Fargo Force

Fargo Force
CityFargo, North Dakota
LeagueUnited States Hockey League
ConferenceWest
Founded2008
Home arenaScheels Arena
ColorsBlack, grey, white
     
OwnersBrandt Holdings
Matt Cullen(minority)
Bell Bank(minority)
General managerCary Eades
Head coachBrett Skinner
MediaKVLY-DT3
KRWK
Websitefargoforce.com Edit this at Wikidata
Franchise history
2008–presentFargo Force
Championships
Playoff championships2 (2018, 2024)

The Fargo Force is a 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.

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.

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.

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. 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's Aberdeen Wings. On October 16, 2021, owner Ace Brandt died of cancer.

Season-by-season records

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
2008–0960322356919116611353rd, 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 Championship, 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
2021–226228284621872079895th, Western Conf.Lost first round, 2-0 vs. Omaha Lancers
2022–236240144882301598951st, 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
2023–2462501021022721435791st, 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

NHL draft picks

Notable Fargo Force players picked in the NHL draft:

Year draftedPlayerDrafted teamPick
2008 Luke WitkowskiTampa Bay Lightning6th round, 160th overall
2009 Mike LeeArizona Coyotes3rd round, 91st overall
2010 Zane McIntyreBoston Bruins6th round, 165th overall
2012 Ben JohnsonNew Jersey Devils3rd round, 90th overall
Dominic ToninatoToronto Maple Leafs5th round, 126th overall
2013 Teemu KivihalmeNashville Predators5th round, 140th overall
Jonny BrodzinskiLos Angeles Kings5th round, 148th overall
2016 Riley TufteDallas Stars1st round, 25th overall
2025 Mason West Chicago Blackhawks 1st round, 29th overall

Awards and player recognition

Prospects games participants

References

  1. ↑ "Fargo Force : About". Archived from the original on July 5, 2008. Retrieved June 2, 2008.
  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. June 23, 2012.
  10. ↑ "NHL Draft 2012: Dominic Toninato - 5th Round 126th Overall". pensionplanpuppets.com. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  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. Archived from the original on September 9, 2018.
  13. ↑ "RELEASE: Blackhawks Select Mason West with 29th Overall Pick in 2025 NHL Draft | Chicago Blackhawks". www.nhl.com. June 28, 2025. Retrieved January 24, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Awards - USHL Most Goals". eliteprospects.com.
  15. ↑ "2017 U.S. Junior Select Team". USAHockey.com.
  16. ↑ "21 USHL Players Selected to US World Junior A Challenge Squad". sbncollegehockey.com. November 22, 2016.
  17. ↑ "2018 All-USHL Teams Announced". USHL.com.
  18. ↑ "NHL Draft prospects top U.S. World Junior A roster". National Hockey League. Archived from the original on September 12, 2018.
  19. ↑ "2017 All-USHL Teams Announced". USHL.com. Archived from the original on April 17, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  20. ↑ "All-USHL Teams Announced". USHL.com. USHL. Archived from the original on April 17, 2022. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
  21. ↑ "2018 U.S. Junior Select Team Coaching Staff and Player Roster Unveiled". USAHockey.com. November 16, 2018.
  22. ↑ "USHL All-Rookie Teams Announced". USHL.com. USHL.[permanent dead link]
  23. ↑ "2016 All-USHL Teams Announced". USHL.com. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  24. ↑ "2017 USHL / NHL Top Prospects Game Rosters". USHL.com. Archived from the original on September 9, 2018. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  25. ↑ "Rosters Named For 2015 USHL / NHL Top Prospects Game". USHL.com.
  26. ↑ "2019 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game Rosters Announced". USHL.com. Archived from the original on January 9, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  27. ↑ "40 Players Chosen For USHL / NHL Top Prospects Game". National Hockey League. Archived from the original on September 9, 2018.
  28. ↑ "2018 USHL / NHL Top Prospects Game Rosters Announced". USHL.com.
  29. ↑ "All-American Prospects Game All-Time Roster". AllAmericanProspectsGame.com.