Men's Ice Hockey | 9/3/2026 12:02:09 PM

The 2026-27 USHL season begins the week of Sept. 16-20 at the 2026 USHL Fall Classic, held at the Blackhawks Ice Center presented by Fifth Third Bank in Chicago.

All 16 teams will play their first two regular-season games in front of hundreds of NHL and NCAA scouts, general managers, and executives in preparation for the 2027 NHL Draft. The event enters its 11th year and marks the first Fall Classic at Blackhawks Ice Center. The facility includes USG Arena, home of the Chicago Steel, where the majority of USHL games will be played.

To help get you ready for the Fall Classic and the season ahead, here is an outlook and a few players to watch for the teams that play in the USHL's Western Conference, with teams listed in alphabetical order.

Des Moines Buccaneers
2025-26 Record: 27-27-3-4, Lost in First Round of Clark Cup Playoffs

Players To Watch: Riley Zupfer, Jakub Dubravik, Becker Wenkus, Eli Bimmerle, Henry Major

2026-27 Outlook: Des Moines returned to the Clark Cup Playoffs for the first time in a couple years last April and is in a position to lengthen its stay. Notre Dame commit Riley Zupfer is the headliner coming back, a 41-point rookie season earning him a spot on the All-Rookie Team, while Henry Major arrives with 26 points to his name after bouncing between Chicago and Des Moines. Sixteen-year-old Eli Bimmerle, fresh off a 59-point year with the Dallas Stars 16U Elite program, gives the Bucs a name to track early. Des Moines opens its season against Muskegon and Youngstown at the USHL Fall Classic.

Fargo Force
2025-26 Record: 38-19-3-2, Lost in Western Conference Final of Clark Cup Playoffs

Players To Watch: Zac Zimmerman, Max Cullen, Wilson Boumedienne, AJ Francisco, Samuel Hrenak

2026-27 Outlook: It took a decisive Game 5 to end Fargo's season, with Sioux Falls needing every bit of it to close out the Western Conference Final. The Force retool around a pair of Moorhead High products: returner Zac Zimmerman and trade addition Max Cullen, who logged eight games with Muskegon down the stretch. Notre Dame commit AJ Francisco steps in on the blue line after a standout year with the NTDP that netted him 41 points in 58 games. Fargo opens its season against Cedar Rapids and Green Bay at the USHL Fall Classic.

Lincoln Stars
2025-26 Record: 28-29-4-1, Lost in Western Conference Semifinals of Clark Cup Playoffs

Players To Watch: Casey Vandertop, Brady Sloper, Brady Cunningham, Michael Kotora, William Prowse

2026-27 Outlook: A first-round upset of Des Moines carried Lincoln into the conference semifinals, where the run ended in five games. In net, Boston University commit Will Prowse is back after a 19-win season, and St. Thomas commit Casey Vandertop joins full-time following a decorated run at Edina High School. The Stars also welcome in Michael Kotora, who missed all of last season but arrives with 44 points from his 2024-25 stint at Shattuck St. Mary's 18U. Lincoln opens its season against Dubuque and Chicago at the USHL Fall Classic. It will be the first season under Head Coach Art Brey after five seasons on the Stars’ coaching staff. 

Omaha Lancers
2025-26 Record: 19-38-3-2, Missed Playoffs

Players To Watch: Matthew Lynn, Yegor Kim, Ryan Aaronson, Thaddeus McMahon, Nathaniel Celski

2026-27 Outlook: Omaha's season didn't extend into April, but there's no shortage of intrigue heading into the fall. The No. 1 overall pick in last year's Phase I Draft, defenseman Thaddeus McMahon, returns after an injury-shortened 13-game debut, joined by tender signing Matty Lynn, who racked up 64 points at the 15U level, and Kazakhstan-born forward Yegor Kim. A trade with Muskegon brings in 6-foot-3 defenseman Nathan Celski to round out a retooled lineup. Omaha opens its season against Chicago and Madison at the USHL Fall Classic.

Sioux City Musketeers
2025-26 Record: 30-27-3-2, Lost in Western Conference Semifinals of Clark Cup Playoffs

Players To Watch: Brock Stevenson, TJ Hale, Max Anderson, Max Yakub, William Keane

2026-27 Outlook: A sweep of Tri-City opened the door to the conference semifinals, where Fargo eventually slammed it shut. Max Anderson leads the returning group after a 27-point season, and the Muskies add serious firepower in Phase I forward Brock Stevenson, who piled up 85 points in 53 games last year. A trade with Muskegon brings goaltender Will Keane into the crease, while defenseman Maksim Yakub, who split last season between the Nor'Easters and Avon Old Farms, joins the blue line. Sioux City opens its season against Green Bay and Cedar Rapids at the USHL Fall Classic.

Sioux Falls Stampede
2025-26 Record: 43-16-3-0, Won Clark Cup Championship

Players To Watch: Joey Macrina, Cooper Soller, Ethan Sung, Dylan Delgado, Anthony Bongo

2026-27 Outlook: There's a Clark Cup banner going up in Sioux Falls, and the Stampede return several contributors to that squad. Joey Macrina scored the championship-clinching goal in double overtime over Muskegon, building off a 41-point regular season. Forward Cooper Soller and defenseman Anthony Bongo return to keep the scoring balanced up and down the lineup, and the Stampede add real juice up front with tender signing Dylan Delgado, who put up an absurd 115 points with Honeybaked 15U, and Shattuck-St. Mary's product Ethan Sung. Sioux Falls opens its season against Madison and the NTDP U18s at the USHL Fall Classic, chasing back-to-back titles.

Tri-City Storm
2025-26 Record: 26-29-4-3, Lost in First Round of Clark Cup Playoffs

Players To Watch: Luca Cannata, Aleksandr Sokolov, Trevor Hill, Bode Wise, Jackson Strukel
2026-27 Outlook: Sioux City needed just two games to end Tri-City's season, despite Goaltender-of-the-Year finalist Michal Pradel doing his part in net. The Storm answer with fresh faces up front: trade acquisition Luca Cannata arrives off a 51-point year with the BK Selects 18U squad and a two-game cup of coffee with the Steel. Phase II pick Aleksandr Sokolov brings a 72-point season from South Kent School, where he proved equally dangerous shooting or setting up. Don't sleep on Trevor Hill, either, who was named MJHL Rookie of the Year after recording 40 goals last season. Tri-City opens its season against Dubuque and the NTDP U18s at the USHL Fall Classic.

Waterloo Black Hawks
2025-26 Record: 16-42-2-2, Missed Playoffs

Players To Watch: Hayden Russell, Salvatore Viviano, Cody Sokol, Caleb Deanovich, Rian Marquardt

2026-27 Outlook: It was a difficult season on the scoreboard for Waterloo last year, but the roster core offers reason for optimism under a new Head Coach and Black Hawks alum in Brett Olson. Northern Michigan commit Salvatore Viviano broke out as a first-year skater with 40 points, and Hayden Russell returns after a combined 34-point campaign split between Dubuque and Waterloo. On the back end, first-round pick Caleb Deanovich and third-rounder Rian Marquardt both got their first USHL reps as 16-year-olds and headline a really talented blueline. Waterloo opens its season against Muskegon and Youngstown at the USHL Fall Classic.