The USHL seasons starts with a bang this week with all 16 teams descending on Chicago for the 2026 USHL Fall Classic. After a decade in Pittsburgh, the league heads to the Blackhawks Community Ice Center in downtown Chicago for its premier showcase as every team will play their first two regular-season games under one roof.
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The host Chicago Steel will also be opening their new USG Arena, which is the centerpiece of the renovated Ice Center that also doubles as the Chicago Blackhawks’ practice facility.
Though a few of the league’s stars will still be busy at NHL training camps during the Fall Classic, they’ll be back soon to take their games to the next level in the top junior league in the United States.
Here’s a look at 10 players that we expect will be major factors over the course of the 2026-27 USHL season.
NHL Prospects To Watch In The USHL 2026-27
Joey Cullen, C, U.S. National Under-17 Team (2028)
He may be the most talented pro prospect in the league this season at just 16 years old. The first ever player to make the U.S. Hlinka-Gretzky Cup roster as an underager, Cullen has a noted NHL pedigree and an especially productive track record.
Last season, he split time with the Honeybaked 15U team and Moorhead high school. Between the two, he had 92 points in 39 games. The son of former NHLer Matt Cullen and younger brother of top-10 pick Wyatt Cullen, Joey has shown glimpses of top-five potential for his draft class.
Joey Cullen is a Gopher!! 〽️
— Gopher Hockey 365 (@Mariucci_Guy) August 2, 2026
Gifted, dynamic forward who can pick apart defenses with his ELITE hands, poise and puck smarts. Early favorite to contend for #1 overall in 2028 and will be the first underager ever to suit up for team USA at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
Congrats Joey! pic.twitter.com/zpWjB3YVbx
He has some growing and strength building to do, but his skill and speed leaps out as standout traits that will carry him well this season.
Gunnar Conboy, C, Green Bay Gamblers (2027)
Conboy eschewed overtures from other leagues and a potential spot with the U.S. Under-18 Team to stay in Green Bay and now he’s among the USHL’s brightest draft hopes for 2027. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound center had a solid rookie season, but is expected to really break out in 2026-27.
The Minnesota commit will need to bounce back from an underwhelming Hlinka-Gretzky performance, but can start things off right with a good showing at the Fall Classic.
His size and power are among his standout traits, but his all-around game is what could keep him in the first-round discussion all season.
Rudolfs Berzkalns, C, Muskegon Lumberjacks (EDM)
Drafted 58th overall by the Oilers, Berzkalns was rewarded in large part for his impressive play in the Clark Cup Playoffs. He had 10 points in 16 postseason games and showed excellent two-way capabilities to showcase what kind of value he can bring one day at the NHL level.
Berzkalns has played for Latvia in two World Juniors already and is only just 18. He will be eligible for two more. The maturity in his game is notable.
🚨🚨🚨Latvia’s Rudolphs Berzkalns ties it up 1-1 against Canada with only 1:58 to go!!@USHL | @MuskegonJacks#WorldJuniors
— FloHockey (@FloHockey) December 28, 2025
pic.twitter.com/YBraBbw3nM
Last season, Berzkalns didn’t have the best regular-season, but he took a big step from his rookie year. Now, he’ll be looked at to be a top player for a Muskegon team that has some key new additions.
Jayden Kurtz, D, Chicago Steel (ANA)
Considered by many to be the top NHL Draft prospect in the high school ranks last season, Kurtz was picked 45th overall by Anaheim as the Ducks bet on his upside. The 6-foot-3, right-shot defenseman has a lot of tools, but now has to show he’s using them all effectively and continuing to round out his game.
Kurtz played in 16 games with Chicago last season while spending the bulk of his time with Rogers High School in Minnesota. He had 38 points in 26 games for Rogers, but didn’t find as much offensive success in the USHL. That is expected to change this season as he is able to dedicate himself to the USHL grind. There’s so much potential in this player waiting to be unlocked.
Cooper Soller, C/W, Sioux Falls Stampede (TBL)
Soller had an especially impressive first USHL season, winning both the league’s rookie of the year award and the Clark Cup with the Stampede. He had 26 goals in 62 games as a first-year player, which is an especially impressive total.
The Western Michigan commit is going to be expected to do more heavy lifting for Sioux Falls as many of their championship stars have moved on. This is Soller’s team now and the Los Angeles native should have plenty of room to produce.
Samuel Hrenák, G, Fargo Force (WPG)
Though he only appeared in seven USHL games last season, Hrenák made a big impact. He won seven of those nine appearances, had a shutout and scored a goalie goal. He did most of his damage internationally for Slovakia, posting an especially impressive performance at the U18 Men’s World Championship where he helped the Slovaks win silver on home ice.
Did someone say goalie goal?? 😏
— USHL (@USHL) March 29, 2026
Samuel Hrenak hits the empty net for @FargoForce in 6-2 win at home #USHL pic.twitter.com/2hB2GDATDG
Hrenák has the size, the technique and the hockey sense to be a major impact goaltender in the USHL. With a chance to play a full season, we should get to see the full complement of his skillset as the Force look to push for another deep run.
Zaac Charbonneau, C/W, Muskegon Lumberjacks (2028)
One of the most anticipated rookies in the USHL this season is Charbonneau, who has good size for his age and some clear offensive tools. The Gatineau native signed a tender with Muskegon last year and showed off some higher-end playmaking ability during the preseason, posting four points in just three games.
The 16-year-old was a dominant player for Mount St. Charles’ 15U team, posting 102 points in 50 games. He is considered a higher-end prospect for the 2028 NHL Draft and can build on that with a big year in the USHL this season.
Artyom Prima, RW, Omaha Lancers (UTA)
Splitting last season between Omaha and the NAHL’s Minot Minotauros, Prima showed enough for Utah to take a chance on him in the seventh round of the draft. Expected to spend all season with Omaha now, Prima has a chance to prove the Mammoth right further.
In his brief USHL time, he had 14 points in 17 games and averaged nearly a point-per-game with Minot. The expectation is that he’ll be among the offensive leaders for Omaha, which has been mired near the bottom of the league for the last four years.
Nolan Fitzhenry, C, U.S. National Under-18 Team (2027)
Though the NTDP sustained some losses from their roster heading into the season, scouts remain bullish on Fitzhenry. The crafty center and North Dakota commit has been viewed as a likely first-rounder for 2027.
He had 33 points in 44 games last year and was called up to the U18 team during his U17 season. He was in the lineup for a few games at the U18 World Championship and was highly productive at the World U17 Challenge.
The North Dakota commit is going to be one of the real offensive focal points for the U18s this season.
Diego Gutierrez, D, U.S. National Under-18 Team (2027)
In a year that is light on defensemen for the NHL Draft, Gutierrez has the attention of scouts as a talented puck mover who comes in a 6-foot-2 frame. The right-shot defenseman was among the younger players that got a call-up to the U18 for the World Championship.
Gutierrez has been on a rapid ascent in his development and can push his draft stock higher with some solid numbers this season. The Texas native has a lot of tools to help him get there.
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