The wait is over as the 2025-26 USHL season is upon us.

The Fall Classic opens with a pair of games Wednesday evening in Pittsburgh – Sioux City hosts Dubuque, while Muskegon faces Waterloo. Both games will be played at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex and will be available here on Flo Hockey.

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While there’s plenty of excitement for this week’s 16 games, it’s only the beginning of each team’s 62-game schedule.

Here are a few of the league’s top storylines to follow this winter.

Who's New Behind The Bench?

Five USHL teams will have a new head coach this season. Scott Gomez (Chicago), Derek Damon (Des Moines), Scott Gordon (Waterloo), Colten St. Clair (Muskegon) and John Torchetti (Tri-City) take over their respective clubs and bring a wealth of experience and credibility to the league.

Ron Fogarty also will begin his first full season with the Lancers after coaching Omaha’s final 19 games last spring. There’ve been plenty of new assistants hired too, including three-time Stanley Cup champ Patrick Maroon in Muskegon.

Can Muskegon Defend Its Title?

The Lumberjacks hoisted their first Clark Cup in May. Muskegon went 38-16-4-4 and finished fourth in the Eastern Conference before winning 11 of its 14 playoff games, en route to the title.

It’ll be a different club as Colten St. Clair takes over for Parker Burgess behind the bench, although St. Clair was Muskegon’s associate head coach down the stretch. Seven of Muskegon’s top eight point producers are gone as well, including Ivan Ryabkin (CAR) and Vaclav Nestrasil (CHI). Along with goaltenders Shikhabutdin Gadzhiev and Stephen Peck.

However, the roster features several key returners, led by Tynan Lawrence. Muskegon also added forward Jake Stuart, who played 82 games over his two seasons at the NTDP. They’ll try to become the league’s first repeat champion since Omaha (1992-93, 1993-94).

The defending Clark Cup Champions are back with a new head coach and a renewed will to win.
FloHockey brings you a look at the @MuskegonJacks' final days ahead of the 2025-26 season as they prepare for the USHL Fall Classic.

Tonight. 7 PM ET.#USHL #ChopChop #GetJACKD #MKG pic.twitter.com/EQiSquGrY9

— FloHockey (@FloHockey) September 16, 2025

Will Omaha Improve?

Omaha last made the playoffs in 2022, is 40-127-14-5 over the past three seasons and endured a 30-game losing streak last season. The off-ice issues and coaching turnover in recent years are no secret either.

However, the Lancers are focused on turning the page. As mentioned above, Ron Fogarty enters his first full season and Lancer fans are yearning for a competitive team. Or at least some sign of progress. Omaha went 1-2-2 in the preseason but found itself in every game, four of which were one-goal contests. The hope is that wins will soon follow.

Will Green Bay’s Additions Make An Impact?

Green Bay had a solid draft haul last May, highlighted by a pair of Phase II picks from the NTDP in forward Landon Hafele and defenseman Mace’o Phillips (CGY).

Whether it be Austin Burnevik, Charlie Cerrato, or Sam Laurila and Brendan McMorrow last season, the USHL has seen a number of NTDP products excel in their third junior season with a new club. Green Bay is hoping to be the latest beneficiary.

The Gamblers also tendered a pair of forwards last spring in Gunnar Conboy and Oliver McKinney, both of whom have a chance to make an immediate impact. McKinney had 90 points over 54 games for the Chicago Mission 15U AAA team last season. Combine that with Geno Carcone and William Samuelsson (DAL) returning and Green Bay looks poised to contend in the East.

What’s Next In Madison?

After finishing the 2022-23 campaign at the bottom of the USHL, the Capitols have taken a step in each of Andy Brandt’s first two seasons.

Madison went 33-23-4-2 in 2023-24 and improved to 39-17-5-1 last winter, finishing third in the Eastern Conference and winning its first-round playoff series. The Capitols allowed the league’s fifth-fewest goals (185) and saw a number of young players take off offensively — a recipe they hope to duplicate.

With goaltender Caleb Heil (TBL) returning, Sam Kappell and Gavin Uhlenkamp back up front, and Jet Kwajah and John Stout on the blue line, the Caps will look to take yet another step forward.

CALEB HEIL. TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING. KA-CHOW.

Third Capitols player off the board, which ties the second most in a single draft for Madison in team history.#GoCapsGo pic.twitter.com/7tIjuJhi7H

— Madison Capitols (@MadCapsHockey) June 28, 2025

Who Will Emerge For The U17s?

There’s never a shortage of talent at the NTDP. However, there’s plenty of excitement surrounding this year’s U17 roster, and several future NHL picks will be on display.

Carter Meyer, Rocco Pelosi and Trevor Daley are among the top ’09 prospects to watch, along with Nate Chizik between the pipes. Yet the question remains who else will emerge, especially as they go against USHL competition.

The NTDP went 23-35-2-2 in USHL action last season and missed the playoffs, something they hope to rectify. The U17s will play 38 of the NTDP’s 62 USHL games.

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