United States Hockey League

For the defunct leagues of the same name, please see United States Hockey League (1945–1951) and United States Hockey League (1961-1979).
The United States Hockey League (USHL) is the top junior ice hockey league in the United States. The USHL has 14 member teams located in the midwestern United States, consisting of players who are 20 years of age and younger. The USHL is strictly amateur, allowing former USHL players to compete in NCAA college hockey. The league is based out of Chicago, IL
:See also: List of USHL Seasons.
==Operations==
The USHL is the country's top junior hockey league, classified as Tier I. Like comparable entities such as the Canadian Hockey League (CHL)'s three member leagues, the USHL offers a schedule of high-level, competitive games for top players aged 16 to 20. Unlike the CHL, it does not pay a stipend to its players, who thus retain amateur status and are eligible to play in the NCAA.
USHL teams, which are typically located in mid-sized cities (see map of team locations), pay for all uniforms and equipment. Players live with local families, who receive a small stipend for food expenses, and either continue school or work part-time jobs. Due to their schedules, more than 90% of games are on weekends, which many NHL and college scouts attend. Average attendance at regular season games for the 2014-15 season was 2,715 with 1,384,820 fans attending games during the season. http://ushlstats.stats.pointstreak.com/attendance.html?leagueid=49&seasonid=12983 .
One hockey analyst stated that the USHL's first line players are as good as their counterparts in the CHL—historically an important producer of NHL players—but that the Canadian league has better third and fourth lines. In 2006, Trevor Lewis, the 17th pick in the NHL Entry Draft, was the first USHL player to sign an NHL contract immediately after playing in the league.
At the conclusion of the 2014-15 regular season, the USHL has tallied 251 Alumni that have played in the NHL and has 347 current players with NCAA College Commitments.http://www.ushl.com/page/show/1209183-alumni-in-the-nhl | date=April 11,2015 | Access Date=April 12,2015 
==Draft==
The USHL Draft is an annual event conducted in two “phases” during the second week of May.http://www.ushl.com/page/show/1209133-draft-process The first phase is an eight round draft of U-17 players for the upcoming season. The second phase of the draft is open to all players eligible to play junior hockey who are not already protected by a USHL team. The number of players drafted varies, as each team will draft until they have filled the 45 spots available on their roster. Undrafted players are open to try out for any team as a try-out player. Each team must reduce their roster to 23 players for the start of the season, but may carry 18 additional players on an affiliate list.http://www.ushl.com/?item_id=2438
===United States Hockey League (1961-1979)===
The United States Hockey League (USHL) operated as a senior ice hockey league 1961 to 1979.http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/250.html
The USHL welcomed the first female professional hockey player in 1969-70, when the Marquette Iron Rangers signed Karen Koch.www.marquetteironrangers.com
By the late 1970s, the USHL had fallen on hard times. In the summer of 1977, clubs from the recently folded Midwest Junior Hockey League contacted the USHL. A unique merger was formed, with the three junior teams (Bloomington Junior Stars, Austin Mavericks, St. Paul Vulcans) and three remaining pro teams (Sioux City Musketeers, Waterloo Black Hawks, Green Bay Bobcats) gathered under the USHL banner. League governors decided on a two-division format, with the junior-aged teams in the Midwest Division and the professionals in the U.S. Division. The teams played an interlocking schedule that was, predictably, dominated by the professionals. The USHL's split existence would last just two seasons. The minor-pro wing of the league folded following the 1978-79 season, providing junior hockey operators with the opportunity to redefine the circuit. The 1979-80 season was the league's first as an entirely junior arrangement.http://www.ushl.com/about/history.cfm
The league's last season as a senior hockey league was 1978-79. During this final season the league comprised seven teams in two conferences. The U.S. Conference (with the Green Bay Bobcats, the Sioux City Musketeers and the Waterloo Black Hawks); while the Midwest Conference (with the Anoka Nordiques, the Austin Mavericks, the Bloomington Junior Stars, and the St. Paul Vulcans. All seven teams were made up with players categorized as "Senior Amateur".http://www.hockeydb.com/stte/sioux-city-musketeers-8023.htmlhttp://www.hockeydb.com/stte/green-bay-bobcats-5917.htmlhttp://www.hockeydb.com/stte/anoka-nordiques-4651.htmlhttp://www.hockeydb.com/stte/waterloo-black-hawks-8879.htmlhttp://www.hockeydb.com/stte/austin-mavericks-4712.htmlhttp://www.hockeydb.com/stte/bloomington-junior-stars-4900.htmlhttp://www.hockeydb.com/stte/st.-paul-vulcans-8234.html Following the 1978-79 season the senior league teams in the U.S. Conference folded and the USHL became an all-junior league the following season.http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/ushl19621979.html
==Teams==
Eastern Conference 	Eastern Conference	Eastern Conference 	Eastern Conference
Team 	Founded 	Arena 	City
Cedar Rapids RoughRiders 	1983 	Cedar Rapids Ice Arena 	Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Chicago Steel 	1996 	Fox Valley Ice Arena 	Geneva, Illinois
Dubuque Fighting Saints 	2010 	Mystique Ice Center 	Dubuque, Iowa
Green Bay Gamblers 	1994 	Resch Center 	Green Bay, Wisconsin
Madison Capitols 	2014 	Bob Suter's Capitol Ice Arena	Madison, Wisconsin
Muskegon Lumberjacks 	2010 	L. C. Walker Arena 	Muskegon, Michigan
USA Hockey National Team Development Program	1996 	USA Hockey Arena 	Plymouth, Michigan
Youngstown Phantoms 	2003 	Covelli Centre 	Youngstown, Ohio
Western Conference 	Western Conference	Western Conference 	Western Conference
Team 	Founded 	Arena 	City
Des Moines Buccaneers 	1980 	Buccaneer Arena 	Urbandale, Iowa
Fargo Force 	2008 	Scheels Arena 	Fargo, North Dakota
Lincoln Stars 	1996 	Ice Box 	Lincoln, Nebraska
Omaha Lancers 	1986 	Ralston Arena 	Ralston, Nebraska
Sioux City Musketeers 	1972 	Gateway Arena 	Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux Falls Stampede 	1999 	Denny Sanford PREMIER Center 	Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Tri-City Storm 	2000 	Viaero Event Center 	Kearney, Nebraska
Waterloo Black Hawks 	1962 	Young Arena 	Waterloo, Iowa
Dormant Teams 	Dormant Teams 	Dormant Teams 	Dormant Teams
Team 	Founded 	Arena 	City
Central Illinois Flying Aces 	2014 	Grossinger Motors Arena 	Bloomington, Illinois
Indiana Ice 	2004 	Lyceum Pavilion 	Indianapolis, Indiana
==Team Timeline==
Team 	Centre 	Arena 	Seasons 	Fate
Austin Mavericks 	Austin, Minnesota 	Riverside Arena 	1979-1985 	relocated to Rochester, Minnesota; renamed Rochester Mustangs (junior)
Bloomington Junior Stars 	Bloomington, Minnesota 	Bloomington Ice Garden 	1979-1984 	renamed Minneapolis Stars
Green Bay Bobcats 	Green Bay, Wisconsin 	Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena 	1979-1981 	fold
Hennepin Nordiques 	New Hope, Minnesota 	New Hope Ice Arena 	1979-1980 	relocated to Waterloo, Iowa; renamed Waterloo Black Hawks
St. Paul Vulcans 	St. Paul, Minnesota 	Augsburg Ice Arena 	1979-1995 	renamed Twin City Vulcans
Sioux City Musketeers 	Sioux City, Iowa 	Sioux City Municipal Auditorium (1979-2003) Fleet Farm Arena (2003-present) (known as Gateway Arena 2003-2019) 	1979-present	
Waterloo Black Hawks 	Waterloo, Iowa 	McElroy Auditorium 	1979-1980 	relocated to Dubuque, Iowa; renamed Dubuque Fighting Saints (1980-2001)
Des Moines Buccaneers 	Urbandale, Iowa 	Buccaneer Arena 	1980-present	
Dubuque Fighting Saints (1980-2001) 	Dubuque, Iowa 	Five Flags Arena 	1980-2001 	relocated to Tulsa, Oklahoma, renamed Tulsa Crude
Waterloo Black Hawks 	Waterloo, Iowa 	McElroy Auditorium (1980-1994) Young Arena (1994-present) 	1980-present	
North Iowa Huskies 	Mason City, Iowa 	North Iowa Ice Arena 	1983-1999 	relocated to Cedar Rapids, Iowa; renamed Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
Madison Capitols (1984-1995) 	Madison, Wisconsin 	Hartmeyer Ice Arena 	1984-1991 	renamed Wisconsin Capitols
Minneapolis Stars 	Minneapolis, Minnesota 	Bloomington Ice Garden 	1984-1985 	folded
Thunder Bay Flyers 	Thunder Bay, Ontario 	Fort William Gardens 	1984-2000 	fold
Rochester Mustangs (junior) 	Rochester, Minnesota 	Rochester Recreation Center 	1985-2002 	fold
Omaha Lancers 	Omaha, Nebraska 	Omaha Civic Auditorium 	1986-2002 	renamed River City Lancers when relocated to Council Bluffs, Iowa
Wisconsin Capitols 	Madison, Wisconsin 	Hartmeyer Ice Arena 	1991-1995 	
Green Bay Gamblers 	Green Bay, Wisconsin 	Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena (1994-2002), Resch Center (2002-present 	1994-present	
Fargo-Moorhead Bears 	Moorhead, Minnesota 	Moorhead Sports Center 	1995-1996 	fold
Twin City Vulcans 	Bloomington, Minnesota 	Bloomington Ice Garden 	1995-2000 	relocated to Kearney, Nebraska; renamed
Fargo-Moorhead Ice Sharks 	Fargo, North Dakota 	John E. Carlson Coliseum 	1996-2000 	
Lincoln Stars 	Lincoln, Nebraska 	Ice Box (arena) 	1996-present	
USA Hockey National Team Development Program	Ann Arbor, Michigan 	Ann Arbor Ice Cube 	1997-2002 	withdrew to play in North American Hockey League
Cedar Rapids RoughRiders 	Cedar Rapids, Iowa 	Cedar Rapids Ice Arena 	1999-present	
Sioux Falls Stampede 	Sioux Falls, South Dakota 	Denny Sanford PREMIER Center 	1999-present	
Chicago Steel 	Bensenville, Illinois 	Edge Ice Arena 	2000-2015 	relocated to Geneva, Illinois with no name change
Tri-City Storm 	Kearney, Nebraska 	Viaero Event Center (known as Tri-City Arena 2000–200?Kearney Event Center 200?–200?FirsTier Event Center 200?–2009)	2000-present	
Topeka Scarecrows 	Topeka Scarecrows 	Landon Arena 	2001-2003 	relocated to Chesterfield, Missouri'; renamed St. Louis Heartland Eagles
Tulsa Crude 	Tulsa, Oklahoma 	Tulsa Fairgrounds Pavilion 	2001-2002 	fold
River City Lancers 	Council Bluffs, Iowa 	Mid-America Center 	2002-2004 	revert to Omaha Lancers name
Danville Wings 	Danville, Illinois 	David S. Palmer Arena 	2003-2004 	relocated to Indianapolis, Indiana; renamed Indiana Ice
St. Louis Heartland Eagles 	Chesterfield, Missouri 	The Summit Center 	2003-2004 	suspend operations for 2004-05; fold after being unable to find a new arena in St. Louis area
Indiana Ice 	Indianapolis, Indiana 	Indiana Farmers Coliseum (2004-2012), Pan American Arena (2012-2014) and Bankers Life Fieldhouse 	2004-2014 	suspend operations pendiing construction of new arena; still waiting as of 2019-20 season
Omaha Lancers 	Council Bluffs, Iowa 	Mid-America Center 	2004-2009 	fold
Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets 	Columbus, Ohio 	Nationwide Arena 	2006-2008 	suspend operations; fold when unable to find suitable arena
Fargo Force 	Fargo, North Dakota 	Scheels Arena (known as Urban Plains Center 2008-2010) 	2008-present	
Youngstown Phantoms 	Youngstown, Ohio 	Covelli Centre 	2009-present	
USA Hockey National Team Development Program	Ann Arbor, Michigan (2009-2015) Plymouth, Michigan (2015-present) 	Ann Arbor Ice Cube (2009-2015) USA Hockey Arena (2015-presnt) 	2009-present	
Dubuque Fighting Saints (2010) 	Dubuque, Iowa 	Mystique Ice Center 	2010-present	
Muskegon Lumberjacks (2010–) 	Muskegon, Michigan 	L.C. Walker Arena 	2010-present	
Bloomington Thunder (USHL) 	Bloomington, Illinois 	U.S. Cellular Coliseum 	2014-2017 	renamed Central Illinois Flying Aces
Madison Capitols (2014) 	Madison, Wisconsin (2014-2017), Middleton, Wisconsin (2017-present)	Alliant Energy Center (2014-2017) Bob Suter's Capitol Ice Arena (2017-present) 	2014-present	
Chicago Steel 	Geneva, Illinois 	Fox Valley Ice Arena 	2015-present	
Central Illinois Flying Aces 	Bloomington, Illinois 	Grossinger Motors Arena 	2017-2019 	suspend operations
==Awards==
===Semi-Pro Season Champions===
Year 	Team
1961-62	Rochester Mustangs
1962-63	Green Bay Bobcats
1963-64	Waterloo Black Hawks
1964-65	Waterloo Black Hawks
1965-66	Waterloo Black Hawks
1966-67	Waterloo Black Hawks
1967-68	Waterloo Black Hawks
1968-69	Marquette Iron Rangers
1969-70	Marquette Iron Rangers
1970-71	Marquette Iron Rangers
1971-72	Green Bay Bobcats
1972-73	Thunder Bay Twins
1973-74	Thunder Bay Twins
1974-75	Waterloo Black Hawks
1975-76	Milwaukee Admirals
1976-77	Grand-Rapids Blades
1977-78	Waterloo Black Hawks
1978-79	Waterloo Black Hawks
===Anderson Cup Champions===
Year 	Team
1979–80	Hennepin Nordiques
1980–81	Dubuque Fighting Saints
1981–82	Sioux City Musketeers
1982–83	Dubuque Fighting Saints
1983–84	St. Paul Vulcans
1984–85	Austin Mavericks
1985–86	Sioux City Musketeers
1986–87	Rochester Mustangs
1987–88	Thunder Bay Flyers
1988–89	Thunder Bay Flyers
1989–90	Omaha Lancers
1990–91	Thunder Bay Flyers
1991–92	Thunder Bay Flyers
1992–93	Omaha Lancers
1993–94	Des Moines Buccaneers
1994–95	Des Moines Buccaneers
1995–96	Green Bay Gamblers
1996–97	Green Bay Gamblers
1997–98	Des Moines Buccaneers
1998–99	Des Moines Buccaneers
1999-00	Lincoln Stars
2000–01	Lincoln Stars
2001–02	Omaha Lancers
2002–03	Lincoln Stars
2003–04	Tri-City Storm
2004–05	(tie)Cedar Rapids RoughRiders & Omaha Lancers
2005–06	Sioux Falls Stampede
2006–07	Waterloo Black Hawks
2007–08	Omaha Lancers
2008–09	Green Bay Gamblers
2009–10	Green Bay Gamblers
2010–11	Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
2011–12	Green Bay Gamblers
2012–13	Dubuque Fighting Saints
2013–14	Waterloo Black Hawks
2014–15	Youngstown Phantoms
2015-16	Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
2016-17	Sioux City Musketeers
2017-18	Waterloo Black Hawks
2018-19	Tri-City Storm
2019-20	Chicago Steel
2020-21	Chicago Steel
2021-22	Tri-City Storm
2022-23	Fargo Force
2023-24	Fargo Force
===Clark Cup Champions===
Year 	Team
1979-80	Hennepin Nordiques
1980-81	Dubuque Fighting Saints
1981-82	Sioux City Musketeers
1982-83	Dubuque Fighting Saints
1983-84	St. Paul Vulcans
1984-85	Dubuque Fighting Saints
1985-86	Sioux City Musketeers
1986-87	Rochester Mustangs
1987-88	Thunder Bay Flyers
1988-89	Thunder Bay Flyers
1989-90	Omaha Lancers
1990-91	Omaha Lancers
1991-92	Des Moines Buccaneers
1992-93	Omaha Lancers
1993-94	Omaha Lancers
1994-95	Des Moines Buccaneers
1995-96	Green Bay Gamblers
1996-97	Lincoln Stars
1997-98	Omaha Lancers
1998-99	Des Moines Buccaneers
1999-00	Green Bay Gamblers
2000-01	Omaha Lancers
2001-02	Sioux City Musketeers
2002-03	Lincoln Stars
2003-04	Waterloo Black Hawks
2004-05	Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
2005-06	Des Moines Buccaneers
2006-07	Sioux Falls Stampede
2007-08	Omaha Lancers
2008-09	Indiana Ice
2009-10	Green Bay Gamblers
2010-11	Dubuque Fighting Saints
2011-12	Green Bay Gamblers
2012-13	Dubuque Fighting Saints
2013-14	Indiana Ice
2014-15	Sioux Falls Stampede
2015-16	Tri-City Storm
2016-17	Chicago Steel
2017-18	Fargo Force
2018-19	Sioux Falls Stampede
2019-20	Playoffs cancelled
2020-21	Chicago Steel
2021-22	Sioux City Musketeers
2022-23	Youngstown Phantoms
2023-24	Fargo Force
==Alumni==
*List of USHL alumni to play in the NHL
*List of USHL players drafted by NHL teams
;Selections in the top three rounds of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft
*Louis Leblanc (Omaha Lancers), 18th overall by Montreal Canadiens
*John Moore (Chicago Steel), 21st overall by Columbus Bluejackets
*Alex Chiasson (Des Moines Buccaneers), 38th overall by Dallas Stars
*Philip Samuelsson (Chicago Steel), 61st overall by Pittsburgh Penguins
*Josh Birkholz (Fargo Force), 67th overall by Florida Panthers
*Michael Lee (Fargo Force), 91st overall by Phoenix Coyotes
;Selections in the top three rounds of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft
*John Carlson (Indiana Ice), 27th overall by Washington Capitals
*Patrick Wiercioch (Omaha Lancers), 42nd overall by Ottawa Senators
*Jimmy Hayes (Lincoln Stars), 60th overall by Toronto Maple Leafs
*Steve Quailer (Sioux City Musketeers), 86th overall by Montreal Canadiens
*Scott Winkler (Cedar Rapids RoughRiders), 89th overall by Dallas Stars
*Max Nicastro (Chicago Steel), 91st overall by Detroit Red Wings
==League records==
===Team===
*Most points in a season – 98 by Green Bay Gamblers in 2011-12 and Dubuque Fighting Saints in 2012-13
*Most wins in a season – 48 by Des Moines Buccaneers in 1998–99 season.
*Most losses in a season – 48 by Omaha Lancers in 1986–87 season.
*Longest winning streak - 19 by Des Moines Buccaneers between November 1, 1998 and January 6, 1999.
===Individual===
*Most points in a season - 135 by Tim Ferguson of Sioux City Musketeers in 1985–86 season.
*Most goals in a season – 67 by Rod Taylor of Sioux City Musketeers in 1985–86 season.
*Most assists in a season - 79 by Tim Ferguson of Sioux City Musketeers in 1985–86 season.
*Most PIMs in a season – 316 by Chad Stauffacher of Green Bay Gamblers in 1996–97 season.
==See Also==
List of USHL Seasons
==References==
*USHL 2006-07 Media Guide
==External links==
* USHL website
* Maps to USHL arenas
* Semi-Pro season standings 1947-1960
* Semi-Pro season standings 1961-1979
* Amateur season standings 1979-2007
* USHL Team Logos 1961-1979
* History of former USHL member Green Bay Bobcats
* History of former USHL member Marquette Iron Rangers
* History of former USHL member St. Paul/Twin City Vulcans
* History of former USHL member Rochester Mustangs 
* List of USHL (junior league) alumni who are playing in the NHL or currently under NHL contract
Category:Established in 1947
Category:United States Hockey League