Monday, April 5, 2010

USHL West Division First Round Playoff Schedule

Press Release

The United States Hockey League today announced the first-round schedule for the West Division in the USHL Clark Cup Playoffs as the Omaha Lancers, Fargo Force, Sioux Falls Stampede, and Tri-City Storm secured their postseason positions following the final weekend of the 2009-10 regular season.

The Omaha Lancers won the West Division title for the third time in the past four seasons earning the first seed in the West playoffs. The Lancers will host the Tri-City Storm on Wednesday, April 7th to open their best-of-five series which will be played in an alternating 1-1-1-1-1 format. With a win in their final regular season game, Tri-City earned their first trip to the Clark Cup Playoffs since the spring of 2007. The Fargo Force earned the second seed in the West and make their second straight appearance in the postseason after advancing to the Clark Cup Finals a season ago. Fargo will play five-game series with a 1-2-1-1 format vs. the Sioux Falls Stampede who are making their fifth consecutive playoff appearance after claiming the third seed.

The winners of each series will meet in the second round and play a best-of-five series to determine the West Division representative for the Clark Cup Finals.

WEST DIVISION

#1 Omaha Lancers vs. #4 Tri-City Storm

Game 1: Wednesday, April 7th, 7:05 PM (CDT) – Tri-City at Omaha (Omaha Civic Auditorium)

Game 2: Friday, April 9th, 7:05 PM (CDT) – Omaha at Tri-City (Viaero Event Center)

Game 3: Saturday, April 10th, 7:05 PM (CDT) – Tri-City at Omaha (Omaha Civic Auditorium)

Game 4: Monday, April 12th, 7:05 PM (CDT) – Omaha at Tri-City* (Viaero Event Center)

Game 5: Wednesday, April 14th, 7:05 PM (CDT) – Tri-City at Omaha* (Omaha Civic Auditorium)

#2 Fargo Force vs. #3 Sioux Falls Stampede

Game 1: Wednesday, April 7th, 7:05 PM (CDT) – Fargo at Sioux Falls (Sioux Falls Arena)

Game 2: Friday, April 9th, 7:35 PM (CDT) – Sioux Falls at Fargo (Urban Plains Center)

Game 3: Saturday, April 10th, 7:05 PM (CDT) – Sioux Falls at Fargo (Urban Plains Center)

Game 4: Tuesday, April 13th, 7:05 PM (CDT) – Fargo at Sioux Falls* (Sioux Falls Arena)

Game 5: Wednesday, April 14th, 7:05 PM (CDT) – Sioux Falls at Fargo* (Urban Plains Center)

* if necessary

(Note local start time)

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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