Fargo Force


The Fargo Force is a Tier I junior ice hockey team in the Western Conference of the United States Hockey League. 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, which is now called Scheels Arena. Dean Blais, former coach of the North Dakota Fighting Sioux hockey program, was installed as the franchise's initial coach and general manager. The team was formed, in conjunction with a name-the-team contest to decide what the team would be called. After the choices were narrowed to Fargo Force, Fargo Phantoms, and Fargo Fire, the Force name was chosen. 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 of the North American Hockey League 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. 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. 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 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.

Season-by-season records

Coaches

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

Awards and player recognition