Fargo Force
CityFargo, North Dakota
LeagueUnited States Hockey League
ConferenceWest
Founded2008
Home arenaScheels Arena
ColorsBlack, blue, white
     
Owner(s)Matt Cullen
General managerCary Eades
Head coachNick Oliver
Franchise history
2008–presentFargo Force
Championships
Playoff championships1 (2018)

The Fargo Force is a Tier I junior ice hockey team in the Western Conference of the United States Hockey League (USHL). The Force have won one league championship in 2018 and was awarded USHL Organization of the Year for 2008–09 and 2012–13.

History

In early 2007, Fargo was granted a USHL team, intended as an anchor tenant for the then-under-construction Urban Plains Center and owned by local businessman Ace Brandt. Dean Blais, former coach of the North Dakota Fighting Sioux hockey program, was hired as the franchise's initial coach and general manager. After a name-the-team contest, the choices were narrowed to Fargo Force, Fargo Phantoms, and Fargo Fire. Twelve people submitted the Force name; as a result, they won a dinner with head coach Dean Blais and each received two season tickets to the Force's inaugural season.[1]

As a result of the Force's entry, the area's previous hockey team, the Fargo-Moorhead Jets of the North American Hockey League announced they were leaving the area in April 2008,[2] and folded later that year.[3]

Marks retired following the 2014–15 season and was replaced by former University of North Dakota player/assistant coach Cary Eades, who had just led the Sioux Falls Stampede to the 2014–15 Clark Cup Championship. In 2018, Fargo won the Clark Cup Finals over the Youngstown Phantoms to win their first championship in team history. Following the 2018–19 season, Eades stepped down from his coaching position, retaining the general manager title, and associate coach Pierre-Paul Lamoureux was named head coach.[4] Lamoureux left after the 2020–21 season[5] and was replaced by Scott Langer who had spent the previous five seasons with the North American Hockey League's Aberdeen Wings.[6] On October 16, 2021, owner Ace Brandt died of cancer.[7]

Season-by-season records

SeasonGPWLOTLPtsGFGAPIMFinishPlayoffs
2008–0960322356919116611353rd, Western Conf.Won quarterfinals, 3–0 vs. Omaha Lancers
Won semifinals, 3–0 vs. Lincoln Stars
Lost Clark Cup Finals, 1–3 vs. Indiana Ice
2009–1060371768022721414742nd Western Conf.Won quarterfinals, 3–0 vs. Sioux Falls Stampede
Won semifinals, 3–2 vs. Omaha Lancers
Lost Clark Cup Finals, 2–3 vs. Green Bay Gamblers
2010–1160332257117315112014th, Western Conf.Won conf. quarterfinals, 2–0 vs. Lincoln Stars
Lost conf. semifinals, 0–3 vs. Dubuque Fighting Saints
2011–1260312366818816010074th, Western Conf.Won conf. quarterfinals, 2–0 vs. Sioux City Musketeers
Lost conf. semifinals, 1–3 vs. Lincoln Stars
2012–136438197832011879812nd, Western Conf.Won conf. semifinals, 3–2 vs. Waterloo Black Hawks
Won conf. finals, 3–2 vs. Sioux Falls Stampede
Lost Clark Cup Finals, 0–3 vs. Dubuque Fighting Saints
2013–1460143973512222912758th, Western Conf.did not qualify
2014–156026286581481919336th, Western Conf.did not qualify
2015–166032262661571509955th, Western Conf.did not qualify
2016–176036194771931497923rd, Western Conf.Lost conf. semifinals, 0–3 vs. Waterloo Black Hawks
2017–186037167812081339853rd, Western Conf.Won first round, 2–0 vs. Tri-City Storm
Won conf. semifinals, 3–1 vs. Omaha Lancers
Won conf. finals, 3–1 vs. Waterloo Black Hawks
Won Clark Cup finals, 3–1 vs. Youngstown Phantoms
2018–196234235731881729105th, Western Conf.Lost first round, 0–2 vs. Des Moines Buccaneers
2019–204827156601531438473rd, Western Conf.Season cancelled
2020–215431213631691488304th, Western Conf.Won conf. semifinals, 2–1 vs. Tri-City Storm
Won conf. finals, 2–0 vs. Sioux City Musketeers
Lost Clark Cup finals, 1–3 vs. Chicago Steel

NHL draft picks

The Fargo Force have had the following players picked in the NHL draft.[8]

Year draftedPlayerDrafted teamPick
2008Luke WitkowskiTampa Bay Lightning6th round, 160th overall
2009Josh BirkholzFlorida Panthers3rd round, 67th overall
Mike LeeArizona Coyotes3rd round, 91st overall
Nick OliverNashville Predators4th round, 110th overall
2010Zane McIntyreBoston Bruins6th round, 165th overall
2011Garrett HaarWashington Capitals7th round, 207th overall
2012Ben JohnsonNew Jersey Devils3rd round, 90th overall[9]
Dominic ToninatoToronto Maple Leafs5th round, 126th overall[10]
Brian CooperAnaheim Ducks5th round, 127th overall[11]
Colton HargroveBoston Bruins7th round, 205th overall
2013Teemu KivihalmeNashville Predators5th round, 140th overall
Jonny BrodzinskiLos Angeles Kings5th round, 148th overall[12]
2016Riley TufteDallas Stars1st round, 25th overall[13]
Chase PriskieWashington Capitals6th round, 177th overall
2017Clayton PhillipsPittsburgh Penguins3rd round, 93rd overall[14]
Denis SmirnovColorado Avalanche6th round, 156th overall[15]
Jack AdamsDetroit Red Wings6th round, 162nd overall
2018Ryan O'ReillyDetroit Red Wings4th round, 98th overall[16]
Michael KesselringEdmonton Oilers6th round, 164th overall[17]
2019Aaron HuglenBuffalo Sabres4th round, 102nd overall
Josh NodlerCalgary Flames5th round, 150th overall

Awards and player recognition

  • Jack Adams – 2016–17 All-USHL Team, 2016-17 USHL Most Goals[18]
  • Ryan Bischel – 2017 U.S. Junior Select Team[19]
  • Dean Blais – 2008–09 USHL Coach of the Year
  • Hank Crone – 2016 U.S. Junior Select Team,[20]
  • Cary Eades – 1991–92 USHL General Manager of the Year, 2012–13 USHL Coach of the Year
  • Ty Farmer – 2017–18 All-USHL Team[21]
  • Teemu Kivihalme – 2013 U.S. Junior Select Team[22]
  • Mike Lee – 2008–09 USHL Goaltender of the Year
  • Blake Lizotte – 2016–17 All-USHL Team,[23] 2016 U.S. Junior Select Team
  • Michael Mancinelli – 2017–18 USHL All-Rookie Team
  • Strauss Mann – 2017–18 All-USHL Team
  • Ben Meyers – 2018–19 All-USHL Team[24]
  • Zane McIntyre – 2011–12 USHL Goaltender of the Year
  • Josh Nodler – 2018 U.S. Junior Select Team[25] 2018–19 USHL All-Rookie Team[26]
  • Ryan O'Reilly – 2017–18 USHL All-Rookie Team, 2018 U.S. Junior Select Team
  • Clayton Phillips – 2016–17 USHL All-Rookie Team
  • Nate Schmidt – 2009–10 USHL All-Rookie Team
  • Jacob Schmidt-Svejstrup – 2017–18 All-USHL Team
  • Denis Smirnov – 2015–16 All-USHL Team[27]
  • Anthony Taranto – 2008–09 All-USHL Team

Prospects games participants

  • Jack Adams – 2017 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game[28]
  • Kaden Bohlsen – 2019 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game
  • Charlie Dovorany – 2017 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game
  • Mikey Eyssimont – 2015 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game[29]
  • Cedric Fiedler – 2019 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game[30]
  • Gabe Guertler – 2013 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game[31]
  • Brendan Harms – 2013 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game
  • Matt Kessel – 2018 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game
  • Josh Nodler – 2019 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game
  • Ryan O'Reilly – 2017 CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game, 2018 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game
  • Clayton Phillips – 2016 CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game, 2017 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game
  • Ryan Savage – 2017 CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game, 2018 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game[32]
  • Nate Schmidt – 2010 USHL All-Star Game
  • Jacob Schmidt-Svejstrup – 2018 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game
  • Denis Smirnov – 2015 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game
  • Riley Tufte – 2015 CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game[33]
  • Luke Witkowski – 2009 USHL All-Star Game

Roster

As of September 21, 2022.[34]

No. S/P/C Player Pos Ht Wt DoB Hometown Previous team College commitment
1 New York (state) Charlie Russell F 5' 10" 175 lb 2003-08-21 Skaneateles, New York Bonnyville (AJHL) Clarkson
2 Alaska Camden Shasby D 5' 10" 160 lb 2004-12-02 Anchorage, Alaska Fairbanks (NAHL) Western Michigan
3 Colorado Reid Conn D 6' 5" 195 lb 2004-02-02 Centennial, Colorado Minnesota Wilderness (NAHL) None
4 New York (state) Jacob Napier D 6' 2" 196 lb 2003-03-31 Lancaster, New York Muskegon (USHL) Western Michigan
5 Minnesota Leo Gruba D 6' 0" 202 lb 2003-12-14 Lake Elmo, Minnesota Hill-Murray (USHS–MN) St. Cloud State
6 Minnesota Jakob Stender D 5' 11" 190 lb 2002-08-07 Alexandria, Minnesota Aberdeen (NAHL) Minnesota State
7 California Ty Henricks F 6' 1" 170 lb 2005-06-28 Mission Viejo, California Anaheim Jr. Ducks U18 (Midget AAA) Western Michigan
8 New Jersey Brian Lonergan D 5' 10" 165 lb 2005-12-28 Montvale, New Jersey Sioux Falls Power U18 (Midget AAA) Michigan
9 Finland Verner Miettinen F 5' 11" 165 lb 2003-04-07 Espoo, Finland Kiekko-Espoo U20 (U20 SM-sarja) St. Cloud State
10 Alaska Bret Link F 6' 2" 181 lb 2002-04-09 Anchorage, Alaska Fairbanks (NAHL) Colorado College
12 New Jersey Boris Skalos F 5' 11" 175 lb 2003-01-16 Clifton, New Jersey Danbury (NAHL) None
13 Wisconsin Tanner Walos F 5' 10" 183 lb 2005-03-15 Hartland, Wisconsin Milwaukee Jr. Admirals U16 (Midget AAA) Wisconsin
14 Minnesota Joe Palodichuk D 6' 0" 178 lb 2003-02-26 Cottage Grove, Minnesota Hill-Murray (USHS–MN) Wisconsin
15 Minnesota Harper Bentz F 6' 1" 175 lb 2004-11-29 Moorhead, Minnesota Moorhead (USHS–MN) None
17 Illinois Kyle Smolen F 5' 11" 176 lb 2002-06-18 Crystal Lake, Illinois Chicago Mission U18 (Midget AAA) Arizona State
20 Belarus German Yavash F 6' 2" 187 lb 2003-07-03 Minsk, Belarus Minskie Zubry (Vysshaya Liga) Western Michigan
22 Michigan Cole Knuble F 5' 10" 170 lb 2004-07-01 East Grand Rapids, Michigan Fox Motors U18 (Midget AAA) Notre Dame
23 Alberta Tyson Gross F 6' 2" 180 lb 2002-09-23 Calgary, Alberta Drumheller (AJHL) St. Cloud State
24 Massachusetts J. P. Turner F 5' 11" 195 lb 2003-01-31 East Falmouth, Massachusetts Sioux Falls (USHL) New Hampshire
25 North Dakota Brasen Boser D 5' 11" 175 lb 2004-02-29 Minot, North Dakota Wenatchee (BCHL) None
26 Minnesota Anthony Menghini F 5' 10" 183 lb 2002-12-03 Baxter, Minnesota Austin (NAHL) None
27 Alaska Mac Swanson F 5' 5" 145 lb 2006-01-10 Anchorage, Alaska Team Alaska U16 (Midget AAA) None
28 North Dakota Kade Peterson F 6' 1" 190 lb 2003-05-02 West Fargo, North Dakota St. Cloud (NAHL) None
29 Manitoba Dakota MacIntosh F 6' 2" 194 lb 2006-12-04 Winnipeg, Manitoba Fairbanks (NAHL) Maine
31 Minnesota Anton Castro G 6' 1" 179 lb 2003-01-23 Mendota Heights, Minnesota Aberdeen (NAHL) Boston University
32 Virginia Noah Eyre F 5' 11" 176 lb 2004-06-22 Vienna, Virginia Shattuck-Saint Mary's Prep (Midget AAA) Princeton
33 Slovakia Matej Marinov G 6' 0" 157 lb 2003-06-16 Nitra, Slovakia Nitra U20 (Slovak Extraliga U20) None

References

  1. ↑ "Fargo Force : About". Archived from the original on 2008-07-05. Retrieved 2008-06-02.
  2. ↑ Archive_order | INFORUM | Fargo, North Dakota - Moorhead, Minnesota
  3. ↑ Fargo-Moorhead ceases operations
  4. ↑ "Eades stepping away from coaching hockey, Lamoureux named head coach of the Force". inforum.com. May 28, 2019.
  5. ↑ "Fargo Force Announce Coaching Changes". OurSports Central. July 16, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Force Announce New Head and Assistant Coach". OurSports Central. July 28, 2021.
  7. ↑ "FORCE MOURN LOSS OF FOUNDER & OWNER ACE BRANDT". Fargo Force. October 18, 2021.
  8. ↑ "USHL Players In NHL Drafts". USHL.com. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Ben Johnson: The Third Round Pick of the New Jersey Devils in the 2012 NHL Draft". allaboutthejersey.com.
  10. ↑ "NHL Draft 2012: Dominic Toninato - 5th Round 126th Overall". pensionplanpuppets.com.
  11. ↑ "Bruins Sign Force Alum to NHL Deal". USHL.com.
  12. ↑ "Jonny Brodzinski Selected By Los Angeles Kings 5th Round and 148th Overall in 2013 NHL Draft". National Hockey League.
  13. ↑ "Dallas Stars Select Left Wing Riley Tufte In The First Round Of 2016 NHL Draft". National Hockey League.
  14. ↑ "2017 NHL Draft: Pittsburgh Penguins select Clayton Phillips in 3rd round". pensburgh.com.
  15. ↑ "Avalanche Picks Denis Smirnov No. 156 Overall At 2017 NHL Draft". National Hockey League.
  16. ↑ "Detroit Red Wings Select Ryan O'Reilly in 4th Round and 98th Overall In 2018 NHL Draft". National Hockey League.
  17. ↑ "Sixth Round: Edmonton Oilers draft defenceman Michael Kesselring 164th overall". Oilersnation.com.
  18. ↑ "Awards - USHL Most Goals". eliteprospects.com.
  19. ↑ "2017 U.S. Junior Select Team". USAHockey.com.
  20. ↑ "21 USHL Players Selected to US World Junior A Challenge Squad". sbncollegehockey.com.
  21. ↑ "2018 All-USHL Teams Announced". USHL.com.
  22. ↑ "NHL Draft prospects top U.S. World Junior A roster". National Hockey League.
  23. ↑ "2017 All-USHL Teams Announced". USHL.com.
  24. ↑ "All-USHL Teams Announced". USHL.com. USHL.
  25. ↑ "2018 U.S. Junior Select Team Coaching Staff and Player Roster Unveiled". USAHockey.com.
  26. ↑ "USHL All-Rookie Teams Announced". USHL.com. USHL.
  27. ↑ "2016 All-USHL Teams Announced". USHL.com.
  28. ↑ "2017 USHL / NHL Top Prospects Game Rosters". USHL.com.
  29. ↑ "Rosters Named For 2015 USHL / NHL Top Prospects Game". USHL.com.
  30. ↑ "2019 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game Rosters Announced". USHL.com.
  31. ↑ "40 Players Chosen For USHL / NHL Top Prospects Game". National Hockey League.
  32. ↑ "2018 USHL / NHL Top Prospects Game Rosters Announced". USHL.com.
  33. ↑ "All-American Prospects Game All-Time Roster". AllAmericanProspectsGame.com.
  34. ↑ "Fargo Force Roster". USHL. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
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