USHL United States Hockey League

USHL Returns to Home Markets to Open 2021-22 Season

October 1, 2021 - United States Hockey League (USHL) News Release


Chicago, IL - After opening the United States Hockey League (USHL) in Cranberry Township, Penn. last weekend at the annual DICK'S Sporting Goods USHL Fall Classic, USHL Member Clubs return home this weekend to play in front of their home fans.

This season marks the 20th as a Tier I junior hockey league, which is the premier and lone Tier I junior hockey league in the United States.

"We're excited to get underway for the 2021-22 USHL season and are looking forward to our Member Clubs chasing the Clark Cup Championship," said USHL President and Commissioner Bill Robertson. "The Fall Classic, as always, was a great jump start event for the season but returning to our home markets is always exciting and our clubs love playing in front of their home fans."

This weekend's slate of games include a five-game night on Friday, opening with the first half of a home-and-home matchup between the Youngstown Phantoms and USA Hockey National Team Development Program (NTDP). The Phantoms are one of three teams searching for their first win of the season, along with the Madison Capitols and Muskegon Lumberjacks. The Capitols play the undefeated Chicago Steel (2-0-0-0, 4 pts.) at home Friday night before the Steel head home to take on the Lumberjacks for a Saturday night rematch of the Eastern Conference Final.

Two other teams left the Fall Classic with perfect 2-0-0-0 records (Des Moines Buccaneers and Tri-City Storm) and both will be in action Friday night. The Buccaneers play at home against the Omaha Lancers and the Storm take on the Lincoln Stars on the road.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE

Friday, October 1

Youngstown at NTDP (6:05 p.m. CDT)

Omaha at Des Moines (7:00 p.m. CDT)

Tri-City at Lincoln (7:05 p.m. CDT)

Chicago at Madison (7:05 p.m. CDT)

Cedar Rapids at Waterloo (7:05 p.m. CDT)

Saturday, October 2

Sioux Falls at Sioux City (6:05 p.m. CDT)

NTDP at Youngstown (6:05 p.m. CDT)

Muskegon at Chicago (7:05 p.m. CDT)

Dubuque and Green Bay Gamblers (7:05 p.m. CDT)

After the Fall Classic, a pair of skaters are tied for the league lead with five points each including Green Bay Gamblers defenseman Damien Carfagna (2-3-5) and Des Moines forward Scout Truman (1-4-5) and three league forwards are tied for the goal scoring lead with three tallies in the opening weekend: Ben Steeves (3-1-4, Sioux City), Tanner Latsch (3-0-3, Des Moines) and Frank Nazar (3-0-3, NTDP). Two other skaters joined Truman with four assists on the weekend including Week One USHL Defenseman of the Week Ethan Elias (0-4-4, Omaha) and NTDP forward Jimmy Snuggerud (0-4-4).

On the opposite side of the ice, goaltender Remington Keopple is the lone USHL netminder with a 2-0-0-0 record after the Fall Classic. Defending Goaltender of the Week Jack Williams (Waterloo Black Hawks) was one of two goalies, along with Cedar Rapids RoughRiders netminder Bruno Bruveris, to post a shutout during the opening weekend.

USHL STANDINGS

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Chicago Steel (2-0-0-0, 4 pts.)

Dubuque Fighting Saints (1-0-1-0, 3 pts.)

USA Hockey NTDP (1-0-1-0, 3 pts.)

Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (1-1-0-0, 2 pts.)

Green Bay Gamblers (1-1-0-0, 2 pts.)

Madison Capitols (0-1-1-0, 1 pt.)

Muskegon Lumberjacks (0-1-0-1, 1 pt.)

Youngstown Phantoms (0-2-0-0, 0 pts.)

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Des Moines Buccaneers (2-0-0-0, 4 pts.)

Tri-City Storm (2-0-0-0, 4 pts.)

Fargo Force (1-0-0-1, 3 pts.)

Lincoln Stars (1-0-1-0, 3 pts.)

Omaha Lancers (1-1-0-0, 2 pts.)

Sioux City Musketeers (1-1-0-0, 2 pts.)

Sioux Falls Stampede (1-1-0-0, 2 pts.)

Waterloo Black Hawks (1-1-0-0, 2 pts.)

Check out the United States Hockey League Statistics



United States Hockey League Stories from October 1, 2021


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