The DICK’s Sporting Goods USHL Fall Classic is one of the absolute best ways to start the junior hockey season. The unique event brings the entire USHL under one roof to showcase their teams and players for NHL scouts and fans alike. 

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FloHockey will be streaming all 16 games from the annual event which will see all 16 teams play their first two games of the regular season at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex.

Here is everything you need to know about the event, which begins Wednesday, including the full schedule, a handful of players to watch and more things to know.

How To Watch The USHL Fall Classic

The USHL Fall Classic will air in its entirety live and on demand on FloHockey. Fans can access every single game via FloHockey.tv or via the FloSports mobile and connected TV apps. 

Select games will also stream live and free on FloHockey's YouTube, Facebook and X Pages, in addition to airing on the Flo platform as usual. See which games will stream free below.

2025 USHL Fall Classic Schedule

All Times ET

Wednesday, Sept. 17

• Dubuque Fighting Saints vs. Sioux City Musketeers, 4:30 p.m.*
• Muskegon Lumberjacks vs. Waterloo Black Hawks, 7 p.m.*

Thursday, Sept. 18

• Green Bay Gamblers vs. Omaha Lancers, 3:30 p.m.
• Chicago Steel vs. Sioux Falls Stampede, 4:30 p.m.
• Sioux City Musketeers vs. Muskegon Lumberjacks, 7 p.m.
• Waterloo Black Hawks vs. Dubuque Fighting Saints, 8 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 19

• Cedar Rapids Rough Riders vs. Des Moines Buccaneers, 3:30 p.m.
• Sioux Falls Stampede vs. Green Bay Gamblers, 4:30 p.m.
• Tri-City Storm vs. Youngstown Phantoms, 7 p.m.
• Omaha Lancers vs. Chicago Steel, 8 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 20

• Madison Capitols vs. Lincoln Stars, 3:30 p.m.
• U.S. Under-18 Team vs. Fargo Force, 4:30 p.m.*
• Youngstown Phantoms vs. Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, 7 p.m.
• Des Moines Buccaneers vs. Tri-City Storm, 8 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 21

• Fargo Force vs. Madison Capitols, noon
• Lincoln Stars vs. U.S. Under-18 Team, 2:30 p.m.

*Games will also be available live and free on FloHockey’s social media channels.

Players To Watch At The Fall Classic

Caleb Heil, G, Madison Capitols (TBL)

A U.S. World Junior candidate, Heil is getting one more year of junior before heading to North Dakota. He is one of the league’s most experienced and talented goaltenders heading into the season.

Cooper Simpson, RW, Youngstown Phantoms (BOS)

A Minnesota high school standout, Simpson earned a third-round selection by Boston. An offseason trade from Tri-City put him in a prominent role with Youngstown, where his offensive game should flourish. 

Blake Zielinski, C, Des Moines Buccaneers (2026)

A hero for Team USA at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, Zielinski got his season started right by leading the Americans to gold with a highly-productive tournament. He’ll be one of the league’s top draft prospects participating in the Fall Classic.

Mace’o Phillips, D, Green Bay Gamblers (CGY)

Fresh off a stint at Calgary Flames rookie camp, Phillips brings a massive 6-foot-5 frame and good skating ability to the table. He needs another year of development as he prepares for college and Green Bay should give him the minutes to contribute in a big way.

Rudolfs Berzkalns, C, Muskegon Lumberjacks (2026)

A big forward with two-way skills, Berzkalns is on the NHL Draft radar this season. The expectation is that his production will pick up after a relatively quiet rookie campaign. The Jacks will need him to step up as they’ll be without top returning scorer Tynan Lawrence.

Other Storylines To Watch

Head Coaches Make USHL Debuts

The USHL is full of new, but familiar faces behind the benches of many of its teams after an offseason of change. 

Among the new bench bosses are two former NHL head coaches as Scott Gordon takes over the bench of the Waterloo Black Hawks, while John Torchetti will run the Tri-City Storm. Both have coached at the highest level running NHL benches, but also as assistants. They’ve also been head coaches at the AHL level, bringing decades of pro experience to their new clubs.

Former NHL All-Star Scott Gomez, who was recently named to the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, has taken over the head coaching duties for the Chicago Steel and brought along former NHLer and Hobey Baker winner Mike Mottau to be part of his staff.

The Des Moines Buccaneers also dipped into the pro ranks, placing former ECHL coach Derek Damon at the helm. 

The Muskegon Lumberjacks promoted Colten St. Clair to the head job after serving as an assistant last season. He was also head coach of the Omaha Lancers for a brief period last season. 

Clark Cup Rematch Kicks Us Off

How about a little drama to open the Fall Classic? The nightcap of Day 1 features a rematch of the Clark Cup Final as Waterloo takes on Muskegon. The game will feature two new head coaches and an awful lot of new faces, but the emotions will still likely be running hot.

Among the players back for another go is Jack Christ, who scored the OT game-winner for Muskegon in the decisive game. He’ll look to lead Muskegon to a strong start to another season with high expectations.

How To Watch Free USHL Games Throughout The Season

Throughout the 2025-26 USHL season, FloHockey and the USHL will present weekly free games on select Sundays throughout the season. Game dates may be subject to change. However, selected games will be available for free across FloHockey’s social platforms including YouTube, Facebook and X (Twitter). The games will also be available on each of the participating teams’ Facebook pages.

Three games from the USHL Fall Classic will also air live and free on FloHockey's YouTube, Facebook and X pages.

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