Field is set for 2023 Clark Cup Playoffs
4/22/2023 10:18:44 PM
The United States Hockey League (USHL)
has announced the first-round matchups for the 2023 Clark Cup Playoffs.
“The entire USHL is excited to get the 2023 Clark Cup Playoffs underway,” said USHL President and Commissioner
Bill Robertson. “It has been such an exciting time to get to this point of the season with clubs competing at such a high-level this season. We wish all our member clubs the very best as they embark on this memorable Playoff journey and the thrilling games ahead.”
The format for the 2022-23 USHL Clark Cup Playoffs features 12 teams, six from each of the Eastern and Western Conferences, beginning Monday, April 24. The USHL postseason tournament, which consists of four rounds, starts with a best-of-three first round series between the #3 and #6 seeds and #4 and #5 seeds from each of the two conferences. All three games will be played at the higher seed’s home location on three consecutive nights.
In the Western Conference, the third-seeded Lincoln Stars host the six-seed Des Moines Buccaneers with all three games beginning at 7:05 p.m. CST at the Ice Box in Lincoln, Neb. Seeded fourth, the Tri-City Storm hosts the #5-seed Sioux City Musketeers with all three games beginning at 7:05 p.m. CST at Viaero Center in Kearney, Neb.
#6 Des Moines at #3 Lincoln (Lincoln wins series 2-0)
Game 1: Des Moines 2 - LINCOLN 5
Game 2: Des Moines 3 - LINCOLN 4 (1OT)
Game 3*: Wednesday, April 26 at 7:05 p.m. CST
#5 Sioux City at #4 Tri-City (Tri-City wins series 2-0)
Game 1: Sioux City 1 - TRI-CITY 6
Game 2: Sioux City 4 - TRI-CITY 5
Game 3*: Wednesday, April 26 at 7:05 p.m. CST
In the Eastern Conference, the #3-seed USA Hockey National Team Development Program hosts the sixth-seeded Cedar Rapids RoughRiders with all games scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m. EST at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Mich. The #4-seed Green Bay Gamblers host #5 Dubuque Fighting Saints with all three games starting at 7:05 p.m. CST at the Resch Center in Green Bay, Wis.
#6 Cedar Rapids at #3 NTDP (Cedar Rapids wins series 2-1)
Game 1: CEDAR RAPIDS 5 - USNTDP 2
Game 2: Cedar Rapids 4 - USNTDP 6
Game 3 ...: CEDAR RAPIDS 3 - USNTDP 1
#5 Dubuque at #4 Green Bay (Dubuque wins series 2-1)
Game 1: Dubuque 1 - GREEN BAY 4
Game 2: DUBUQUE 5 - Green Bay 2
Game 3 ...: DUBUQUE 3 - Green Bay 1
Following the first round, the winner of the #3 vs. #6 series will automatically play the #2 seed from their respective conference (Youngstown in the Eastern Conference and Waterloo in the Western Conference) while the winner of the #4 vs. #5 series will automatically play the #1 seeds in the conference semifinals (Chicago in the Eastern Conference and Fargo in the Western Conference).
The winners of the conference semifinals matchups then face-off in a best-of-five conference final series. The format of conference final will be 2-2-1 with games 1, 2 and 5 at the higher seed. The Eastern and Western Conference Champions will meet for the Clark Cup Final, a best-of-five series played in the 2-2-1 format with the higher seed hosting games 1, 2 and 5.
* If Necessary
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