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2023–24 USHL season

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2023–24 USHL season
LeagueUnited States Hockey League
SportIce hockey
DurationRegular season
September – April
Post-season
April – May
Number of games62
Number of teams16
Regular season
Anderson CupFargo Force
Season MVPMac Swanson (Fargo Force)
Top scorerMatvei Gridin (Muskegon Lumberjacks)
Clark Cup Playoffs
Clark Cup Playoffs MVPMac Swanson (Force)
Finals championsFargo Force
  Runners-upDubuque Fighting Saints
USHL seasons

The 2023–24 USHL season was the 45th season of the United States Hockey League as an all-junior league. The regular season ran from September 20, 2023, to April 13, 2024, with a 62-game schedule for each team.[1] The Western Conference champions Fargo Force were awarded the Anderson Cup for the second consecutive year and went on to win the Clark Cup Championship.[2]

Season highlights

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Total fan attendance at regular season games was calculated at 1,122,616, compared to 1,116,004 in 2022–23. The Sioux Falls Stampede set a South Dakota state attendance record for a hockey game with 11,025 attending its 11 February match against the Sioux City Musketeers. The league also reported a 37 percent increase in streaming viewership.[3]

49 players with ties to the USHL, including 43 who played at least one game during the 2023–24 USHL season, were selected in the 2024 NHL entry draft. Those included Macklin Celebrini, former Chicago Steel forward, and Artyom Levshunov, former Green Bay Gamblers defenseman, who were selected first and second overall, respectively.[4]

Regular season

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The standings at the end of the regular season were as follows:[5]

Note: x = clinched playoff berth; y = clinched conference title; z = clinched regular season title

Eastern Conference

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Team GP W L OTL SOL Pts GF GA
yDubuque Fighting Saints 62 41 13 3 5 90 271 195
xMuskegon Lumberjacks 62 38 22 1 1 78 254 224
xGreen Bay Gamblers 62 34 18 7 3 78 233 214
xYoungstown Phantoms 62 33 19 6 4 76 230 206
xMadison Capitols 62 33 23 4 2 72 218 192
xChicago Steel 62 27 28 3 4 61 209 256
Cedar Rapids RoughRiders 62 25 30 5 2 57 179 230
Team USA 62 22 35 2 3 49 229 278

Western Conference

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Team GP W L OTL SOL Pts GF GA
zFargo Force 62 50 10 2 0 102 272 143
xSioux City Musketeers 62 34 22 6 0 74 229 207
xWaterloo Black Hawks 62 35 25 0 2 72 224 205
xTri-City Storm 62 28 23 4 7 67 232 218
xSioux Falls Stampede 62 28 28 5 1 62 219 250
xLincoln Stars 62 27 30 3 2 59 169 216
Des Moines Buccaneers 62 25 30 5 2 57 185 209
Omaha Lancers 62 16 43 3 0 35 160 270

Clark Cup playoffs

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First Round
(Best-of-3)[6]
Conference Semifinals
(Best-of-5)
Conference Finals
(Best-of-5)[7]
Clark Cup Championship
(Best-of-5)
E1 Dubuque 3
E4 Youngstown 2 E4 Youngstown 1
E5 Madison 1 Eastern ConferenceE1 Dubuque 3
E2 Muskegon 0
E2 Muskegon 3
E3 Green Bay 2 E3 Green Bay 2
E6 Chicago 1 W1 Fargo 3
E1 Dubuque 1
W1 Fargo 3
W4 Tri-City 2 W4 Tri-City 0
W5 Sioux Falls 1 Western ConferenceW1 Fargo 3
W2 Sioux City 2
W2 Sioux City 3
W3 Waterloo 0 W6 Lincoln 0
W6 Lincoln 2

First Round

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Eastern Conference

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(E4) Youngstown Phantoms vs. (E5) Madison Capitols

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April 15 Youngstown Phantoms 4 – 7 Madison Capitols Covelli Centre  
4:48 - Sam Ranallo (1) First period Rainers Rullers (1) - 15:51
5:13 - Conner de Haro (1)
12:00 - pp - Grant Young (1)
Second period Aiden Long (1) - 6:49
Aiden Long (2) - 9:54
Max Nagel (1) - 12:13
Austin Burnevik (1) - 18:22
Brendan Lamb (1) - 18:34
8:54 - pp - Andrew Strathmann (1) Third period Max Nagel (2) - en - 16:59
Aiden Wright (10 saves / 16 shots)
Colin Winn (8 saves / 8 shots)
Goalie stats Carsen Musser (29 saves / 33 shots)
April 16 Youngstown Phantoms 5 – 2 Madison Capitols Covelli Centre  
No scoring First period Max Nagel (3) - pp - 17:01
Andrew Kuzma (1) - pp - 17:55
2:51 - Michael Burchill (1)
5:29 - Nathan Lewis (1)
10:45 - Adam Pietila (1)
Second period No scoring
1:02 - Adam Pietila (2)
18:23 - en - Adam Pietila (3)
Third period No scoring
Aiden Wright (15 saves / 17 shots) Goalie stats Patriks Bērziņš (35 saves / 39 shots)
April 17 Youngstown Phantoms 8 – 4 Madison Capitols Covelli Centre  
Ryan Rucinski (1) - 8:06
Kuzma Voronin (1) - 10:09
Ryan Rucinski (2) - 11:00
First period No scoring
Brecken Smith (1) - 19:08 Second period 14:32 - Austin Burnevik (2)
Tory Pitner (1) - 3:03
Conner de Haro (2) - 8:47
Ryan Rucinski (3) - 14:20
Tomáš Machů (1) - sh - en - 16:35
Third period 0:43 - Max Nagel (4)
2:08 - Diego Johnson (1)
12:40 - Max Nagel (5)
Aiden Wright (19 saves / 23 shots) Goalie stats Carsen Musser (24 saves / 31 shots)
Youngstown wins series 2 – 1


(E3) Green Bay Gamblers vs. (E6) Chicago Steel

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April 15 Green Bay Gamblers 6 – 5 Chicago Steel Resch Center  
5:19 - Jayson Shaugabay (1) First period Ben Yurchuk (1) - 5:59
8:19 - Lukas Peterson (1)
13:40 - Lev Katzin (1)
Second period Mick Thompson (1) - 16:21
0:15 - pp - Julian Lutz (1)
1:22 - Lukas Peterson (2)
8:44 - Ryan Humphrey (1)
Third period Kolin Sisson (1) - 4:02
Michael Hage (1) - pp - 8:36
Reid Conn (1) - 10:49
Adam Gajan (18 saves / 23 shots) Goalie stats Quentin Sigurdson (27 saves / 33 shots)
April 16 Green Bay Gamblers 2 – 5 Chicago Steel Resch Center  
No scoring First period Tobias Öhman (1) - 5:08
No scoring Second period Owen Tylec (1) - 8:32
3:20 - Mykhailo Danylov (1)
11:33 - pp - Julian Lutz (2)
Third period Charlie Major (1) - 5:53
Joey DelGreco (1) - 10:13
Hunter Hady (1) - en - 17:49
Adam Gajan (16 saves / 20 shots)
Gavin Moffatt (1 save / 1 shot)
Goalie stats Louka Cloutier (33 saves / 35 shots)
April 17 Green Bay Gamblers 3 – 2 OT Chicago Steel Resch Center  
No scoring First period No scoring
Benjamin Poitras (1) - pp - 0:47
Benjamin Poitras (2) - 3:55
Second period 11:35 - pp - Charlie Major (2)
No scoring Third period 4:20 - pp - Michael Hage (2)
Aidan Park (1) - 16:10 First overtime period No scoring
Gavin Moffatt (29 saves / 31 shots) Goalie stats Louka Cloutier (39 saves / 42 shots)
Green Bay wins series 2 – 1


Western Conference

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(W4) Tri-City Storm vs. (W5) Sioux Falls Stampede

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April 15 Tri-City Storm 5 – 6 OT Sioux Falls Stampede Viaero Center  
15:05 - Nolan Roed (1) First period John McNelis (1) - 9:21
Chase LaPinta (1) - 14:27
16:22 - Jake Rozzi (1)
17:48 - August Falloon (1)
Second period Chase LaPinta (2) - 4:41
Tyler Borgula (1) - 18:32
8:44 - Jake Rozzi (2)
19:56 - Jake Rozzi (3)
Third period Tyler Borgula (2) - 19:02
No scoring First overtime period Hunter Anderson (1) - pp - 11:14
Cameron Korpi (31 saves / 37 shots) Goalie stats Christian Manz (38 saves / 43 shots)
April 16 Tri-City Storm 3 – 2 OT Sioux Falls Stampede Viaero Center  
No scoring First period Noah Eyre (1) - 8:34
0:53 - pp - Cameron Briere (1) Second period Jaksen Panzer (1) - 14:11
11:09 - pp - August Falloon (2) Third period No scoring
11:14 - pp - Owen Beckner (1) First overtime period No scoring
Cameron Korpi (21 saves / 23 shots) Goalie stats Christian Manz (33 saves / 36 shots)
April 17 Tri-City Storm 8 – 3 Sioux Falls Stampede Viaero Center  
Nolan Roed (2) - 2:41
Nick Roukounakis (1) - 6:02
Artemi Nizameyev (1) - 9:23
Artemi Nizameyev (2) - 15:01
First period 14:35 - Hunter Anderson (2)
Artemi Nizameyev (3) - 5:59
Owen Beckner (2) - pp - 7:28
Owen Beckner (3) - 14:05
Second period 10:04 - pp - Hunter Anderson (3)
18:27 - pp - J.J. Wiebusch (1)
Nolan Roed (3) - 10:33 Third period No scoring
Cameron Korpi (25 saves / 28 shots) Goalie stats Christian Manz (13 saves / 19 shots)
Michael Chambre (9 saves / 11 shots)
Tri-City wins series 2 – 1


(W3) Waterloo Black Hawks vs. (W6) Lincoln Stars

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April 15 Waterloo Black Hawks 0 – 1 Lincoln Stars Young Arena  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period Jack Pechar (1) - 8:05
No scoring Third period No scoring
Calvin Vachon (26 saves / 27 shots) Goalie stats Yan Shostak (40 saves / 40 shots)
April 16 Waterloo Black Hawks 1 – 6 Lincoln Stars Young Arena  
No scoring First period Aiden Janz (1) - 2:31
Ryan Spinale (1) - 4:05
No scoring Second period Dashel Oliver (1) - 1:05
Justin Mexico (1) - 2:26
15:30 - Myles Hilman (1) Third period Matt Maltais (1) - 0:55
Dashel Oliver (2) - 17:35
Calvin Vachon (12 saves / 17 shots)
Jack Spicer (7 saves / 8 shots)
Goalie stats Yan Shostak (39 saves / 40 shots)
Lincoln wins series 2 – 0


Conference Semifinals

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Eastern Conference

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(E1) Dubuque Fighting Saints vs. (E4) Youngstown Phantoms

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April 20 Dubuque Fighting Saints 0 – 2 Youngstown Phantoms Mystique Ice Center
April 21 Dubuque Fighting Saints 6 – 0 Youngstown Phantoms Mystique Ice Center
April 23 Youngstown Phantoms 1 – 2 OT Dubuque Fighting Saints Covelli Centre
April 24 Youngstown Phantoms 0 – 2 Dubuque Fighting Saints Covelli Centre
Dubuque wins series 3 – 1


(E2) Muskegon Lumberjacks vs. (E3) Green Bay Gamblers

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April 20 Muskegon Lumberjacks 3 – 4 Green Bay Gamblers Trinity Health Arena  
15:37 - Justin Solovey (1) First period Blake Bechen (1) - 7:08
Charlie Russell (1) - 8:33
4:53 - Cooper Pierson (1) Second period Jayson Shaugabay (2) - 7:53
6:38 - sh - David Klee (1) Third period Jayson Shaugabay (3) - 1:35
Shikhabutdin Gadzhiev (14 saves / 18 shots) Goalie stats Gavin Moffatt (26 saves / 29 shots)
April 21 Muskegon Lumberjacks 4 – 1 Green Bay Gamblers Trinity Health Arena
April 23 Green Bay Gamblers 0 – 2 Muskegon Lumberjacks Resch Center
April 24 Green Bay Gamblers 2 – 1 Muskegon Lumberjacks Resch Center
April 26 Muskegon Lumberjacks 4 – 3 2OT Green Bay Gamblers Trinity Health Arena
Muskegon wins series 3 – 2


Western Conference

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(W1) Fargo Force vs. (W4) Tri-City Storm

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April 20 Fargo Force 3 – 1 Tri-City Storm Scheels Arena
April 22 Fargo Force 3 – 1 Tri-City Storm Scheels Arena
April 24 Tri-City Storm 3 – 5 Fargo Force Viaero Center
Fargo wins series 3 – 0


(W2) Sioux City Musketeers vs. (W6) Lincoln Stars

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April 19 Lincoln Stars 2 – 3 Sioux City Musketeers Ice Box
April 20 Lincoln Stars 1 – 3 Sioux City Musketeers Ice Box
April 22 Sioux City Musketeers 3 – 2 OT Lincoln Stars Tyson Events Center
Sioux City wins series 3 – 0


Conference Finals

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Eastern Conference

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(E1) Dubuque Fighting Saints vs. (E2) Muskegon Lumberjacks

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April 28 Dubuque Fighting Saints 4 – 3 OT Muskegon Lumberjacks Mystique Ice Center
April 29 Dubuque Fighting Saints 4 – 3 Muskegon Lumberjacks Mystique Ice Center
May 2 Muskegon Lumberjacks 0 – 4 Dubuque Fighting Saints Trinity Health Arena
Dubuque wins series 3 – 0


Western Conference

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(W1) Fargo Force vs. (W2) Sioux City Musketeers

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April 28 Fargo Force 3 – 1 Sioux City Musketeers Scheels Arena
April 29 Fargo Force 1 – 4 Sioux City Musketeers Scheels Arena
May 2 Sioux City Musketeers 5 – 2 Fargo Force Tyson Events Center
May 3 Sioux City Musketeers 0 – 5 Fargo Force Tyson Events Center
May 5 Fargo Force 4 – 0 Sioux City Musketeers Scheels Arena
Fargo wins series 3 – 2


Clark Cup Finals

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(W1) Fargo Force vs. (E1) Dubuque Fighting Saints

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May 10 Fargo Force 3 – 1 Dubuque Fighting Saints Scheels Arena
May 11 Fargo Force 6 – 3 Dubuque Fighting Saints Scheels Arena
May 17 Dubuque Fighting Saints 3 – 1 Fargo Force Mystique Ice Center
May 18 Dubuque Fighting Saints 1 – 3 Fargo Force Mystique Ice Center
Fargo wins series 3 – 1


Statistics

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Scoring leaders

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The following players led the league in regular season points at the completion of games played on April 13, 2024.[8]

Player Team GP G A Pts PIM
Matvei Gridin Muskegon Lumberjacks 60 38 45 83 51
Trevor Connelly Tri-City Storm 52 31 47 78 88
Mac Swanson Fargo Force 55 26 51 77 6
Michael Hage Chicago Steel 54 33 42 75 53
Noah Powell Dubuque Fighting Saints 61 43 31 74 57
Erik Påhlsson Dubuque Fighting Saints 57 28 44 72 16
Austin Burnevik Madison Capitols 61 40 31 71 24
Zam Plante Fargo Force 57 26 45 71 4
Charlie Major Chicago Steel 59 30 40 70 22
Jake Sondreal Dubuque Fighting Saints 60 27 42 69 34

Leading goaltenders

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Note: GP = Games played; Mins = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OTL = Overtime losses; SOL = Shootout losses; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average; SV% = Save percentage

Player Team GP Mins W L OTL SOL SO GAA SV%
Hampton Slukynsky Fargo Force 33 1938 28 3 0 0 5 1.86 0.923
Aiden Wright Youngstown Phantoms 22 1322 13 5 2 2 1 2.59 0.902
Anton Castro Fargo Force 31 1800 22 7 2 0 3 2.63 0.886
Carsen Musser Madison Capitols 32 1907 17 11 2 2 0 2.74 0.905
Calvin Vachon Waterloo Black Hawks 38 2094 22 12 0 0 2 2.81 0.902

Postseason awards

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USHL awards

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Award Name Team
Player of the Year Mac Swanson Fargo Force[9]
Forward of the Year Mac Swanson Fargo Force[10]
Defenseman of the Year Leo Gruba Fargo Force[11]
Rookie of the Year John Mustard Waterloo Black Hawks[12]
Goaltender of the Year Hampton Slukynsky Fargo Force[13]
Coach of the Year Brett Skinner Fargo Force[14]
Scholar-Athlete of the Year James Reeder Dubuque Fighting Saints[15]
Curt Hammer Award Ryan Botterill Youngstown Phantoms[16]
General Manager of the Year Cary Eades Fargo Force[17]

All-USHL First Team

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Position Name Team
Goalie Hampton Slukynsky Fargo Force
Defenceman Leo Gruba Fargo Force
Defenceman Joona Vaisanen Dubuque Fighting Saints
Forward Mac Swanson Fargo Force
Forward Michael Hage Chicago Steel
Forward Matvei Gridin Muskegon Lumberjacks

Source[18]

All-USHL Second Team

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Position Name Team
Goalie Kevin Reidler Dubuque Fighting Saints
Defenceman Ty Hanson Sioux City Musketeers
Defenceman Vladislav Lukashevich Tri-City Storm
Forward Trevor Connelly Tri-City Storm
Forward Zam Plante Fargo Force
Forward Noah Powell Dubuque Fighting Saints

Source[18]

All-USHL Third Team

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Position Name Team
Goalie Carsen Musser Madison Capitols
Defenceman Michael Hagens Chicago Steel
Defenceman Brasen Boser Fargo Force
Forward Austin Burnevik Madison Capitols
Forward Jake Sondreal Dubuque Fighting Saints
Forward Sacha Boisvert Muskegon Lumberjacks

Source[18]

USHL All-Rookie Team

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Position Name Team
Goalie Louka Cloutier Chicago Steel
Defenceman Xavier Veilleux Muskegon Lumberjacks
Defenceman Sascha Boumedienne Youngstown Phantoms
Forward John Mustard Waterloo Black Hawks
Forward Ben Kevan Des Moines Buccaneers
Forward Ilya Protas Des Moines Buccaneers

Source[19]

All-Rookie Second Team

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Position Name Team
Goalie Mikhail Yegorov Omaha Lancers
Defenceman Elliott Groenewold Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
Defenceman Alex Bales Tri-City Storm
Forward John McNelis Sioux Falls Stampede
Forward Lev Katzin Green Bay Gamblers
Forward Michael Barron Dubuque Fighting Saints

Source[19]

References

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  1. ^ "USHL Announces 2023-24 Schedule". USHL.com. June 7, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  2. ^ Sikes, Ryan (April 1, 2024). "Fargo Force Clinch Anderson Cup Trophy For Second Straight Year". flohockey.tv. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  3. ^ "2024 USHL annual general meeting recap". ushl.com. United States Hockey League. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  4. ^ McAlpine, Jordan. "Here's which current and former USHL players heard their name called at the 2024 NHL Draft". therinklive.com. Forum Communications Company. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  5. ^ "2023–24 Standings". USHL.com. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  6. ^ "The First Round is Set for the 2024 Clark Cup Playoffs". USHL.com. April 13, 2024. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  7. ^ "2024 Clark Cup Conference Finals Set". USHL.com. April 26, 2024. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  8. ^ "USHL Stats". USHL.com. April 13, 2024. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  9. ^ "Fargo's Mac Swanson Named 2023-24 USHL Player of the Year". USHL. May 10, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  10. ^ "Mac Swanson Named 2023-24 USHL Forward of the Year". USHL. May 9, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  11. ^ "Leo Gruba Named 2024 USHL Defenseman of the Year". USHL. May 9, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  12. ^ "John Mustard Named USHL Rookie of the Year". USHL. May 9, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  13. ^ "Hampton Slukynsky Named USHL Goaltender of the Year". USHL. May 9, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  14. ^ "Fargo's Brett Skinner Named 2023-24 USHL Coach of the Year". USHL. May 10, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  15. ^ "Dubuque's James Reeder Named Recipient of 2024 USHL Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award". USHL. May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  16. ^ "Youngstown Forward Ryan Botterill Named Curt Hammer Award Winner". USHL. May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  17. ^ "Fargo's Cary Eades Named 2023-24 USHL General Manager of the Year". USHL. May 10, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  18. ^ a b c "All-USHL Teams Announced for 2023-24". USHL. May 8, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  19. ^ a b "USHL All-Rookie Teams Announced for 2023-24". USHL. May 8, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
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