USHL 2022-2023 Thread

[JMCx4]

In Monday night's pair of Conference Finals games, regular season points leader Fargo eliminated Lincoln in Game #4 out West. In the East, Youngstown took a 2-1 series lead over #1 seed Chicago with Game 4 scheduled for Tuesday night in Ohio.

 

[JMCx4]

The USHL Clark Cup Championship competitors are determined, after Youngstown tied their Game #4 vs. Chicago in the closing minutes of regulation then scored again in overtime to win the Eastern Conference finals. Final Score = 2-1, with Wisconsin committed forward William Whitelaw scoring the series-clinching goal.

 

[JMCx4]

2023 Clark Cup Final Set
5/9/2023 9:23:24 PM

The matchup for the United States Hockey League Clark Cup Final has been determined following the conclusion of the USHL Conference Finals.

In Western Conference action, the Anderson Cup Champion Fargo Force downed Lincoln in the best-of-five series 3-1. The 2022-23 season marks the sixth time the Force have advanced to the Clark Cup Final. Under the guidance of Cary Eades, Fargo won the Clark Cup in 2017-18.

Seeded second in the Eastern Conference, the Youngstown Phantoms claimed a 2-1 overtime win Tuesday night in winning its series over top-seeded Chicago Steel three games to one. The Phantoms fell to Fargo in the 2017-18 Clark Cup Final in their only previous Clark Cup Final appearance.

Times and dates have been announced for the Clark Cup Final between the Force and the Phantoms.

Fargo vs. Youngstown | 2023 Clark Cup Final (Phantoms win series 3-0)

Game 1: YOUNGSTOWN 4 at Fargo 1

Game 2: YOUNGSTOWN 2 at Fargo 1 (1OT)

Game 3: Fargo 0 at YOUNGSTOWN 1

Game 4*: Fargo at Youngstown (Saturday, May 20 at 7:05 p.m. EST)

Game 5*: Youngstown at Fargo (Tuesday, May 23 at 7:05 p.m. CST)

*If necessary ...

 

[JMCx4]

On Friday night, the visiting Youngstown Phantoms played conservatively & saved their offensive burst until the 3rd period. They kept #1 seed Fargo scoreless until the final minute of a 4-1 Game #1 Y-town victory in the Clark Cup Championship. Game #2 is Saturday night in Fargo.

 

[JMCx4]

Youngstown allows only 1 goal from Fargo for the second night in row, winning Game 2 in overtime 2-1. GWG goes to Quinnipiac commit forward Andon Cerbone. The Clark Cup Championship series now pauses for 6 days & shifts to Ohio, where the Phantoms will have two weekend home ice chances to upset the Force & win their first Clark Cup.

 

[JMCx4]

InForum (WDAY): As Phantoms return home seeking first Clark Cup, Covelli Centre has been the best for Youngstown

Tribune Chronicle: Youngstown Phantoms look to close out Clark Cup Finals

 

[Captain Crash]

InForum (WDAY): As Phantoms return home seeking first Clark Cup, Covelli Centre has been the best for Youngstown

Tribune Chronicle: Youngstown Phantoms look to close out Clark Cup Finals

Good to see that the Covelli Centre is sold out for tonight's game. Hopefully this brings some momentum for Youngstown as a hockey market.

 

[JMCx4]

A Twitter is worth a thousand words ...

 

[JMCx4]

And for those who prefer the written word ...

Youngstown Downs Fargo 1-0 to Claim 2023 Clark Cup Championship

5/19/2023 9:35:21 PM ...

Youngstown, Ohio. --- The Youngstown Phantoms completed its historic run through the postseason by earning a 1-0 win over Fargo in the championship-clinching game Friday night.

Tonight's victory gave the Phantoms a 3-0 win in the best-of-five series over the Force and is the first Clark Cup Championship in team history. The Phantoms, who were making their second appearance in the Clark Cup Final, have been members of the USHL since the 2009-10 season. ...

The Phantoms owned a six-to-five shot advantage in a scoreless first period and by the end of the second Youngstown was outshooting Fargo by a total of 18-14. But with Youngtown's Jacob Fowler and Fargo's Matej Marinov both turning in stellar goaltending performances, neither team was able to push the puck past the goal line.

Then, just 24 seconds into the third period, Youngstown forward Andon Cerbone collected an errant pass in the Fargo defensive zone and ripped a shot past Marinov for his fifth goal of the playoffs. The Force outshot the Phantoms eight-to-six in the final frame, but Cerbone's goal held up as the game-winner.

Cerbone, who tallied the overtime game-winning goal in last Saturday's 2-1 triumph, finished the year riding a five-game point-scoring streak going during which he registered 3-2—5. ...

Fowler, Boston College commit who went 3-0-0 in the championship round with a sterling 0.64 goals against average, .976 save percentage and a 22-save shutout in the final game, was named the Clark Cup Most Outstanding Player.