The 2025 Clark Cup Final has finally arrived. After over a week to rest and prepare, the Muskegon Lumberjacks and Waterloo Black Hawks are ready for a showdown that will determine who walks away with the coveted trophy.

Neither team finished in the top five of the USHL’s overall standings during the regular season, but both persevered by knocking off the top two seeds in their respective conferences to arrive in the best-of-five championship series.

Clark Cup Final Schedule

Game 1: #4 Muskegon Lumberjacks at #3 Waterloo Black Hawks – Friday, May 9, 6:35 p.m. CT

Game 2: #4 Muskegon Lumberjacks at #3 Waterloo Black Hawks – Saturday, May 10, 6:35 p.m. CT

Game 3: #3 Waterloo Black Hawks at #4 Muskegon Lumberjacks – Friday, May 16, 7:10 p.m. ET

Game 4: #3 Waterloo Black Hawks at #4 Muskegon Lumberjacks – Saturday, May 17, 6:10 p.m. ET*

Game 5: #4 Muskegon Lumberjacks at #3 Waterloo Black Hawks – Tuesday, May 20, 6:35 p.m. CT*

*If necessary

Ending A Dry Spell

Waterloo and Muskegon have never met during the Clark Cup playoffs, and it’s been a while since both teams have made a trip to the Final.

The Lumberjacks’ only trip to the Final occurred in 2015, when they fell to the Sioux Falls Stampede in three games.

Waterloo played for the championship the previous year, falling to the Indiana Ice in five games. The Hawks are seeking their fourth USHL post-season title. Waterloo prevailed over the Sioux City Musketeers in both 1978 and 1979 after the league had merged with the Midwest Junior Hockey League and was in the process of transitioning to exclusively junior rosters.

The Hawks haven’t won the Clark Cup since 2004, while Muskegon is still seeking its first title.

How They Got Here

The Lumberjacks needed a full three games to oust the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders during the opening round, but haven’t lost since Game 2 of that series.

The Jacks made a clean sweep of the Eastern Conference champion Youngstown Phantoms, then advanced past the second-seeded Dubuque Fighting Saints in three games. In the process, Muskegon won all four games they have played on the road during this post-season.

Waterloo swept the Tri-City Storm in two games to open the post-season, then overcame the second-seeded Stampede in the Conference semifinal round.

The high-scoring Hawks produced 18 goals across four games in that series. They were even better defensively during a conference final upset of the regular season champion Lincoln Stars, blanking the visitors during Game 3 and 4 at Young Arena after splitting the first two meetings at the Ice Box.

Regular Season Series

The Jacks and Hawks met just twice during the 2024-25 regular season, with Waterloo getting the upper hand on both occasions.

On home ice, the Hawks secured a decisive 6-2 victory before squeaking out a 4-3 road win.

Scouting The Lumberjacks

Muskegon has four players who have scored in double digits. Rookie forward Tynan Lawrence leads all league skaters with 13 points (6-7-13) during the post-season.

David Deputy is tied for the lead in playoff goals with eight to go along with three assists. Ivan Ryabkin is also among the leaders with 12 points (5-7-12), while Vaclav Nestrasil rounds out the foursome with 10 points (4-6-10).

In goal, Shikhabutdin Gadzhiev is a perfect 5-0-0 for the Jacks with a 1.74 goals-against average and .948 save percentage.

Scouting The Black Hawks

Brendan McMorrow has had quite a post-season for the Hawks, potting six goals to go along with six helpers for 12 points.

Kaeden Hawkins has 11 points (8-3-11), and is tied with Deputy for the USHL lead in playoff goals. Hunter Ramos has chipped in with 11 points (3-8-11).

Even the Hawks’ blueliners have gotten in on the scoring act. Dylan Compton (2-9-11), Chase Jette (4-5-9) and Reid Morich (3-6-9) lead the team’s defensive corps.

Carter Casey has been a fortress in net for Waterloo, posting a 2.34 GAA, 0.925 SP and two shutouts.

Fun Fact

One player will claim a second consecutive Clark Cup Championship during the days ahead. Waterloo’s Reid Daavettila and Muskegon’s Finn McLaughlin were previously Fargo Force teammates and members of their 2024 Clark Cup squad. Both players were traded to their current teams on the same day, officially Feb. 24.