USHL Clark Cup Playoffs: First Round Preview, Players To Watch
Previewing the first round of the USHL Clark Cup Playoffs, including players to keep close tabs on. Plus predictions for each matchup.
Previewing the first round of the USHL Clark Cup Playoffs, including players to keep close tabs on.
#5 Cedar Rapids vs #4 Muskegon
Cedar Rapids gets a tough draw in the first round against Muskegon, a team they went 0-4-0-0 against during the regular season. Added, the RoughRiders went 11-18-1-1 and scored the fewest goals (83) away from home ice.
Meanwhile, Muskegon boasted a 21-8-0-2 record at Trinity Health Arena and won seven of their last ten games on home ice to close out the regular season. However, the Jacks owned just the tenth-best power-play unit at home, converting at 22.1%.
AJ Reyelts is our player to watch for Cedar Rapids, who saw the Jacks three times during the regular season and combined to stop 54-of-61 in those meetings. The CR goaltender led all USHL goaltenders with five shutouts, and he will need to be at his best for the Riders to advance.
Tynan Lawrence is our player to watch for Muskegon. The 2026 NHL draft-eligible forward was one of the league’s best rookies, leading all first-year skaters with an incredible 213 shots on goal.
Prediction: Muskegon in 3
#6 Green Bay vs #3 Madison
The Gamblers enter the postseason having lost their last three games and collecting wins in just two of their previous ten. However, Green Bay picked up four wins in nine matchups against Madison during the regular season. All four wins came to start the second half, and Green Bay outscored the Caps 20-11 in those matchups.
Madison closed out the regular season with points in eight of their final ten games. Added, the Caps were one of the best home teams in the USHL, owning a 23-5-2-1 record and a league-best 31.3% power play at Bob Suter's Capitol Ice Arena.
Will Zellers is our player to watch for Green Bay. The Boston Bruins draft pick led all skaters by a wide margin with 44 goals during the regular season. However, Zellers had a rather quiet end to the year, going his last four games without finding the back of the net. Look for him to get back on track in a big way.
Ryker Lee is our player to watch for Madison. This matchup should feature some of the best shooters in the league, including Lee, who led all rookie skaters with 31 goals.
Prediction: Madison in 2
#6 Tri-City at #3 Waterloo
Waterloo enters the postseason winners of three straight games and seven of its last ten to close out the regular season. However, the Black Hawks split their season series against Tri-City, dropping both games to the Storm on home ice. Waterloo’s power play will be something to watch, a unit that led the Western Conference with a 27.4% at Young Arena.
Tri-City closed out the regular season with an overtime win, which should give them a nice boost heading into the playoffs. Added, the Storm boasted a 17-12-2-0 road record this season, despite their power play clicking at a league-low 14.6% away from home ice.
Waterloo’s goaltending situation is what we’re watching in this one. With both Calvin Vachon and Kam Hendrickson listed as injured for the regular-season finale and their status uncertain for the first round, will the Black Hawks turn to Carter Casey? The 2026 NHL draft-eligible goaltender player exceptionally well down the stretch but has just five games of USHL experience.
Nolan Roed is our player to watch for Tri-City. The St. Cloud commit scored 27 goals during the regular season but went the final four games without finding the back of the net. Look for him to make some noise in these playoffs.
Prediction: Waterloo in 3.
#5 Fargo at #4 Sioux City
Despite dropping their final two games of the regular season, Sioux City collected points in eight of its last ten. Added, the Muskies went 7-0-0-1 against Fargo throughout the year. Sioux City has done exceptionally well holding onto leads this season, owning a 20-0-1-1 record with a lead entering the third period.
The Force are back in the postseason for the seventh straight non-COVID-impacted season. However, Fargo lost a lot from last year’s historic team that captured the organization’s second Clark Cup championship. Can the Force provide enough scoring to keep up with Sioux City?
Giacomo Martino is our player to keep tabs on for the Musketeers. The Northeastern commit was the USHL leading points-getter during the regular season. Added, Martino had three points in eight playoff games a year ago and looks poised to break out in this year’s installment.
Playoff experience is so important this time of year, which makes Merril Steenari our player to watch for Fargo. The Colorado College commit collected three points in the Force’s 12-game run to the Clark Cup title last year. Added, Steenari accumulated a team-high 41 points during the regular season in his fourth year of of junior hockey.
Prediction: Sioux City in 2.