Fargo Force
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The Fargo Force is a Tier I junior
ice hockey Ice hockey (or simply hockey) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an ice skating rink with lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. In ice hockey, two opposing teams use ice hock ...
team in the Western Conference of the
United States Hockey League The United States Hockey League (USHL) is the top junior ice hockey league sanctioned by USA Hockey. The league consists of 16 active teams located in the midwestern United States, for players between the ages of 16 and 21. The USHL is strictly ...
(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 Scheels Arena (formerly called The Urban Plains Center, or UPC) is a multi-purpose venue located in Fargo, North Dakota. It is part of the Sanford Health Athletic Park which comprises the arena, the Family Wellness Center (a partnership between Sa ...
and owned by local businessman Ace Brandt.
Dean Blais Dean Charles Blais (born January 18, 1951) is an American ice hockey coach. He was the head coach of the Omaha Mavericks, the men's team of the University of Nebraska Omaha, and also head coach of the United States men's national junior ice hock ...
, former coach of the
North Dakota Fighting Sioux hockey The North Dakota Fighting Hawks men's ice hockey team (UND) is the college ice hockey team at the Grand Forks campus of the University of North Dakota. They are members of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) and compete in National Co ...
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. As a result of the Force's entry, the area's previous hockey team, the
Fargo-Moorhead Jets The Fargo-Moorhead Jets were a Junior A ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League's central division, and played out of John E. Carlson Coliseum in Fargo, North Dakota. Their inaugural season was 2003–2004 and they folded and were re ...
of the
North American Hockey League The North American Hockey League (NAHL) is one of the top junior hockey leagues in the United States and is in its 48th season of operation in 2022–23. It is the only Tier II junior league sanctioned by USA Hockey, and acts as an alternati ...
announced they were leaving the area in April 2008, and folded later that year. Blais coached the team to the USHL's Clark Cup Finals in 2008–09, leaving to take the head coaching position at
Nebraska-Omaha The University of Nebraska Omaha (Omaha or UNO) is a public research university in Omaha, Nebraska. Founded in 1908 by faculty from the Omaha Presbyterian Theological Seminary as a private non-sectarian college, the university was originally kno ...
. His successor, Chad Johnson, a former assistant, again led the Force to the Clark Cup Finals in 2009–10. Assistant Jason Herter took over the team in 2010 when Johnson left to join the Lincoln Stars. Jason Herter left after the 2010–11 season to become an assistant coach at the
University of Minnesota-Duluth A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, t ...
. John Marks became head coach after leaving the same position for the Winkler Flyers in Manitoba, Canada. 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 The Sioux Falls Stampede are a Tier I junior ice hockey team based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The Stampede are members of the Western Conference of the United States Hockey League (USHL). The team plays home games at the Denny Sanford Premier ...
to the 2014–15 Clark Cup Championship. In 2018, Fargo won the Clark Cup Finals over the
Youngstown Phantoms The Youngstown Phantoms are a junior ice hockey#Tier I, Tier I junior ice hockey team that plays in the Eastern Conference of the United States Hockey League (USHL). The team plays home games at the 5,200-seat Covelli Centre in Youngstown, Ohio. ...
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. Lamoureux left after the 2020–21 season and was replaced by Scott Langer who had spent the previous five seasons with the
North American Hockey League The North American Hockey League (NAHL) is one of the top junior hockey leagues in the United States and is in its 48th season of operation in 2022–23. It is the only Tier II junior league sanctioned by USA Hockey, and acts as an alternati ...
's
Aberdeen Wings The Aberdeen Wings are a Tier II junior ice hockey team based out of Aberdeen, South Dakota, that began play for 2010–11. A member of the North American Hockey League in the Central Division, the Wings play their home games in the Odde Ice C ...
. On October 16, 2021, owner Ace Brandt died of cancer. The league held a moment of silence in his honor and the Force will wear "AB" patches for the remainder of the season.


Season-by-season records


NHL draft picks

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


Awards and player recognition

*Jack Adams – 2016–17 All-USHL Team, 2016-17 USHL Most Goals *Ryan Bischel – 2017 U.S. Junior Select Team *Dean Blais – 2008–09 USHL Coach of the Year *Hank Crone – 2016 U.S. Junior Select Team, *Cary Eades – 1991–92 USHL General Manager of the Year, 2012–13 USHL Coach of the Year *Ty Farmer – 2017–18 All-USHL Team *Teemu Kivihalme – 2013 U.S. Junior Select Team *Mike Lee – 2008–09 USHL Goaltender of the Year *Blake Lizotte – 2016–17 All-USHL Team, 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 *Zane McIntyre – 2011–12 USHL Goaltender of the Year *Josh Nodler – 2018 U.S. Junior Select Team 2018–19 USHL All-Rookie Team *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 Nathan Thomas Schmidt (born July 16, 1991) is an American professional ice hockey player for the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played for the Washington Capitals, Vegas Golden Knights and Vancouver Canucks. As ...
– 2009–10 USHL All-Rookie Team *Jacob Schmidt-Svejstrup – 2017–18 All-USHL Team *Denis Smirnov – 2015–16 All-USHL Team *Anthony Taranto – 2008–09 All-USHL Team


Prospects games participants

*Jack Adams – 2017 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game *Kaden Bohlsen – 2019 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game *Charlie Dovorany – 2017 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game *Mikey Eyssimont – 2015 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game *Cedric Fiedler – 2019 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game *Gabe Guertler – 2013 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game *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 *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 *Luke Witkowski – 2009 USHL All-Star Game


Roster

As of September 21, 2022.


References


External links


Fargo Force official webpage
{{Dakota Sports United States Hockey League teams Sports in Fargo, North Dakota Ice hockey teams in North Dakota 2008 establishments in North Dakota Ice hockey clubs established in 2008