The race for the 2025 Clark Cup has come down to one game.

After splitting the first four games of the Clark Cup Final, the Waterloo Black Hawks and Muskegon Lumberjacks face each other for a fifth and deciding game Tuesday at Young Arena in Waterloo.

The first two games of the series in Waterloo saw a combined 18 goals scored between the two teams. After shifting to Muskegon, games 3 and 4 were low-scoring gems.

The Lumberjacks eked out a 2-1 victory in Game 3 in double overtime. Waterloo returned the favor in Game 4, winning 3-2 95 seconds into overtime.

The stage is now set for a winner-take-all match to decide who walks away with this year’s Clark Cup. The Lumberjacks are seeking their first Clark Cup in franchise history, while the Black Hawks are looking to capture their first league title since 2004.

This story will be updated throughout the game. Make sure to refresh the page often so that you are reading the latest version.

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Pre-Game Notes

Goaltending has been a major storyline for both teams in this series, particularly in the last two games. Shikhabutdin Gadzhiev and Carter Casey have both made crucial saves during key moments in the series.

Casey has spent more time in net than any other goalie in the post-season, posting a 10-3-1 record with a 2.45 goals-against average and .921 save percentage after injuries called him into action with just five games left in the regular season.

After getting pulled in Game 1 of the Clark Cup Final, Gadzhiev rebounded to enter Game 5 with a 7-0-1 record, 1.94 goals-against average and .938 save percentage.

On offense, the Lumberjacks are led by leading playoff scorer and 2026 NHL Draft top prospect Tynan Lawrence, who has seven goals and 10 assists through 17 games. However, the Hawks have silenced him by holding him without a point for the last two games of the series.

Muskegon center and 2025 NHL Draft prospect Ivan Ryabkin is second in playoff scoring with seven goals and nine assists through 17 games. He has a point in each game of the final.

The Black Hawks have shown their considerable scoring depth during the post-season. Led by Teddy Townsend and Reid Morich, Waterloo has gotten goals from 17 different skaters. If another goal scorer finds the back of the net in Game 5, it will set a USHL Tier-1 record.

Here are the ways you can watch the game.

Watch on YouTube (Home Broadcast)

Watch on X (Home Broadcast)

Watch on FloHockey Facebook (Home Broadcast)

Watch on Waterloo Facebook (Home Broadcast)

Watch on Muskegon Facebook (Away Broadcast)

*FloHockey subscribers will be able to watch as usual on FloHockey.tv or via the FloSports mobile and connected TV apps. Puck drop is set for 6:35 Pm CT.

1st Period

Tynan Lawrence gets the Jacks on the board first at 3:53 of the first period. It’s his eighth goal of the post-season; David Deputy gets the assist. The Jacks fire the first salvo in this game. 1-0 Muskegon.

Chase Jette is called for a hard hit into the boards; Jacks go on the power play. Hawks had a shorthanded chance but it was stopped by Gadzhiev.

The Hawks successfully kill the penalty, stopping a couple of Jacks chances.

Jack Christ fires a missile past Casey at 14:03 in the period, giving the Jacks a 2-0 lead. Casey has been getting a workout the past few minutes, and the Jacks have the momentum thus far.

Muskegon was called for a delay-of-game penalty on Gadzhiev late in the period, but managed to kill it off despite a late chance by Waterloo.

The Hawks played well in the opening frame, even if the scoreboard doesn’t reflect that. Each team was called for a penalty apiece but killed them off. The Hawks outshot Muskegon 11-8.

The Black Hawks crowd has been loud from the start, ringing their cowbells. They are still very much into this game.

2nd Period

The Hawks had quite a flurry early in the period, but several great defensive blocks and a missed shot on an empty net kept Waterloo from cutting into the 2-0 deficit.

It may have been a sign of what was to come, however. Brendan McMorrow fired one past Gadzhiev to make it a 2-1 game.

Waterloo has revved up their engines in this frame, but the Jacks defense has risen to the challenge. Numerous blocks by their blueliners have kept the Hawks from tying this game, even when Gadzhiev was out of position.

It looked as if the Jacks had increased the lead to 3-1 at the 14:59 mark. David Klee’s shot trickled in behind Casey, but Waterloo challenged the play for goalie interference. The officials ruled no goal upon further review, sending the Young Arena crowd into a frenzy. That kept the score at 2-1.

It was the break the Hawks needed. After Brady Peddell cleared the puck, Teddy Townsend set up Reid Morich in the low slot, and the Hawks tied the game 2-2 at 16:16.

Neither team was called for a penalty in the period, although things got a little chippy as the buzzer sounded. The two teams headed to their respective dressing rooms in the same position they were when the game started: all even.

Once again, the Black Hawks outshot Muskegon 15-8 in the frame, and have a 26-16 advantage in that category after 40 minutes.

3rd Period

It will be interesting to see how much of a factor the disallowed goal by Klee will be. One lucky break or bounce could decide the Clark Cup Final in this period. Or, we could have bonus hockey once again. This is playoff hockey at its best.

Jack Christ scored his second of the game at 1:54 on a rebound off the toe of Casey to put Muskegon back in the lead 3-2. Christ is now on hatty watch.

Shortly thereafter, Gadzhieve made an incredible save when it looked like the puck had gone across the goal line. He used his paddle to bring it back to his midsection and kept Waterloo from tying the game right back up.

Xavier Veilleux gets a high-sticking minor, putting Waterloo on the power play. It was the first penalty called on either team since late in the first period. Dylan Compton attempted to capitalize on the man advantage, but Gadzhiev made a pad save. Jacks defenseman Bauer Berry, who had a block in the second period, kept another shot from entering the net, and Muskegon successfully killed off the penalty.

Hunter Ramos kept the Hawks’ hopes alive by tying the score 3-3 with a shot from the far side over Gadzhiev’s shoulder at 11:30.

Neither team could solve the opposing goalie the rest of the third period. It’s only fitting the Clark Cup should be decided in overtime; the previous two games needed extra time, so here we go again.

Waterloo outshot the Lumberjacks 34-24 through 60 minutes. Neither team has notched a power-play goal thus far.

Overtime

Hunter Ramos is like a bloodhound on a fugitive’s trail. He’s had a couple chances, both stopped.

David Deputy had a Grade A opportunity, but Casey stopped him cold less than five minutes into OT.

It was Jack Christ (who else) who ended up being the hero for the Lumberjacks. He got the biggest hat trick of his young life in overtime to give his club a 4-3 victory and its first Clark Cup in franchise history.

Tynan Lawrence was voted the USHL Playoff Most Valuable Player.