Force celebrate home opener with new banners and win over U.S. U-18s

FARGO — The Fargo Force have turned the page after hoisting the Clark Cup trophy a season ago. The Force topped the U.S.

National Team Development Program U-18s 4-1 in a scrappy home opener at Scheel Arena. Fargo moved to 2-1 overall on the season. Prior to the game, the team unveiled the four new championship banners near the rafters in the arena.



“It was fantastic,” said Force forward Merill Steenari on the new banners. “We had such a great year last year and hoping to keep it going this year.” Former Force forward Mac Swanson, currently playing for the University of North Dakota, performed the ceremonial puck drop.

Swanson helped lead the Force to the organization’s second title last year and was named the USHL’s Player of the Year for his efforts. Swanson was welcomed back to Fargo with a standing ovation by the 3,864 in attendance. “Seeing (Swanson) drop the puck was pretty special,” said Force head coach Brett Skinner.

“It was great to see the fans recognize him in the way that they did.” The Force opened the scoring on the power play in the second period. Forward Peter Cisar buried a goal from just outside the crease at 1 minute, 48 seconds into the period.

Defenseman Sam Laurila drove into the zone from the point and found Cisar inside the right circle. An altercation broke out between the two teams late in the second period after a U-18 player charged Force goaltender Alan Lendak and it led to a massive brawl on the ice. Fargo defenseman Elias Zimmerman dealt a pair of right hooks to U-18 defenseman Lincoln Kuehne in a scrap in the circle that ended with Kuehne dragging Zimmerman to the ice.

U-18 forward Landon Hafele converted a short-handed goal to tie the game in the third period. Hafele drove down the ice and tucked a top-shelf goal. Fargo answered less than two minutes later.

Forward Merril Steenari tipped in a shot on the power play from Finn McLaughlin at 8:01 into the third period. Ty Mason also assisted on the play. Force forward Eero Butella notched Fargo’s third power play goal of the contest 11:24 into the period.

Butella scored on a rebounded one-timer from Laurila. The goal was also assisted by Brady Arneson. The Force’s special teams proved a difference maker.

Fargo was 3-for-5 on the power play and the team’s penalty kill held U-18’s power play scoreless on five attempts. “We really dug in,” Steenari said of the team’s special team’s play. “Kept it a little simple this time and got rewarded.

” Skinner highlighted the play of Lendak as a difference maker on the penalty kill. Lendak stopped 25 of 26 shots faced in net. Butella put the game on ice with an empty-netter at 18:44 in the period.

He was assisted by Steenari and Matt Lahey. U-18 netminder Harrison Boettiger stopped 33 of 37 shots. U-18 moves to 1-2 overall.

The scrappy play was showcased in the time served in the penalty box. The U-18s had 44 minutes of penalties on 11 penalties and Fargo had 41 minutes on 11 penalty calls. The pair will face off again at 6:05 p.

m. Saturday, Sept. 28, at Scheels Arena.

“(U-18) is going to come out motivated and try to win a hockey game,” Skinner said. “We’re going to have to find a way to get regrouped,”.