General | 4/18/2025 10:12:41 PM
The second round of the 2025 Clark Cup Playoffs opened on Friday, April 18 with eight teams remaining in contention.
Sioux Falls 5, Waterloo 6 (2OT)
(Waterloo Wins Series 3-1)
Box Score // Video Recap
It took double overtime but Brendan McMorrow scored to send Waterloo to the Western Conference Finals for a matchup with Lincoln.
Waterloo’s Reid Morich potted a pair of goals in the third period, including the game-tying tally with under one minute left in regulation to force overtime.
Joseph McGraw opened the scoring for Sioux Falls at the 12:40 mark of the first period, his first of three goals on the night.
Bryce Ingles found the back of the net for the first time this postseason late in the frame, giving the Herd a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes of play.
Waterloo and Sioux Falls traded goals in the second period.
Dylan Compton scored on a feed from Hunter Ramos to bring the Black Hawks back within a goal. McGraw tallied his second to restore Sioux Falls’ two-goal lead. Kaeden Hawkins’ fourth postseason tally made it a one-goal game again. However, McGraw completed the hat trick and gave the Stampede a 4-2 lead heading into the third period.
Chase Jette scored in front of the Sioux Falls net to bring Waterloo back within one goal midway through the final frame.
Four minutes later, Morich potted his first goal off a stretch pass from Compton to tie the game.
J.J. Monteiro capitalized on a Waterloo turnover in their own zone and wired a shot into the back of the net to put Sioux Falls back in front.
However, Morich added his second goal of the night with less than one minute left in the third period to tie the game at 5-5.
Carter Casey stopped 44-of-49 for Waterloo. Aiden Wright made 38 saves for Sioux Falls.
Dubuque 6, Madison 1
(Dubuque Wins Series 3-1)
Box Score // Video Recap
Dubuque used a four-goal second period and added two more in the third to skate past Madison in Game 4. With the win, the Fighting Saints win the series and advance to the Eastern Conference Final.
Following a scoreless first period, Dubuque erupted for four goals in 13 minutes.
Michael Barron opened the scoring at the 1:47 mark of the frame off a deflection in front of the Madison net. Colin Frank made it 2-0 in favor of the Fighting Saints less than one minute later.
Matthew Desiderio found the back of the net for the second time this postseason on a wrister from the top of the left-wing circle.
The Capitols got one back on Mason Moe’s fifth playoff goal. However, Cole Spicer restored Dubuque’s three-goal lead on a backdoor tap-in, his second goal of the postseason.
Into the third period, Lucas Van Vliet made it a 5-1 lead for the Saints after dangling through traffic on finishing on a forehand shot. Melvin Ekman sealed the win with an empty-net goal.
Liam Beerman turned aside 29-of-30 shots on goal, including 22 between the first and third periods for Dubuque. Caleb Heil made 24 saves for Madison.
Muskegon 5, Youngstown 3
(Muskegon Wins Series 3-0)
Box Score // Video Recap
David Deputy potted a pair of goals and Muskegon held on late to top Youngstown 5-3 in Game 3. With the win, the Lumberjacks advance to the Eastern Conference Final for the second consecutive year.
Deputy opened the scoring just 23 seconds into the game on a wrister from the high slot. Chase Stefanek made it a two-goal advantage for the ‘Jacks seven minutes later on a backdoor tap-in from Deputy.
The Phantoms got on the board late in the first period on Ryan Rucinski’s third goal of the postseason.
Muskegon continued to add on in the second period, with Deputy finding the back of the net for the second time this game and the sixth time this postseason.
Ivan Ryabkin also scored to make it a 4-1 lead for the Lumberjacks. Kazimier Sobieski and Michael Mesic brought Youngstown back within a goal on a pair of empty-net goals.
However, Muskegon’s Tynan Lawrence put the game out of reach with an empty-netter of his own.
Shikhabutdin Gadzhiev made 30 saves on 33 shot attempts for the Lumberjacks. Owen Lepak made 12 saves for the Phantoms.
Lincoln Stars 2, Sioux City Musketeers 0
(Lincoln Wins Series 3-0, Advances to Western Conference Final)
Box Score // Video Recap
The Lincoln Stars scored late in the first period and added an empty-net goal in the third to take Game 3 against the Sioux City Musketeers.
With the win, the Stars have advanced to the Western Conference Final for the second time in the last three seasons.
Matt Maltais opened the scoring at the 18:50 mark of the first period on a one-timer from the right-wing circle off a cross-ice pass from Jack Pechar.
After a scoreless second period, Lincoln carried a 22-to-11 shots-on-goal advantage and a 1-0 lead on the scoreboard into the final frame.
In the final minute of regulation, Layne Loomer potted an empty-net goal to secure Lincoln’s spot in the Western Conference Final. The Stars will play the winner of Waterloo and Sioux Falls.
Yan Shostak stopped all 17 shots on goal to earn the shutout for Lincoln. Samuel Urban made 30 saves for Sioux City.
Dubuque Fighting Saints 4, Madison Capitols 2
(Dubuque Leads Series 2-1)
Box Score // Video Recap
The Dubuque Fighting Saints used a two-goal third period to skate past the Madison Capitols in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinal matchup. With the win, the Saints took a 2-1 series lead.
Gavin Uhlenkamp opened the scoring for the Caps eight minutes into the game on a one-timer from the right dot, marking his second goal of the playoffs.
Colin Frank evened the score for Dubuque at 1-1 early in the second period with his first postseason goal. The UConn commit cleaned up a loose puck in front of the Madison net.
The tie was short-lived, as Ryker Lee put the Capitols back in front just over one minute later on a snapshot from the left-wing circle.
Jonathan Morello provided the equalizer at the 8:09 mark of the frame on a wrister from the high slot.
Into the third period, Dubuque’s Cooper Dennis found the back of the net for the first time this postseason on a wrister from below the left dot.
Heikki Ruohonen sealed the win for the Fighting Saints with an empty-net goal.
Liam Beerman turned aside 23-of-25, including 14 in the first period for Dubuque. Caleb Heil made 23 saves for Madison.
Waterloo Black Hawks 6, Sioux Falls Stampede 2
(Waterloo Leads Series 2-1)
Box Score // Video Recap
Waterloo saw five different skaters light the lamp in their Game 3 win over Sioux Falls. With the win, the Black Hawks take a 2-1 series lead, with a chance to clinch on Tuesday.
Kaeden Hawkins continued his strong postseason with his third goal, coming late in the first period, a power-play tally on a second-chance opportunity from the right dot.
The Black Hawks scored three times in the middle frame to extend their lead to 4-0.
Brock Schultz made it a two-goal advantage early in the period with his first goal of the playoffs. Hunter Ramos and Morgan Brady each found the back of the net late in the period.
Less than one minute into the third period, Teddy Townsend recorded his second postseason goal on a rebound to the left of the cage.
Ethan Wyttenbach got Sioux Falls on the board later in the frame on a wrister in front of the Waterloo net.
However, Bradley Walker restored the Black Hawks’ five-goal lead with an empty-net goal late in regulation.
Ben Wilmott scored on a backdoor tap-in for the Herd.
Carter Casey continued his outstanding postseason and made 30 saves for Waterloo. Aiden Wright returned to the lineup and made 34 saves for Sioux Falls.
Muskegon Lumberjacks 6, Youngstown Phantoms 2
(Muskegon Leads Series 2-0)
Box Score // Video Recap
David Deputy tallied three points in the Muskegon Lumberjacks’ 6-2 win over the Youngstown Phantoms on Sunday. With the win, the ‘Jacks took a 2-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference Semifinal matchup.
Brecken Smith opened the scoring for the Phantoms at the 5:18 mark of the first period, burying a rebound in front after Kade Stengrim’s initial shot was turned aside.
Deputy tied the game at 1-1 just over two minutes later with a power-play goal on a one-timer off a feed from Jack Galanek.
Tynan Lawrence tallied his third postseason goal and Muskegon’s second power-play goal on the night late in the first period.
Into the second period, Deputy potted his second goal after skating into the offensive zone with speed and finishing on a backhanded shot. The tally made it a 3-1 lead for Muskegon.
Luke Osburn brought Youngstown back within a goal on a wrister from the high slot, marking his first postseason marker.
However, Galanek restored the Lumberjacks’ two-goal lead on a shot from the top of the left-wing circle, Muskegon's third power-play goal of the game.
Approaching the midway point of the third period, Deputy stripped the puck in the neutral zone before Jack Christ scored on the backdoor.
With the Phantoms net empty, Lawrence potted his second goal of the night.
Stephen Peck turned aside 24-of-26 shots on goal, including all eight in the third period for Muskegon. Melvin Strahl made 17 saves for Youngstown.
Muskegon Lumberjacks 5, Youngstown Phantoms 3
(Muskegon Leads Series 1-0)
Box Score // Video Recap
The Muskegon Lumberjacks scored two goals in the first period and added three more in the second to skate past the Youngstown Phantoms in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final.
Ivan Ryabkin potted a pair of goals on a team-high four shots. The Russian forward opened the scoring at the 1:37 mark of the first period on a centering feed from Xavier Veilleux.
Four minutes later, David Deputy potted his second goal of the playoffs to make it a two-goal advantage for the 'Jacks.
Ryabkin added his second goal of the night just 23 seconds into the second period.
Teddy Spitznagel made it a 4-0 lead for the Jacks on a power-play goal from the top of the point.
Less than one minute later, Jack Christ capitalized on a turnover in the Youngstown zone and finished with a backhand flip into the back of the net.
The Phantoms scored three goals in the third period to cut the deficit to two.
Ryan Rucinski tallied his first and second goals of the postseason. Conner de Haro scored on a wrister from the high slot.
Shikhabutdin Gadzhiev turned aside 32-of-35 shots on goal for the ‘Jacks. Melvin Strahl made seven saves before being lifted in the second period. Owen Lepak stopped all 11 shots he faced.
Lincoln Stars 6, Sioux City Musketeers 3
(Lincoln Leads Series 2-0)
Box Score // Video Recap
The Lincoln Stars saw five different skaters find the back of the net, including a pair of goals from Bruno Idzan in the team’s 6-3 win in Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinal.
Idzan opened the scoring at the 11:33 mark of the first period on a sharp-angle shot to the left of the cage.
Layne Loomer made it a two-goal lead for the Stars less than five minutes into the second period on his first tally of the playoffs.
Sioux City stormed back with three goals in a 3:18 span to take a 3-2 lead.
Kason Muscutt scored on a wrister from the left-wing circle. Giacomo Martino scored on a one-timer from the right dot. Luke Garry slipped the puck past the netminder on his first goal of the playoffs.
However, Lincoln responded with four unanswered goals to close out the game.
Hunter Anderson tied the game late in the second period, cleaning up a loose puck in front of the Sioux City net.
Alex Pelletier provided the go-ahead goal off a rebound in front of the net, and Dashel Oliver scored his first postseason goal to make it a two-goal lead for Lincoln.
Idzan added his second of the night to cap off a three-goal third period for the Stars.
Yan Shostak turned aside 21-of-24 for Lincoln, while Samuel Urban made 33 saves for Sioux City.
Sioux Falls Stampede 5, Waterloo Black Hawks 2
(Series Tied 1-1)
Box Score // Video Recap
The Sioux Falls Stampede used a three-goal third period to take Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinal matchup against the Waterloo Black Hawks.
Five different skaters found the back of the net for the Herd, including Javon Moore, who opened the scoring with his first postseason goal in the first period.
Noah Urness made it a two-goal lead for Sioux Falls late in the frame with a power-play tally.
After a scoreless second period, Sam Spehar extended the Herd’s lead with his second goal of the playoffs on a wrister from a sharp angle at the 3:07 mark of the third period.
Waterloo pulled within one midway through the third period, with both Chase Jette and Teddy Mallgrave potting goals for the Black Hawks.
However, Brock James and Joseph McGraw tallied empty-net goals to restore Sioux Falls’ three-goal advantage and put the game out of reach.
Waylon Esche made 32 saves for the Stampede, including 21 in the first 40 minutes of play. Carter Casey made 33 saves for the Black Hawks.
Dubuque Fighting Saints 6, Madison Capitols 1
(Series Tied 1-1)
Box Score // Video Recap
The Dubuque Fighting Saints used a four-goal second period to take Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinal against the Madison Capitols.
The Saints saw six different skaters light the lamp, including Michael Barron, who tied the game at 1-1 late in the first period after Madison’s Ryker Lee opened the scoring.
Dubuque took the lead on Cole Spicer’s first postseason goal at the 1:37 mark of the second period. Lucas Van Vliet made it a two-goal lead on a wrister from the top of the left-wing circle. Josh Giuliani scored off a deflection in front of the Madison net. Gavin Cornforth added another on a partial breakaway.
Into the third period, Matthew Desiderio made it a 6-1 lead for Dubuque after burying a backdoor tap-in on the power play.
Liam Beerman turned aside 16-of-17 for the Saints. Caleb Heil made 14 saves for Madison before being pulled in the second period. Ajay White turned aside 7-of-8 in relief.
Lincoln Stars 3, Sioux City Musketeers 2
(Lincoln Leads Series 1-0)
Box Score // Video Recap
Lincoln found the back of the net twice in the third period to take Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinal against the Sioux City Musketeers.
Bruno Idzan opened the scoring for the Stars at the 7:28 mark of the first period on a wrister from the low slot.
However, the Musketeers roared back with two goals late in the second period. Giacomo Martino sent a one-time blast on the power play from the right dot into the Lincoln net. Less than two minutes later, Nicholas Sykora potted his first goal of the playoffs.
Sioux City took a 2-1 lead into the locker room after the first 40 minutes of play.
Lincoln capitalized on their power-play opportunity early in the third period to tie the game at 2-2. Daniel Shlaine fired a one-timer from the right-wing circle into the back of the Sioux City net. Moments later, Aiden Janz provided the go-ahead goal on the doorstep after the initial shot from the point was blocked.
Yan Shostak turned aside 19-of-21, including all 16 in the final two periods for the Stars. Samuel Urban made 19 saves for Sioux City.
Waterloo Black Hawks 4, Sioux Falls Stampede 2
(Waterloo Leads Series 1-0)
Box Score // Video Recap
Brendan McMorrow potted a pair of goals in the Waterloo Black Hawks’ 4-2 win against the Sioux Falls Stampede in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinal.
Following a scoreless first period, Sioux Falls broke through in the second on Sam Spehar’s power-play goal from the low slot, marking his first postseason goal.
Waterloo answered over three minutes later on Reid Daavettila’s wrister from the high slot.
Late in the frame, the Stampede reclaimed the lead on Gennadi Chaly’s power-play goal. The Herd took a 2-1 lead into the locker room after the first 40 minutes of play.
However, Waterloo tied the game just 39 seconds into the third period on McMorrow’s first goal of the night.
Grady Deering provided the go-ahead goal four minutes later on a sharp-angle shot to the right of the cage.
McMorrow added his second of the night, burying a second-chance opportunity in front of the Sioux Falls net after the initial chance was turned aside.
Carter Casey turned aside 32-of-34 for Waterloo, while Waylon Esche made 18 saves for Sioux Falls.
Madison Capitols 3, Dubuque Fighting Saints 0
(Madison Leads Series 1-0)
Box Score // Video Recap
The Capitols used a three-goal third period to skate past the Dubuque Fighting Saints 3-0 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinal matchup.
After two scoreless periods, Madison broke through on a 2-on-1 play in transition, with Finn Brink finding the back of the net for the first time this postseason on a backhanded flip.
With under one minute left in regulation, Mason Moe hit the empty net, marking his fourth goal of the playoffs and a two-goal lead for the Caps.
Moments later, Sam Kappell added his third goal of the postseason and second empty-net goal for Madison.
Caleb Heil turned aside all 23 shots on goal to earn the shutout for Madison. Liam Beerman made 26 saves for Dubuque.
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.