The Youngstown Phantoms extended their lead atop the standings with a commanding win, while the NTDP U18 had a last-minute comeback win in one of three one-goal games during a seven-game slate around the league on Friday.

By the Numbers

12 - Goals for the Youngstown Phantoms with Malachi McKinnon recording a hat trick and three assists, and Evan Jardine picking up two goals and three assists in Youngstown's rout of the NTDP U17 team.

37 - Shots on goal for the Tri-City Storm in its 5-3 win at Waterloo in a faceoff between former NHL head coaches in Tri-City's John Torchetti and Waterloo's Scott Gordon.

20 - Seconds apart, Parker Trottier and Mikey Berchild scored with less than one minute left in regulation to turn a one-goal deficit for the NTDP U18 team into a 5-4 regulation win in Cedar Rapids.

1 - Goal and one assist for Colin Frank, who is now ahead of a point-per-game pace for the Dubuque Fighting Saints after their 4-2 home win against the Sioux Falls Stampede.

48 - Points this season for Lincoln's Layne Loomer, who scored the second goal in a 5:20 span for the Stars on the road in Sioux City, then added the shootout winner.

Three Stars

1st Star: Malachi McKinnon, F, Youngstown Phantoms
3 G, 3 A, 8 Shots, +5

2nd Star: Mikey Berhild, F, NTDP U18
GWG, 1 A, 3 Shots, +1

3rd Star: Jack Christ, F, Muskegon Lumberjacks
GWG, 1 A, 3 Shots, +2

About the USHL

The United States Hockey League (USHL) and its 16 teams are committed to being the world's leading junior hockey league. This season, more than 50% of NCAA Division I men's hockey players and nearly 25% of NHL players have USHL experience. The USHL has developed more than 285 direct NHL Draft picks since 2020, and eight of the last 10 Hobey Baker Award winners, including Macklin Celebrini (Chicago Steel).

Elevated through the recently announced Declaration of Excellence with the NHL and USA Hockey, 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 Auston Matthews (NTDP), Kyle Connor (Youngstown Phantoms), Jeremy Swayman (Sioux Falls Stampede), and Johnny Gaudreau (Dubuque Fighting Saints).