The Force scored four unanswered goals including three in the third period to take the first of two in the USHL Frosty Cup in Texas.
The Fargo Force kicked off the USHL’s fifth annual Frosty Cup in Frisco, Texas Thursday night with a 4-1 win over the Tri-City Storm.
Fargo put up four unanswered goals, three of which came in the final period, moving their record to 20-12-2-2 (44 points) and third place in the West.
The win snapped a four-game losing streak for the Force, their longest this season.
The first period was scoreless but fast-paced, as Tri-City outshot the Force 11-5.
The Storm kept up the pressure in the second period and finally got a goal to show for it.
Shaun McEwen tallied a power-play goal late in the frame on a one-timer from the high slot of the Force zone. It was McEwen’s fifth of the season and gave the Storm a 1-0 lead.
The assist went to Fort Worth, Texas native Colby Woogk, who had a number of family and friends from the area on hand to see him in action.
The Force didn’t trail for long. Less than three minutes later, Aaron Reierson fed Frisco native Riley Bassen at the top of the right wing circle. Bassen rifled a slapshot past Tri-City goalie Erick Roest for his fifth of the year to tie the score 1-1.
Fargo took complete control in the third period with three unanswered goals. Reierson put his team ahead to stay 2-1 at the 4:48 mark off a backhand pass from Bassen. Reierson bounced a shot over Roest and into the twine.
Over a minute later, Roest stopped an initial shot by Eero Butella on a breakaway, but Merril Steenari put in the rebound for his team-leading 18th goal of the season and a 3-1 Force advantage.
The final tally came on an empty-netter after the Storm pulled Roest with over two minutes left. Luke Schelter scored at the 18:09 mark to finalize the 4-1 victory.
Alan Lendak was stellar in net for the Force, saving 24 of 25 shots to earn the victory. Roest took the loss, stopping 16 of 19 shots.
Tri-City falls to 17-16-3 (37 points) and sits in sixth place in the West. They have split their six games in the month of January, going 3-3 over that span.
The two teams will meet again Friday night in the final game of the Frosty Cup. Puck drop is set for 7 Pm CT.