45th season of the USHL
Sports season
The 2023–24 USHL season was the 45th season of the United States Hockey League as an all-junior league. The regular season ran from September 20, 2023, to April 13, 2024, with a 62-game schedule for each team.[ 1] The Western Conference champions Fargo Force were awarded the Anderson Cup for the second consecutive year and went on to win the Clark Cup Championship .[ 2]
Season highlights
Total fan attendance at regular season games was calculated at 1,122,616, compared to 1,116,004 in 2022–23 . The Sioux Falls Stampede set a South Dakota state attendance record for a hockey game with 11,025 attending its 11 February match against the Sioux City Musketeers . The league also reported a 37 percent increase in streaming viewership.[ 3]
49 players with ties to the USHL , including 43 who played at least one game during the 2023–24 USHL season, were selected in the 2024 NHL entry draft . Those included Macklin Celebrini , former Chicago Steel forward, and Artyom Levshunov , former Green Bay Gamblers defenseman, who were selected first and second overall, respectively.[ 4]
Regular season
The standings at the end of the regular season were as follows:[ 5]
Note: x = clinched playoff berth; y = clinched conference title; z = clinched regular season title
Eastern Conference
Western Conference
Statistics
Scoring leaders
The following players led the league in regular season points at the completion of games played on April 13, 2024.[ 6]
Leading goaltenders
Note: GP = Games played; Mins = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OTL = Overtime losses; SOL = Shootout losses; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average; SV% = Save percentage
Clark Cup playoffs
First Round(Best-of-3) [ 7]
Conference Semifinals(Best-of-5)
Conference Finals(Best-of-5) [ 8]
Clark Cup Championship(Best-of-5)
E1
Dubuque
3
E4
Youngstown
2
E4
Youngstown
1
E5
Madison
1
Eastern Conference E1
Dubuque
3
E2
Muskegon
0
E2
Muskegon
3
E3
Green Bay
2
E3
Green Bay
2
E6
Chicago
1
W1
Fargo
3
E1
Dubuque
1
W1
Fargo
3
W4
Tri-City
2
W4
Tri-City
0
W5
Sioux Falls
1
Western Conference W1
Fargo
3
W2
Sioux City
2
W2
Sioux City
3
W3
Waterloo
0
W6
Lincoln
0
W6
Lincoln
2
First Round
Eastern Conference
(E4) Youngstown Phantoms vs. (E5) Madison Capitols
Youngstown wins series 2 – 1
(E3) Green Bay Gamblers vs. (E6) Chicago Steel
Green Bay wins series 2 – 1
Western Conference
(W4) Tri-City Storm vs. (W5) Sioux Falls Stampede
Tri-City wins series 2 – 1
(W3) Waterloo Black Hawks vs. (W6) Lincoln Stars
April 15
Waterloo Black Hawks
0 – 1
Lincoln Stars
Young Arena
No scoring
First period
No scoring
No scoring
Second period
Jack Pechar (1) - 8:05
No scoring
Third period
No scoring
Calvin Vachon (26 saves / 27 shots)
Goalie stats
Yan Shostak (40 saves / 40 shots)
Lincoln wins series 2 – 0
Conference Semifinals
Eastern Conference
(E1) Dubuque Fighting Saints vs. (E4) Youngstown Phantoms
Dubuque wins series 3 – 1
(E2) Muskegon Lumberjacks vs. (E3) Green Bay Gamblers
Muskegon wins series 3 – 2
Western Conference
(W1) Fargo Force vs. (W4) Tri-City Storm
(W2) Sioux City Musketeers vs. (W6) Lincoln Stars
Sioux City wins series 3 – 0
Conference Finals
Eastern Conference
(E1) Dubuque Fighting Saints vs. (E2) Muskegon Lumberjacks
Dubuque wins series 3 – 0
Western Conference
(W1) Fargo Force vs. (W2) Sioux City Musketeers
Clark Cup Finals
(W1) Fargo Force vs. (E1) Dubuque Fighting Saints
Playoff scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; PTS = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
Playoff leading goaltenders
Note: GP = Games played; MIN = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; SO = Shutouts; GA = Goals Allowed; GAA = Goals against average; SV% = Save percentage
Postseason awards
USHL awards
All-USHL First Team
Source [ 18]
All-USHL Second Team
Source [ 18]
All-USHL Third Team
Source [ 18]
USHL All-Rookie Team
Source [ 19]
All-Rookie Second Team
Source [ 19]
References
^ "USHL Announces 2023-24 Schedule" . USHL.com . June 7, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2024 .
^ Sikes, Ryan (April 1, 2024). "Fargo Force Clinch Anderson Cup Trophy For Second Straight Year" . flohockey.tv . Retrieved April 17, 2024 .
^ "2024 USHL annual general meeting recap" . ushl.com . United States Hockey League. Retrieved July 14, 2024 .
^ McAlpine, Jordan. "Here's which current and former USHL players heard their name called at the 2024 NHL Draft" . therinklive.com . Forum Communications Company. Retrieved July 14, 2024 .
^ "2023–24 Standings" . USHL.com . Retrieved April 17, 2024 .
^ "USHL Stats" . USHL.com . April 13, 2024. Retrieved April 17, 2024 .
^ "The First Round is Set for the 2024 Clark Cup Playoffs" . USHL.com . April 13, 2024. Retrieved April 17, 2024 .
^ "2024 Clark Cup Conference Finals Set" . USHL.com . April 26, 2024. Retrieved April 26, 2024 .
^ "Fargo's Mac Swanson Named 2023-24 USHL Player of the Year" . USHL . May 10, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024 .
^ "Mac Swanson Named 2023-24 USHL Forward of the Year" . USHL . May 9, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2024 .
^ "Leo Gruba Named 2024 USHL Defenseman of the Year" . USHL . May 9, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2024 .
^ "John Mustard Named USHL Rookie of the Year" . USHL . May 9, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2024 .
^ "Hampton Slukynsky Named USHL Goaltender of the Year" . USHL . May 9, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2024 .
^ "Fargo's Brett Skinner Named 2023-24 USHL Coach of the Year" . USHL . May 10, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024 .
^ "Dubuque's James Reeder Named Recipient of 2024 USHL Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award" . USHL . May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024 .
^ "Youngstown Forward Ryan Botterill Named Curt Hammer Award Winner" . USHL . May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024 .
^ "Fargo's Cary Eades Named 2023-24 USHL General Manager of the Year" . USHL . May 10, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024 .
^ a b c "All-USHL Teams Announced for 2023-24" . USHL . May 8, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2024 .
^ a b "USHL All-Rookie Teams Announced for 2023-24" . USHL . May 8, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2024 .
External links
Western Conference Eastern Conference Seasons