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2024 Dubuque Fighting Saints vs Fargo Force

10 Players Off To Hot Starts In 2024-2025 USHL Season

10 Players Off To Hot Starts In 2024-2025 USHL Season

Heading into Week 4 of the 2024-2025 USHL season, a number of intriguing storylines already have surfaced.

Oct 10, 2024 by Ryan Sikes
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Heading into Week 4 of the 2024-2025 USHL season, a number of intriguing storylines already have surfaced. 

The Sioux City Musketeers are the only team with an unblemished record. However, the Muskies have only played in four games, which has created a log jam in the Western Conference with teams like Lincoln and Waterloo, which have skated in five games thus far.

The same goes for the Eastern Conference. Chicago and Dubuque are leading the points race, but Green Bay, Cedar Rapids and others right on their tails.

Where Fargo stood out from the jump last season and continued that through its run to a Clark Cup title, no team has been able to emerge from the pack this season.

That said, from an individual standpoint, several players have found their way into the spotlight. 

Let’s look at 10 players who are off to fast starts after the first three weeks of the season.

Tate Pritchard, F, Sioux City Musketeers

Speaking of those Musketeers, Tate Pritchard has been one of the most impressive forwards this season and surely will garner plenty of attention as a re-entry candidate in the 2025 NHL Draft. 

The Minnesota State commit has goals in every game this year and has six points overall. 

I loved Pritchard’s game two preseasons ago when he was with Waterloo. Then, he had a great showing in a secondary role for Sioux City last year, but he now looks poised to break out this season.

Daniel Shlaine, F, Lincoln Stars

Shlaine has made the transition from Shattuck to the USHL look easy. 

The Russian forward already has five goals in five games, including a hat trick that helped him earn Forward of the Week honors. 

Overall, Shlaine leads the league with eight points. 

Like Pritchard, he is a super interesting re-entry candidate for next year’s draft as a two-way center.

2024 Dubuque Fighting Saints vs Fargo Force


Amine Hajibi, F, Cedar Rapids RoughRiders

Continuing our run of re-entry candidates, Hajibi has stood out since being traded from Green Bay to Cedar Rapids and recorded 45 points in 59 games last year. 

The Northeastern commit already has seven points on three goals and four assists, and he has been a significant asset on the RoughRiders’ top line playing alongside Landan Resendes and Loa Milfors.

Gavin Moffatt, G, Green Bay Gamblers

Moffatt is the first goalie on this list. 

He takes over No. 1 goaltending duties for Green Bay this season after serving primarily in a backup capacity behind Adam Gajan (CHI) last year. 

Moffatt has started all five games for the Gamblers so far, and he has posted a 1.78 goals-against average with a .940 save percentage and two shutouts already. 

Uncommitted for now, I would imagine he is garnering a lot of Division I attention.

Ryker Lee, F, Madison Capitols (2025)

Lee got a taste of the style of play in the USHL last year in a two-game sample size, which could have been somewhat helpful in getting off to a good start this year. 

The Caps forward has been a shot machine thus far, leading the league in shots on goal (24). 

Lee has produced three goals and three assists, making his six points the most on the Madison roster.

Sam Laurila, D, Fargo Force

I spoke with Laurila over the summer, and he sure sounded excited to be able to showcase his offensive abilities after playing in primarily a defensive role for the U.S. National Team Development Program the last two years. 

The North Dakota commit has six points (all assists) in his first five games but has been utilized in all situations, including in the shootout where the Force counted on his shot.

2024 Team USA vs Sioux City Musketeers


Jack Hextall, F, Youngstown Phantoms (2026)

Hextall was a player I was interested in seeing out of the gates, not just because he was a tender signing for Youngstown, but because I really liked his game at the Under-17 Five Nations Tournament, especially his abilities in the faceoff circle as a 16-year-old. 

The Michigan State commit already has racked up seven points on one goal and six assists and forced 15 shots on goal through the first six games.

Brendan McMorrow, F, Waterloo Black Hawks

McMorrow was one of a handful of NTDP U18 players who opted for a third year of development in the USHL, and the Denver commit is off and running with Waterloo. 

McMorrow has just 10 shots on goal through his first five games, but he already has four goals and five points. Efficient.

Adam Benak, F, Youngstown Phantoms (2025)

The hype is very much real surrounding Benak and what he can do with the puck. 

He’s a very patient player for someone his age, which helped him pick up two assists in his USHL debut. 

Since then, though, Benak has racked up five points on two goals and three assists through his first six games. 

Added, he’s beginning to shoot the puck more, which could spell big trouble for opposing squads.

Samuel Urban, G, Sioux City Musketeers

Urban has been a workhorse in net for the undefeated Musketeers, making starts in all four of the team’s games. 

The Arizona State commit owns a 1.71 goals-against average and .936 save percentage, which is perhaps more impressive, considering he has faced the fifth-most shots (110) among all USHL goaltenders thus far.

Honorable Mentions

  • Mikey Berchild, F, NTDP U17 Team (2026)
  • AJ Reyelts, G, Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
  • Dashel Oliver, F, Lincoln Stars 
  • Jack Pechar, F, Lincoln Stars
  • Vasily Zelenov, F, Green Bay Gamblers
  • Calvin Vachon, G, Waterloo Black Hawks

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