Men's Ice Hockey | 4/15/2026 2:00:00 PM

Ryan Seelinger (Des Moines Buccaneers), Alex Pelletier (Lincoln Stars), and Cooper Simpson (Youngstown Phantoms) have been named finalists for United States Hockey League (USHL) Forward of the Year, the league announced Wednesday. The award winner will be announced on Tuesday, April 21. The finalists were nominated and voted upon by team general managers.

Alex Pelletier, F, Lincoln Stars
Pelletier delivered one of the top offensive seasons in the USHL, tallying 48 goals and 37 assists in 59 games to rank among the league leaders in scoring. His 48-goal season tied Matt Coronato (Chicago Steel: 2020-21) for the second-most in USHL Tier-1 history. The Boston College commit and West Hartford, Conn. native averaged 1.44 points per game, most among skaters who played the full USHL season, his 270 shots led the league by a wide margin, and his +17 rating was second-best among Stars forwards. 

Ryan Seelinger, F, Des Moines Buccaneers
Seelinger followed up a strong rookie campaign with a breakout 2025–26 season, recording 68 points in 61 games to lead Des Moines in scoring. He finished the season tied for fifth in USHL scoring and sixth in goals, scoring 31 goals. After posting 33 points in 62 games last season, the Miami commit and Downers Grove, Ill. native took a major step forward offensively, more than doubling his point total and averaging 1.11 points per game. His +26 rating was among the top 10 in the league.

Cooper Simpson, F, Youngstown Phantoms
Simpson led Youngstown with a standout offensive season, finishing second in the USHL and leading the Phantoms in scoring, recording 74 points (34 goals, 40 assists) in 61 games. Of his 74 points, 38 came on the Phantoms' second-ranked power play that clicked at 27.6%. After appearing in nine USHL games the previous season, the North Dakota commit made an immediate impact in a full-time role, helping power the Phantoms to an Anderson Cup-winning campaign. Simpson, a Bruins prospect and Shakopee, Minn. native averaged 1.21 points per game, showcasing a strong combination of scoring touch and playmaking ability.

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 nine 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).