General | 2/27/2026 10:23:14 AM

It was a high-scoring night around the league with lopsided scores across the board. Des Moines hosted the Omaha Lancers for a 9-0 win in front of its home crowd, Youngstown won 3-2 in a shootout over Green Bay in a battle of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, and Chicago came back from a one-goal deficit to score five times in the third period of its comeback win at Madison. 

By the Numbers

2 — Shootout goals by Evan Jardine and Malachi McKinnon, leading Youngstown to a 3-2 victory in Green Bay. Jakub Heš also had a goal and an assist for the Phantoms.

3 — Goals scored by Luke McNamara of Fargo, earning his first USHL career hat-trick in the Force's 4-1 win at Sioux City.

4 — Points for Des Moines defenseman Ryland Randle with 2 goals and 2 assists. 

9 — Goals for the Buccaneers, with Alan Lendak earning a 25-save shutout against the Lancers.

23 — Goals this season for Miami (OH) commit Layne Loomer after a breakaway goal against Tri-City in the Stars' 7-1 victory.

52 — Career goals for Fighting Saints forward Michael Barron after scoring in a 4-1 victory over Waterloo.

800 - Career USHL wins for Cedar Rapids head coach Mark Carlson.

1,000 - USHL games for the NTDP. The program reached the milestone tonight against Cedar Rapids. 

Three Stars

1st: Ryland Randle, D, Des Moines Buccaneers
2 G, 2 A, 3 Shots, +2

2nd: Luke McNamara, F, Fargo Force
3 G, 5 Shots, +3

3rd: Alex Pelletier, F, Lincoln Stars
2G, 1A, 5 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 90% 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).