Lumberjacks Limp Into Playoffs After Fourth Straight Loss

Muskegon falls to Dubuque 7-3 in regular season finale, will face Cedar Rapids in first round

Apr. 5, 2026 at 7:06pm

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The Muskegon Lumberjacks ended their regular season on a four-game losing streak, falling 7-3 to the Dubuque Fighting Saints on Saturday night. Despite the loss, the Lumberjacks clinched a playoff berth and will face the Cedar Rapids Roughriders in the first round, with all games on the road.

Why it matters

The Lumberjacks' late-season struggles raise questions about their ability to make a deep playoff run, but they still managed to secure a postseason spot in the competitive USHL Eastern Conference.

The details

Muskegon gave up three unanswered third-period goals to Dubuque after taking a 2-1 lead in the second period. The Fighting Saints outshot the Lumberjacks 34-23 on the night. Muskegon got goals from Jack Christ, Gus Thorp, and Viktor Norringer, but it wasn't enough to overcome Dubuque's offensive onslaught.

  • The Lumberjacks finished the regular season with a 36-24-2 record, good for 74 points and fifth place in the USHL's Eastern Conference.
  • Muskegon will open the playoffs on Friday in Game 1 of a best-of-3 first-round series against the Cedar Rapids Roughriders.
  • The opening game of the series will start at 8:05 p.m. on Friday.

The players

Muskegon Lumberjacks

A junior ice hockey team in the United States Hockey League (USHL) based in Muskegon, Michigan.

Dubuque Fighting Saints

A junior ice hockey team in the USHL based in Dubuque, Iowa.

Cedar Rapids Roughriders

A junior ice hockey team in the USHL based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Jack Christ

A Muskegon Lumberjacks player who scored a goal in the game.

Gus Thorp

A Muskegon Lumberjacks player who scored a goal in the game.

Viktor Norringer

A Muskegon Lumberjacks player who scored a goal in the game.

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What’s next

The Lumberjacks will face the Cedar Rapids Roughriders in the first round of the USHL playoffs, with all games being played on the road.

The takeaway

The Lumberjacks' late-season struggles are a concern, but they still managed to secure a playoff berth in the competitive USHL Eastern Conference. Their ability to bounce back and make a deep playoff run will be tested in the first-round series against Cedar Rapids.