Fargo Force
Encyclopedia
The Fargo Force is a Tier 1 junior ice hockey
team in the Western Conference of the United States Hockey League
(USHL).
, 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 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 leaving the same position for the Winkler Flyers in Manitoba, Canada.
(1)The Force qualified for the USHL playoffs as the conference's third seed and defeated the Omaha Lancers 3-1 in a best-of-five series in the opening round of the Western Conference playoffs. This advanced Fargo to the Western Conference Finals, where the Force defeated the Lincoln Stars 3-0 in the best-of-five series. The Force then were defeated in the Clark Cup Finals by the Indiana Ice, 3-1.
(2)The Force qualified for the USHL playoffs as the conference's second seed and defeated the Sioux Falls Stampede 3-0 in a best-of-five series in the opening round of the Western Conference playoffs. This advanced Fargo to the Western Conference Finals, where the Force defeated Omaha 3-2 in the best-of-five series. The Force then were defeated in the Clark Cup Finals by the Green Bay Gamblers, 3-2.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team in the Western Conference of the United States Hockey League
United States Hockey League
The United States Hockey League is the top junior ice hockey league in the United States. The USHL has 16 member teams located in the Midwestern United States, consisting of players who are 20 years of age and younger...
(USHL).
History
In early 2007, Fargo was granted a USHL team, intended as an anchor tenant for the then-under-construction Urban Plains CenterUrban Plains Center
Scheels Arena is a multi-purpose venue located in Fargo, North Dakota. It is part of the Sanford Health Athletic Park which consists of the arena, a YMCA that is currently under construction, and there are plans to add four additional ice sheets. It was constructed and opened in 2008 and renamed...
, 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
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 the 2003-2004 season and they folded after the 2007-08 season....
of the North American Hockey League
North American Hockey League
The North American Hockey League is one of the top junior hockey leagues in the United States and is enterting its 36th season in 2011-12. It is currently the only Junior A Tier II league, sanctioned by USA Hockey. The NAHL currently acts as an alternative to the United States 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 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
John Marks
John Marks may refer to:*John Marks , mayor of Tallahassee, Florida*John Marks , former NHL player for the Chicago Black Hawks*John Marks , Australian tennis player*John B. Marks , a political figure in Upper Canada...
became head coach leaving the same position for the Winkler Flyers in Manitoba, Canada.
Season-by-season record starting 2008
United States Hockey League| Season | GP | W | L | OTL | PTS | GF | GA | PIM | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-09 | 60 | 32 | 23 | 5 | 69 | 191 | 166 | 1135 | 3rd Western Conference(1) |
| 2009-10 | 60 | 37 | 17 | 6 | 80 | 227 | 214 | 1474 | 2nd Western Conference(2) |
| 2010-11 | Season in progress. |
(1)The Force qualified for the USHL playoffs as the conference's third seed and defeated the Omaha Lancers 3-1 in a best-of-five series in the opening round of the Western Conference playoffs. This advanced Fargo to the Western Conference Finals, where the Force defeated the Lincoln Stars 3-0 in the best-of-five series. The Force then were defeated in the Clark Cup Finals by the Indiana Ice, 3-1.
(2)The Force qualified for the USHL playoffs as the conference's second seed and defeated the Sioux Falls Stampede 3-0 in a best-of-five series in the opening round of the Western Conference playoffs. This advanced Fargo to the Western Conference Finals, where the Force defeated Omaha 3-2 in the best-of-five series. The Force then were defeated in the Clark Cup Finals by the Green Bay Gamblers, 3-2.