Looking at three key matchups and players to watch in this weekend's slate of USHL games, including a battle of unbeatens between Sioux Falls and Sioux City
On to Week 2. After a jam-packed USHL Fall Classic that saw all 16 teams played in two games over the five-day event, all clubs will settle into their regular-season schedules.
Friday night will see ten teams play, with puck drop set for for 7:05 p.m. CT for all five games. On Saturday, five games will get underway at 6:05 p.m. CT and two more at 7:05 p.m. CT, seven games in all.
Here is a look at three key matchups and players to keep tabs on this weekend.
Sioux City Muskteers vs. Sioux Falls Stampede
Both Sioux City and Sioux Falls looked very impressive at the Fall Classic. The Musketeers handled the Dubuque Fighting Saints in the season opener, 5-1, before holding on in a tightly-contested matchup against Youngstown the following night.
Meanwhile, the Herd knocked off the NTDP U18 team, 6-3, before tying the game late in regulation against Muskegon and winning that one in overtime.
Player to watch (Sioux City): Tate Pritchard
Pritchard is one of the most exciting re-entry candidates in next year's draft. The Minnesota State commit recorded two goals at the Fall Classic and leads all Sioux City skaters with three points through the first two games.
Player to watch (Sioux Falls): Aleksandr Rybakov
Rybakov was impressive at the Fall Classic and is currently tied for the most points (3) among all USHL defensemen. At 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, the Russian blueliner skates really well and likes to jump into the rush, as seen in his overtime winner on Sunday.
Green Bay Gamblers vs. Lincoln Stars
Sporting a 1-1 record after the first two games, both teams will look to notch their second win over the year. The Gamblers dropped their season opener against Des Moines but turned around to shut out Fargo behind Gavin Moffatt's 28-save performance.
Meanwhile, the Lincoln Stars scored four times in the third period to skate past the Madison Capitols in their season opener, 5-2, before dropping a 3-1 contest against the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders the following night.
Of note, it looks like Blake Montgomery (OTT) will be suspended for Friday's game for his boarding game misconduct last Saturday.
Player to watch (Green Bay): Lev Katzkin (2025)
Despite leading the team with seven shots on goal, Katzin has just one point (an assist) to show for it. After recording 33 points in his rookie season, the Harvard commit should see a boost in his production as the Gamblers' top-line left-winger.
Player to watch (Lincoln): Layne Loomer
With a year of USHL experience under his belt, in which he recorded 34 shots on goal and nine points in 25 games, Loomer looks more comfortable in Year 2. The Alberta native tallied seven shots on goal in his first two games while recording a goal and an assist.
USA Hockey NTDP vs. Fargo Force
Despite dropping their season opener, the NTDP U18s bounced back the following night and used a five-goal second period to skate past the Waterloo Black Hawks.
As noted above, the Force were shut out in their first game despite registering 28 shots on goal. However, Fargo bounced back with a 4-2 win against Muskegon the following night.
Player to watch (Fargo): Eero Butella
Butella sure looked comfortable in his Fargo debut after being traded prior to the season. The Northeastern commit recorded just one point (an assist), but he registered seven shots on goal, the second-most on the team thus far.
Player to watch (NTDP): Charlie Trethewey (2025)
In the market for a mobile defenseman in next year's draft? Look no further than do-it-all blueliner Charlie Trethewey, who picked up the primary helper on Jack Murtagh's second goal on Sunday and owns a team-high seven shots on goal after the first two games.