2018-19 USHL Season

This is the '''2018-19 United States Hockey League season. '''This is the league's 42nd season as a junior hockey league. The schedule runs from September 27 to April 13 and had each team playing 60 games. The league will open play with the 2018 USHL Fall Classic at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania from September 27 to September 30 with each of the league's 17 teams playing two games over the 4 days.

Membership Changes

 * On February 28, 2019 the ownership of the Central Illinois Flying Aces announced they would not be renewing the lease at the Grossinger Motors Arena and would be sitting out the 2019-20 season. The team stated it is evaluating opportunities to resume play for the 2020-21

Clark Cup Playoffs
The playoff format had been modified in 2017-18 to have the top six teams in each conference qualifying for the playoffs with the top two seeds in each conference earning a bye to the conference semifinals. The conference quarterfinals will be best of three hosted by the #3 and #4 seeds. The balance of the playoffs will be best of five with home ice advantage going to the higher seed.

Eastern Conference First Round

 * Dubuque Fighting Saints defeated Youngstown Phantoms 2 games to none
 * Cedar Rapids RoughRiders defeated USA Hockey NTDP 2 games to none

Western Conference First Round

 * Sioux Falls Stampede defeated Sioux City Musketeers 2 games to none
 * Des Moines Buccaneers defeated Fargo Force 2 games to none

Eastern Conference Semifinals

 * Muskegon Lumberjacks defeated Dubuque Fighting Saints 3 games to 1
 * Chicago Steel defeated Cedar Rapids RoughRiders 3 games to 1

Western Conference Semifinals

 * Tri-City Storm defeated Des Moines Buccaneers 3 games to none
 * Sioux Falls Stampede defeated Waterloo Black Hawks 3 games to 1

Eastern Conference Final

 * Chicago Steel defeated Muskegon Lumberjacks 3 games to 1

Western Conference Final

 * Sioux Falls Stampede defeated Tri-City Storm 3 games to none

Clark Cup Final

 * Sioux Falls Stampede defeated Chicago Steel 3 games to none