It’s a huge hockey weekend in Pittsburgh as the entire United States Hockey League, the only Tier 1 tuition-free junior circuit in the U.S., comes to town to open its 2024-25 season along with 85 youth teams as part of the annual USHL Fall Classic.

In addition to the USHL Fall Classic, the Stoney Creek Sabres in Ontario will be holding their third and final showcase tournament of the month Friday through Sunday. Fifty-six elite Canadian U15 and U.S. 14U Girls teams will be heading to the Hamilton, Ontario, area to compete in the U15 Showcase.

USHL Fall Classic

The USHL Fall Classic began Wednesday night as the USHL’s Youngstown Phantoms defeated the Tri-City Storm, 4-3, in overtime, and the Sioux City Musketeers beat the Dubuque Fighting Saints. It continues through Sunday, with all 16 USHL teams slated to play two regular-season games apiece during the five-day event.

An elite invitational youth tournament for USA Tier 1 Boys teams is being held simultaneously at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex and other Pittsburgh-area rinks for 14U, 15O, 16U and 18U teams. The youth tournament began Thursday morning and runs through Monday afternoon, with nearly 180 games scheduled to be played.

Most of the youth games should be available for live and on-demand viewing at www.LiveBarn.com. USHL league games all are streamed by FloHockey.

CLICK HERE for the schedule of USHL contests at the Fall Classic.   

Many of the top Tier 1 USA Boys programs are sending teams to the tournament, which is expecting to host as many as 400 professional, college and junior scouts.

"We are thrilled to host the DICK'S Sporting Goods USHL Fall Classic at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex for a ninth year," Kara Radeke, Executive Director, Pittsburgh Penguins, UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex, said in a release when the Fall Classic schedule was announced. "This event is a unique opportunity to showcase elite junior and youth hockey talent from across the country. We are proud to support the USHL and its member clubs to continue the development and growth of the game.”

Added USHL President and Commissioner Glenn Heffernan: “We're fortunate to partner with the Pittsburgh Penguins and the NHL for the Fall Classic and appreciate their support. This premier event, which serves as a showcase for the most successful junior hockey league in North America, is a unique combination, as in addition to our 16 games played in front of a large group of NHL and NCAA scouts, we also host tournaments for Tier I Youth Teams from around the country and Canada. It really is a tremendous exposure opportunity for these talented young players in front of our coaches and GMs."

USHL Fall Classic Competing 14U Teams

Seacoast Performance Academy, Windy City Storm, Providence Capitals, Madison Capitols, Compuware, Wilkes Barre/Scranton Jr. Knights, Okanagan Hockey Colorado, HoneyBaked, Buffalo Jr. Sabres, Mount St. Charles, Hill Academy, New Jersey Rockets, Team Minnesota Red, Team Minnesota Blue, Dallas Stars Elite, Pittsburgh Penguins Elite.

USHL Fall Classic Competing 15O Teams

Seacoast Performance Academy, Windy City Storm, Providence Capitals, Madison Capitols, Wilkes Barre/Scranton Jr. Knights, Okanagan Hockey Colorado, HoneyBaked, Mid-Fairfield Jr. Rangers, North Jersey Avalanche, Little Caesars, Team Illinois, Florida Alliance North, Fox Motors, South Kent School, Boston Jr. Eagles, Pittsburgh Predators, PAL Jr. Islanders, Buffalo Jr. Sabres, Mount St. Charles, New Jersey Rockets, Team Minnesota, Dallas Stars Elite, Pittsburgh Penguins Elite, Cleveland Barons, Team Maryland, Chicago Reapers.

USHL Fall Classic Competing 16U Teams

Seacoast Performance Academy, Windy City Storm, Okanagan Hockey Colorado, HoneyBaked, North Jersey Avalanche, Little Caesars, Team Illinois, Fox Motors, South Kent School, Boston Jr. Eagles, Oakland Jr. Grizzlies, Wilkes Barre/Scranton Jr. Knights, Mount St. Charles, New Jersey Rockets, Team Minnesota, Dallas Stars Elite, Pittsburgh Penguins Elite, Cleveland Barons, Team Maryland, Los Angeles Jr. Kings, Pirtsburgh Vengeance, Bishop Kearney Selects, Black Bear National Academy, Rocky Mountain RoughRiders, Carolina Jr. Hurricanes.

USHL Fall Classic Competing 18U Teams

Seacoast Performance Academy, Buffalo Jr. Sabres, Black Bear National Academy, Chicago Reapers, Wilkes Barre/Scranton Jr. Knights, Okanagan Hockey Colorado. Oakland Jr. Grizzlies, South Kent School, Team Maryland, Rocky Mountain RoughRiders, Pittsburgh Penguins Elite, Fox Motors, New Jersey Rockets, Dallas Stars Elite, North Jersey Avalanche, PAL Jr. Islanders, Philadelphia Jr. Flyers, Windy City Storm.

CLICK HERE for the USHL Fall Classic Hub

CLICK HERE for the USHL Fall Classic Tournament Program

CLICK HERE to access the USHL Fall Classic Youth Tournament Results, Schedule & Standings

Stoney Creek U15 Showcase

For the third straight weekend, the Stoney Creek Sabres will be hosting some of the top girls hockey programs from the United States and Canada. This weekend’s event is their annual U15 Showcase. Two weeks ago, Stoney Creek held its U18 Showcase, and last weekend was the University Showcase.

The 56-team field will be divided into eight pools with either six or eight teams in each. Pool play begins Friday and runs through Saturday. The four top overall seeds after pool play then will compete in the Gold Playoffs, with the next four playing for the Silver championship, the third set of four competing for the Bronze title and the next four seeds after that playing for the Brass championship on Sunday. Other teams will compete in consolation rounds, with each participant guaranteed to play five games.

There will be a total of 144 games played during the weekend. Contests played at Mohawk Ice Centre and Gateway Arena can be viewed live and on-demand via LiveBarn.

United States Girls 14U Competing Teams

Belle Tire, Biggby Coffee, Pittsburgh Penguins Elite, Windy City Storm, Cleveland Lady Barons, Connecticut Jr. Rangers, New Jersey Colonials, Philadelphia Jr. Flyers, Washington Pride, Chicago Mission, Team Illinois, Connecticut Polar Bears, Rochester Jr. Americans, Team Colorado, HoneyBaked, Lovell Academ, Anaheim Lady Ducks.

Canada Girls U15 Competing Teams

Barrie Sharks, Clarington Flames, Stoney Creek Sabres, Whitby Wolves, Ancaster Avalanche, Belleville Bearcats, Ottawa Lady 67s, Peterborough Ice Kats, Scarborough Sharks, Kingston Ice Wolves, London Devilettes, Sudbury Lady Wolves, Windsor Wildcats, Bluewater Hawks, Central York Panthers, Durham West Lightning, Markham-Stouffville Stars, Saugeen-Maitland Lightning, Toronto Leaside Wildcats, l’Outaouais Intrepid, North Halton Twisters, Ottawa Lady Senators, St. Catherines Brock Jr. Badgers, Waterloo Ravens, Brampton Canadettes, East Ottawa Stars, Hamilton Hawks, North York Storm, Oakville Hornets.

CLICK HERE for the Stoney Creek U15 Showcase Format & Rules

CLICK HERE for Stoney Creek U15 Showcase Schedule & Scores

CLICK HERE for Stoney Creek U15 Showcase Standings