USHL Season Preview: The High End is Here

USHL's Fall Classic is taking place outside of Pittsburgh. America's top junior circuit has a lot of turnover this year. There are many players with blue-chip backgrounds. USHL has potential first overall pick for 2024.

Cedar Rapids RoughRiders have two world junior veterans in Latvia's Martins Lavins and goaltender Bruno Bruveris.

Nick Moldenhauer missed last year's games with injuries and illness. Mack Celebrini is a talented offensive player who could be the first pick overall in the 2024 NHL draft.

Joey Muldowney, a UConn commit, makes the jump from the prep ranks to Des Moines Buccaneers. Providence College commit Michael Stenberg is looking to break out in his second season with the Bucs.

Dubuque Fighting Saints have added Chicago winger Nils Juntorp and Ohio State commit Theo Wallberg to their squad.

Cole Knuble, Leo Gruba and Leo Gredba are some of the players to watch in the USHL this season.

Green Bay Gamblers have Jayson Shaugabay, a University of Minnesota-Duluth commit, and Barrett Hall, who plays for St. Cloud State.

Lincoln Stars have Cam Whitehead, Jack Sparkes and a Michigan State commit.

Madison Capitols have a lot of talent. Quinn Finley and Miko Matikka are good prospects.

Muskegon Lumberjacks are a team with some promising young players. George Fegaras is a defenseman who played in the OJHL last season. Harvard commit Michael Callow plays on the wing.

Alex Bump and Nate Benoit are high school prospects.

Sioux City Musketeers are defending their championship title. They signed a young player, Ben Poitras, a Northeastern commit.

Sioux Falls Stampede is a team that impressed at the Hlinka-Gretzky tournament. The team has a lot of potential, including a Vermont commit, a Slovakia product, and Adam Zlnka, an offensive threat on the wing.

USHL season starts this weekend. Tri-City Storm have a lot of talent. Cameron O'Neill played in the Prep Hockey Conference last year. Daimon Gardner played high school hockey in Minnesota.

Sam Rinzel (CHI) rose up the rankings with his late-season performance in Waterloo. Emmett Croteau (MTL) is a big, mobile D-man committed to Minnesota.

Wisconsin commit William Whitelaw (2023) is a center for Youngstown Phantoms. Defenseman Michael Fisher (SJ) will join the team before heading to Northeastern.

Team USA is playing NTDP this season. Minnesota commit Oliver Moore and Boston College commits Ryan Leonard and Will Smith are potential 2023 first-rounders.