PAPILLION, NE – The time has come yet again to begin the USHL playoffs. The West Division was well fought all season with Omaha relinquishing control of the top position only momentarily around Christmas time. The Omaha Lancers will be the top seed from the West Division and will hold home ice advantage throughout the playoffs. The number two seed is last season’s Cinderella West Division Champion the Fargo Force. Sioux Falls will be the three seed this season and will face the Force in round one of the playoffs. Tri-City will be the number four seed and will face Omaha. The first round is a best of five series with Fargo and Omaha hosting three of those five games at home.
#1 Omaha Lancers verse #4 Tri-City Storm
This should be one of the most exciting playoff series in all of hockey this season. Don’t believe me? Then look no further than youtube.com. There are countless videos featuring games between these two teams that both call Nebraska home (Tri-City is Kearney, Grand Island, and Hastings, Nebraska). The Lancers won four of the five regular season matchups and feature a very good team. Tri-City will look to counter Omaha’s attack by offering their own led by points leader Jaden Schwartz (83 points), Brett Mohler (45 points), and Radoslav Illo (43 points). Carsen Chubak will start in net for Tri-City after making 50 starts this season and posting 21 wins with a 2.98 goals against average.
#2 Fargo Force verse #3 Sioux Falls Stampede
Sioux Falls won the regular season matchup taking four of seven from the Force. While Fargo came on hot later on, Sioux Falls did win four of the first five games between the two teams. The Force finished the season in second place behind solid play from top to bottom. Led by Matt Leitner, Corey Leivermann, Nate Condon, and Chase Grant, the Force will be difficult for anyone as they are a team who can score when needed and limit opponents as needed. The Stampede will have their work cut out for them as they try to reach the second round.
You may contact the author at: john.strathman@prohockeynews.com
