There's no shortage of local ties to the USHL Clark Cup championship series that started Sunday night.

Wisconsin recruits Craig Smith and Brock Montpetit are playing for Waterloo, which won Game 1 on the road, 4-3 in overtime. UW recruits Patrick Wiercioch and Matt Thurber are playing for Omaha.

Verona's Blake Kessel assisted on the OT winner for Waterloo, which also features former Madison Memorial standout Keegan Meuer and Plover's Scott Pavelski, brother of former UW center Joe Pavelski.

(As an aside, anyone else crazy enough to stay up until almost 1:30 this morning to watch the Stars eliminate the Sharks in the fourth OT? For the record, Joe Pavelski skated 58 shifts for a total of 44:02 on the ice in a losing effort.)

Superior's Brett Olson also plays for Waterloo, while Merrill's Jake Hauswirth and Elk Mound's Seth Soley play for Omaha.

Game 2 of the best-of-five USHL title series is Monday night in Omaha, with Game 3 Wednesday in Waterloo. The Black Hawks would host Game 4 if necessary on Friday, with a potential Game 5 Saturday in Omaha.