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2015 USHL Clark Cup Playoffs - Conference Finals Preview

April 23, 2015 - United States Hockey League (USHL) News Release


Playoff Notes

Two of the four teams competing in the Conference Finals have never won the Clark Cup -Muskegon Lumberjacks, and Tri-City Storm.

The Dubuque Fighting Saints have won the championship twice over the past five seasons (2013, 2011), and the Sioux Falls Stampede have captured the Clark Cup once in team history (2007).

The Muskegon Lumberjacks and Sioux Falls Stampede both defeated the top seeds in their respective conferences in the semifinals. It is the first time ever that both #1 seeds have lost in the opening round of the Clark Cup Playoffs. Since the USHL went to a multi-divisional format beginning with the 1996-97 season, top seeds have been knocked out in the opening round of the playoffs just six times:

2015

#4 Muskegon Lumberjacks defeated #1 Youngstown Phantoms (3-1)

#4 Sioux Falls Stampede defeated #1 Sioux City Musketeers (3-2)

2008

#4 Chicago Steel defeated #1 Indiana Ice (3-1)

2007

#6 Des Moines Buccaneers defeated #1 Omaha Lancers (4-1)

2005

#4 Tri-City Storm defeated #1 Omaha Lancers (3-2)

2004

#4 Waterloo Black Hawks defeated #1 Chicago Steel (3-2)

Five NHL Draft picks are competing in the Conference Finals with each of the four teams having at least one on their roster:

Dubuque - William Lagesson (Edmonton Oilers, 2014)

Muskegon - Matheson Iacopelli (Chicago Blackhawks, 2014), Matej Paulovic (Dallas Stars, 2013)

Sioux Falls - Dakota Joshua (Toronto Maple Leafs, 2014)

Tri-City - Alec Dillon (Los Angeles Kings, 2014)

Series Matchups

EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL

#3 Dubuque Fighting Saints vs. #4 Muskegon Lumberjacks

- Both teams are in their fifth season after joining the USHL in 2010.

- It is the second time they are meeting in the playoffs after Dubuque swept Muskegon (3-0) in the 2013 Conference Semifinals on the way to eventually winning the Clark Cup.

- The two teams each won twice during their four-game season series, including once each on the other's team home ice.

- The Saints are 18-2 at home during the playoffs over the past five seasons.

- Goaltenders Eric Schierhorn of Muskegon and Jacob Nehama of Dubuque each played all four games of the season series. Scheirhorn posted a .939 SV% in those games while Nehama posted a 2.27 GAA. Scheirhorn led the USHL in the regular season with a .927 SV% while Nehama led all goaltenders with 29 wins.

- Muskegon forward Matheson Iacopelli is tied for the USHL playoff lead with four goals. The 2014 NHL Draft pick of the Chicago Blackhawks has netted 68 total goals in 118 USHL combined regular season and playoff games.

- Dubuque defenseman Hayden Shaw currently leads the USHL in playoff scoring with seven points (1g, 6a) over three postseason games. Between the regular season and playoffs this year, he is averaging a point per game - 49 points (7g, 42a) in 49 games.

- Muskegon defenseman Christian Wolanin has netted three goals over four playoff games this year. He has scored four goals in eight USHL career playoff contests.

- Muskegon forward Griffen Molino tied for fourth in USHL regular season scoring with 64 points (18g, 46a) over 57 games. He currently has five points (2g, 3a) in five playoff games.

- Muskegon ranked third in the USHL during the regular season on the power play (24.4%), but scored just once in 12 opportunities against Dubuque in the season series.

- Dubuque ranked first in the USHL during the regular season averaging 35.22 shots per game, while Muskegon was 15th in the League giving up 34.73 per game. Dubuque outshot Muskegon 167-102 over the four-game season series.

- Dubuque forwards Seamus Malone and Dylan Gambrell, plus defenseman Keegan Ford were on the roster when the Saints won the Clark Cup in 2013.

Schedule:

Game 1: Friday, April 24th, 7:35 PM - Muskegon @ Dubuque

Game 2: Saturday, April 25th, 7:05 PM - Muskegon @ Dubuque

Game 3: Friday, May 1st, 7:15 PM - Dubuque @ Muskegon

Game 4: Saturday, May 2nd, 7:15 PM - Dubuque @ Muskegon**

Game 5: Tuesday, May 5th, 7:05 PM - Muskegon @ Dubuque**

WESTERN CONFERENCE FINAL

#2 Tri-City Storm vs. #4 Sioux Falls Stampede

- It is the third time that Tri-City and Sioux Falls have met in the Clark Cup Playoffs. They previously played in both 2006 and 2007 with Sioux Falls advancing both times and holding a 4-2 record over six playoff games against Tri-City.

- The two teams each won three games in the six-game season series, including once each on the other team's home ice.

- Sioux Falls won the first three games before Tri-City won the last three in the season series.

- Storm forward Chris Wilkie scored six goals during the season series and finished tied for the USHL regular season lead with 35 total goals.

- Stampede rookie forward Kieffer Bellows netted seven goals in the series with the Storm and finished fifth overall in the League with 33 goals. He has four points (2g, 2a) over five playoff games so far.

- Sioux Falls forward Troy Loggins is currently tied for the USHL playoff lead with four goals over five contests. He netted 14 goals in 57 regular season games.

- Tri-City goaltender Alec Dillon leads playoff goaltenders with a 1.34 GAA. The 2014 NHL Draft pick of the Los Angeles Kings led the USHL in the regular season with a 2.27 GAA.

- Stampede goaltender Stefanos Lekkas has started all five playoff games and ranks third in the League with a 1.61 GAA.

- Dillon and Lekkas have both compiled a .946 SV% in the playoffs.

- Sioux Falls has scored 10 of their 18 playoff goals this year in the second period.

- Tri-City is giving up the fewest shots per game in the playoffs (24.67) after also ranking first in the USHL during the regular season (26.95). Sioux Falls is averaging the most shots on goal per game (40.60) in the playoffs after ranking 11th during the regular season (30.47).

- Stampede goaltender Art Brey won the Clark Cup as a member of the Dubuque Fighting Saints in 2013.

- Tri-City defenseman Vince Pedrie won the Clark Cup last year with the Indiana Ice.

Schedule:

Game 1: Friday, April 24th, 7:30 PM - Sioux Falls @ Tri-City

Game 2: Saturday, April 25th, 7:05 PM - Sioux Falls @ Tri-City

Game 3: Friday, May 1st, 7:05 PM - Tri-City @ Sioux Falls

Game 4: Saturday, May 2nd, 7:05 PM - Tri-City @ Sioux Falls**

Game 5: Tuesday, May 5th, 7:05 PM - Sioux Falls @ Tri-City**

**if necessary

(all times reflect local start time)

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