U.S.A. Junior Standings as of 2/15

United States Hockey League


With less then 20 games left for pretty much everyone in the USHL, the race for the West Division Top seed and East Division Home Ice are appearing to be where the best races for playoff position when the regular season ends on April 3.


With both the Indiana Ice and Cedar Rapids Roughriders playing some of their best hockey of the season, the Roughriders are still in 2nd. But the Ice are looking for a much better shot of defending the USHL Clark Cup Championship this spring by getting home ice and what could be shaping to be a Division Semifinals Round Showdown that would have them in the opening round of the playoffs for the 2nd straight year.



For the Ice, a SO Loss against Tri-City helped spark a bit of an offensive spark by scoring 4 or more goals in 6 of the last 8 games, and to get within 3 points of the 2nd place Cedar Rapids Roughriders. Helping them in the offensive spark has been Antti Roppo who has scored 8 points (5G 3A) in the last 7 games and has taken over the teams goal scoring lead with 20. Also watch out for Bryon Paulazzo who has at least a point in 13 of his last 17 games played, including a 4 assists night against the Des Moines Buccaneers back on 1/14.

Cedar Rapids has had some strong games scoring wise as well. Recently, they gave the Sioux Falls Stampede one of the biggest blowouts of the season with a 10-1 win back on 1/22. In addition the Roughriders had a pair of 3 goal wins over Fargo where 9-6 and 6-3 wins have put the league on notice.

Back on Friday night, Jeff Costello had his best game of the season with a 5 point night, including a hat trick in the game where he scored the first goal of the night. And scoring both goals in the 3rd period to complete the hat trick. His 2 assists also gave the team a spark, including being a part of a power play that was clicking all night by going 2/5 in the game.

After being out of the Division Lead for the first time all year, the Lancers used a 2-1 week to get in the Division Lead, first it was an 8-2 win over Des Moines as 12 players got at least a point in the game, including Matt White who had a 4 point night to get within 2 points of Jaden Schwartz for the league scoring title.

After an impressive weekend sweep over the Lancers. Fargo had 2 big high scoring losses that put some wind out of their sails and getting a shot as a possible darkhorse team to win the East Division and get to the Clark Cup Final if something were to happen to the Green Bay Gamblers the rest of the season.

The Force have proved they could win compete in high scoring matches and dispel myths that you don't need one or two big go to guys to help you score. So far for the Force, 7 players have reached double digit goals and another in Alex Lippincott who should reach their before the end of the regular season.

Chicago's playoff hopes have taken a hit the last couple of weeks. Back on Friday night, the Waterloo Blackhawks who are currently in the 4th spot, delivered what could be the knockout blow with a 6-1 loss in Iowa. Unfortunately, that was their final head to head matchup of the season, they will be no more chances to make big gains without help. If the Steel are going to make a late charge, the team will need to get out of a funk where the Steel has lost 6 of their last 8 games. To make it even harder, the Blackhawks have won 5 of their last 7 to help them earn more security for the final playoff spot in the East Division.

This Week's USHL Schedule

2/16

Waterloo Blackhawks VS. Sioux City Musketeers 7:00 PM

2/17

Youngstown Phantoms VS. Indiana Ice 6:05 PM

2/19

Cedar Rapids Roughriders VS. USNTDP 6:05 PM

Omaha Lancers VS. Youngstown Phantoms 6:15 PM

Waterloo Blackhawks VS. Des Moines Buccaneers 7:05 PM

Sioux City Musketeers VS. Lincoln Stars 7:05 PM

Green Bay Gamblers VS. Tri-City Storm 7:05 PM

Sioux Falls Stampede VS. Chicago Steel 7:30 PM


2/20

Cedar Rapids Roughriders VS. USNTDP 6:05 PM

Omaha Lancers VS. Youngstown Phantoms 6:15 PM

Tri-City Storm VS. Des Moines Buccanners 7:05 PM

Green Bay Gamblers VS. Lincoln Stars 7:05 PM

Sioux City Musketeers VS. Waterloo Blackhawks 7:05 PM

Sioux Falls Stampede VS. Chicago Steel 7:30 PM

Indiana Ice VS. Fargo Force 8:05 PM

2/21

Indiana Ice VS. Fargo Force 4:05 PM


For the Teams out of the playoff spots right now, They will be a number of points they are out of a playoff spot. When a team is elinmated from contention, it will change to an E.

United States Hockey League Standings

East Division

1. *-Green Bay 43 GP 33-7-3 69 PTS 153-98 17 GR

2. Cedar Rapids 44 GP 26-15-3 55 PTS 160-128 16 GR

3. Indiana 42 GP 25-15-2 52 PTS 137-119 18 GR

4. Waterloo 42 GP 21-19-2 44 PTS 154-157 18 GR

5. Chicago 42 GP 16-21-5 37 PTS 131-159 18 GR -7 PTS

6. USNTDP 39 GP 14-21-4 32 PTS 125-149 21 GR -12 PTS

7. Youngstown 43 GP 15-26-2 32 PTS 125-176 17 GR -12 PTS


West Division

1. Omaha 45 GP 30-12-3 63 PTS 183-114 15 GR

2. Fargo 43 GP 29-11-3 61 PTS 171-146 17 GR

3. Sioux Falls 43 GP 23-10-10 56 PTS 168-135 17 GR

4. Tri-City 45 GP 22-17-6 50 PTS 133-147 15 GR

5. Sioux City 41 GP 18-19-4 40 PTS 103-124 19 GR -10 PTS

6. Des Moines 44 GP 16-24-4 36 PTS 154-190 16 GR -14 PTS

7. Lincoln 44 GP 12-25-7 31 PTS 103-158 16 GR -19 PTS

*-Green Bay currently holds the Anderson Cup (Regular Season Champions) and Home Ice for the entire Playoffs.


Current Playoff Matchups

East Divison

#1 Green Bay Gamblers VS. #4 Waterloo Blackhawks

#2 Cedar Rapids Roughriders VS. #3 Indiana Ice


West Division

#1 Omaha Lancers VS. #4 Tri-City Storm

#2 Fargo Force VS. #3 Sioux Falls Stampede


North American Hockey League

This Weeks NAHL Schedule

2/15

Marquette Rangers VS. Motor City Metal Jackets 1:30 PM


2/16

Marquette Rangers VS. Motor City Metal Jackets 6:30 PM


2/17

St. Louis Bandits VS. Wichita Falls Wildcats 7:05 PM


2/18

Fairbanks Icedogs VS. Alaska Avalanche 7:00 PM Alaska Time


2/19

Janesville Jets VS. Marquette Rangers 6:30 PM

Alpena Ice Diggers VS. Motor City Metal Jackets 6:30 PM

Owatonna Express VS. Alexandria Blizzard 7:00 PM

St. Louis Bandits VS. Wichita Falls Wildcats 7:05 PM

North Iowa Outlaws VS. Bismarck Bobcats 7:15 PM

Topeka Roadrunners VS. Albert Lea Thunder 7:30 PM

Texas Tornado VS. Wenatchee Wild 9:05 PM

Fairbanks Icedogs VS. Alaska Avalanche 7:00 PM Alaska Time


2/20

Janesville Jets VS. Traverse City North Stars 6:05 PM

Alpena Ice Diggers VS. Motor City Metal Jackets 6:30 PM

Topeka Roadrunners VS. Albert Lea Thunder 7:00 PM

Owatonna Express VS. Alexandria Blizzard 7:00 PM

St. Louis Bandits VS. Wichita Falls Wildcats 7:05 PM

North Iowa Outlaws VS. Bismarck Bobcats 7:15 PM

Texas Tornado VS. Wenatchee Wild 9:05 PM

Fairbanks Ice Dogs VS. Alaska Avalanche 7:00 PM Alaska Time


2/21

Janesville Jets VS. Traverse City North Stars 12:00 PM

Alpena Ice Diggers VS. Motor City Metal Jackets 6:30 PM
North Division

1. Traverse City 44 GP 26-14-4 56 PTS 166-136 14 GR

2. Marquette 43 GP 27-16-0 54 PTS 144-113 15 GR

3. Janesville 43 GP 22-18-3 47 PTS 134-134 15 GR

4. Motor City 43 GP 19-18-6 44 PTS 120-137 15 GR

5. Alpena 45 GP 15-28-2 32 PTS 123-156 13 GR -12 PTS


Central Division

1. Bismarck 46 GP 29-9-8 66 PTS 146-110 12 GR

2. Owatonna 47 GP 27-16-4 58 PTS 153-148 11 GR

3. Alexandria 43 GP 21-18-4 46 PTS 125-118 15 GR

4. North Iowa 43 GP 13-25-5 31 PTS 115-179 15 GR

5. Albert Lea 44 GP 11-28-5 27 PTS 106-176 14 GR -4 PTS


South Division

1. Topeka 46 GP 35-7-4 74 PTS 197-109 12 GR

2. St. Louis 43 GP 34-8-1 69 PTS 153-90 15 GR

3. Texas 43 GP 20-19-4 44 PTS 134-146 15 GR

4. Springfield 45 GP 17-23-5 39 PTS 132-148 13 GR

5. Wichita Falls 47 GP 13-28-6 32 PTS 135-200 11 GR -7 PTS


West Division

1. Wenatchee 45 GP 34-8-3 71 PTS 154-96 13 GR

2. Fairbanks 49 GP 27-19-3 57 PTS 178-157 9 GR

3. Alaska 44 GP 25-13-6 56 PTS 153-131 14 GR

4. Kenai River 45 GP 10-32-3 23 PTS 105-181 13 GR


Current NAHL Playoff Matchups

North Division

#1 Traverse City North Stars VS. #4 Motor City Metal Jackets

#2 Marquette Rangers VS. #3 Janesville Jets


Central Division

#1 Bismarck Bobcats VS. #4 North Iowa Outlaws

#2 Owatonna Express VS. #3 Alexandria Blizzard


South Division

#1 Topeka Roadrunners VS. #4 Springfield Jr. Blues

#2 St. Louis Bandits VS. #3 Texas Tornado


West Division

#1 Wenatchee Wild VS. #4 Kenai River Brown Bears

#2 Fairbanks Icedogs VS. #3 Alaska Avalanche