General | 5/8/2025 12:00:00 PM

WATCH GAME 1 FREE ON FLOHOCKEY

The Clark Cup Final has arrived. After a grueling 62-game regular season and three exciting rounds of playoffs, only two teams remain: the Muskegon Lumberjacks and the Waterloo Black Hawks.

For Muskegon, this is more than just a return to the big stage—it's a shot at redemption. The Lumberjacks haven't appeared in the Clark Cup Final since 2015, when their first-ever Eastern Conference title run ended in a sweep by the Sioux Falls Stampede. But this year's squad is different. The 'Jacks are battle-tested, focused, and hungry.

Muskegon has become a postseason fixture, reaching the Eastern Conference Finals five times in the last six seasons. Now, they're just one series away from capturing the franchise's first-ever Clark Cup.

On the other hand, Waterloo's journey is built on tradition. The Black Hawks last reached the Clark Cup Final in 2014, where they fell to the then-Indiana Ice. Their most recent Clark Cup came in 2004, and after more than two decades, this team has the depth, discipline, and grit to bring the Cup back to Iowa.

With one Clark Cup and four Anderson Cups in the Tier-1 era and nine total, Waterloo can claim a fifth and 10th championship.

This season, the Black Hawks hold the edge in head-to-head play, sweeping Muskegon in both regular-season matchups. Waterloo claimed a commanding 6-2 win at home earlier in the year and a hard-fought 4-3 victory on the road at Trinity Health Arena just last month.

Schedule

Game 1: #4 Muskegon Lumberjacks at #3 Waterloo Black Hawks – Friday, May 9, 6:35 p.m. CT
Game 2: #4 Muskegon Lumberjacks at #3 Waterloo Black Hawks – Saturday, May 10, 6:35 p.m. CT
Game 3: #3 Waterloo Black Hawks at #4 Muskegon Lumberjacks – Friday, May 16, 7:10 p.m. ET
Game 4: #3 Waterloo Black Hawks at #4 Muskegon Lumberjacks – Saturday, May 17, 6:10 p.m. ET*
Game 5: #4 Muskegon Lumberjacks at #3 Waterloo Black Hawks – Tuesday, May 20, 6:35 p.m. CT*

*If necessary

How Muskegon Got Here

The Muskegon Lumberjacks blazed through the postseason with grit, skill, and sheer determination. They opened their Clark Cup playoff run with a clutch victory in a decisive Game 3 against Cedar Rapids, setting the tone for what was to come. They turned up the pressure in the Eastern Conference Semifinal, sweeping the No. 1 seed Youngstown Phantoms in dominant fashion. Then came a high-stakes rematch with Dubuque—the very team that ended their 2024 campaign. This time, Muskegon flipped the script, powering past the Fighting Saints in three games to punch its ticket to the Clark Cup Final.

How Waterloo Got Here

The Waterloo Black Hawks have stormed into the Clark Cup Final with authority. Matt Smaby's squad made quick work of Tri-City in the opening round, completing a clean sweep that sent a clear message to the rest of the league. In the Western Conference Semifinal, Waterloo showcased its resilience in a heart-pounding double-overtime thriller, eliminating Sioux Falls in Game 4. Then came Lincoln, the very team that had ended Waterloo's playoff run in each of the past three seasons. This time, the Black Hawks didn't flinch, taking the series in four games to punch their ticket to the Clark Cup Final and pursue another chapter in the franchise's storied history.

Players To Watch On Muskegon

• Ivan Ryabkin, F: 5 G, 7 A, 12 P
• Tynan Lawrence, F: 6 G, 7 A, 13 P
• David Deputy, F: 8 G, 3 A, 11 P
• Vaclav Nestrasil, F: 4 G, 6 A, 10P
• Jack Galanek, F: 3 G, 6 A, 9 P
• Xavier Veilleux, D: 2 G, 4 A, 6 P
• Shikhabutdin Gadzhiev, G: 1.74 GAA, 0.948 SV%

Players To Watch On Waterloo

• Brendan McMorrow, F: 6 G, 6 A, 12 P
• Kaeden Hawkins, F: 8 G, 3 A, 11 P
• Carter Casey, G: 2.34 GAA, 0.925 SV%, 2 SO
• Hunter Ramos, F: 3 G, 8 A, 11 P
• Dylan Compton, D: 2 G, 9 A, 11 P
• Chase Jette, F: 4 G, 5 A, 9 P
• Reid Morich, F: 3 G, 6 A, 9 P

*Playoff Stats

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.