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Fargo Force

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 two league championships in 2018 and 2024 and was awarded USHL Organization of the Year for 2008–09 and 2012–13.

Fargo Force
CityFargo, North Dakota
LeagueUnited States Hockey League
ConferenceWest
Founded2008
Home arenaScheels Arena
ColorsBlack, blue, white
     
Owner(s)Brandt Holdings
Matt Cullen(minority)
Bell Bank(minority)
General managerCary Eades
Head coachBrett Skinner
Websitefargoforce.com Edit this at Wikidata
Franchise history
2008–presentFargo Force
Championships
Playoff championships2 (2018, 2024)

History

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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

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Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, OTL = Overtime Losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against

Season GP W L OTL Pts GF GA PIM Finish Playoffs
2008–09 60 32 23 5 69 191 166 1135 3rd, 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
2009–10 60 37 17 6 80 227 214 1474 2nd 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
2010–11 60 33 22 5 71 173 151 1201 4th, Western Conf. Won conf. quarterfinals, 2–0 vs. Lincoln Stars
Lost conf. semifinals, 0–3 vs. Dubuque Fighting Saints
2011–12 60 31 23 6 68 188 160 1007 4th, Western Conf. Won conf. quarterfinals, 2–0 vs. Sioux City Musketeers
Lost conf. semifinals, 1–3 vs. Lincoln Stars
2012–13 64 38 19 7 83 201 187 981 2nd, 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
2013–14 60 14 39 7 35 122 229 1275 8th, Western Conf. did not qualify
2014–15 60 26 28 6 58 148 191 933 6th, Western Conf. did not qualify
2015–16 60 32 26 2 66 157 150 995 5th, Western Conf. did not qualify
2016–17 60 36 19 4 77 193 149 792 3rd, Western Conf. Lost conf. semifinals, 0–3 vs. Waterloo Black Hawks
2017–18 60 37 16 7 81 208 133 985 3rd, 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 Championship, 3–1 vs. Youngstown Phantoms
2018–19 62 34 23 5 73 188 172 910 5th, Western Conf. Lost first round, 0–2 vs. Des Moines Buccaneers
2019–20 48 27 15 6 60 153 143 847 3rd, Western Conf. Season cancelled
2020–21 54 31 21 3 63 169 148 830 4th, 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
2021–22 62 28 28 4 62 187 207 989 5th, Western Conf. Lost first round, 2-0 vs. Omaha Lancers
2022–23 62 40 14 4 88 230 159 895 1st, West Conf. Won conf. semifinals, 2-0 vs. Tri-City Storm
Won conf. finals, 3-1 vs. Lincoln Stars
Lost Clark Cup finals, 3-0 vs. Youngstown Phantoms
2023–24 62 50 10 2 102 272 143 579 1st, West Conf. Won conf. semifinals, 3-0 vs. Tri-City Storm
Won conf. finals, 3-2 vs. Sioux Falls Stampede
Won Clark Cup Championship, 3-1 vs. Dubuque Fighting Saints

Notable players

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NHL draft picks

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Notable Fargo Force players picked in the NHL draft:[8]

Year drafted Player Drafted team Pick
2008 Luke Witkowski Tampa Bay Lightning 6th round, 160th overall
2009 Mike Lee Arizona Coyotes 3rd round, 91st overall
2010 Zane McIntyre Boston Bruins 6th round, 165th overall
2012 Ben Johnson New Jersey Devils 3rd round, 90th overall[9]
Dominic Toninato Toronto Maple Leafs 5th round, 126th overall[10]
2013 Teemu Kivihalme Nashville Predators 5th round, 140th overall
Jonny Brodzinski Los Angeles Kings 5th round, 148th overall[11]
2016 Riley Tufte Dallas Stars 1st round, 25th overall[12]

Awards and player recognition

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For a more comprehensive list, see List of USHL award winners.
  • Mac Swanson – 2023–24 USHL Player of the Year, Forward of the Year
  • Leo Gruba – 2023–24 Defenseman of the Year
  • Hampton Slukynsky – 2023–24 Goaltender of the Year
  • Brett Skinner – 2023–24 Coach of the Year
  • Cary Eades – 2023–24 General Manager of the Year
  • Cole Knuble – 2022–23 Curt Hammer Award, Dave Tyler Junior Player of the Year Award
  • Nick Oliver – 2022–23 Coach of the Year
  • Jack Adams – 2016–17 All-USHL Team, 2016-17 USHL Most Goals[13]
  • Ryan Bischel – 2017 U.S. Junior Select Team[14]
  • Dean Blais – 2008–09 USHL Coach of the Year
  • Hank Crone – 2016 U.S. Junior Select Team,[15]
  • Cary Eades – 1991–92 USHL General Manager of the Year, 2012–13 USHL Coach of the Year
  • Ty Farmer – 2017–18 All-USHL Team[16]
  • Teemu Kivihalme – 2013 U.S. Junior Select Team[17]
  • Mike Lee – 2008–09 USHL Goaltender of the Year
  • Blake Lizotte – 2016–17 All-USHL Team,[18] 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[19]
  • Zane McIntyre – 2011–12 USHL Goaltender of the Year
  • Josh Nodler – 2018 U.S. Junior Select Team[20] 2018–19 USHL All-Rookie Team[21]
  • 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[22]
  • Anthony Taranto – 2008–09 All-USHL Team

Prospects games participants

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  • Jack Adams – 2017 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game[23]
  • Kaden Bohlsen – 2019 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game
  • Charlie Dovorany – 2017 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game
  • Mikey Eyssimont – 2015 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game[24]
  • Cedric Fiedler – 2019 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game[25]
  • Gabe Guertler – 2013 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game[26]
  • 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[27]
  • 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[28]
  • Luke Witkowski – 2009 USHL All-Star Game

References

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  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 [dead link‍]
  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. 23 June 2012.
  10. ^ "NHL Draft 2012: Dominic Toninato - 5th Round 126th Overall". pensionplanpuppets.com.
  11. ^ "Jonny Brodzinski Selected By Los Angeles Kings 5th Round and 148th Overall in 2013 NHL Draft". National Hockey League.
  12. ^ "Dallas Stars Select Left Wing Riley Tufte In The First Round Of 2016 NHL Draft". National Hockey League.
  13. ^ "Awards - USHL Most Goals". eliteprospects.com.
  14. ^ "2017 U.S. Junior Select Team". USAHockey.com.
  15. ^ "21 USHL Players Selected to US World Junior A Challenge Squad". sbncollegehockey.com. 22 November 2016.
  16. ^ "2018 All-USHL Teams Announced". USHL.com.
  17. ^ "NHL Draft prospects top U.S. World Junior A roster". National Hockey League.
  18. ^ "2017 All-USHL Teams Announced". USHL.com.
  19. ^ "All-USHL Teams Announced". USHL.com. USHL. Archived from the original on 2022-04-17. Retrieved 2019-06-05.
  20. ^ "2018 U.S. Junior Select Team Coaching Staff and Player Roster Unveiled". USAHockey.com. 16 November 2018.
  21. ^ "USHL All-Rookie Teams Announced". USHL.com. USHL.
  22. ^ "2016 All-USHL Teams Announced". USHL.com.
  23. ^ "2017 USHL / NHL Top Prospects Game Rosters". USHL.com. Archived from the original on 2018-09-09. Retrieved 2018-09-09.
  24. ^ "Rosters Named For 2015 USHL / NHL Top Prospects Game". USHL.com.
  25. ^ "2019 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game Rosters Announced". USHL.com. Archived from the original on 2021-01-09. Retrieved 2018-12-07.
  26. ^ "40 Players Chosen For USHL / NHL Top Prospects Game". National Hockey League.
  27. ^ "2018 USHL / NHL Top Prospects Game Rosters Announced". USHL.com.
  28. ^ "All-American Prospects Game All-Time Roster". AllAmericanProspectsGame.com.
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