By winning the Anderson Cup for holding the USHL’s best record during the regular season, the Lincoln Stars earned a first-round bye in the Clark Cup Playoffs. They swept the Sioux City Musketeers in the second round to advance to the Western Conference Finals for a showdown with the Waterloo Black Hawks beginning Friday.

The Hawks got to the WCF by sweeping Tri-City in the first round before knocking off the Sioux Falls Stampede in four games in the second round.

WCF Schedule

Game 1: #3 Waterloo Black Hawks at #1 Lincoln Stars – Friday, April 25, 7:05 p.m. CT

Game 2: #3 Waterloo Black Hawks at #1 Lincoln Stars – Saturday, April 26, 6:05 p.m. CT

Game 3: #1 Lincoln Stars at #3 Waterloo Black Hawks – Wednesday, April 30, 6:35 p.m. CT

Game 4: #1 Lincoln Stars at #3 Waterloo Black Hawks – Thursday, May 1, 6:35 p.m. CT*

Game 5: #3 Waterloo Black Hawks at #1 Lincoln Stars – Saturday, May 3, 6:05 p.m. CT*

*If necessary

Regular Season Recap

The Stars and Black Hawks faced each other four times during the 2024-25 regular season, with the Hawks claiming points in three of the meetings and going 1-1-2. Lincoln won the most recent get-together 3-2 in overtime March 8. Matthew Maltais made a penalty shot 90 seconds into the extra frame.

Since 2012, the two teams have met six previous times in the playoffs. Waterloo holds a 12-8 record in the 20 post-season games they have played. This will be the fourth straight year these teams have faced each other in the playoffs.

The Clark Cup Playoffs have become familiar territory for the Stars, having qualified for the post-season for the fourth consecutive season and 20th time in 29 years. They have brought home the trophy twice in franchise history.

The 20-Plus Club

Lincoln had six players put up 20 or more goals during the regular season: Jack Pechar (27), Dashel Oliver (26), Daniel Shlaine (24), Gio DiGiulian (22), Bruno Idzan (22) and Lefty Markonidis (20). It was the first time in franchise history that the Stars have had at least six players light the lamp 20-plus times.

Lincoln led the USHL with 272 goals during the regular season, breaking their single-season record of 246 set back in 2000-01.

Bravo Bruno

Despite playing in just 36 of the Stars’ 62 games during the regular season, Bruno Idzan still managed to tie for the third-most goals on the team with 22. He led the way in the three-game sweep of the second-round series against the Musketeers with three goals.

Idzan finished second in the USHL in points per game during the regular season (1.22).

Shutdown Shostak

Stars goaltender Yan Shostak recorded a shutout in the final game of the second-round series against Sioux City. It was the second playoff shutout for Shostak during his career after posting four during the regular season.

Long Time Coming

Prior to this week, the Black Hawks haven’t been to the Conference Finals since 2018. Waterloo fell to the Fargo Force in four games in that series.

During Waterloo’s junior era, the team has now been to the Conference Finals (or equivalent) 12 times, including this season. The Hawks have advanced to the Clark Cup Final six times, the most recent in 2014.

A Brendan Blitz

Brendan McMorrow has had an impressive post-season thus far for the Black Hawks. He scored the overtime game-winning goal in Game 4 of the second-round series against Sioux Falls, and his five post-season tallies are tied for second-most of all skaters. His nine total points ties him for first with Muskegon’s Tynan Lawrence in scoring during the post-season.

McMorrow’s 24 goals during the regular season were best on the team. He tied for second in the USHL in power-play goals with 14.

Defensive Dylan

A finalist for USHL Defenseman of the Year, Waterloo’s Dylan Compton also led all league skaters with 26 power-play assists and power-play points (28).

Compton also led all blueliners in total assists with 40 and points with 45. He has five assists in the playoffs, which ties him for the league lead among players at all positions.

Casey In The Crease

Since making his debut for the Black Hawks Apr. 4, Carter Casey has been rock-solid in net.

Casey has started each of the team’s last nine games, winning eight of them. He went 3-0 during the regular season with a 2.08 goals-against average and .920 save percentage, and is 5-1 with a 2.52 GAA and .919 SP in six post-season games.