DUBUQUE, Iowa — En route to a historic USHL regular season, the Fargo Force had some of the USHL’s top forwards, defensemen, and goaltenders.
On Saturday night, they needed all three again, and Brett Skinner’s club delivered and the Force won its second Clark Cup with a 3-1 victory over the Dubuque Fighting Saints. .
The Force overcame an early deficit with two goals in the first half, then relied on some nasty defense and solid goaltending in the final 40 minutes to hold off Dubuque 3-1 in the best-of-five league championship. did. series.
“Credit to our players for staying consistent in their approach all season, turning the game around, taking a lead, and most importantly, defending it,” Force coach Brett Skinner said.
Fargo Force center Zam Plante, 7, of the Dubuque Fighting Team during the second period of Game 4 of the Clark Cup Finals at Imon Arena on Saturday, May 18, 2024 in Dubuque, Iowa. Dodged a stick check from Saints winger Josh Giuliani, 19.
Marissa Weltin / Fargo Force
Brazen Boeser and Jake Fischer scored for the Force, goaltender Hampton Sulkinski made 22 saves and Brandon Svoboda made an empty-net goal late in the game. This is their first Clark Cup since 2018.
Mac Swanson assisted Svoboda’s empty netter and was named Clark Cup MVP. The North Dakota State team scored two goals and added three helpers to the series. Swanson led all USHL players with 17 points (5-12-17) in 12 playoff games.
“This is a pretty special team…a really well-constructed team all the way to the end,” Force defenseman Leo Gruba said. “We have players who are top scorers, and we have players who can kick penalties with their heels and keep the puck away from the net.”
The Fighting Saints suffered an early goal from captain Jake Sondreall and 21 saves from Kevin Readler in the loss.
“(Four) one-shot games really, and they found a way to win three of them,” Fighting Saints coach Kirk McDonald said. “Hats off to them. They did a great job. It wasn’t supposed to happen tonight.”
The Force quickly found themselves on the back foot after Sondrereal scored his second goal of the night, firing a low wrist shot past Sulchinski, much to the excitement of the large crowd in attendance. But Fargo had an answer, with Boeser scoring for his first playoff goal.
Center Jake Fischer scores in the first period of Game 4 of the Clark Cup Finals against the Dubuque Fighting Saints on Saturday, May 18, 2024 at Imon Arena in Dubuque, Iowa. Afterward, he celebrated with two Fargo Force fans in attendance.
Marissa Weltin / Fargo Force
After Slyukinski thwarted Andrew King on a short-range breakaway, Riedler allowed a rare soft goal when Fisher backhanded the puck from along the goal line and somehow fooled the sizeable goaltender. did.
Fargo had three shots on the power play late in the first period that found the back of Dubuque’s net, but they were unable to extend the lead.
The Fighting Saints, who won 3-1 in Game 3 on Friday, turned the tables in the middle and dominated play for the final 10 minutes, hitting Sulkinski with 11 shots, but couldn’t score the tying goal. I couldn’t.
“We felt like we finished all the work and did the right thing to get a goal in the back of the net, but it didn’t happen,” said Sondreal, who is committed to Boston College.
Jess Myers covers college hockey, the outdoors, all things sports and travel for The Rink Live and Forum Communications family of publications. He came to the FCC in 2018 after 30 years covering sports as a freelancer for various publications while working full-time in politics and media relations. A native of Warroad, Minnesota (actual Hockeytown USA), Myers earned a degree in Journalism/Communications from the University of Minnesota Duluth. He lives in the Twin Cities. Email Jess at jrmyers@forumcomm.com or find him on Twitter @JessRMyers. someone who speaks English.
