Tag s : Top Story. Current Section Home. Clark Cup Playoffs Dates exact game dates dependent on matchup and building availability Conference Semifinals best-of-three series, all games at higher seed : April May 2 Conference Finals best-of-three series, or format, as chosen by higher seed : May Clark Cup Final best-of-five series, format : May Unique to this season, should a team, or teams, be unable to play a full game schedule the USHL has put in place a series of new standards for qualifying and seeding for the Playoffs.
One point behind Dubuque for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference — although far further back via points percentage. No draft eligibles but remember those names for next season. By points percentage, easily the weakest team in the league. The aforementioned Jack Malone , a Vancouver draft pick, was far and away the top performer on the team, which is to be expected from a player with a year at Cornell under his belt.
Among first year draft eligibles, Japanese import Yusako Ando was the most notable, although his second year in the league was worse than his first. The only other draft eligible who ever made a positive impression on me from this roster was blueliner Austen May.
The Providence commit is on the small side, but he is really fleet of foot and shows decent attention to detail off the puck. The drafted guys were all solid, but too few of the rest of the roster could match their output. Davey and Scout Truman were the two most notable first time draft eligible on the roster, but neither really put their stamp on the season. If there are to be any Buccaneers drafted this year, they will be among the redraft candidates.
To that end, file away the names of Matt Choupani and Remington Koepple. Choupani is a forward who lacks much in the way of physical tools but can play the puck well. Koepple is a goalie who had decent numbers in his first year in the league, although he has only average size and athleticism and he chocked in the BioSteel game, hurting his standing for some. The Stars went heavy on the ringers partway through the season. There was some expectation that he could be a high round pick this year, but one goal and six assists in 23 games ended that sentiment.
Stefan, son of former first overall pick Patrik Stefan, had enough moments to maybe convince some team to call his name in the late rounds.
A kind word also to big bruising winger Gleb Veremeyev. The USHL is not a very physical league, and when a player has that size and plays with that snarl, he sometimes gets drafted, such as we saw with Nick Capone last year and Martin Pospisil in Generally contenders, the Black Hawks find themselves out of the playoffs for the first time since , and only the second time in 14 seasons for which there were playoffs.
The team cycled through goalies, with three seeing significant minutes. Among players eligible this year, the most impressive were second time eligible defenseman Cooper Wylie , a USHL rookie, who can play the puck and skate well enough to make his ornery game effective, if not spectacular.
He could be drafted. On the other hand, David Gucciardi , acquired in an early season trade from Youngstown, will be drafted. His game is raw, and his mistakes are often critical, but he has tools, and his instincts are good enough to think he can be a good one if he relies on his instincts all the time.
The Western Conference bottom feeders are a mystery. Defender Brent Johnson was one of the better draft eligible defenders in the league as well. A power play specialist with good wheels and an ornery side, his season ended right before the BioSteel All American Game due to a shoulder injury, but could hear his name called in the range of the draft if his medicals hold up.
Although not as high profile, I also have time for second time eligible, defenseman Nate Schweitzer , who can do a lot well, but nothing spectacularly, and winger Mike Citara , who can skate and shoot.
The format this year is simple. The top four teams from each conference made it in. All series are best-of-threes. Top seed plays the fourth seed, and second seed plays the third seed. All games are hosted by the higher seed. One series per weekend until one team lifts the Clark Cup.
The Western Conference was incredibly tight at the top with the playoff picture not being settled until the final weekend of the regular season. The points percentage difference between Tri-City and Fargo 32 percentage points was less than between Fargo and fifth place Des Moines 34 percentage points. Fargo was the third best defensive team in the league, although Tri-City was the best at keeping the puck out of its net.
In fact, they are quite evenly matched. The difference in these three games outside of home ice advantage is likely to rest in special teams.
Fargo was mediocre on both the power play and the penalty kill, while the Storm were strong with the man advantage and almost impregnable on the penalty kill, leading the league with a breathtaking And they will have to do that again this weekend to keep their season alive.
Beyond the expected close games, another reason to watch this series is the head-to-head matchup between two very interesting and talented draft eligibles. On Fargo, that would be Tristan Broz , a two-way center with a good motor and the vision to be a power play weapon. The Minnesota commit ran away with the scoring lead on his team. His numbers would be even more impressive if he had more talented teammates to play with.
On Tri-City, the man of the hour is Matthew Knies. Knies started his season painfully slow, but ended it on fire, with 20 points in his final 11 games. Knies has heavier feet, but a very mature build and at his best, can take over the game. After closing out February with three wins in a row, the Herd have lost 13 of their last 15 games.
That tournament will take place from April 26 to May 6. His 1. Luke Toporowski came over from the Spokane Chiefs and in 29 games for the Herd has scored 28 points.
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