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2022-23 USHL Power Rankings

USHL Power Rankings: Chicago Steel Back On Top, Sioux City's...

USHL writer Jordan McAlpine delivers his power rankings every other week throughout the 2022-23 season.

Welcome to FloHockey's bi-monthly power rankings for the USHL. Find out which of the league's 16 teams rise and fall over the course of the long regular season.

Note: Following this week's list, the USHL Power Rankings will go on a brief hiatus until after the World Junior Championship. We'll return with fresh rankings on Jan. 12.

1. Chicago Steel / Last Ranking: 2

Record: 16-5-1-1

The Steel are back atop FloHockey’s USHL Power Rankings for the fourth time this season and rightfully so. Chicago has points in 10 straight games (8-0-1-1), six of the USHL's top 10 point producers, and the Steel have both the most wins (16) and points (34) in the league. Those six are Jack Harvey (35), Michael Emerson (28), Jayden Perron (28), Mick Thompson (25), Macklin Celebrini (24) and Nicholas Moldenhauer (23).

Chicago is also an impressive 9-1-1-1 away from home this season and the lone regulation loss came way back on Oct. 15. Chicago and Fargo are the only two USHL teams with two or fewer road regulation losses this season.

2. Fargo Force / Last Ranking: 1

Record: 15-5-0-3

Fargo drops one spot in the rankings but the Force have only dropped two games in their past 10 (7-2-0-1). The Force have won back-to-back games and still lead the Western Conference with 33 points. Fargo also has the most goals scored (92) and fewest goals-against (54) in the west. 

The Force are one of only two USHL teams that rank in the top five in both goals for and goals against per game - Waterloo being the other. Matej Marinov is a big reason why and was recognized as the USHL’s Goaltender of the Week for his efforts.

3. Waterloo Black Hawks / Last Ranking: 5

Record: 13-8-0-0

The Black Hawks are 7-3-0-0 in their last 10 and after three straight losses, Waterloo responded with a pair of 5-4 wins. Waterloo had won seven straight before those three losses as well.

The Black Hawks - who have the USHL’s best home record at 11-4-0-0 - have won eight of their past 10 at home and 11 of their past 15 overall. Their offense is a big reason why as the Black Hawks netted five or more goals in seven of those 15. Waterloo is currently third in the Western Conference, just three points behind Lincoln and seven behind Fargo.

4. Lincoln Stars / Last Ranking: 4

Record: 14-7-1-0

Staying put at four, the Stars have spun their tires a bit as of late. Lincoln is 5-4-1-0 in its last 10, yet the Stars still sit comfortably near the top of the Western Conference. Lincoln has points in three straight (2-0-1-0) and its December schedule is littered with conference rivals, putting key points on the line.

Speaking of those rivals, the Stars have found themselves in some spirited contests against those foes as of late. Lincoln leads the USHL with 20.6 penalty minutes per game. However, the Stars’ penalty kill ranks second in the league at 85.4%.

5. USNTDP / Last Ranking: 3

Record: 11-5-1-2

Both USNTDP teams have been busy as of late. However, they’re a combined 4-3-1-2 over the last 10 games. Even though they’ve gotten points in two of them, Team USA has dropped three straight (0-1-1-1) and now sits tied with Muskegon with 25 points. But the NTDP’s win percentage (.658) still ranks second in the east and fourth in the league.

The U18’s fell to Chicago last time out, 5-4, and will look to earn a few more wins before diving back into the college ranks at the end of the month. 

6. Sioux City Musketeers / Last Ranking: 9

Record: 11-7-2-1

Besides Chicago, the Musketeers are arguably the hottest team in the USHL. Sioux City has won three straight and the Musketeers are 7-2-0-1 in their last 10. The Musketeers have also earned points in six straight (5-0-1-1) home games, including a weekend sweep of Fargo and Sioux Falls last time out. After a rough start to the season, Sioux City has vaulted up the standings and has been one of the league’s best over the past month.

7. Muskegon Lumberjacks / Last Ranking: 7

Record: 12-9-1-0

Muskegon has won four of its past seven and the Lumberjacks are 5-4-1-0 in their last 10. Muskegon suffered a 5-4 loss to Chicago last time out but the Lumberjacks put up a furious rally late.

Muskegon is still tied for second in the Eastern Conference with 25 points. The Lumberjacks have scored 19 goals over the past four games and Muskegon now has 87 on the season - the third most in the league. The Lumberjacks are currently without four key players - who are representing Team USA at the World Junior A Challenge - but have been able to overcome it so far.

8. Dubuque Fighting Saints / Last Ranking: 6

Record: 11-7-1-1

Down two spots from No. 6, the Fighting Saints have dropped three of their past four. Dubuque is still currently tied with Green Bay for fourth in the Eastern Conference but the Fighting Saints own the third-highest win percentage (.600) in the east. Dubuque has played the second-fewest games in the USHL this season - 20.

Prior to this recent four-game stretch, Dubuque had earned points in six straight (5-0-0-1) and has been one of the league’s most consistent teams, especially away from home. Dubuque’s 7-4-1-0 road record is the third-best in the USHL.

9. Green Bay Gamblers / Last Ranking: 8

Record: 11-8-1-1

The Gamblers are also 6-3-0-1 in their last 10 and as mentioned above, Green Bay is currently tied with Dubuque for fourth in the Eastern Conference. However, Green Bay has points in back-to-back games, including a 4-2 win over Madison last time out.

Special Teams have been a strength for Mike Leone’s group as Green Bay’s power play (24.7%) and penalty kill (83.3%) both rank third in the USHL. Along with solid defensive play. Although he’s lost his past two starts, goaltender Kristoffer Eberly is tied for the league lead with 10 wins.

10. Tri-City Storm / Last Ranking: 11

Record: 10-10-0-2

After falling to the bottom of FloHockey’s USHL Power Rankings, the Storm have continued their steady climb and come in at No. 10 this week. Tri-City is 5-3-0-2 in its last 10 games and has points in three straight (2-0-0-1). The Storm took three of a possible four points last time out with a 4-3 shootout loss to Omaha and a 3-2 overtime win at Lincoln. 

Tri-City is currently sixth in the Western Conference with 22 points and the Storm sit at .500 through their first 22 games. Now it’s about continuing to play with the same consistency that’s made Tri-City such a threat in recent years.

11. Youngstown Phantoms / Last Ranking: 12

Record: 9-8-3-1

The Phantoms have slowly but surely picked up points and are up one spot this week. Youngstown is currently sixth in the Eastern Conference and the Phantoms are 4-3-2-1 in their last 10. Goaltender Jacob Fowler has continued his steady play and is a big reason why the Phantoms have allowed the fewest goals in the east - 66.

William Whitelaw also ranks second in rookie scoring with 19 points while Shane Lachance is one of four players tied for second in the league with 14 goals.

12. Cedar Rapids RoughRiders / Last Ranking: 10

Record: 9-9-2-1

The RoughRiders sit right at .500 on the season. However, they’ve dropped to seventh in the east. Cedar Rapids lost to Waterloo in a shootout last time out and Mark Carlson’s group is 4-5-0-1 in its last 10. And after winning six of their first nine at home, the RoughRiders have dropped two straight at The Stable.

13. Des Moines Buccaneers / Last Ranking: 13

Record: 9-9-3-2

Des Moines finds itself in the same place - both in the standings and these rankings. The Buccaneers remain fifth in the Western Conference and are 3-3-2-2 in their last 10. Even though they’ve gotten points in seven of their last 10, the Buccaneers haven’t been able to gain much ground.  However, goaltender Max Lundgren has provided a huge lift and currently has the league’s third-best save percentage at .919. 

14. Omaha Lancers / Last Ranking: 14

Record: 8-12-3-1

Another team that has struggled to gain much ground, the Lancers stay put at 14. They’ve shown glimpses of strong defensive play and Omaha’s goaltending tandem of Michael Hrabal and Kevin Pasche is amongst the best in the league. But at the end of the day, Omaha’s ability to puck in the net has been its Achilles’ heel. 

The Lancers have scored a league-worst 59 goals and just six in their last three games combined - four of which came in one game. Omaha has also gotten into penalty trouble lately as the Lancers have the USHL’s second-most penalty minutes at 449. However, Omaha does have the league’s best penalty kill at 86.1%.

15. Sioux Falls Stampede / Last Ranking: 15

Record: 8-12-2-1

It started to look like the Stampede were trending in the right direction as Sioux Falls knocked off Lincoln and Waterloo twice. But those three wins were followed with back-to-back losses - the latest one a 7-2 drubbing in Sioux City. The Stampede are 3-5-1-1 in their last 10 and have dropped three of their past four at home.

Despite their struggles, forward Samuel Harris still has a seven-game point streak going and has racked up 12 points (5-7-12) in that stretch. Harris is currently fifth in the USHL with 27 points and was featured by FloHockey earlier this season.

16. Madison Capitols / Last Ranking: 16

Record: 7-14-0-1

The Capitols find themselves in the basement once again. The 2022-23 campaign hasn’t been kind in Wisconsin’s capital city and Madison is 2-8-0-0 in its last 10 games. Madison’s seven wins are the fewest in the league and the Capitols have been the league’s worst team on home ice with a .318 winning percentage (3-7-0-1).

If there’s been a silver lining, it’s been the recent play of Arizona Coyotes pick Miko Matikka. The Finnish forward has five goals and nine points in his last five games. His 32 points and 14 goals both rank second in the USHL. Matikka was featured by FloHockey last month.