The conference finals for the 2025 Clark Cup Playoffs are now set following Tuesday night’s action.
In one of the most exciting games in recent memory, the Waterloo Black Hawks outlasted the Sioux Falls Stampede 6-5 in double overtime. The Hawks took the series 3-1 and will meet the Lincoln Stars in the Western Conference Finals.
In the East, Dubuque had a much easier time Tuesday, cruising to a 6-1 victory over the Madison Capitols to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for a meeting with the Muskegon Lumberjacks. The Fighting Saints took that series 3-1.
Here’s how it all went down.
A Win For The Ages
The Waterloo Black Hawks can’t say they didn’t earn their spot in the Western Conference Finals. They fought back from two different third-period deficits before finally scoring in double overtime to capture their semifinal series with the Sioux Falls Stampede.
The Hawks never led in this game until Brendan McMorrow, the team’s leading scorer in the post-season, rammed home the game-winner 2:32 into the second overtime. Hunter Ramos fed McMorrow, who sent a long shot from the high slot into the top corner for the unforgettable 6-5 victory.
The Herd scored twice during an 18-shot first period. Waterloo came within a goal on two different occasions in the middle frame, only to be down 4-2 entering the third when Joseph McGraw completed a hat trick for the Stampede.
The real comeback began when Chase Jette scored at 9:13 of the third to cut the deficit to 4-3. Reid Morich finally drew the Hawks even nearly four minutes later after receiving a 100-foot pass from Dylan Compton, then firing in a wrister to the glove side of Herd goaltender Aiden Wright.
The Stampede didn't go down without a fight, however. After the Hawks coughed up the puck deep in their own zone, McGraw earned his fourth point of the game after setting up JJ Monteiro for a goal from the left dot.
Waterloo sent a sixth attacker onto the ice in the final two minutes, and it paid off. Ty Mason’s initial shot was stopped by Wright, but Morich knocked the rebound across to send the game into overtime tied 5-5.
Each team got off 11 shots during the first overtime with no results. McMorrow finally ended the long night with his game-winner.
Carter Casey earned the win, stopping 44 of 49 shots. Wright made 38 saves in the loss for Sioux Falls.
Fighting Saints Roll Past Capitols
After falling in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Finals series, the Dubuque Fighting Saints reeled off three straight wins to take the series 3-1. Tuesday’s 6-1 triumph earned the Saints a date with Muskegon for the conference final.
Dubuque scored two goals in a 38-second span to take a 2-0 lead early in the second period. It was part of a four-goal middle frame, the second time the Saints have accomplished that in this series.
The final two goals came on a Lucas Van Vliet highlight-reel wrister from between his legs, followed by an empty-netter from Melvin Ekman to complete the 6-1 series-clinching victory.
Liam Beerman made 29 saves on 30 shots to earn the win. He allowed just five total goals over the four games.
The Saints capitalized on one of their two power-play opportunities in the game and killed both their penalties. They were 50% (6-for-12) on the power play during the series while killing off all 10 of Madison’s power plays.
The Saints and Lumberjacks will meet in the Eastern Conference Finals for the second consecutive season, starting this weekend in Dubuque.