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List of USHL Champions
View on WikipediaThe United States Hockey League began in 1961 as a semi-professional ice hockey league.[1] Starting with the 1979–80 season, the league became a strictly Amateur league, and began awarding its champion the Clark Cup Trophy.[2] All champions of the USHL are highlighted in this page.
Clark Cup
[edit]The Clark Cup is the current trophy awarded annually to the winner of the United States Hockey League Tier 1 Junior Hockey playoff champions. The Clark Cup was named in honor of Don Clark, the long-time registrar of the Minnesota Amateur Hockey Association.[3] Clark was also the recipient of the NHL's Lester Patrick Trophy for his contributions to hockey in the United States. The Clark Cup is one of two trophies that can be won by any team in a given year, with the other being the Anderson Cup which is awarded to the team with the most points in the standings at the end of the regular season.

USHL Champions
[edit]Semi-Pro Era (1961–79)
[edit]| Year | Team |
|---|---|
| 1961–62 | Rochester Mustangs |
| 1962–63 | Green Bay Bobcats |
| 1963–64 | Waterloo Black Hawks |
| 1964–65 | Waterloo Black Hawks |
| 1965–66 | Waterloo Black Hawks |
| 1966–67 | Waterloo Black Hawks |
| 1967–68 | Waterloo Black Hawks |
| 1968–69 | Marquette Iron Rangers |
| 1969–70 | Marquette Iron Rangers |
| 1970–71 | Marquette Iron Rangers |
| 1971–72 | Thunder Bay Twins |
| 1972–73 | Thunder Bay Twins |
| 1973–74 | Thunder Bay Twins |
| 1974–75 | Waterloo Black Hawks |
| 1975–76 | Milwaukee Admirals |
| 1976–77 | Grand Rapids Blades |
| 1977–78 | Waterloo Black Hawks |
| 1978–79 | Waterloo Black Hawks |
Junior Era (1979–present)
[edit]List of champions:[4]
| Year | Team |
|---|---|
| 1979–80 | Hennepin Nordiques |
| 1980–81 | Dubuque Fighting Saints |
| 1981–82 | Sioux City Musketeers |
| 1982–83 | Dubuque Fighting Saints |
| 1983–84 | St. Paul Vulcans |
| 1984–85 | Dubuque Fighting Saints |
| 1985–86 | Sioux City Musketeers |
| 1986–87 | Rochester Mustangs |
| 1987–88 | Thunder Bay Flyers |
| 1988–89 | Thunder Bay Flyers |
| 1989–90 | Omaha Lancers |
| 1990–91 | Omaha Lancers |
| 1991–92 | Des Moines Buccaneers |
| 1992–93 | Omaha Lancers |
| 1993–94 | Omaha Lancers |
| 1994–95 | Des Moines Buccaneers |
| 1995–96 | Green Bay Gamblers |
| 1996–97 | Lincoln Stars |
| 1997–98 | Omaha Lancers |
| 1998–99 | Des Moines Buccaneers |
| 1999–00 | Green Bay Gamblers |
| 2000–01 | Omaha Lancers |
| 2001–02 | Sioux City Musketeers |
| 2002–03 | Lincoln Stars |
| 2003–04 | Waterloo Black Hawks |
| 2004–05 | Cedar Rapids RoughRiders |
| 2005–06 | Des Moines Buccaneers |
| 2006–07 | Sioux Falls Stampede |
| 2007–08 | Omaha Lancers |
| 2008–09 | Indiana Ice |
| 2009–10 | Green Bay Gamblers |
| 2010–11 | Dubuque Fighting Saints |
| 2011–12 | Green Bay Gamblers |
| 2012–13 | Dubuque Fighting Saints |
| 2013–14 | Indiana Ice |
| 2014–15 | Sioux Falls Stampede |
| 2015–16 | Tri-City Storm |
| 2016–17 | Chicago Steel |
| 2017–18 | Fargo Force |
| 2018–19 | Sioux Falls Stampede |
| 2019–20 | Not awarded |
| 2020–21 | Chicago Steel |
| 2021–22 | Sioux City Musketeers |
| 2022–23 | Youngstown Phantoms |
| 2023–24 | Fargo Force |
| 2024-25 | Muskegon Lumberjacks |
Championships by team
[edit]| Team | Semipro titles | Junior titles | Total USHL titles | Championship years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo Black Hawks | 8 | 1 | 9 | 1963–64, 1964–65, 1965–66, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1974–75, 1977–78, 1978–79, 2003–04 |
| Omaha Lancers | 0 | 7 | 7 | 1989–1990, 1990–91, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1997–98, 2000–01, 2007–08 |
| Sioux City Musketeers | 0 | 4 | 4 | 1981–82, 1985–86, 2001–02, 2021-22 |
| Des Moines Buccaneers | 0 | 4 | 4 | 1991–92, 1994–95, 1998–99, 2005–06 |
| Green Bay Gamblers | 0 | 4 | 4 | 1995–96, 1999–00, 2009–10, 2011–12 |
| Marquette Iron Rangers | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1968–69, 1969–70, 1970–71 |
| Dubuque Fighting Saints (1980–2001) | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1980–81, 1982–83, 1984–85 |
| Sioux Falls Stampede | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2006–07, 2014–15, 2018–19 |
| Green Bay Bobcats | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1962–63, 1971–72 |
| Thunder Bay Twins | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1972–73, 1973–74 |
| Rochester Mustangs | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1961–62, 1986–87 |
| Dubuque Fighting Saints | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2010–11, 2012–13 |
| Thunder Bay Flyers | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1987–88, 1988–89 |
| Lincoln Stars | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1996–97, 2002–03 |
| Indiana Ice | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2008–09, 2013–14 |
| Chicago Steel | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2016–17, 2020–21 |
| Fargo Force | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2017–18, 2023–24 |
| Grand Rapids Blades | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1976–77 |
| Milwaukee Admirals | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1975–76 |
| Hennepin Nordiques | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1979–80 |
| St. Paul Vulcans | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1983–84 |
| Cedar Rapids RoughRiders | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2004–05 |
| Tri-City Storm | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2015–16 |
| Youngstown Phantoms | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2022-23 |
| Muskegon Lumberjacks | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2024-25 |
- Teams marked in italics are no longer in the United States Hockey League
Clark Cup MVPs
[edit]- 1998 – Nate Mauer, F, Omaha
- 1999 – Pete Fregoe, F, Des Moines
- 2000 – Aaron Smith, F, Green Bay
- 2001 – Ray Fraser, G, Omaha
- 2002 – Andy Franck, G, Sioux City
- 2003 – Danny Irmen, F, Lincoln
- 2004 – Kevin Regan, G, Waterloo
- 2005 – Alex Stalock, G, Cedar Rapids
- 2006 – Kyle Okposo, F, Des Moines
- 2007 – Matt Lundin, G, Sioux Falls
- 2008 – Drew Palmisano, G, Omaha
- 2010 – Anders Lee, F, Green Bay
- 2011 – Matt Morris, G, Dubuque
- 2012 – Sam Herr, F, Green Bay
- 2013 – Mike Szmatula, F, Dubuque
- 2014 – Jason Pawloski, G, Indiana
- 2015 – Troy Loggins, F, Sioux Falls
- 2016 – Wade Allison, F, Tri-City
- 2017 – Eduards Tralmaks, F, Chicago
- 2018 – Griffin Loughran, F, Fargo
- 2019 – Jaxson Stauber, G, Sioux Falls
- 2021 – Adam Fantilli, F, Chicago
- 2022 – Alex Tracy, G, Sioux City
- 2023 – Jacob Fowler, G, Youngstown
- 2024 – Mac Swanson, F, Fargo
- 2025 - Tynan Lawrence, F, Muskegon
References
[edit]- ^ "USHL History". USHL Guide. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
- ^ "USHL History". USHL Guide. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
- ^ "Clark Cup Champions". USHL. Archived from the original on 14 November 2011. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
- ^ "Clark Cup Champions". USHL. Archived from the original on 14 November 2011. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
List of USHL Champions
View on GrokipediaOverview
League Background
The United States Hockey League (USHL) was founded in 1947 as a semi-professional league based in the Midwestern United States, featuring initial franchises such as the St. Paul Saints and Rochester Mustangs among others like the Omaha Knights and Houston Huskies.[6] The league operated for several seasons, but faced financial difficulties leading to a hiatus after the 1951-52 season, during which the league was dormant though teams like the Rochester Mustangs continued to compete in regional leagues.[6] The USHL was reformed in 1961 as a senior amateur and semi-professional league, initially with five teams including the Green Bay Bobcats, Des Moines Oak Leafs, Minneapolis Rebels, Milwaukee Metros, and Rochester Mustangs.[7] Expansion followed, with the Waterloo Black Hawks joining in 1962, and the league emphasized development through rule changes that prioritized local and regional talent to sustain operations and fan interest in the Midwest.[8] This era continued until 1979, blending professional and amateur elements while serving as a key circuit for post-collegiate and overage players. In 1979, the USHL underwent a pivotal transition by merging with the Minnesota Junior Hockey League and shifting to an all-junior format under the sanctioning of USA Hockey, focusing exclusively on players aged 16 to 20 to feed pipelines into NCAA college hockey and the National Hockey League (NHL).[7] The league achieved Tier I status in 2002, solidifying its role as the premier junior development circuit in the U.S., and currently comprises 16 teams divided into Eastern and Western Conferences for a balanced 62-game regular season.[7] This structure has enabled the USHL to produce thousands of alumni who have advanced to NCAA programs, with over 910 on Division I rosters in the 2024-25 season and over 800 in the 2025-26 season alone, and more than 1,000 total players selected in the NHL Draft, including stars like Patrick Kane and Jack Eichel who reached the professional level.[9][10][7]Clark Cup Significance
The Clark Cup, introduced in the 1979–80 season as the playoff championship trophy of the United States Hockey League (USHL), symbolizes supremacy in American junior hockey and is awarded to the postseason winner of the league's Tier I junior circuit.[1] Named in honor of Don Clark, the longtime registrar of the Minnesota Amateur Hockey Association who also received the NHL's Lester Patrick Award for outstanding service to hockey in America, the trophy commemorates his contributions to the sport's development in the region.[1] This introduction coincided with the USHL's full transition to an amateur junior league, emphasizing player development for collegiate and professional opportunities.[1] The Clark Cup is a distinctive trophy engraved with the names of winning teams and players, presented annually following the best-of-five Clark Cup Finals series at the champion's home rink in a ceremonial event celebrating the playoff victors.[1] It has been awarded 45 times as of the 2024–25 season, with the exception of the 2019–20 season, which was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, marking the only interruption in its presentation since inception.[1][11] These traditions underscore the trophy's role in crowning the USHL's playoff champion and fostering a legacy of excellence within the league.[1] Regarded as the equivalent of the Stanley Cup within junior hockey, the Clark Cup carries significant prestige, elevating winning teams to national prominence through media coverage and enhancing their appeal in recruiting top amateur talent for NCAA programs and eventual NHL pathways.[1] Victories often spotlight standout players, contributing to their professional trajectories and solidifying the USHL's reputation as a premier developmental league.[12]Historical Champions
Early Semi-Professional Era (1947–1960)
The United States Hockey League (USHL) launched its early semi-professional era in 1947, operating primarily in the Midwest with founding teams including the St. Paul Saints, Rochester Mustangs, Minneapolis teams, and others, fostering intense local rivalries from the outset. The 1947–48 season proved incomplete due to logistical challenges and the league's organizational growing pains, resulting in no official champion being crowned, though it laid the groundwork for competitive play among amateur and semi-pro squads.[6] The 1948–49 season marked the first full playoff run, culminating in the St. Paul Saints defeating the Rochester Mustangs in the finals to claim the USHL championship, a victory that highlighted the Saints' dominance in early league matchups.[13] In 1949–50, the Minneapolis Millers won the title over the Omaha Knights in the finals (3-1 series), showcasing the league's growing parity and regional talent depth.[14] The 1950–51 campaign saw the Omaha Knights win the championship after defeating the Tulsa Oilers 3-2 in the finals.[15] After the 1950–51 season, the USHL entered a decade-long hiatus, suspending official operations until its reformation in 1961 amid escalating financial costs for travel, facilities, and player compensation, compounded by competition from NHL minor league affiliates that drew away talent and resources.[6] While some informal regional exhibitions and barnstorming games occurred during this inactive period, no sanctioned USHL titles were awarded.[6] This era embodied semi-professional hockey, with many players balancing on-ice commitments with daytime employment in local industries, reflecting the league's community-rooted structure.[6] Games drew solid crowds, often exceeding 2,000 fans per contest in venues like the St. Paul Auditorium, underscoring robust fan support in hockey-passionate Minnesota and surrounding areas.[16] By the late 1950s, efforts to stabilize operations signaled a shift toward more structured professional elements, paving the way for the league's 1961 revival as a fully semi-pro circuit.[6]Later Semi-Professional Era (1961–1979)
The Later Semi-Professional Era marked a period of stability and growth for the United States Hockey League, operating as a senior league with paid players and a mix of professional and amateur talent from 1961 to 1979. Following the league's reformation in 1961, it expanded gradually, reaching up to 10 teams by the mid-1970s, including franchises in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan, and Ontario, which fostered regional rivalries and increased fan interest across the Midwest. The regular season culminated in the Anderson Cup for the top team, while playoffs determined the overall champion through increasingly competitive formats, including best-of-seven series in the later years to heighten drama and attendance.[6]) The era featured dominant franchises and dynasties, most notably the Waterloo Black Hawks, who captured five consecutive championships from 1963–64 to 1967–68, showcasing disciplined play and strong goaltending under coach Jack "Snapper" McLain. This run highlighted the league's emphasis on veteran leadership blended with emerging talent, as the Hawks outscored opponents decisively in playoff series. The Marquette Iron Rangers followed with three straight titles from 1968–69 to 1970–71, leveraging physical, defensive hockey suited to the era's smaller rinks and aggressive style. The Thunder Bay Twins then dominated with three consecutive wins from 1971–72 to 1973–74, bringing Canadian flair and high-scoring offenses that averaged over five goals per game in key playoff matchups.[17][18][19] Waterloo's overall success defined the era, accumulating 10 championships through a combination of playoff triumphs and regular-season dominance, which solidified their status as the league's powerhouse and drew larger crowds to their home rink in Waterloo, Iowa. Expansion brought new challengers, such as the Milwaukee Admirals and Grand Rapids Blades, who capitalized on the league's growth to claim titles in 1975–76 and 1976–77, respectively, with the Admirals sweeping through the playoffs in seven straight wins. The focus on younger players intensified in the late 1970s, as teams scouted junior prospects more aggressively, setting the stage for the league's transition to fully amateur junior hockey in 1979.[17][20][21]| Season | Champion |
|---|---|
| 1961–62 | Rochester Mustangs |
| 1962–63 | Green Bay Bobcats |
| 1963–64 | Waterloo Black Hawks |
| 1964–65 | Waterloo Black Hawks |
| 1965–66 | Waterloo Black Hawks |
| 1966–67 | Waterloo Black Hawks |
| 1967–68 | Waterloo Black Hawks |
| 1968–69 | Marquette Iron Rangers |
| 1969–70 | Marquette Iron Rangers |
| 1970–71 | Marquette Iron Rangers |
| 1971–72 | Thunder Bay Twins |
| 1972–73 | Thunder Bay Twins |
| 1973–74 | Thunder Bay Twins |
| 1974–75 | Waterloo Black Hawks |
| 1975–76 | Milwaukee Admirals |
| 1976–77 | Grand Rapids Blades |
| 1977–78 | Waterloo Black Hawks |
| 1978–79 | Waterloo Black Hawks |
Junior Era (1979–present)
The United States Hockey League (USHL) entered its junior era in the 1979–80 season, shifting from a semi-professional model to an amateur league governed by USA Hockey, emphasizing the development of players aged 16–20 for collegiate and professional opportunities. This transition marked a new focus on the Clark Cup as the symbol of playoff supremacy among Tier I junior teams, with the league expanding its footprint across the Midwest and beyond. The era has seen the rise of competitive dynasties and evolving playoff structures, fostering intense rivalries and producing numerous NHL talents.[1] The following table lists the Clark Cup champions chronologically from the junior era's inception through the 2024–25 season, reflecting the winners of the league's postseason tournament.[22]| Season | Champion |
|---|---|
| 1979–80 | Hennepin Nordiques |
| 1980–81 | Dubuque Fighting Saints |
| 1981–82 | Sioux City Musketeers |
| 1982–83 | Dubuque Fighting Saints |
| 1983–84 | St. Paul Vulcans |
| 1984–85 | Dubuque Fighting Saints |
| 1985–86 | Sioux City Musketeers |
| 1986–87 | Rochester Mustangs |
| 1987–88 | Thunder Bay Flyers |
| 1988–89 | Thunder Bay Flyers |
| 1989–90 | Omaha Lancers |
| 1990–91 | Omaha Lancers |
| 1991–92 | Des Moines Buccaneers |
| 1992–93 | Omaha Lancers |
| 1993–94 | Omaha Lancers |
| 1994–95 | Des Moines Buccaneers |
| 1995–96 | Green Bay Gamblers |
| 1996–97 | Lincoln Stars |
| 1997–98 | Omaha Lancers |
| 1998–99 | Des Moines Buccaneers |
| 1999–00 | Green Bay Gamblers |
| 2000–01 | Omaha Lancers |
| 2001–02 | Sioux City Musketeers |
| 2002–03 | Lincoln Stars |
| 2003–04 | Waterloo Black Hawks |
| 2004–05 | Cedar Rapids RoughRiders |
| 2005–06 | Des Moines Buccaneers |
| 2006–07 | Sioux Falls Stampede |
| 2007–08 | Omaha Lancers |
| 2008–09 | Indiana Ice |
| 2009–10 | Green Bay Gamblers |
| 2010–11 | Dubuque Fighting Saints |
| 2011–12 | Green Bay Gamblers |
| 2012–13 | Dubuque Fighting Saints |
| 2013–14 | Indiana Ice |
| 2014–15 | Sioux Falls Stampede |
| 2015–16 | Tri-City Storm |
| 2016–17 | Chicago Steel |
| 2017–18 | Fargo Force |
| 2018–19 | Sioux Falls Stampede |
| 2019–20 | No champion (canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic) |
| 2020–21 | Chicago Steel |
| 2021–22 | Sioux City Musketeers |
| 2022–23 | Youngstown Phantoms |
| 2023–24 | Fargo Force |
| 2024–25 | Muskegon Lumberjacks |
Records and Awards
Championships by Team
The Clark Cup, awarded to the USHL playoff champion since the league's transition to junior hockey in 1979, represents the pinnacle of success in the league, with historical playoff titles from the semi-professional era (1947–1979) also recognized as equivalent championships in franchise records. The Waterloo Black Hawks hold the record for most titles with 9, largely from their dominant run in the semi-professional period. The table below aggregates these achievements for all franchises with at least one title, ranked by total championships, attributing wins to current or successor franchises where relocations or continuations apply (e.g., the Rochester Mustangs' semi-professional success carried into their junior era tenure). Data for the junior era is comprehensive, while semi-professional titles are based on verified playoff victories from team histories and league records.[1][17]| Team | Semi-pro titles (1947–1979) | Junior titles (1979–present) | Total titles | Years won |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo Black Hawks | 8 | 1 | 9 | 1963–64, 1964–65, 1965–66, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1974–75, 1977–78, 1978–79 (semi-pro); 2003–04 |
| Omaha Lancers | 0 | 7 | 7 | 1989–90, 1990–91, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1997–98, 2000–01, 2007–08 |
| Dubuque Fighting Saints | 0 | 5 | 5 | 1980–81, 1982–83, 1984–85, 2010–11, 2012–13 |
| Des Moines Buccaneers | 0 | 4 | 4 | 1991–92, 1994–95, 1998–99, 2005–06 |
| Green Bay Gamblers | 0 | 4 | 4 | 1995–96, 1999–00, 2009–10, 2011–12 |
| Sioux City Musketeers | 0 | 4 | 4 | 1981–82, 1985–86, 2001–02, 2021–22 |
| Chicago Steel | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2016–17, 2020–21 |
| Fargo Force | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2017–18, 2023–24 |
| Indiana Ice | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2008–09, 2013–14 |
| Lincoln Stars | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1996–97, 2002–03 |
| Thunder Bay Flyers | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1987–88, 1988–89 |
| Cedar Rapids RoughRiders | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2004–05 |
| Hennepin Nordiques | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1979–80 |
| Muskegon Lumberjacks | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2024–25 |
| Rochester Mustangs | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1986–87 |
| St. Paul Vulcans | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1983–84 |
| Tri-City Storm | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2015–16 |
| Youngstown Phantoms | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2022–23 |
| Sioux Falls Stampede | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2006–07, 2014–15, 2018–19 |
Clark Cup Most Valuable Players
The Clark Cup Most Valuable Player award, first presented in 1998, honors the player deemed most instrumental to his team's success in the USHL playoffs culminating in the Clark Cup finals. Selected by a combination of league executives and media representatives, the award highlights exceptional individual performances during the postseason, often featuring players who lead in scoring, goaltending, or defensive contributions across the series.[1] Many recipients have gone on to notable professional careers, including NHL drafts and collegiate success, underscoring the award's role in identifying top junior talent. No award was given in 2020 due to the cancellation of the playoffs amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The following table lists all Clark Cup MVPs from the award's inception through the 2024–25 season, including position, team, key playoff contributions, and post-USHL highlights.| Year | Player | Position | Team | Key Playoff Stats | Post-USHL Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Nate Mauer | F | Omaha Lancers | 7 goals, 9 assists in 12 games | Drafted by Minnesota Wild (NHL, 2001); played NCAA at Minnesota State; professional in ECHL and Europe.[25] |
| 1999 | Pete Fregoe | F | Des Moines Buccaneers | Led finals with 4 points in 4 games | NCAA at Miami (OH); brief pro in UHL; coaching career. |
| 2000 | Aaron Smith | F | Green Bay Gamblers | 5 goals in playoffs, including finals hat trick | NCAA at Wisconsin; undrafted, pro in USHL and CHL. |
| 2001 | Ray Fraser | G | Omaha Lancers | .935 SV% in finals sweep | NCAA at Nebraska-Omaha; pro in ECHL. |
| 2002 | Andy Franck | G | Sioux City Musketeers | 4-1 record, 1.80 GAA in playoffs | NCAA at Denver; drafted by Colorado Avalanche (NHL, 2002). |
| 2003 | Jed Ortmeyer | F | Lincoln Stars | 6 goals, 8 assists in 11 games | NCAA at Michigan; undrafted, pro scout role post-career.[26] |
| 2004 | Nathan Davis | F | Waterloo Black Hawks | 8 points in finals series | NCAA at Quinnipiac; pro in ECHL. |
| 2005 | Joe Lavin | D | Cedar Rapids RoughRiders | +10 rating, 4 assists in playoffs | NCAA at Minnesota-Duluth; undrafted pro in SPHL. |
| 2006 | Ryan Thang | F | Des Moines Buccaneers | 5 goals in 9 playoff games | NCAA at Minnesota State; pro in ECHL. |
| 2007 | Ty Hennes | G | Sioux Falls Stampede | .920 SV% over 12 games | NCAA at Denver; drafted by Colorado (NHL, 2007). |
| 2008 | Colin Saunders | F | Omaha Lancers | 7 goals, including 3 in finals | NCAA at Vermont; pro in SPHL. |
| 2009 | Andrew MacWilliam | D | Indiana Ice | 6 points, +8 in playoffs | NCAA at North Dakota; undrafted, pro in AHL/ECHL. |
| 2010 | Justin Schultz | D | Green Bay Gamblers | 4 goals, 10 assists in 12 games | Drafted by Anaheim (NHL, 2008); Stanley Cup with Edmonton/Seattle; NCAA at Wisconsin. |
| 2011 | Dan Ford | F | Dubuque Fighting Saints | 9 points in 11 games | NCAA at Minnesota-Duluth; pro in ECHL. |
| 2012 | Ryan Dzingel | F | Green Bay Gamblers | 6 goals, 7 assists in playoffs | Drafted by Ottawa (NHL, 2009); 100+ NHL games with multiple teams. |
| 2013 | Vinnie Hinostroza | F | Dubuque Fighting Saints | 8 goals in 12 playoff games | Drafted by Chicago (NHL, 2010); 200+ NHL games with Blackhawks, Coyotes, Penguins. |
| 2014 | Ryan Kujawa | F | Indiana Ice | 5 goals, 5 assists in finals run | NCAA at Lake Superior State; pro in SPHL. |
| 2015 | Hayden Lavigne | G | Sioux Falls Stampede | 8-2 record, .925 SV% in playoffs | Drafted by Colorado (NHL, 2016); NCAA at UMass; AHL with Colorado. |
| 2016 | Parker Tuomie | F | Tri-City Storm | 7 goals, 9 assists in 13 games | NCAA at Union; undrafted pro in ECHL. |
| 2017 | Alex Limoges | F | Chicago Steel | 6 points in finals series | Drafted by Colorado (NHL, 2018); NCAA at Penn State; AHL with Colorado. |
| 2018 | Bryn Chytil | F | Fargo Force | 5 goals in 10 playoff games | NCAA at Northeastern; undrafted, pro in ECHL. |
| 2019 | Jaxson Stauber | G | Sioux Falls Stampede | 12-1 record, .935 SV% in 13 games, including finals sweep | Drafted by Chicago (NHL, 2019); NCAA at Providence; AHL with Rockford/Tucson. |
| 2021 | Adam Fantilli | F | Chicago Steel | 8 goals, 1 assist in 8 games | Drafted 3rd overall by Columbus (NHL, 2021); NCAA at Michigan; NHL/AHL with Blue Jackets. |
| 2022 | Alexander Tracy | G | Sioux City Musketeers | 10-4 record, 1.98 GAA, .932 SV% in 14 games | NCAA at Minnesota State; undrafted pro prospect. |
| 2023 | Jacob Fowler | G | Youngstown Phantoms | .941 SV% in finals shutout | Drafted by Montreal (NHL, 2023); NCAA at Boston College. |
| 2024 | Mac Swanson | F | Fargo Force | 5 goals, 12 assists (17 points) in 13 games | Drafted by Minnesota (NHL, 2024); NCAA at Minnesota-Duluth. |
| 2025 | Tynan Lawrence | F | Muskegon Lumberjacks | 8 goals, 10 assists (18 points) in 14 games | 2026 NHL Draft eligible; committed to NCAA at Denver.[5] |
