The USHL Clark Cup Final begins Friday, while the NAHL Robertson Cup Division finals continue over the weekend. Get caught up with players to watch, news and stats.
USHL Clark Cup Finals Preview
How they got here
Fargo
After a first round bye, the Force took two close, 3-2 games, including an OT winner in game 2, vs Tri City to move on to play the Lincoln Stars. Matej Marinov would pitch a 25 save shutout in game 1, but Fargo would go with Anton Castro in net for game 3, following their 4-3, game 2 loss. The switch paid off, as Fargo would take the pivotal game 3, 3-2. Castro would come in relief in game 4 as well, stopping all 13 shots as the Force scored 5 unanswered goals in the 3rd to take the game 8-4, and the series 3-1.
Youngstown
The Phantoms faced Cedar Rapids after their first round bye, defeating the Rough Riders 3-2 in an double OT thriller in game 1, before taking the 3 game series in game 2 with a 3-1 win. The Eastern finals would be the top 2 teams of the division, as Youngstown would face the #1 seed Chicago Steel. The Phantoms finished in 2nd with 81 points to Chicago’s 83. The teams would split the opening 2 games, with the Phantoms wrestling the series away with a 4-1 game 3 win, followed up by a 2-1 OT win in game 4, with Wisconsin Commit and 2023 NHL draft prospect William Whitelaw scoring the OT winner, his 3rd of the playoffs.
Schedule
Game 1 : 5.12.23 - Youngstown at Fargo 7:05 p.m. CST
Game 2 : 5.13.23 - Youngstown at Fargo 6:05 p.m. CST
Game 3 : 5.19.23 - Fargo at Youngstown 7:05 p.m. EST
Game 4 : 5.20.23 - Fargo at Youngstown 7:05 p.m. EST
Game 5 : 5.23.23 - Youngstown at Fargo 7:05 p.m. CST
Players to Watch
Mac Swanson - 06' Forward - Fargo Force
For North Dakota fans Swanson is a must watch during the Clark Cup final. Swanson has continued his impressive season into the post season accumulating 7 assists to go with 3 Goals in 6 games. Swanson had himself a 5-point night in the series clinching game vs Lincoln.
Cole Knuble - 04' Forward - Fargo Force
Coming off a four-goal performance vs Lincoln, Knuble has scored 6 goals in last 4 games. The Notre Dame commit appears to have found his game after a quiet round 2 series. He will be a handful for Youngstown to match up against.
Andrew Centrella - 04' Defensemen - Youngstown Phantoms
The puck moving, smooth skating defensemen has been performing well throughout the playoff season. He has improved on the defensive side of the puck as the season progressed and can be a reliable point producer for the Phantoms, currently with 3 points (1G 2A) in 6 playoff games.
Matthew Perkings - 04' Forward - Youngstown Phantoms
Finishing the regular season as the 165 ranked skater on NHL Central Scouting, Perkings has been a main point of focus for scouts. Perkins has not found the back of the net since the opening night of the playoffs, he will need to be a more consistent producer in the final to help his draft stock.
2023 NHL Draft Prospects
NA = North American Rankings
Clark Cup History
The Youngstown Phantoms are in search of their first Clark Cup title in organization history, with Fargo last winning in 2017-2018. The Omaha Lancers have the most Clark Cup Championships with 7, followed by the Duque Fighting Saints with 4.
Recent Champions
2021 - 2022 : Sioux City Musketeers
2020 - 2021 : Chicago Steel
2019 - 2020 : Not Awarded (Covid)
2018 - 2019 : Sioux Falls Stampede
2017 - 2018 : Fargo Force
2016 - 2017 : Chicago Steel
2015 - 2016 : Tri-City Storm
East Division Finals
The Maryland Blackbears have raced out to a 2-0 lead in relatively easy fashion. Maryland's depth has proven to be too much for the Maine Nordiques who have struggled to keep pace with the Blackbears losing game 1 by a score of 4-2 and game 2 5-1. The Blackbears have outscored the Nordiques in the third period by a combined score of 4-0. The Nordiques will have to perform the reverse sweep if they want a shot at the Robertson Cup.
Playoff Producers
Brandon Piku (Maryland) - 5GP 2G 7A
Samuel Stitz (Maryland) - 5GP 4G 2A
Brayden Stannard (Maryland) - 5GP 3G 3A
Brendan Gibbons (Maine) - 5GP 4G 2A
NAHL Awards - East Division
East Division Rookie of the Year : David Deputy (Philadelphia Rebels)
East Division Organization of the Year : Maryland Black Bears
East Division Academic Achievement Award : Jackson Foddrill (Maine Nordiques)
East Division Leadership Award: Brad McNeil (Maryland Black Bears)
East Division Community Service Award : Caid Cox (Maine Nordiques)
F : David Andreychuk (Northeast Generals)
F: Brad McNeil (Maryland Black Bears)
F : Paul MInnehan (Northeast Generals)
D : Sean Kilcullen (Maryland Black Bears)
D : Luke Van Why (Maryland Black Bears)
G : Jakub Krbecek (Philadelphia Rebels)
South Division Finals
Shreveport's battle with Lone Star in the Division Semi-Final has seemed to have an effect on the Mudbugs who are struggling to keep pace with the Oklahoma Warriors, trailing the Warriors 2-0 in the series. Oklahoma 02' Forward William Lawson-Body has continued his hot Robertson Cup playoffs accumulating 4 points through the first two games of the series. Shreveport heads back to Hirsch Coliseum this Friday as they try to keep their season alive.
Playoff Producers
Drew Sutton (Oklahoma) - 5GP 4G 5A
Brendan Williams (Oklahoma) - 5GP 4G 3A
Joey Delgreco (Oklahoma) - 5GP 2G 5A
NAHL Awards - South Division
South Division Rookie of the Year: Joey Delgreco (Oklahoma Warriors)
South Division Organization of the Year: Oklahoma Warriors
South Division Academic Achievement Award: Jacob MacDonald (Lone Star Brahmas)
South Division Leadership Award: Mason Mara (Lone Star Brahmas)
South Division Community Service Award : Hayden Nichol (Shreveport Mudbugs)
F : Chase Davis (Amarillo Wranglers)
F : Joey Delgreco (Oklahoma Warriors)
F : William Howard (New Mexico Ice Wolves)
D : Owen Baumgartner (Oklahoma Warriors)
D : Pierce Patterson (Amarillo Wranglers)
G : Simon Bucheler (Shreveport Mudbugs)
Midwest Division Finals
In a tight defensive series, the Minnesota Wilderness and Wisconsin Windigo have battled to a 1-1 Series tie. Wisconsin's 03' goaltender Maxwell Beckford has turned away 51 of 54 shots through the first two games of the series. Beckford has been hot this playoff posting a 1.35 GAA and a 95.9 Save Percentage. Beckford's counterpart 02' Isak Posch has been equally as impressive for the Wilderness as he has turned away 55 of 58 shots and posting a 95.8 Save Percentage with a 1.19 GAA. Expect more low scoring games throughout the remainder of the series as both teams look to gain advantage on Friday night.
Playoff Producers
Victor Widlund (Wisconsin) - 5GP 3G 2A
Kevin Marx Noren (Minnesota) - 5GP 3G 1A
NAHL Awards - Midwest Division
Midwest Division Rookie of the Year : Gavin Moffatt (Wisconsin Windigo)
Midwest Division Organization of the Year : Wisconsin Windigo
Midwest Division Academic Achievement Award : Carter Wishart (Chippewa Steel)
Midwest Division Leadership Award : Jacob Conrad (Fairbanks Ice Dogs)
Midwest Division Community Service Award : Jack Olson (Fairbanks Ice Dogs)
F : Kevin Marx Noren (Minnesota Wilderness)
F : Jackson Reineke (Anchorage Wolverines)
F : Sam Rice (Chippewa Steel)
D : Trent Powell (Anchorage Wolverines)
D : Joey Potter (Fairbanks Ice Dogs)
G : Gavin Moffatt (Wisconsin Windigo)
Central Division Finals
After dropping game 1 of the series 4-3 to St. Cloud, the Austin Bruins responded in a big way with a 6-1 victory in game 2. In game 1 St. Cloud's 04' Forward Anthony Ruklic was the hero as he netted two goals including the overtime winner. Game 2 was all Austin as they scored three first period goals, taking St. Cloud out of the game early. Games 3 and 4 should feature more back and forth action between two teams that are very close in talent.
Playoff Producers
Walter Zacher (Austin) - 5GP 6G 3A
Gavin Morrissey (Austin) - 5GP 0G 7A
NAHL Awards - Central Division
Central Division Rookie of the Year : Chase LaPinta (Minot Minotauros)
Central Division Organization of the Year : Austin Bruins
Central Division Academic Achievement Award : Matthew Desiderio (Austin Bruins)
Central Division Leadership Award : Owen Dubois (Aberdeen Wings)
Central Division Community Service Award : Hunter Garvey (Bismarck Bobcats)
F : Chase LaPinta (Minot Minotauros)
F : Hunter Longhi (Minot Minotauros)
F : Gavin Morrisey (Austin Bruins)
D : Jack Malinski (Austin Bruins)
D : Broten Sabo (St. Cloud Norsemen)
G : Trent Wiemken (Austin Bruins)
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