher seed. The Eastern and Western Conference Champions will meet for the Clark Cup Final, a best-of-five series played in the 2-2-1 format with the higher seed hosting games 1, 2 and 5.
 
About the USHL

The United States Hockey League and its 16 member clubs are committed to being the leading 16–20-year-old junior hockey league in the world. More than half of Division I men’s hockey roster spots are held by USHL alumni and more than 195 alumni were listed on NHL rosters at the start of the 2024-25 season.

The league's player-first approach, including a 2:1 practice-to-game ratio and a schedule with 92% of games played on weekends, provides its players with the optimal environment for athletic and personal growth, creating pathways for the next generation of stars like Kyle Connor (Youngstown Phantoms), Macklin Celebrini (Chicago Steel), Cole Caufield (NTDP), Adam Fantilli (Chicago Steel) and Jeremy Swayman (Sioux Falls Stampede). More.